Mornington Peninsula: SUP, Hike, & Hot Springs Trip w/ Lunch

The best part of this Mornington Peninsula day is its mix: you start on the water, trade your paddle for a coastal trail, then finish in geothermal pools. In one outing, you get active time outdoors and a proper chance to slow down.

I like the small group, capped at nine, and the practical combination of a SUP lesson, guided hike, local picnic, wine tasting, and hot springs entry. I also like that lunch centers on fresh regional produce rather than being an afterthought between activities.

The main consideration is the pace. There is a lot to fit into one day, and the paddle and hike call for moderate fitness. If you do not swim, have mobility limitations, or want an unhurried spa visit, this is not the right fit.

The day at a glance

• Paddle Port Phillip Bay: Take a 1.5-hour SUP lesson and tour with a qualified instructor near the colorful bathing boxes. Dolphins and other marine life are possible, not guaranteed.
• Walk the Peninsula’s coast: Spend about two hours on a guided hike through forest or along coastal trails, with ocean views and chances to spot native wildlife.
• Eat local by the sea: Pick up fresh ingredients at an organic farm gate, then enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic beach viewpoint.
• Taste Peninsula wine: Stop at a relaxed winery for a tasting. Extra drinks cost more.
• End at the hot springs: Spend two hours at Peninsula Hot Springs, where entry includes access to more than 50 global bathing experiences.
• Travel in a small group: Transport, equipment, a guide, towels, water, tea, coffee, and eco-friendly sunscreen are included.

Start at McCrae Lighthouse, then head for the bay

Meet your guide beside McCrae Lighthouse, by the beaches of the Mornington Peninsula. This is the starting and finishing point, so plan your day around getting there independently. Transport is provided during the tour, but the included transport begins and ends on the Peninsula.

The first stop sets the tone: a white-sand beach with the area’s familiar colorful bathing boxes, followed by a SUP lesson and guided paddle on Port Phillip Bay. You do not need to arrive knowing how to paddleboard. A qualified instructor leads the lesson and tour, and all the equipment is included.

Allow around 1.5 hours on the water. The appeal is not just trying a new sport. From the bay, you can take in the coastline and the backdrop of Arthur’s Seat, known in the local Aboriginal language as Wonga. Dolphins are sometimes close by, so keep an eye on the water, but treat a sighting as a lucky extra rather than a promise.

The tour may change if conditions make paddleboarding unsuitable. An alternative inland waterway or another activity, such as biking, may replace it. That flexibility helps the day go ahead, but it also means the water portion is weather dependent.

After the paddle, you have about 30 minutes for a break and a chance to change or get a coffee or tea. Bring a change of clothes and swimwear, and wear shoes you can manage on the beach. The tour supplies towels, but you will still want clothes suitable for the rest of the day.

Follow the coastal trails into the national park

Next comes a guided hike in Mornington Peninsula National Park, with about two hours set aside for walking and wildlife viewing. Depending on the route, expect a eucalypt forest bushwalk or a coastal trail with ocean views. The route can lead toward a secluded bay and natural rock pools, giving the day a quieter counterpoint to the active paddle.

The scenery is a big part of the value here. From the coast, you get a different view of the Peninsula than you would from a car window, while the forest trails bring you into habitat for wildlife such as kangaroos, wallabies, and echidnas. These animals are not guaranteed sightings, but the chance to look for them adds interest to the walk.

This is a guided outing, not a choose-your-own-pace hike. Comfortable sports shoes are important, and the tour calls for moderate fitness. If you have trouble walking on trails or standing for extended periods, take that seriously before booking. The experience is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Pick up local produce and picnic by the sea

Before lunch, the group visits an organic farm gate to collect fresh ingredients. The meal is a picnic of local produce, served at a beach viewpoint. That simple setup suits the day: you eat outdoors, take in the coastal setting, and get a taste of regional food without adding another formal restaurant stop.

Lunch is included, which helps the $204 price make more sense. So are drinking water, tea, and coffee. If you have a particular dietary requirement, the supplied details do not say what options are available, so check with the operator before booking rather than assuming the picnic can be adjusted.

The timing is worth keeping in mind. The picnic follows the hike, so you will have already spent time moving outdoors before you sit down to eat. A rain jacket and weather-appropriate clothing are sensible additions, since the tour recommends bringing rain gear.

