Nestled in the hinterland of the Mornington Peninsula, Red Hill is a picturesque town to the south of Melbourne. It was named after its richly coloured soil, which supports a flourishing wine industry. In addition to cool-climate grapes such as Pinot noir, Red Hill is dotted with cherry and apple orchards.
Things to do in Red Hill
At the heart of the community is the Red Hill Recreation Reserve, which features two sporting ovals, tennis courts and a children’s playground. It lies alongside the Ripe N Ready Cherry Farm where you can pick your own fruit in season. On the first Saturday of the month, the Red Hill Community Market takes place nearby to showcase local growers and artisan producers.
If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at truffle hunting, you can do just that with the team at Red Hill Truffles. With the help of trained truffle hunting dogs, you’ll get your hands dirty and learn about the inoculation of the area’s oak, hazelnut and pine trees. After the hunt, you can refuel with truffle-infused dishes that include delicious homemade pizzas.
Red Hill makes an excellent base for exploring the award-winning vineyards of the Mornington Peninsula, including Main Ridge Estate and Polperro Winery. One of the area’s most established vineyards is the Port Phillip Estate, which was first planted in 1987. A short drive north of Red Hill is Foxeys Hangout, where you can dine on farm-to-table fare with a view.
Getting around Red Hill
Red Hill is around 1.5 hours’ drive from the centre of Melbourne and just under two hours from Melbourne Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to Red Hill and exploring the area’s attractions.