From high teas and grazing boxes to three course meals, these local businesses have you covered this Mother's Day.
Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 14th) is just around the corner, and here at Forte, we want to make sure your mum has the best day ever.
Lucky for you (and your mum), the region is fuelled with awesome events and great places to take mum so we narrowed down a few of our top picks, from feasts, grazing boxes and high teas, to fun events and special treats.
Please note, at the time of writing bookings were still available but due to high demand, some venues may book out.
Just want flowers? Check out the best flower delivery places in Geelong
We’ll continue updating this list as we hear of more events on but for now, indulge:
Eating Out
Mount Moriac Hotel
The Mount Moriac Hotel is offering a Mother’s Day Brunch and Dinner, with a much-needed complimentary glass of champagne on arrival for all the mums.
From 1:30pm – 4pm, you can sit back and relax with some live music featuring Orchard Matty, and to top off your mum’s special day, the hotel is hosting two Mother’s Day raffles at 2pm, and 7:30pm, with ALL funds being donated to Geelong Mums.
Bookings are essential, call 5266 1372 or book online.
Mt Duneed Estate
If your mum has a taste for the finer things in life, book her to Mt Duneed Estate, and treat her to a two course shared lunch featuring burnt pork belly ends, and green rice prawns, then dig into a rosemary, red onion and lemon butterflied chicken, and a seared, roasted and slice beef picanha.
There are two sittings, with the first from 11am – 1pm, and the second from 2pm – 4pm.
Lunch is $69 per adult, and $19 for children.
Book online here.
Van Loons Cafe
The much loved Van Loons Café is hosting a Mother’s Day high tea.
With a range of savoury delights including tea sandwiches, caramelised onion and feta tarts, quiche Lorraine, bruschetta and arancini. Then to finish with the sweet side of life, there will be homemade scones, mixed berry cheesecake, lemon tartlets, and triple chocolate brownies – how can you pass this up?
The high tea is $85 per person and you can book here. If you can’t make it in, they’re also selling a bunch of grazing boxes (including a Mother’s Day high tea one) on the website.
The Inn Hotel
A free glass of bubbly or coffee and a special menu? Say no more.
Celebrate Mother’s Day 2023 at The Inn, with tuna tartare, Canadian scallops, barramundi fillet and a roast lamb rump on offer for the much deserving mum or role model in your life.
Book online here.
Geelong Hotel
With brunch, lunch and dinner specials, how can you say no to this? And to sweeten the deal, there is a free glass of bubbles or coffee on offer for the mums.
If your mum is a brunch lover, treat her to an always popular avo on toast, smoked salmon, mushrooms or classic eggs.
If lunch or dinner is your mums thing, you can shout her a pan roasted king George whiting, or crispy pork belly, and top it off with a cheese plate and bottle of wine, or a chocolate & cherry semifreddo.
Book online here.
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Fork N Flower
Fork and Flower are pulling out all the stops for mums special day, offering a special breakfast and lunch menu and a high tea option.
Breakfast and Lunch is $30 per person, and includes a big breakfast, smashed avo and bacon, Bangkok eggs and halloumi, chili crab scrambled and bacon, and Yammies eggs bennie for breakfast. On offer for lunch is pla neung khing, chicken penne carbonara, Vietnamese pork belly, buddha bowl and pork and prawn dumplings
On the other hand, if your mum likes it a little bit fancy, high tea is $49 per person, and comes with a glass of Oakdene N.V sparkling Brut on arrival. To appeal to your mums sweet side, there will be scones, lemon and raspberry tart, carrot cake, berry cheesecake, chocolate cake. And to finish with some savoury, your mum can look forward to cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches, bbq pulled pork sliders, and pork and fennel sausage rolls.
Book and find out more here.
Tarra
Treat Mum to an unforgettable lunch at the new Tarra at the Queenscliff Ferry terminal from 12pm on Mother’s Day.
Executive Chef Michael Demagistris has created a unique menu and is a little sneak peek into the offering that awaits when the restaurant unveils its new menu this winter. The three-course set menu is designed to share, making it the perfect gift.
Adults $89, Children (4-15 years) $69
Book here.
