Lakeside Villas Mornington Peninsula

It’s not often my mum spoils herself, always opting to buy a special treat for her children, hubby or friend rather than herself. So to spoil her a little this mother’s day I decided to treat her to a stay at the Lakeside Villas on the Crittenden Estate to celebrate my parent’s recent move to the Mornington Peninsula.

Nestled on the picturesque Crittenden Estate, the Lakeside Villas Mornington Peninsula are literally floating among the vines. Three weatherboard villas have been built on stilts over the lake to take advantage of the spectacular views over the vineyard. Perfectly positioned in the heart of the Peninsula, the Lakeside Villas are a perfect base for exploring what the Mornington Peninsula is most renowned for – its food, wine and relaxation. And with an award winning restaurant and wine centre on site, what better place to eat, drink, kickback and relax than this!?

Autumn is the perfect time to visit, with leaves revealing a kaleidoscope of autumnal colours and warm hues in the patchwork of grapevines.

The Lakeside Villas is the kind of place you want to jump on the bed once checking in out of sheer excitement! Beautifully decorated throughout, the villa makes you feel immediately at home with its homely touches and cosy furniture. All one-bedroom villas feature a fully equipped kitchen and adjoining  dining and lounge area. Guests have access to tennis courts, a garden, barbecue facilities, an on-site restaurant and a wine tasting centre.

The king sized bedroom takes advantage of its beautiful views over the lake with floor to ceiling windows.

But it’s the small touches like the little notes around the villa which make you feel immediately at home. We settled in rather quickly, and started with a cup of tea.

Then discovered their collection of boardgames and cards! Of course I had to challenge mum to game or two of Scrabble…

The bathroom was definitely one of the highlights of the villa, especially the oversized bathtub which doubled as a jet spa. I’d challenge you to say no to a bath like this… Of course I had to light the candles and bring a glass of red with me 🙂

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Although it was a little chilly on our visit, the outdoor deck is the perfect place to kick back and relax with a glass of wine or two. This would be a perfect spot to cook a BBQ in summer. But we were more than happy with a bottle of pinot and some cozy blankets to keep us warm.

Whether you’re looking to cook a barbeque, roast or just relax with takeaway, the villa is more than equipped to cater for all options. If you’re looking to eat out, there’s the on-site Stillwater restaurant.

We had a big lunch, so opted to stay indoors and cosy up to the wood fire, listening to the crackling of the wood and rain drops on the tin roof. With treats from the local providore, we prepared a cheese plate filled with yummy treats.

Next time I will definitely remember to bring marshmallows to toast on the fire.

After a good night’s sleep, we were still feeling a little lazy, so enjoyed a coffee in bed until we were caffeinated and ready to take on the world!

Then went for an early morning walk around the lake and the neighbouring Crittenden Estate Restaurant and Wine Centre.

After working up an appetite, we cooked a delicious fry up breakfast on the deck, using the local produce in the breakfast hamper. Sorry little piggy that went to the market!

The poor ducks were getting jealous, so we shared the leftovers with them! The resident ducks are more than happy to flock to your villa in exchange for food.

Once we had checked out, we made our way to the on-site Crittenden Wine Centre. As part of our stay, we received a complimentary wine flight for two people.

Upon arrival, we were welcomed and offered a place to sit and asked which flight we would like, and received tasting notes for each wine. Staff were more than happy to explain the history of the wine and its tasting notes.  Crittenden Estate is well known for the diversity of wine styles it produces, with up to 26 wines available for tasting. My personal favourite were the pinot noirs.

The Lakeside Villas are the ultimate vineyard escape in the Mornington Peninsula. I can’t wait to come back and discover more of its hidden charms.

Things to see & do

Peninsula Hot Springs – www.peninsulahotsprings.com (a must)

Enchanted maze – www.enchantedmaze.com.au (great for kids)

Moonraker dolphin swims – www.moonrakercharters.com.au

Moonlit Sanctuary wildlife conservation park – www.pearcedale-conservation-park.com.au

Sunny Ridge Strawberry farm – www.sunnyridge.com.au (if you like strawberries!)

Horseback Winery tours – www.horsebackwinerytours.com.au

Lakeside Villas

A 25 Harrisons Rd, Dromana VIC 3936
T (03) 5987 3275
W lakesidevillas.com.au