A lunch that feels like a whole farm visit. Green Olive at Red Hill turns seasonal produce into grazing plates with estate drinks, set with vineyard and garden views. I also really like the small size, you and a partner or travel buddy, which keeps the whole meal relaxed instead of rushed.

The other big reason I think this works is the dog-friendly setup. You can bring your pet along and still enjoy a calm, scenic meal on the Mornington Peninsula. One thing to consider: the experience is only two hours, so if you want a long, walk-around-the-estate type day, pair it with extra time before or after.

Key things I’d circle before you book

• A true farm focus: olives, grapes, herbs, veggies, lemons, hops, bush food, plus sheep, all on a 27 acre property
• Grazing-style lunch built from what the farm grows, not generic catering food
• Vineyard, kitchen garden, and ducks on the dam views while you eat and drink
• Estate drinks included: a glass of wine, beer, or cider per person, plus a bottle of still or sparkling water
• Dessert and farm roasted coffee: you finish the meal without needing to hunt for a café
• Limited to 2 participants: a quieter setting that suits couples and small groups

Green Olive at Red Hill: what kind of lunch experience is this?

This is not a typical winery tasting where you stand around with a paper cup and a timeline. This is a sit-down farm lunch where food and drink are tied to what the farm is doing. You come to a working 27 acre place in Red Hill on the Mornington Peninsula, about one hour from Melbourne. That matters because it shapes the vibe. It feels like you are visiting a real food producer, not just stopping by for a postcard photo.

The format is simple and smart. You get two seasonal grazing plates to share, each plate is chosen for you as part of the experience. Then you add dessert for both people, followed by farm roasted coffee or loose leaf tea. If you like the idea of eating your way through a place rather than touring it for hours, you will probably love this style.

The “grazing plates” approach: why it’s a good fit

Grazing food has a built-in advantage. It’s flexible, sharing-friendly, and it tends to highlight variety without forcing you into a heavy multi-course meal. Here, the plates are inspired by farm produce and paired with the property’s estate wines and drinks. That is the key. You are not just paying for location and views. You are paying for a meal that is meant to be tied to the land.

In practice, the biggest value is how the grazing format supports conversation. You can move through bites at your pace, and the plates are meant to feel connected to what you are seeing around you. When you look over the vineyard and kitchen garden while you eat, the food and the setting click together instead of feeling random.

One small caution: grazing style is still sharing style. So if you and your partner have very different food preferences, you might want to double-check how the plates are selected. The experience includes plates of your choice to share, but the exact breakdown isn’t spelled out in the info you were given.

What the setting is really like: vineyard views, garden, and ducks

The views are a major part of the appeal, and the description gives you a pretty clear idea of what you’ll see. You’ll sit and take in the vineyard and kitchen garden, plus you can watch the ducks on the dam. That combination does something nice. It keeps the whole meal from feeling formal. It’s scenic, but also grounded in daily life on a working farm.

That pond and vineyard feel also showed up in high ratings. People called out the idyllic views and the unique feeling of eating right among the food. I like that it’s not just a view in the distance. The greenery is close, so the experience feels personal, like the farm is part of your plate.

Practical tip: bring a light layer, even in warmer months. Sitting outside with wine and coffee is great, but coastal Victoria weather can shift fast.

Drinks included: estate wine plus water, no extra splash needed

One of the easiest value wins here is the drinks. You each get a glass of wine, beer, or cider, plus a bottle of still or sparkling water. For many similar experiences, wine is either extra or limited to tasting pours. Here, it’s built into the price, and you still get a full meal.

If you are planning this as part of a day trip from Melbourne, that matters. You can spend less time budgeting and more time enjoying. Also, having a water bottle included helps keep things comfortable. Two hours goes by quickly when you are sipping and eating, and hydration makes the whole afternoon better.

The flow of the 2-hour experience

You’re looking at a tight schedule, so it helps to know what happens first. Starting times are listed as 11:45pm or 2:00pm and the business operates Thursday to Monday. Yes, the first time looks unusual. When you book, double-check the exact start time shown for your date so you arrive at the right moment.

