St Andrews Beach Brewery, Rye - Sunday Roast in the Old Stables
The former racehorse training stables at Sandy Track were converted into one of the Peninsula’s most complete brewery destinations, and winter is when it earns that status. The lawns are empty, the heritage timber buildings hold warmth, and the Sunday roast format - a rotating centrepiece carved tableside, with sides that vary week to week - justifies the drive from anywhere on the Peninsula.
The core beer range covers the afternoon without effort: a red ale that suits the cold, a session sour for those who want something brighter, a pale ale that holds up across multiple pints. Order a paddle first to pick your pour. The kitchen takes the food seriously in a way that not all brewery kitchens do - the roast is not an afterthought bolted onto a tasting menu.
Book the Sunday roast ahead; it fills. Address: 65 Sandy Track, Rye. Allow three hours minimum.
Pair it with a slow drive back along Browns Road past the horse studs as the light drops after four.
Bushrangers Bay, Cape Schanck - Winter Low-Tide Rock Platform
Most people who walk to Bushrangers Bay do it in summer and get there at high tide. The rock platform south of the bay - exposed basalt columns running into the Southern Ocean - is a different experience at low tide on a grey August morning when nobody else is there.
The 5.4 km return trail starts at the eastern carpark at Cape Schanck Lighthouse. The path is sandy and narrow, with steep stairs in places. Allow about two hours plus stops, and enough daylight for the return. The unpatrolled beach has strong currents, rips, reefs and large waves; swimming is not recommended. Keep clear of wave-washed rocks and follow current Parks Victoria advice.
Check tide times before leaving - Bureau of Meteorology has the Cape Schanck station listed. No entry fee. Allow about two hours return, with extra time for stops from the car park.
Pair it with a coffee at the Cape Schanck Lighthouse kiosk before the walk if they’re open, or drive back through Fingal for a late breakfast.
Two Bays Brewing Co, Dromana - The Pale Ale Non-Coeliacs Keep Ordering
Two Bays is Australia’s first dedicated gluten-free brewery, which is the fact that brings people in. It is not the reason they stay for a second round. The pale ale - clean, citrus-forward, genuinely well-balanced - holds up against any gluten-containing equivalent on the Peninsula. The session IPA is the better winter choice: slightly more body, enough bitterness to make it feel like a serious beer.
The taproom on Collins Road is small and unfussy. No entertainment schedule, no lawn games, no pretence of being a destination beyond the beer and a tight food menu of pizzas, burgers, and a charcuterie board worth sharing. In winter that understatement works in its favour. There are tables, the pour is consistent, and the staff can tell you what’s currently on seasonal rotation without checking a laminated card.
Walk-ins welcome. Address: 4/3 Collins Road, Dromana. Open daily from 11am. No booking needed midweek.
Pair it with a stop at Small Stone Pantry nearby if you want to pick up something for dinner on the way home.
This Week’s Key Details
St Andrews Beach Brewery 65 Sandy Track, Rye Sunday roast from midday - book ahead at standrewsbeachbrewery.com.au
Bushrangers Bay Rock Platform Cape Schanck car park, Cape Schanck Road Best at low tide - check BOM tide times before going. No booking.
Two Bays Brewing Co 4/3 Collins Road, Dromana Open daily from 11am. Walk-ins welcome. twobaysbrewing.com.au
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Questions readers actually ask
FAQ
When does St Andrews Beach Brewery serve their Sunday roast?
St Andrews Beach Brewery is at 65 Sandy Track, Rye. The Sunday roast runs weekly from midday. Book ahead via their website - it fills quickly in winter when the heritage stables fill up fast.
How do I get to Bushrangers Bay for the winter low-tide walk?
The Bushrangers Bay trail starts from the Cape Schanck car park off Cape Schanck Road. Allow about two hours return, with extra time for stops. Check tide times before you go - the rock platform is best at low tide. No booking needed.
Is Two Bays Brewing gluten-free for people with coeliac disease?
Yes. Two Bays Brewing Co at 4/3 Collins Road, Dromana is Australia's first dedicated gluten-free brewery. All beers on tap are gluten-free. Open daily from 11am. No booking needed for walk-ins, though weekends fill up.