At The Heads
Located at the river mouth in Barwon Heads, At The Heads is arguably one of the Bellarine’s most unique dining experiences with its magnificent views, friendly and efficient staff, and of course a great menu.
This year they’ll be celebrating mother’s day with a sumptuous two-course set menu feast, featuring seafood and plenty of share style menu options, unbeatable views, loved ones and exceptional service for $85 pp ($35 for children under 12). Available for lunch or dinner.
You’ll also get a glass of Fairbank rose or Bells Beach Spirit Co Cocktail Special on arrival.
Book here.
The Continental Sorrento
If mum doesn’t mind a trip on the ferry, why not treat her this Mother’s Day with the return of High Tea in the Grand Ballroom with a live string quartet to mark the occasion.
Indulge in a selection of sweet and savoury delights prepared by Scott Pickett and his talented team of chefs. Enjoy traditional scones with house-made jams and cream, finger sandwiches and delectable pastries served with speciality teas by Yugen Tea.
Mother’s Day High Tea will be held in the Grand Ballroom from 11am on long shared-style dining tables. Every other High Tea will be available on Sunday’s in Coppins Lounge from 2 pm-5 pm on individual tables.
Price: $110 per person. Book now via SevenRooms
Mr Grubb at Oakdene Estate
The Mr Grubb @ Oakdene bistro is located at the magnificent Oakdene Vineyards property on the Bellarine Peninsula, just 20 minutes from Geelong.
For Mother’s Day, Mr Grubb is running lunch and dinner, offering a three-course menu with a choice of three dishes for each course. Lunch bookings from 12pm, dinner bookings from 5:30pm. Dishes include the likes of spring rolls, cheesy garlic bread, prawn cocktails, slow cooked lamb shoulder, Atlantic salmon, lemon tart and more.
$80 per person.
Book here.
Clyde Park Vineyard
If you’re looking to provide a feast for the Queen in your life, look no further than this Mother’s Day family-style grazing banquet feast.
Spoil mum with a visit to Clyde Park’s award-winning bistro and leave it to the professionals to do the cooking and cleaning – with love from their family to yours.
There will be a Grazing Banquet with incredible food like wood fired herbed bread, King prawns, Basque cheesecake plus more, a photo booth, face painting and games for the kids.
For extra brownie points, you can pre-order a bouquet of flowers for mum by Wildfolk Flowers.
Book here. Or call the winery on 5281 7274.
Recess
Celebrate this Mother’s Day with a feast at Recess, Geelong’s home of free drag shows and gluten-free eats!
For Mother’s Day, guests will enjoy our Chef’s Tasting Menu and a Champagne cocktail on arrival for the mums/guardian angels of the day. Tickets are $75pp with seating times at 11.30am and 2pm on Sunday, May 14th.
Bookings are available for groups of up to 6 and can be made online here.
Novotel
Take mum to dine on the waterfront with gorgeous bay views while she enjoys yummy treats at Geelong’s Novotel with their Lunch Feast.
For $95 per person (kids $40 and under 5 free), mother’s will get a free drink on arrival while a lunch feast will take to the tables with seafood, roasts, delicious desserts and much more. The feast runs from 12:30pm to 3:30pm.
Book here.
Sawyers Arms Tavern
If you’re looking to treat mum to something serious delicious, Sawyers Arms is hosting lunch and dinner for Mother’s Day this year. There’s an option of two courses (main and dessert) for $49, or three course (entree, main and dessert and choice of wine and cocktail) for $69.
Expect baked scallops, prawn linguine, king George whiting, roasted duck leg, and sticky date pudding, plus heaps more! As for the cocktails, Pete’s chilli margarita is looking the goods!
Book here.
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Murphy’s
If you’re looking for a Mother’s Day meal with a view, Murphy’s rooftop is the place to be! They’ll be running their usual menu with the added bonus of a free champagne on arrival for all the mums!
Book online or phone 5221 4335.
Wah Wah Gee
Funky, fun and fresh. For the past few years, Wah Wah Gee has become one of the best places to go in Geelong to indulge in the bayside views, colourful décor and their mouth-watering Asian inspired dishes.
