Foxeys Hangout, the Bushrangers Bay cliff path, and Arj Barker at The Conti

Foxeys Hangout, Red Hill

Foxeys pours its biodynamic sparkling flight outdoors when the weather allows, and right now the weather allows. The deck faces north across the Red Hill slope, and the vines are just breaking bud - the right moment to sit in front of the sparkling flight and understand why Chris Strickland’s program produces wines that taste unlike anything else on the Peninsula. The flight runs through the range before you commit to a bottle, which is the correct order of operations. The Blanc de Blancs is the one to linger on: taut, mineral, and genuinely dry in a way that most regional fizz is not. The biodynamic certification is visible in the vineyard right now, cover crops and all. Spring is when that farming choice reads most clearly in the glass. Allow ninety minutes. Book ahead for weekend sessions - walk-ins have been turned away on busy Saturdays. Pair the visit with lunch at Johnny Ripe nearby.

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Bushrangers Bay Track, Cape Schanck

The Bushrangers Bay track off Cape Schanck Road is one of the best spring walks on the Peninsula, and it earns that this fortnight specifically. The heathland between the Cape Schanck car park and the bay is in flower right now - coastal tea-tree, guinea flowers, and native peas. The cliff-top section above the bay itself looks south to Bass Strait with nothing between you and Antarctica. The track is 5.4 km return with a steep descent to the beach at the end; the Main Creek estuary may require wading when the tide is in, so check conditions before you commit to going all the way down. Morning light on the eastern-facing cliffs is worth the early start. Dogs are prohibited throughout Mornington Peninsula National Park, including this track. No booking, no entry fee. Allow two hours return. Check current Parks Victoria conditions before travelling.

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Arj Barker at Barlow, The Continental Sorrento - Wednesday 30 September

Barlow is the 300-seat room inside The Continental Sorrento, and it books properly named acts. Arj Barker - the US-born, Melbourne-based stand-up - plays there on Wednesday 30 September, doors at 7 pm. Barker has been a fixture in Australian comedy long enough to be genuinely local at this point, and his material runs long enough that the set fills the room rather than leaving it half-satisfied. Wednesday nights at Barlow are quieter than the weekend, which means the bar before the show is actually pleasant. The room itself is well-configured for stand-up: no bad sightlines, decent sound, and a bar you can reach at interval without queuing. This is not a residency - one night only. Book through Humanitix before it sells out; the link is below. Pair the evening with dinner at the Sorrento end of Ocean Beach Road before doors.

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This week’s picks at a glance

Foxeys Hangout - Red Hill–Shoreham Road, Red Hill. Open most weekends; check website for current hours. Book ahead for the sparkling flight. foxeys.com.au

Bushrangers Bay Track - Start at Cape Schanck car park, Cape Schanck Road, Cape Schanck. 5.4 km return, allow 2 hours. Dogs are prohibited. Check conditions before descending to the beach. No booking required.

Arj Barker at Barlow - The Continental Sorrento, 21 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento. Wednesday 30 September, doors 7 pm. Book at events.humanitix.com/comedy-arj-barker.