Ultimate Peninsula Adventure: Stand Up Paddle, Hot Springs, Hike, Lunch & Winery

The best thing about this Mornington Peninsula day is the mix of water, bush, food, wine, and hot springs. You start on Port Phillip Bay with a SUP lesson, walk along the southern coast to rock pools, then finish with a soak and a tasting at Kerri Greens Winery. It gives you a broad taste of the region without making you plan six separate stops.

I like the included equipment and practical touches: towels, reef-safe sunscreen, reusable water bottles, coffee, and tea are all supplied. I also like the relaxed guiding style associated with Nic, who gives the group room for quiet and conversation while keeping the day moving. The main consideration is fitness. You need to handle stand up paddleboarding and a guided bushwalk, and nine hours is a full day.

Key points at a glance

• SUP beside Mornington Peninsula bathing boxes: Learn the basics before paddling on Port Phillip Bay, with a chance to spot local dolphins.
• A coastal walk to rock pools: The guided hike reaches a secluded beach and adds a wilder side of the peninsula.
• A proper local-produce picnic: Lunch, coffee, tea, water, and refreshments are included, so you are not searching for food between activities.
• Hot Springs entry is included: You can relax at Peninsula Hot Springs after the active part of the day.
• Wine tasting at Kerri Greens Winery: The final stop brings in a local cellar-door experience at a laid-back winery.
• Small-group transport: The air-conditioned WAM van carries a maximum of nine people and returns you to McCrae Lighthouse.

Why this Mornington Peninsula day works

Mornington Peninsula can be awkward to cover without a car. Beaches, walking areas, hot springs, and wineries are spread across the region, and arranging equipment, lunch, entry fees, and transport adds up quickly. This tour puts the major pieces into one long day, with pickup offered and the day beginning and ending at McCrae Lighthouse.

I like the way the schedule alternates effort and rest. You begin with SUP, move to a bushwalk, stop for lunch, then spend time at the hot springs before wine tasting. That order matters. You are not being asked to paddle after a long winery lunch, and the hot springs arrive when your legs will welcome them.

The group size is capped at nine. That is small enough for a guide to keep an eye on the group during the paddle and walk, while still giving the day a social feel. The WAM van is air-conditioned and described as a retreat on wheels, which is useful after time outdoors and during the transfers between stops.

At the listed price of $207.28 per person, the value depends on how much of the package you would otherwise pay for separately. You get transport, SUP instruction and equipment, a guided hike, lunch, hot springs bathing, wine tasting, water, a towel, sunscreen, and fees. If you planned to combine these activities independently, the cost and organization could quickly approach the tour price, without the convenience of a guide and a prepared route.

Starting beside the McCrae bathing boxes

The 8:00 am meeting point is McCrae Lighthouse, at 676 Point Nepean Road in McCrae. From there, the day begins on a sandy beach near the peninsula’s iconic bathing boxes.

The opening SUP lesson is designed to get you comfortable on the board before the group heads out on Port Phillip Bay. The experience includes the board, related equipment, and instruction, so you do not need to arrange a rental or arrive with paddleboarding experience.

The water is described as clear, and local dolphins may be seen in the area. That sighting is not guaranteed, so treat it as a pleasant possibility rather than the main reason to book. The real value is the chance to see the bay from the water, with the bathing boxes and shoreline providing a memorable start.

You should expect to get wet. Bring suitable swimwear and clothing for outdoor activity, even though a towel is supplied. Reef-safe sunscreen is available, but you may still prefer to bring personal sun protection that suits you.

Paddling Port Phillip Bay

The SUP section is one of the tour’s most distinctive features. Many peninsula day trips stay on the road, while this one puts you on the water early, when you are fresh.

The lesson is important for first-timers. Standing on a paddleboard looks simple until the board moves under your feet, so having instruction before the tour makes the activity more approachable. The guide can also keep the group together and help you make better use of the limited morning time.

This is still an active outing, not a gentle sightseeing cruise. You need a moderate level of physical fitness, and balance, paddling, and getting on and off the board all require some effort. If you are uncertain about your ability, the tour description does not promise a seated alternative, so you should ask the operator before booking.

The supplied reusable bottle is a useful touch. You can refill and carry water through the day instead of relying on single-use plastic. That fits the operator’s stated focus on environmental and community support, while also being practical for a day that includes water and walking.

Walking the southern coast to the rock pools

After the paddle, the tour heads toward the southern coastline for a guided bushwalk. The route leads to a secluded beach with rock pools, giving you a quieter side of the peninsula than the better-known coastal stops.

A guided walk adds more than direction. It helps the group stay on schedule and makes it easier to find a specific coastal viewpoint and beach without spending your day checking maps. The walk also changes the pace after the SUP session. You remain active, but the experience shifts from balance and paddling to walking, coastline views, and time around the pools.

The exact walking distance and terrain are not stated, so you should plan for an outdoor walk rather than a casual stroll. Wear sturdy, comfortable footwear and expect uneven ground. The moderate fitness requirement is the clearest guide here.

Rock pools are best appreciated slowly. You might find small marine life or changing reflections depending on conditions, but the appeal is the setting itself: a less developed beach, coastal rock, and a pause away from the busier parts of the peninsula. The tour presents this as a guided nature stop, not a swimming or snorkeling session, so do not assume water activities are part of this section.