Once you’re seated, here’s how the meal experience usually plays out based on the details provided:

1) Arrive, get set up, and enjoy the views

You’ll be in a sit-down setting where you can see the vineyard, kitchen garden, and ducks by the dam. This is the “slow down” phase. Instead of rushing to an exhibit, you settle in and let the farm scenery set the tone.

If you bring a dog, this is where that dog-friendly environment helps most. You are not forcing your pet through crowded indoor rules. You’re spending your time outdoors and on farm ground where the vibe is naturally more relaxed.

2) Grazing plates and your included glass

Next comes the two grazing plates to share, with wine, beer, or cider for each person. This is where the farm focus becomes real. The plates are described as grazing style food inspired by farm produce and estate wines.

If you like variety, this part is built for you. Grazing meals typically let you taste more than you would in a single plated dish, and sharing keeps it social.

3) Dessert for each person

After the plates, you get a farm-made dessert of your choice for each person. Dessert inclusion is a value move. It turns the experience from “just lunch” into a complete food outing, not something you might later regret skipping by stopping at a separate dessert shop.

4) Farm roasted coffee or loose leaf tea

Then you finish with farm roasted coffee or loose leaf tea for each person. Coffee is a small detail, but it’s the kind that makes the end of the experience feel cared for. It also helps if you are pairing this with driving, because you can enjoy a proper warm drink rather than reaching for an energy drink later.

Price and value: why $106 for two can make sense

The price is listed as $106 per group up to 2, for 2 hours. On its face, that’s not a “grab a sandwich” price. But here’s why it can still feel fair: the cost includes the meal and multiple parts of the dining experience.

You get:

• A glass of wine, beer, or cider per person
• A bottle of still or sparkling water
• Two grazing plates to share
• Farm-made dessert for each person
• Farm roasted coffee or loose leaf tea for each person

So you are not just paying for a spot in a scenic winery. You are paying for a packaged lunch that includes the stuff people usually end up adding on separately: drinks, dessert, and a proper finish with coffee.

If you are traveling as a couple and want a simple, low-planning plan, this price can be a good fit. It’s also small group limited to 2 participants, which usually means less waiting around and more attention.

Who this fits best (and who should rethink it)

This is a strong match if you:

• Like farm-to-table style experiences
• Want scenic wine country without the busy crowds
• Prefer sharing plates over heavy plated mains
• Are bringing a pet and want a place that is genuinely dog-friendly
• Want a neat 2-hour slot that still feels like a full outing

You might want to rethink it if you:

• Want a long, multi-hour tour that includes walking lots of trails
• Need very specific dietary plans that require a lot of customization, since the details provided don’t describe dietary substitutions

Simple planning tips so it feels easy

This outing is best treated as the centerpiece of a short wine country block. Since it’s about two hours, plan your day around it instead of trying to cram in five stops.

• If you’re from Melbourne, treat it like a calm afternoon outing rather than a sprint.
• Wear comfortable shoes, especially if you’ll be moving around the farm area with your dog.
• If you care about timing, show up a few minutes early so you can get settled and enjoy that first view before the meal begins.

And one more tip: if you are a coffee person, plan for the coffee at the end. It’s farm roasted and included, so you won’t need a separate stop afterward.

Should you book Farmers Lunch – Food and Wine for 2?

Yes, if you want a scenic, small-group farm lunch where the food connects to what the property grows. The included meal components, from grazing plates to dessert and farm roasted coffee, make it feel complete for couples. The dog-friendly environment is another reason this stands out, especially if you usually end up leaving your pet behind when you travel.

If you prefer long tours or highly structured winery tastings, you may find it too short. But for a relaxed two-hour outing on the Mornington Peninsula, it’s a smart value, and it sounds like the kind of place where the staff and the setting do the heavy lifting.

FAQ

How long is the Farmers Lunch experience?

The duration is 2 hours.

What time does it run?

Booking times are strictly 11:45pm or 2:00pm.

What is included for two adults?

You get a glass of wine, beer, or cider for each person, a bottle of sparkling or still water, two grazing plates to share, farm made dessert for each person, and a farm roasted coffee or loose leaf tea for each person.

Is it dog-friendly?

Yes, the environment is dog-friendly.

How many people are in the group?

It is a small group limited to 2 participants.

When is it open?

It is open 5 days a week, Thursday to Monday.