Two rides, one perfect Mornington day. I love how the Arthurs Seat Eagle gondola puts you above the state forest for sweeping bay-and-city views, and then the grazing-style lunch at Green Olive at Red Hill keeps the pace relaxed with farm-grown plates and an estate drink. It feels like you get the best of the region without needing a car or a long hike.

One thing to plan around: lunch has set booking times (11.45am and 2pm), and you’ll need to pick up your vouchers at Green Olive either before or after your lunch slot. If your day runs late, this fixed schedule can be the one small snag.

Key takeaways (worth knowing)

• 25-minute return gondola ride with a real birds-eye perspective over the Mornington Peninsula
• Farm-to-table grazing plates plus a farm-made dessert, all built around fresh produce
• An estate drink included (wine, beer, or cider) plus water and farm-roasted coffee or tea
• Private group for up to two keeps the experience feeling personal
• Wheelchair accessible, making it easier for more people to enjoy the ride and lunch

Arthurs Seat Eagle gondola: 25 minutes above the state forest

This part is the headline. You board the Arthurs Seat Eagle gondola and take a return trip of about 25 minutes total, floating over the state forest toward the highest point on the Mornington Peninsula. The best part is that you’re not just looking at a postcard view from one spot—you’re carried up and across, so the scenery keeps shifting as you climb.

What makes it feel special is the mix of “big view” and “small surprises.” As the gondola rises, you’ll be staring across the bay with the city in the distance. At the same time, you’re high above treetops where you might spot wildlife moving below you. Even if you don’t see animals, the layered feeling—trees in the foreground, open water beyond—gives you a sense of height that’s hard to get from ground level.

Practical note: the gondola operates 10am–5pm, Monday through Sunday (excluding Christmas Day). So if you’re trying to do this early, you’ll want your day lined up with those opening hours.

What you’ll likely notice at the top

The highest point is where people usually get the most out of photos, and it’s also where you can slow down mentally. If you’re the type who likes views but hates crowds, a private group helps. You’re still sharing space with others on the gondola system, but the overall experience is designed for just your small party.

If you’re thinking about your time on site: the gondola ride itself is short and focused. This isn’t a full-day sightseeing circuit with long wandering. It’s a “get up there, look around from above, and come back down” kind of experience.

Green Olive at Red Hill lunch: grazing plates with estate wine

After the ride, you shift into a completely different mood. Green Olive at Red Hill is built around the idea that farms aren’t just backdrops—they’re part of the menu. The place grows olives, grapes, herbs and veggies, hops, and bush food, and it also raises sheep. That matters because the lunch isn’t just about food being tasty. It’s about food being tied to the land you’re standing on.

Your included meal is a grazing setup: you get two grazing plates of your choice to share, plus a farm-made dessert for each person. The practical win here is variety without the stress of ordering a full entrée-and-side meal. You’ll eat at an easy pace and still sample enough to feel like a real lunch, not just a snack.

Then there’s the included drink: you get a glass of wine, beer, or cider for each person, plus a bottle of sparkling or still water. You also get farm-roasted coffee or loose-leaf tea, one each. In other words, you’re not piecing together a meal from a menu where everything costs extra—your key components are already covered.

The scenery while you eat

You’re not eating in a generic dining room. The experience includes time with views over the vineyard, and you can look toward the kitchen garden. There’s also a dam with ducks, which sounds small, but it adds that laid-back, lived-in farm feel. If you’ve been traveling hard, this lunch works as a reset.

A subtle detail that helps: what you choose

Because you choose the grazing plates, you can steer the lunch toward what you actually like. If you’re hungry for different flavors, grazing is a smart style. If you’re not into lots of small bites, you’ll still get enough structure because it comes as a set meal with dessert and included drinks.

How the 210 minutes usually works in real life

The full experience is listed at 210 minutes. That’s the total block for gondola + lunch, and it’s long enough to feel unhurried if you keep yourself on schedule.

Here’s how I’d think about it:

• Start with the gondola: the ride is your scenic focus and sets the day’s tone.
• Move to lunch at Green Olive: the meal is part of the experience, not an add-on.
• Have time for the farm atmosphere: the vineyard/kitchen garden look is part of why the lunch location feels worthwhile.

One consideration is that lunch booking times are 11.45am and 2pm. So your day isn’t fully flexible. If you want a late breakfast or you’ve got morning plans elsewhere, you’ll need to make sure you can still meet your lunch time and get everything sorted at Green Olive.

What you’re paying for: value check on $155 for up to 2

The price is $155 per group up to two people. That can look “pricey” at first glance, but it helps to break it down into what you’re actually getting.

