EAT - Green Olive at Red Hill
The wood-fired lamb at Green Olive lands on the table with grove oil poured straight from the estate press, which is the kind of detail that matters in spring when everything on the Peninsula is claiming provenance it can’t always prove.
This working smallholding on Mornington-Flinders Road runs olives, kitchen gardens, and a wood-fire kitchen under the same canopy. The grove is at its greenest right now, new growth visible from every outdoor table. Spring is the right moment to sit outside: warm enough to linger, not yet crowded with summer foot traffic. Order the wood-fired lamb and whatever the kitchen garden is pushing this week - the menu shifts with what’s ready, not with what the distributor delivered. The estate oils are worth taking home. They press single varietals and the Frantoio is the one.
Book ahead for Sunday lunch. Green Olive at Red Hill, 1180 Mornington-Flinders Road, Red Hill. Allow two hours minimum.
Pair a post-lunch walk with the Red Hill Truffles property nearby, which opens its grounds through spring.
EXPERIENCE - Boardwalk Nature Circuit, Tootgarook Wetlands
Wattle is at full bloom across the Tootgarook Wetlands right now, and the Boardwalk Nature Circuit catches the best of it without requiring a full-day commitment or a trail map.
The loop runs approximately 3–4 km from the Boneo Road car park, across elevated boardwalk sections that keep your boots dry through the wetter reed sections. In mid-October the golden wattle is at peak flower and the reed beds are thick with new growth. Migratory birds are moving through - the wetland sits on a significant flyway, so bring binoculars if you have them. Morning light before 9am is the right time: the mist sits low over the reeds and the bird activity is highest. By midday the circuit is quicker and hotter, less rewarding. The boardwalk sections are mostly flat and accessible with a solid pram, though the gravel paths vary.
No booking required. Car park off Boneo Road, Tootgarook. Allow one hour for the full loop.
The Green Olive lunch slots neatly before or after - both sit in the same broad sweep of the peninsula interior.
DISCOVERY - Orizome Workshop, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery
The Orizome Workshop at Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery this Saturday is the specific kind of free afternoon event that rarely has spare places by Thursday.
Orizome is a Japanese technique that combines folding and dyeing paper - the fold lines act as a resist, producing geometric patterns that you don’t fully control and can’t exactly repeat. The Saturday 17 October session runs 1:30–3:30pm, facilitated at the gallery on Dunns Road in Mornington. It’s a hands-on workshop, not a demonstration: you leave with work you made. The gallery also has Jacky Cheng’s Tessellation Folding Workshop running the same morning, 9:30am–12:30pm, if you want the full day - that session is paid, bookings through Eventbrite. The orizome session is free but also requires an Eventbrite booking. Both sessions suit adults and older teenagers; the gallery’s notes don’t specify a lower age.
Book via Eventbrite before the session fills. Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, 350 Dunns Road, Mornington.
The Main Street Mornington Festival runs the following day, Sunday 18 October, 11am–5pm - a logical reason to stay the night.
This Week at a Glance
Green Olive at Red Hill 1180 Mornington-Flinders Road, Red Hill Lunch service - book ahead via the website. Allow two hours.
Boardwalk Nature Circuit, Tootgarook Wetlands Car park off Boneo Road, Tootgarook No booking required. Approx. 3–4 km loop, one hour. Best before 9am.
Orizome Workshop Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, 350 Dunns Road, Mornington Saturday 17 October, 1:30–3:30pm. Free. Bookings essential via Eventbrite.
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Questions readers actually ask
FAQ
Where is Green Olive at Red Hill and do I need to book?
Green Olive at Red Hill is at 1180 Mornington-Flinders Road, Red Hill. Bookings are recommended for Sunday lunch, especially in spring. Check their website for current service times and availability.
Where does the Boardwalk Nature Circuit start and how long does it take?
The Boardwalk Nature Circuit starts at the Tootgarook Wetlands car park off Boneo Road. The full loop is around 3–4 km and takes approximately one hour at a relaxed pace. No booking required.
Is the orizome workshop at MPRG free and do I need to register?
The Orizome Workshop at Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery on Saturday 17 October, 1:30–3:30pm, is free. Bookings are required through Eventbrite - check the link before attending as capacity is limited.
