I have recently accepted a job as Domain Review Magazine Travel Writer. This is a sample of my work.

 

MORNING PENINSULA 

Being just over an hour from Melbourne CBD, Mornington Peninsula provides all the essentials for an ultimate getaway without the stress of travel. Whether you are there for action packed adventure or a relaxing weekend of rest and relaxation, Mornington Peninsula has something for everyone and then some more. 

• EATING: Trendy cafes and instagramable menu options have made the short trek from Melbourne’s laneways to the shores of the Peninsula – and the industrial estate behind it. Commonfolk Coffee Company, found in the industrial estate of Mornington, is a must visit venue for brunch, lunch or afternoon drinks. Providing a broad range of menu items for anytime of the day and consideration for all dietary requirements a large party or small, including children, will walk away satisfied – and very full. The Commonfolk Coffee Company provides a variety of coffee options for customers to try free of charge on site, and also enlist a wide range of local beverage selections with collaborations with breweries and wineries in the area that can be consumed on site or bought to take home. 
• SHOPPING: Main Street Mornington is a go to for all high end and mainstream fashion, interior design and gardening shopping needs. Mixing boutiques with retail chain stores, cafes and wellbeing service, including hairdressers, barbers, nail salons and massage parlours, the Main Street is a one stop shop and a beautiful walk to fill your afternoon. For food shopping, the newly renovated Dromana IGA on Point Nepean Road, almost directly across the road from Dromana pier, provides one of the most wonderful displays of delicatessens, an onsite bakery and fresh seafood to choose from. Whilst also supplying all the basics of an IGA supermarket, a walk through the store will not disappoint in stocking up on the best of the peninsula’s produce – with helpful experts on site to point you in the right direction to build the perfect platter or meal. For a unique shopping experience, whether you’re looking to buy or browse, a trip to Rosebud Vintage Bazaar on Rosebud Parade is one of the best ways to spend 30 minutes of your day. Hosting over 50 individual stall holders, each vintage collectors in their own right, Rosebud Vintage Bazaar provides a place for the best of vintage fashion, decor and art to be bought, traded and sold. Even if you have no intention to buy anything, a wander through the warehouse provides a wonderful trip down memory lane – pre warning: allow time to rummage, once you step foot in the door curiosity will get the best of you!
• INDULGING: A simple indulgence of the Mornington Peninsula is the classic road trip. The roads of the Peninsula are well kept, with options of a ‘front road’ journey with ocean views and beautiful architecture with old style mansions, pubs and council buildings to enjoy along the way. Starting on The Esplanade in Mornington and continuing along to the Sorrento Hotel along the Nepean Highway / Road is a great way to spend 40 minutes. Alternatively, a drive through the hills of Arthur’s Seat navigating your way around paddocks and forests to Gunnamatta Back Beach gives a wonderful sense of being away from the world pointing out wildlife and stopping off at some wineries along the way is the perfect way to spend the afternoon. A variety of other activities exist to fill your day, I would highly recommend a visit to Peninsula Hotspring, providing incredible views of the surrounding wilderness whilst enjoying natural and manmade hot springs that can be enjoyed year round, this is the ideal places to catch your breath and relax for a couple of hours. For those looking for more of an adrenaline rush – Gunnamatta Trail Rides is a horse lovers delight giving beginners to experts the opportunity to ride horses along St Andrews beach and an outback trail through the south of the Peninsula.