“Sumer is icumin in” (Summer has arrived – Old English round);
– well not quite, but now is certainly the time to start planning Summer activities with your large family group on the Mornington Peninsula. In particular, it is well worth arming yourself with some options for the kids for those days when the beach is off-limits (40-degree scorchers, algal blooms or summer rains). Here we present a few choice activities to keep your young ones amused, and maintain parental sanity.
Activities and Playgrounds
Go to Top Fun in Rosebud for a round of mini golf or a few frames of ten-pin bowling. A less frantic alternative can be found at Boneo Maze and mini golf.
Head over to one of the many playgrounds on the Peninsula. These are the ones which our children love:
- Sorrento Historic Park
- featuring a large wooden fort in a fenced in playground
- separate minnows area for the really young ones
- grassy hills, shaded tables, BBQ, water taps, toilets
- Flinders playground (this beach is also great for budding shell collectors)
- McRae Lighthouse park (George Kilburn Park)
- features a climbable mini lighthouse
- suitable for smaller children
- great cafe just across the road
Go to the movies.
Options include
- Mornington
- Rosebud
- Sorrento
- Dromana drive-in for a touch of old-school nostalgia
- Barefoot cinema (a great choice during summer at Point Nepean National Park)
Wineries
Just because your brood is young doesn’t mean you can’t have fun
The following wineries are kid-friendly
- T-Gallant
- rolling hills, wood-fired pizza, noisy (easy to blend in), room to play
- renowned for its Pinot Gris and Moscato
- very popular, so can get very crowded and busy
- Tucks Ridge
- great views, casual. extensive lawn for kids to run around
- Green Olive at Red Hill
- in-ground trampoline, all-day tapas menu, friendly winery dog
- Crittenden Estate
- great for kids to explore
- games provided on the lawn (football, soccer, boules)
- kids activity packs provided in the tasting room
Food
Summer and kids = fish-and-chips and ice cream. There are plenty of options. Our favourites include:
Fish Fetish and Mubble Gourmet Icecreamery in Sorrento – both on Ocean Beach Road, and
Mavi Fish and Chips in Dromana
