Steinfest at Tar Barrel, the Arthurs Seat Summit Track, and a free fishing lesson at Mornington Pier

EAT / DRINK - Steinfest at Tar Barrel Brewery & Distillery, Mornington

Tar Barrel doesn’t run Steinfest every month, so the closing window matters. The event wraps on Sunday 18 October, which gives you Thursday through Sunday to get there. This is not a standard brewery session: the format centres on litre steins, beer-matched food, and a floor that leans into the occasion without embarrassment. The wood-fired pizza kitchen is running alongside the event, so the food side holds up. The brewery’s core range - including their spirits if beer isn’t your thing - is all available alongside the Steinfest-specific pour list. The space at 72 Watt Road is large enough to absorb a crowd without losing its atmosphere. Arrive before 6pm if you want a table without a wait. Bookings may still be available via tarbarrel.com.au - check before you go, walk-ins are taken but not guaranteed a seat.

Pair it with a walk down Mornington Pier beforehand while the light is still long.

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WALK / OUTDOORS - Arthurs Seat Summit Track, Arthurs Seat

The Arthurs Seat Summit Track earns its place in October because the wattles and coastal tea-tree are finishing their bloom while the first of the orchids are opening along the lower sections of the path. The 305-metre summit is the highest coastal point on Port Phillip Bay, and on a clear spring morning the view takes in both Port Phillip and Western Port simultaneously - that double-bay perspective is specific to this headland. The track from Sekers Reserve is around 2.5 kilometres return, with enough elevation gain to feel like proper exercise without demanding hiking boots. The surface is well-formed for the most part, but the lower section can be muddy after rain - check conditions if there’s been recent weather. No entry fee, no booking, dogs on lead are welcome on the lower sections. Allow 90 minutes return and bring water.

Pair it with a stop at Jetty Road Brewery in Dromana on the way back down toward the bay.

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DISCOVERY - Come and Try Fishing, Mornington Pier

Free, one hour, and genuinely useful if you’ve been meaning to try pier fishing and never had anyone show you the basics. The Mornington Pier session on Friday 16 October runs 10:45am to 11:45am and is run by instructors who provide gear - you bring nothing. Mornington Pier in spring sits above water that’s warming up after winter, and snapper, whiting, and flathead start moving through Port Phillip in October. That’s not a guarantee of a catch in a one-hour session, but the timing is genuinely better than mid-winter. The pier itself is a good place to be at that hour regardless - the bay is usually calm in the morning and the light is good. Register free via Eventbrite before Friday; the listing indicates tickets are available but numbers will be limited by the instructors’ capacity.

Pair it with breakfast at one of the Main Street cafes in Mornington before heading down to the pier.

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Quick reference

Tar Barrel Brewery & Distillery - Steinfest 72 Watt Road, Mornington | Until Sunday 18 October 2026 | tarbarrel.com.au

Arthurs Seat Summit Track Sekers Reserve, Arthurs Seat Road, Arthurs Seat | Open daily, no booking | Allow 90 min return

Come and Try Fishing - Mornington Pier Mornington Pier, Mornington | Friday 16 October, 10:45–11:45am | Free, register at Eventbrite