The Mornington Peninsula in winter

We love the peninsula in summer, but it makes a lovely winter escape too. The things it does best, hot water, good food, fires and long walks, all feel better on a cold day. Here's how we'd spend a winter weekend.

Soak at the hot springs

Peninsula Hot Springs in Fingal is fed by natural geothermal mineral springs, and a cold day is the best excuse to go. The Bath House has about 50 bathing experiences, from the Hilltop Pool to the Cave Pool and the Bathing Gully, plus wet and dry saunas. For something quieter, the adults-only Spa Dreaming Centre has about 20 more, with infrared and traditional saunas. Across the springs there's also a Turkish hamam steam bath, cold plunge pools, private bathing and spa treatments. Check sessions and book on their site before you go.

Long lunches by the fire

Winter is made for a long lunch in the hills. These are the wineries we'd book on a cold day, and there's more in our guide to the wineries.

Walk it off

Rug up and get out between the showers.

• Arthurs Seat Summit Circuit: a 1.8 km loop of about an hour from Seawinds Gardens, with views across the bay from the 314-metre summit on a clear day. Warm up after with a coffee at the Eagle Cafe, at the summit station of the gondola.
• Millionaires Walk: an easy 1 km bayside path between Lentell Avenue in Sorrento and Point King Road, and part of the Sorrento Portsea Artists' Trail.
• An ocean beach: a windswept walk on the sand at Gunnamatta, towards Cape Schanck, clears the head. Stay well back from the surf.

There's more in our guide to the walks.

When it rains

Spend the afternoon at the hot springs, or settle in for a long winery lunch. The Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, at the Civic Reserve on Dunns Road in Mornington, is the largest public gallery in Melbourne's south-east, and a good place to wait out a downpour.

Come home to a fire

The best part of a winter weekend is the evening in. These homes are made for it:

• Rustic Rye Retreat, Rye: an outdoor tub on the lawn under festoon lights.
• The Nest, Tootgarook: an outdoor bath and a sauna for two.
• The Stillhouse, Rye: a barrel sauna in the garden.
• The Wanderer, Rye: a wood heater inside, an outdoor bath outside.
• Martha's Maison, Mount Martha: a spa on a covered deck looking over the bay.
• Play on Balcombe, Mount Martha: a barrel sauna and an outdoor fireplace.