Within that one price, you’re essentially bundling:

• a return gondola ticket (25-minute return journey) for each person
• an included drink for each person (wine, beer, or cider)
• water
• two grazing plates to share (choice included)
• dessert for each person
• coffee or tea for each person

So you’re not paying separately for transport tickets + a meal + drinks + dessert. If you were to build this day yourself, you’d likely end up spending across multiple spots and then paying extra for the “nice-to-have” parts like dessert and a proper drink.

Is it the cheapest way to see the region? No. But it’s built for people who want a smooth day with two signature experiences, without thinking too hard about logistics once it starts.

When this is best value

This package tends to be a strong deal if:

• you’re a couple or traveling with one person and want the two-for-one group format
• you want scenic views plus a farm meal, not just one or the other
• you’d rather choose included plates and drink options than negotiate a menu

When it might feel less worth it

If you’re the kind of traveler who already plans a gondola ride on your own and you’re only looking for casual lunch, you may feel this is “more than you need.” Also, if you won’t enjoy wine/beer/cider, you can still get value through the water, grazing plates, dessert, and coffee/tea—but the drink component may feel like less of a win.

Voucher pickup and timing: the small step that matters

Here’s the one practical thing that can affect your smoothness. Your vouchers must be picked up at Green Olive at Red Hill before or after your lunch booking. That means your lunch slot is the anchor, but voucher pickup is still tied to the Green Olive location.

So plan to arrive with enough breathing room. If you show up right on time, you might feel rushed grabbing the voucher and getting seated. If you arrive early, you’re more comfortable sorting it out and settling in.

Also keep in mind the lunch hours: Green Olive at Red Hill is open 5 days a week, Thursday through Monday, 9am to 5pm. So choose days accordingly. You don’t want to plan a “random day off” only to discover the lunch stop is closed.

Tips that help you get the most out of both halves

A few small moves make the whole day feel easier.

For the gondola ride

• Go ready to spend most of your attention on the view. This ride is short, and the “money moment” is when you’re up and moving.
• Bring something for sun or light wind. You’re near the treetops and at height, so it can feel cooler than you expect.

For lunch at Green Olive

• Use grazing like it’s designed: share, sample, and don’t overthink. Two grazing plates can turn into a nice mix if you split bites instead of each person trying to “win” the plate.
• If you like pairing your meal with a drink, this is simple. You already have a choice of a glass of wine, beer, or cider included per person.

The best pacing strategy

Don’t schedule anything right before lunch that could run late. The lunch time is fixed, and the day works best when you let it flow—gondola, then slow down with farm food and a view.

Who should book this Mornington Peninsula combo

This experience is made for couples and small groups who want two high-quality highlights in one package.

You’ll probably love it if:

• you want scenic time without a long hike
• you enjoy farm-style eating and want to try a grazing plates lunch rather than a heavy sit-down meal
• you’re planning a Victoria base and want an easy day-trip feel
• you value a private group setup for up to two
• you need an experience that’s wheelchair accessible

You might skip it if:

• you’re traveling solo and don’t like paying for a “group up to 2” format
• you’re not interested in gondola viewpoints
• you dislike fixed time slots and prefer fully flexible planning

Should you book the Farmer’s Lunch and Arthurs Seat Eagle ride?

I think this is a solid booking if you want a smooth, scenic Mornington day with real food value built in. The combination works because it solves two traveler problems at once: you get the view without scrambling for a transport plan, and you get a farm lunch without the usual menu-deciding chaos.

Book it if gondola views and a grazing-style farm meal sound like your speed. If you’re flexible on food preferences and can fit one of the lunch slots, you’ll likely feel like you got two experiences that actually match the time and price.

FAQ

How long is the Farmer’s Lunch and Arthurs Seat Eagle Cable Car Ride?

The total duration is 210 minutes.

Where is the gondola ride?

The gondola ride is at Arthurs Seat Eagle in the Mornington Peninsula area.

How long is the gondola portion?

It includes a return ticket with an approximately 25-minute return gondola journey for each person.

What lunch times are available at Green Olive at Red Hill?

Lunch booking times are 11.45am and 2pm.

What is included in the Green Olive lunch?

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

Do I need to pick up vouchers?

Yes. Vouchers must be picked up at Green Olive at Red Hill before or after your lunch booking.

Is the experience wheelchair accessible?

Yes, it is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Is there free cancellation?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Can I reserve without paying right away?

Yes. The option listed is reserve now & pay later, so you can book your spot and pay nothing today.

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