Your perfect Peninsula Picnic Basket

With its fertile soils and bevy of beautiful farm gates, the Mornington Peninsula is the perfect spot to sample some of Victoria’s most delectable delicacies if you just follow your tastebuds.

I love spending a morning building my own picnic, full of fresh food from some of my favourite local producers. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day than a long, lazy picnic with family and friends.

My first stop is Hawkes Farm in Boneo, a one stop shop for your fresh produce and pantry needs. Here you will find a bounty of fruit and veg, cheeses, preserves and a local favourite, Johnny Ripe apple pies. On weekends, you will find me beating the lunch time crowds for their famous thrice cooked hot chips which are hand cut from their kipfler potatoes. Hands down the best chips in Victoria.

Tuerong Farm is my go-to for home grown grain and quality bread. Their sourdough is like no other and is naturally leavened and slow fermented. It’s a hit with my loved ones, slathered with local preserves and goats cheese for good measure. All of which you can pick up at Hawkes Farm.

Along the way, I drop into Rocky Creek Strawberry Farm, where I pick a kilogram of their luscious strawberries for my picnic basket. This is one of my favourite spots to visit with the kids to pick-your-own and a delicious strawberry desert or traditional Devonshire tea.

Main Ridge Dairy is my next stop. I am greeted by the bleating of their resident goats and make a beeline to Billies, the cheese tasting room to pick up some fresh cheeses. My favourite at the moment is the Capony, a lightly ashed white-mould ripened cheese. This one is quite mild as far as goats cheeses go, especially when eaten young and has a slightly sweet, caramel tone to cut through its creaminess.

With my picnic basket brimming with gourmet goodies, I find a shady spot at Seawinds Gardens at the top of Arthurs Seat overlooking the sparkling waters of Port Phillip Bay beyond. I lay out the picnic blanket and start assembling some casual platters, pour a cider and wait for my friends to arrive. All I hear is the breeze in the treetops and a chorus of bird song.

I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day.