InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula

The InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula is a thoroughly modern luxury hotel, but it’s also a piece of history — the hotel’s Heritage Wing is housed in a limestone structure that dates back to 1875. Safe to say Sorrento, an hour and a half from Melbourne, has been a holiday destination for some time — with Port Phillip on one side and the open ocean on the other, the Mornington Peninsula is a pleasant seaside spot, and it just happens to be a wine-producing region as well.

In its current incarnation the InterContinental comprises three wings, and while the stone architecture of the Heritage wing is inimitable, there’s a fair bit of stylistic consistency between it and the modern Main Wing and Riley Lane — all throughout the hotel, contemporary design is tempered with throwback European influence, the aim being a sort of timeless, cosmopolitan glamour.

It’s hard to argue with the results. The Aurora Spa & Bathhouse offers an extensive array of wellness programming, and the Pool Deck is a highlight as well. Meanwhile several restaurants and bars keep things interesting, from Barlow, the Twenties-style cocktail bar, to Audrey’s by Scott Pickett, the flagship restaurant set in the limestone Heritage building.