Picnic lunch with a coastal view

Once the paddle and walk are done, the group stops at a beach viewpoint for a boxed picnic. Lunch is included, along with fresh local produce and other refreshments, plus coffee and tea.

This is more useful than it may sound. A packed lunch keeps the schedule intact, and you do not lose time looking for a cafe between outdoor activities. It also means the day’s food is planned as part of the experience rather than treated as an afterthought.

You can expect a shared picnic setting rather than a formal restaurant meal. If you have specific dietary needs, the supplied details do not explain the menu or special-diet arrangements, so contact Wild Adventures Melbourne before booking. The same applies to allergies.

The viewpoint provides a natural break after the walk. I like this middle section because it gives you time to talk, enjoy the setting, and recover before the hot springs. The guiding style is meant to leave room for both conversation and quiet, which suits a picnic better than a tightly managed lunch stop.

Soaking at Peninsula Hot Springs

The hot springs are the day’s main comfort stop, and bathing entry is included. After a morning on the water and a coastal walk, warm pools offer a clear change of gear.

You receive towel service, but lockers and gowns are optional extras and are not included. That is worth noting when you budget. If you want secure storage or a gown, bring funds for those additions or confirm current arrangements before departure.

The stop is not simply a quick photo opportunity. The itinerary includes bathing at Peninsula Hot Springs, so you have a proper chance to relax. The exact amount of time at the springs is not provided, and the full day has several stops, so do not assume unlimited access or an entire afternoon there.

This part suits people who want an active day without giving up comfort. It also helps explain the tour’s price. Hot springs entry alone would be an extra cost on a self-planned day, and the visit is timed as a reward after the physical activities.

Wine tasting at Kerri Greens Winery

The final stop is Kerri Greens Winery, described as a laid-back winery where wine tasting is included. Ending with wine makes sense: the active portion is finished, and you can settle into a slower local experience before returning to McCrae Lighthouse.

The tasting gives the day a regional food and drink angle without turning the tour into a winery-only outing. You have already seen the bay and coast, so the cellar-door stop feels like another part of the peninsula rather than the whole point of the trip.

Alcoholic beverages are included through the wine tasting. If you do not drink, the supplied information does not state what non-alcoholic alternatives are offered, so ask the operator in advance. You should also pace yourself, since the day begins early and ends back at the meeting point after a demanding schedule.

The winery is a good fit for people who want a social finish. It may be less appealing if you prefer a long, detailed wine-focused tour with several estates, since this package includes only one winery stop alongside four other major activities.

Guide style, transport, and timing

The experience lasts about nine hours and starts at 8:00 am. That early beginning gives the tour time to fit in the paddle, hike, lunch, hot springs, and winery without making each stop feel like a rushed photo break.

The operator uses an air-conditioned WAM van for the day. It is part transport and part rest space, which matters after the paddle and walk. The group maximum is nine, and the activity ends back at McCrae Lighthouse.

The guide’s style is a real part of the experience. Nic is described as laid-back but attentive, giving people space for conversation or quiet while keeping the group to its schedule. That balance is especially valuable on a full-day outing. You want enough structure to reach every stop, but not so much narration that every minute feels managed.

The day requires good weather. If conditions cause cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. The minimum group requirement also applies, with another date, another experience, or a full refund offered if the minimum is not met.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded, so keep the local 24-hour cut-off in mind.

Who should book this experience

I would choose this tour if you want to see several sides of the Mornington Peninsula in one organized day. It suits active couples, friends, solo visitors who enjoy small groups, and locals arranging a full day for visiting family.

It is especially useful if you do not have a car or do not want to assign a sober driver after wine tasting. Transport connects the scattered stops, and the included lunch removes another planning task.

You should be comfortable with a moderate physical day. SUP and a coastal bushwalk come before the hot springs, and the tour does not present itself as a passive sightseeing ride. If you want a slow winery lunch, a long beach stay, or a full day at the springs, this schedule may feel too packed.

The tour also works well for people who care about small practical details. Reusable bottles, reef-safe sunscreen, local produce, and support for local businesses are built into the day. These touches will not matter as much if your only goal is the lowest possible price.

Should you book it?

Book this experience if you want one well-organized day with real variety: paddleboarding at the bay, a coastal walk, local food, hot springs, and wine. The strongest value comes from the amount included, the small group, and the fact that transport links places that are difficult to combine without a car.

Think twice if you dislike water activities, need a very gentle walking day, or want to spend most of your time at one winery or at the hot springs. For everyone else with moderate fitness, the balanced schedule and relaxed guiding style make this a strong way to sample the Mornington Peninsula without spending your day behind the wheel.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at McCrae Lighthouse, 676 Point Nepean Road, McCrae, Victoria.

What time does the experience begin?

The start time is 8:00 am.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at McCrae Lighthouse.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately nine hours.

Is transport included?

Yes. Transport is provided in an air-conditioned WAM van, and the group size is limited to a maximum of nine people.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A boxed picnic lunch with fresh local produce and refreshments is included. Coffee and tea are also provided.

Is stand up paddleboarding included?

Yes. The tour includes a stand up paddleboarding lesson, equipment, and a tour on Port Phillip Bay.

Is Peninsula Hot Springs entry included?

Yes. Entry and bathing at Peninsula Hot Springs are included. Lockers and gowns are optional extras and are not included.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. The same options apply if the minimum number of participants is not met.