A foodie fix in Melbourne

It’s a little-known secret that Melburnians get their foodie fix in the Mornington Peninsula. This southern spot delights with cool wine-restaurants and cellar doors (tasting rooms). First on the agenda is Yabby Lake for a glass of pinot noir overlooking the leafy vineyards. Continue to Stonier Wines, showcasing the oldest vines in the region that make fresh and crisp Chardonnay. Enjoy a two-course lunch with charming rural views. You then have two more cellar doors to visit on the way back to Melbourne.

There’s nowhere better to learn about the indigenous Kulin nation than in Australia’s capital of culture. Take a stroll in the Royal Botanical Gardens spotting native flora used in traditional medicine. Lunch is served at Charcoal Lane restaurant where you can feast on dishes such as crispy emu spring rolls and tender kangaroo fillet. Head to the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre to learn about the First Peoples through art and poignant story telling. Your day ends at the striking Federation Square, Melbourne’s architectural ode to cultural diversity.

Take a day trip to the Yarra Valley, Australia’s premiere wine region. First stop, De Bortoli Wines where you can indulge in cheese straight from the maturation room. Next, The Melba Estate, one of the area’s oldest family estates to sip sparkling wine from their high-end cellar door. Dine on lemon-doused barramundi or melt-in-your-mouth wagyu beef brisket at the Tokar Estate. Its gardens are ideal for a post-lunch stroll. You’ll then get to meet Dominique Portet, a ninth-generation winemaker who’ll show you personally around his Mediterranean-style tasting room.