EAT & DRINK - Two Bays Brewing Co, Dromana
Two Bays built its reputation on gluten-free certification, but the pale ale has always been the reason to stay for a second round. The deck at Bentons Road faces north, and on a September afternoon that gets sun from midday onward - this is the first fortnight it actually feels warm enough to sit outside and mean it.
The tasting paddle is the right move on a first visit, but regulars come for the session IPA, which pours clean and runs lighter than its hop character suggests. Order the charcuterie board alongside and you have a reasonable lunch without trying. The taproom itself is small and unfussy - no live DJ, no brand activation, just beer that earns its place without the qualifier. Spring sees a bump in foot traffic, but mid-afternoon on a Saturday still moves at its own pace here.
Two Bays is at 4/36 Bentons Road, Dromana. Walk-ins work during the week; check ahead for weekend afternoons. Allow ninety minutes.
Pair it with a stop at Small Stone Pantry in Dromana on the way out for something to take home.
EXPERIENCE - Arthurs Seat State Park Wildflower Circuit
The Arthurs Seat summit tracks are walkable year-round, but the window between early September and mid-October is the one that justifies driving up on purpose. Wattles hit their peak this week along the descent tracks toward Seawinds Gardens, and the understorey between the summit lookout and the Banksia Gully junction runs thick with common heath - the state’s floral emblem - and early spider orchids if you slow down enough to look at ground level.
The circuit from the summit car park through Seawinds and back via the ridge trail takes two to three hours at a sensible pace. The track surface can be slippery on the shadier southerly sections after overnight rain - sturdy shoes, not sneakers. Mornings are clearer for views across Port Phillip to the You Yangs; by afternoon a sea haze usually builds. Dogs are permitted on-lead throughout the park.
Park at the summit car park on Arthurs Seat Road, Arthurs Seat. No booking required. BYO water - nothing open at the trailhead.
Pair the walk with lunch at Montalto’s terrace afterward, fifteen minutes down the road in Red Hill South.
DISCOVERY - National Works on Paper 2026, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery
National Works on Paper is one of the longer-running acquisitive prizes in Australian art, and the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery has hosted it long enough that the hang feels considered rather than competitive. The 2026 edition opened 5 September and runs through 22 November, which means you have the full spring season to get there - but it’s worth going now, while the show is fresh and the gallery is quiet before school holiday traffic arrives in late September.
Works on paper as a category covers more territory than the name implies: drawing, printmaking, works with photographic processes, and mixed-media pieces that use paper as their primary substrate. The acquisitive model means the gallery actually buys from the show, which tends to attract work that holds up to extended looking rather than work designed for a single first impression. The NWOP is consistently the best reason to spend an hour in Mornington outside of a meal.
Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery is at Civic Reserve, Dunns Road, Mornington. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am–4pm. Free entry. Allow an hour.
Pair it with coffee at Commonfolk on Main Street, ten minutes’ walk away.
This Week at a Glance
Two Bays Brewing Co 4/36 Bentons Road, Dromana Walk-ins welcome; check ahead for busy weekend afternoons twobaysbrewing.com.au
Arthurs Seat State Park Wildflower Circuit Summit car park, Arthurs Seat Road, Arthurs Seat Open daily, no booking required Allow 2–3 hours; dogs on-lead permitted
National Works on Paper 2026 Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Civic Reserve, Dunns Road, Mornington 5 September – 22 November 2026 Wednesday–Sunday, 11am–4pm Free entry
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Questions readers actually ask
FAQ
When is the Two Bays Brewing Co taproom open, and do I need to book?
Two Bays Brewing Co is at 4/36 Bentons Road, Dromana. Check their website for current opening hours - walk-ins are generally fine for smaller groups, but check ahead for weekends in spring when the deck fills quickly.
How do I get to the Arthurs Seat wildflower circuit?
Park at the Arthurs Seat State Park summit car park off Arthurs Seat Road, Arthurs Seat. The walking tracks branch from the summit. Allow two to three hours for a full circuit. Dogs are permitted on-lead.
Where is the National Works on Paper 2026 exhibition and when does it close?
National Works on Paper 2026 runs at Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Civic Reserve, Dunns Road, Mornington, from 5 September to 22 November 2026. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am–4pm. Free entry.
