Drink - Two Bays Brewing Co, Dromana
Two Bays is Australia’s first dedicated gluten-free brewery, but that descriptor undersells it badly. The pale ale and session IPA are genuinely good beers that need no qualifier attached. The Dromana taproom is small and unfussy - no fairy lights, no barn doors - and the rotating taps reward showing up in different seasons. Spring is when the head brewer typically introduces lighter, drier styles that suit a warm Tuesday afternoon on the deck. Order the tasting paddle first. You’ll know within four samples which beer deserves a full pour. Food runs to pizzas, burgers, and charcuterie: functional, not the reason you’re here. For coeliacs this is a rare find; for everyone else it’s simply a solid local brewery doing the work. Allow ninety minutes.
Two Bays Brewing Co, 1/13 Collins Road, Dromana. Thursday–Sunday; check twobaysbrewing.com.au for hours. Walk-ins welcome, no booking required.
Pair the afternoon with a late stop at Small Stone Pantry in Dromana before you head home.
Walk - Baldry’s Creek Spider Orchid Loop, Balnarring
The spider orchids along the Baldry’s Creek Reserve loop at Balnarring are in flower right now, and the window is narrow - a fortnight at most before they set seed and disappear into the grass. This is a short 4-kilometre circuit that starts from the Balnarring Recreation Reserve car park on Balnarring Road. The ground flora here is intact enough that in late October you can count a dozen spider orchid species without leaving the marked trail. Bring something with a macro lens if you have one. The track surface is dry by mid-morning most days this week; it does cut up after rain. Stay strictly on the path - the orchids are easily crushed and don’t recover. Go before 11am if you can: the light is better and the reserve is quieter on weekdays.
Baldry’s Creek Reserve, Balnarring Road, Balnarring. Free entry. Allow 45–60 minutes. No booking required.
The Emu Plains Market at Balnarring Reserve runs Saturdays 9am–2pm through December - combine both on Saturday 24 October.
Discovery - McClelland Sculpture Park & Gallery, Langwarrin
McClelland Sculpture Park in Langwarrin is one of the most underused cultural assets on the northern Peninsula. The permanent outdoor collection spans several hectares of bushland, and spring is the correct season to see it - the native understorey is flowering, sightlines open up between sculptures, and afternoon light at this latitude does real work. The indoor gallery runs a changing program; check mcclellandgallery.com for the current spring exhibition and any ticketed events before you visit, rather than assuming walk-in access to everything. The sculpture walk alone takes forty-five minutes at a measured pace. It’s a complete experience on its own, not a warm-up act for somewhere else. Children handle it better than most galleries because there’s nothing to accidentally touch wrong. Closed Mondays.
McClelland Sculpture Park & Gallery, 390 McClelland Drive, Langwarrin. Open Tuesday–Sunday. Check mcclellandgallery.com for current exhibition details and hours.
Pair with lunch at Jetty Road Brewery in Dromana on the way back up the Nepean Highway.
This week at a glance
| Venue | Address | Practical | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drink | Two Bays Brewing Co | 1/13 Collins Road, Dromana | Thu–Sun, walk-ins welcome, twobaysbrewing.com.au |
| Walk | Baldry’s Creek Reserve | Balnarring Road, Balnarring | Free, 45–60 min, peak spider orchid week |
| Discovery | McClelland Sculpture Park & Gallery | 390 McClelland Drive, Langwarrin | Tue–Sun, check mcclellandgallery.com |
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Questions readers actually ask
FAQ
Where is Two Bays Brewing Co and when is it open?
Two Bays Brewing Co is at 1/13 Collins Road, Dromana. Open Thursday to Sunday; check twobaysbrewing.com.au for current hours before you go.
Where exactly does the Balnarring spider orchid walk start?
The Baldry's Creek Reserve loop starts from the Balnarring Recreation Reserve car park on Balnarring Road. Allow 45–60 minutes. No booking required; wear closed shoes and stay on the marked trail to protect the orchids.
What is currently showing at McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery?
McClelland's outdoor sculpture collection is open daily in Langwarrin. Check mcclellandgallery.com for the current spring exhibition schedule and any ticketed events before visiting.
