The Australian Bucket List

Victoria

Main RidgeHillsides littered in vineyards, orchards, olive groves and extraordinary estates - Main Ridge is one of the peninsula's best kept secrets.

A lush and compact micro-region, Main Ridge is home to some of the peninsula's best food & wine establishments! Roll between cellar doors, meet local wine, cider and cheese makers, dine al fresco or pack a picnic - this little pocket of paradise will capture your heart.

Gallery

Things to do

Dine at Ten Minutes by Tractor

Ten Minutes by Tractor started in 1997 with three family-owned vineyards in Main Ridge, all ten minutes by tractor apart. Over the past 15 years, Martin and Karen have been the driving force that has taken Ten Minutes by Tractor on to become one of the leading cool climate wineries in Australia. At Ten Minutes by Tractor, their passion is great wine and great food. They offer a relaxed and intimate cellar door experience with in-depth tastings where you can discover wines that are a true expression of the unique qualities and characteristics of their vineyards. In the two-hatted restaurant, Chef Adam Sanderson’s innovative menu is driven by fresh regional produce from their local growers and farm gates, their kitchen garden and foraged items from their forests, hills and coastline. This is overlaid with classic French training and experience working in some of the best restaurants in the world, including The Fat Duck and Noma.

Try the apple pies at Johnny Ripe

Johnny Ripe is excited to be collaborating with The Epicurean Red Hill. Enjoy all the Johnny Ripe sweet and savoury treats we all know and love, perfectly paired with locally roasted Little Rebel coffee to enjoy in or take-away. All Johnny Ripe products are made by hand with passion and integrity. Enjoy the beautiful sheltered deck overlooking the Red Hill Lavender Farm and the hills of Main Ridge. Johnny Ripe is best known for its apple pies, for which the apples are hand-peeled. But the team also makes chunky beef and veggie pies, savoury tarts, sausage rolls, buttery croissants and sizeable meringues. The cronuts are another laborious creation that lures visitors.

Indulge in the cheeses of Main Ridge Dairy

Main Ridge Dairy is a Farmhouse cheese factory and goat dairy, offering a true paddock to plate experience. Milking the herd twice daily, they pride themselves in producing milk of the highest quality that is then handmade into a range of award-winning cheeses right there on the farm. Head along to the farmhouse sales outlet and enjoy a tasting of some lovely cheeses. The cheeses include a fresh delicate curd, gooey and decadent white mould, an aged table cheese with a nutty sweet flavour and the very hard to resist Marinated Feta. Sit inside the award-winning building or head outside to sit on the grass and enjoy cheese platter, tea or coffee or a glass of local wine. For a close-up look at the farm, join a dairy tour. Meet the milking herd and watch them being milked, if it is spring you will also meet the babies. Tours run on Saturday afternoons twice a month. Bookings are essential. There is also a lovely lawn area for children to play on, with colouring sheets, kiddie hot chocolates and baby-chinos. Children also usually love the dairy tours, and there is a fold-up change table available in the bathroom.

Go strawberry picking!

Explore the fields and taste the essence of Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm at the largest producer of strawberries in Australia. Nestled in the beautiful hinterland of the Mornington Peninsula right in the heart of its thriving wine region, they welcome you to explore the fields and pick your own world-famous Sunny Ridge Strawberries between the months November and May. Be tempted by their homemade fruit ice creams, heavenly berry inspired desserts and refreshments while relaxing in the cafe. Local gourmet produce and quality giftware available from the retail emporium. There are seasonal fruit and vegetables at the farm gate. Groups welcome. For any further information please contact Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm or visit their website.

Visit Mossy Willow Farm

Mossy Willow is a farm and calming retreat with purpose. They aim to connect their community to the Earth through regenerative farming, education and delicious produce from their market garden. They are located in Main Ridge on the Mornington Peninsula. Their farm gate is open Saturdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

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