Taste wine with a view

A laid-back winery visit adds a slower, more social stop to the day. You get a wine tasting at a local vineyard, with views across the Peninsula. It is a concise introduction rather than a full winery tour: the tasting is included, but additional drinks are not.

The winery stop rounds out the region’s food focus. You have already picked up fresh ingredients for lunch, and now you get to sample local wine in its own setting. If you prefer not to drink, the supplied information does not describe an alternative tasting, so consider that when deciding whether this stop is a draw for you.

The schedule lists a scenic drive and a brief photo stop as well as the tasting. The precise order of stops may vary, but expect time in the vehicle between the coast, the park, the vineyard, and the hot springs. You are covering several parts of the Peninsula in one day, not settling into one spot.

Slow down at Peninsula Hot Springs

The final major stop is Peninsula Hot Springs, with about two hours for bathing. Entry is included, along with towel service. The springs offer more than 50 global bathing experiences, including geothermal pools, an amphitheater of pools, ice caves, saunas, and hammocks.

This is the day’s clearest change of pace. After paddling and walking, you can spend time in the pools and other bathing areas instead of rushing straight back to the meeting point. Two hours is enough to enjoy the visit, but it is not a whole afternoon at the springs. Any additional spa experiences beyond the included entry cost extra.

Bring swimwear and a change of clothes. The tour is not suitable for non-swimmers, even though the hot springs are not a paddle activity, and it is not designed for children under 12. The description also says minors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

What the $204 price covers

At $204 per person, this is a full-day package, not a single activity with a few add-ons. The price includes the SUP lesson and equipment, guided hike, hot springs entry, picnic lunch, wine tasting, transport during the day, guide, towel service, eco-friendly sunscreen, and drinking water, tea, and coffee.

That bundle is the main value. Booking each experience separately would mean arranging transport between stops and managing several activities on your own. Here, the guide links the day together and the small group keeps the outing personal. The group limit of nine is especially useful on a day that involves changing activities, equipment, and multiple locations.

The cost is less compelling if you only want one part of the program. Someone focused solely on paddleboarding or a long spa visit may find the schedule too packed. You also need to budget for extra drinks at the winery or additional spa experiences, neither of which is included.

The trip has received five-star ratings, with comments highlighting the amount covered, the small-group format, and the day’s organization. That feedback fits the structure: the activities are varied but linked by the Peninsula’s coastline, food, and outdoor setting. Still, a strong overall rating does not change the practical trade-offs. You need to be comfortable with a full schedule and flexible about weather.

Who will enjoy this trip most

I would consider this for an active visitor staying in or near the Mornington Peninsula who wants more than a beach day. It suits friends, couples, and small groups who enjoy trying different activities and do not mind changing clothes between them. The outing also works well for someone who wants a guide to handle the day’s transport and transitions.

It is a particularly good match if you like the contrast between exertion and relaxation: paddle first, walk next, then soak. The small-group cap and broad mix of stops make it a strong way to sample several sides of the region without planning each one separately.

Skip it if you want a slow, spa-centered day, cannot swim, or are not comfortable with moderate activity. Children under 12 are not suitable, and anyone under 18 must attend with an adult. The weather can also alter the paddleboarding plan, so book with an open mind about the exact shape of the day.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts and finishes beside McCrae Lighthouse on the Mornington Peninsula.

How long does the experience last?

It is a full-day trip. Check the available booking times for the exact start time.

Is the SUP lesson included?

Yes. The tour includes a stand-up paddleboard lesson and tour with a qualified instructor, plus equipment.

Do I need to know how to paddleboard?

No prior experience is specified as a requirement. The tour includes a lesson, but you do need to be able to swim and have moderate fitness.

What happens if the weather is unsuitable for paddleboarding?

The activity may move to an inland waterway, or the tour may include another activity such as biking.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A picnic lunch featuring fresh local produce is included.

Does the price include the wine tasting?

Yes. The tasting is included, but additional drinks at the winery cost extra.

How much time is spent at Peninsula Hot Springs?

The schedule allows about two hours. Entry and bathing are included, while additional spa experiences are not.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable or sports shoes, swimwear, a change of clothes, rain gear, water shoes, and sportswear. Large bags, plastic bags, and plastic bottles are not allowed.