Green Olive at Red Hill

Green Olive at Red Hill is a working 27-acre farm, winery and all-day dining venue on Mornington-Flinders Road in Main Ridge. It is one of the Mornington Peninsula's most reliable dog-friendly days out: dogs are welcome on lead across the outdoor dining areas, and you can walk them through the vineyard, olive grove and kitchen garden on the same property.

The dog setup

Dogs stay on lead at all times, on the deck, in the outdoor dining areas and on the farm walks, and the rule is applied strictly because livestock lives here: sheep graze the property and ducks patrol the dam. Water bowls are generally available, but confirm with staff on the day. Book ahead and mention the dog so you get seated in the outdoor section rather than waiting with nowhere to go.

Max: keep that lead firmly in hand around the farm animals. Sheep and ducks live here, and even a steady dog can trigger a chase instinct if a flock suddenly moves.

The vibe

The food is built around the farm itself: tapas and grazing plates from estate-grown olives, herbs and vegetables, matched with wine tasting paddles from the property's own vines. Resident kelpies Indi and Rasa may put in an appearance, while the Maremma guard dogs work the stock and are best left to their job. The whole property is smoke-free. It opens daily from 9am to 5pm, and late morning on a weekday is the quiet window for both deck seating and a calm paddock walk.

Getting there and parking

The farm sits directly on Mornington-Flinders Road, about an hour from Melbourne, with on-site parking. Red Hill's shops and galleries are a few minutes up the road, and the coast at Dromana is a short drive down the hill.

Pair it with

Nearby cellar doors that welcome dogs include Myrtaceae Winery on Main Creek Road and Main Ridge Estate on William Road. For another dog-welcoming feed, Nordie Café in Red Hill or Hapi Café & Restaurant down at Dromana both work.

More options are on the Victoria dog friendly wineries guide and the Main Ridge destination page.