For Mother’s Day, Wah Wah Gee are hosting a Mother’s Day feed me lunch. Guests can enjoy a delicious shared style spread for $65 per person of some of their most popular dishes, potentially including the likes of their Crispy Chicken Bao Buns, Spring Rolls, Korean Fried Cauliflower, Dumplings.
Book online here.
Mt Pleasant Road Brewers
The new Belmont taproom is teaming up with Workers Barbecue for Mother’s Day for a brilliant Mother’s Day lunch!
There will be two sittings at 12pm and 2:30pm featuring a set American barbecue feast! For $37 per head, the feast includes brisket, pulled pork, tangy slaw, smoked chicken, potato salad and more. There’s also a vegan taco option too! As for drinks, the brewing legends have come up with some delicious beer cocktails.
Bookings via DM at Mt Pleasant Brewers’ Instagram or Facebook.
Ambergris Hotel
Geelong’s newest gastro pub Ambergris is opening its doors for its first Mother’s Day for both lunch and dinner.
Book online here.
Black Sheep Geelong
Open for lunch & dinner on Sunday May 14, Black Sheep be serving up a special Feed Me feast to share for $69 per person alongside a Little Lambs Kids menu. Encapsulating our ‘sharing is caring’ philosophy, the Feed Me Feast offers a selection of signature Black Sheep dishes, exciting contemporary flavours and customer favourites.
Including small tapas-style plates, substantial mains (like our 12 hr slow cooked Pork Hock) and plenty of sides to share from our seasonal menu, it even includes dessert to finish for those of you with a sweet tooth!
Black Sheep are also treating Mum to a complimentary cocktail or non-alcoholic cocktail too because let’s be honest, they deserve it!
Book online here.
Justin Lane
A year ago now Burleigh’s much-loved pizzeria Justin Lane has made the trip down South, bringing everything there is to love about the beach-facing Italian hotspot to the Geelong waterfront, including masterfully-crafted pasta made fresh in-house, gourmet sourdough-base pizzas, and salads perfect for sharing.
For Mother’s Day they’re running Feed Me dining at $49 per person.
Book online.
Leopold Sportsman
The Leopold Sporties is running a three-course Mother’s Day luncheon for the special day. For $65 per head, enjoy an eye fillet Mignon, or juicy chicken breast as well as homemade brownie or cappuccino panna cotta for dessert.
Book online.
Great Ocean Road Gin Kitchen
This little gem is running an epic Mother’s Day banquet for lunch and dinner.
For $69, you’ll get five courses and a complimentary Blood Orange spritz cocktail on arrival.
Book via OpenTable.
Other Dining Destinations Taking Bookings:
- Baah Lah Geelong
- Blank Space Cafe Geelong
- Anglesea Golf Club (complimentary sparkling for mum)
- Bird Rock Yum Cha (complimentary sparkling for mum)
- Splatters Cheese Bar
- Edge Geelong
- Malt Shovel Taphouse
- Warralily Cockatoo
- Pavilion Geelong
- Tomodachi
- Anh Chi Em
- Ceres Distilling Co
- Bob Sugar
- The Whiskery
- Roku Den
- Frankie Geelong
- Caledonia Shores
- Nova Balinese Kitchen
- Che Vuoi
- Centra Hotel
- Box Office Cafe
- I Ragazzi
Other Treats
Winters Cafe Breakfast Box
Oh my platter. Winters Cafe have well and truly outdone themselves with their offerings over the past year, and lucky for us, they’ve decided to whip up a pack for Mother’s Day.
Offering the ultimate brekky spread, this one is perfect for the whole family with smoked salmon bagels, ham & cheese croissants, panacotta, waffles with chocolate sauce, and house baked muesli with berry yoghurt.
Box for 2 is $70 and a box for 4 is $130. To order, simply DM them on Instagram or call on 5221 8832.
Flower Bowl
Whether it’s a hug of hydrangeas or a pash of pastels, Flower Bowl is our go-to when it comes to showing someone we adore them!
Blooming since 2005, Flower Bowl has been setting the standard in floral creations that are super fresh, delightfully pretty and made with a whole lotta love. Just scroll through their Instagram and you’ll fall in love with their bright and playful arrangements. Now operating out of two locations and far more than your average flower shop, the Flower Bowl team select the freshest seasonal and luxe flowers direct from local growers for deliveries Monday to Friday, with same-day delivery available throughout Geelong, Surfcoast and Bellarine Peninsula if your order is placed by midday! They even offer free delivery to the two Geelong City hospitals.
For Mother’s Day, they’ve got a special range with beautiful flowers, as well as some packs with tantalising treats including premium wine, chocolates and pamper products.
Shop via Flower Bowl
The Local Edit
If you’re looking for something easy, local and luxe to gift mother dear, The Local Edit have you covered.
Ran by a born-and-bred Geelong girl, this small business was conceived during the first wave of the pandemic when shopping local had never been more important – alongside supporting others in the region. Making gift giving easy, The Local Edit puts all amazing goodies from Geelong, Surf Coast and Bellarine locals in one place, in a luxe, beautiful package and with a card.
You can choose from a range of specially curated packs or you can edit your own and fill your box with everything you know your mum will love. As a bonus, they’ll be delivering on Mother’s Day!
Shop their packs via the website.
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Boxed and Boards Grazing Boxes
Offering graze boxes and graze tables, Boxed & Boards is the creation of Zara Ramia, spawned from a passion from creating memories for her family and friendly. Turning a hobby into a flourishing business, the grazing boxes are filled with the finest range of cheese, meats, fresh produce and accompaniments, with the option of adding in wine too!
For Mother’s Day, Boxed & Boards is offering a special box in three different sizes. Here you’ll get Croissants, Mini pastry, cruffin, scone with jam and cream, yogurt with granola and fresh fruit, plus some epic add ons if you want to spoil mum!
If that doesn’t take your fancy, there are other options to choose from. The small graze if perfect if you’re looking for some brownie points on the day, with a box packed with Brie, Sopressa & Prosciutto, Crackers, Quince jelly, Chocolate, Pretzels, Mixed nuts, Dried & Fresh fruit, Marinated vegetables and Dip.
Order yours here.
Events
Mother’s Day Classic
Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift this year? Why not spend the day supporting thousands of Aussie mums struggling with breast cancer.
The beloved Mother’s Day Classic brings Australians together on Mother’s Day to celebrate and honour those affected by breast cancer and raise vital funds for breast cancer research.
Taking to Eastern Park, Geelong on Sunday 14th May 2023, there will be the buzz of the event village, live entertainment, music and food stalls to enjoy throughout the morning on Mother’s Day. The event offers a 4km and 8km walk or run, and you’re encouraged to donate or commit to fundraising when you register.
Be part of something bigger, we’re sure Mum will love it!
Register here.
Mother’s Day Photobooth
For something a little different, Waurn Ponds Shopping Cente is honouring all mothers and mother figures this Mother’s Day with a fun in-Centre activity for both mum and the kids to enjoy.
Snap a precious memory at the photobooth located outside Target and decorate the keepsake to gift to mum!
The photobooth will be open outside Target between 10am and 2pm to capture happy snaps that will be instantly printed in a 6×4 photo and inserted into a card that can be decorated at our craft area… Kids can include a special message for mum that she can treasure for years to come.
Find out more here.
Brush & Bubbles Flower Workshop
Enjoy getting crafty while creating your own beautiful fresh flower arrangement. Come along with your Mum, Grandma or Mumma friend to celebrate mother figures with a special workshop.
You’ll learn- Fundamentals of floristry, how to reflex a rose, tips to keep your arrangements lasting longer and styling advice for floral table setting for events and your next dinner party. All materials are included- fresh flowers, ceramic vase and snips
This is suitable for beginners of all ages, people wanting to learn a new skill and lovers of flowers.
Lead and taught by Rebecca from Party Plants and Flowers, who is a regular florist at Brush and Bubbles claases, has experience with event and wedding floristry, enjoys inspiring you to use flowers in your everyday life and will be happy to answer any of your floral questions.
Book here.
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Want to explore further? Check out these Melbourne Venues Celebrating Mother’s Day
The Terminus Yarrawonga – Sunday Roast
If you’re keen on a Sunday Roast, head to the Terminus’s new beer garden, The Stables. All bookings go into the draw to win a Mother’s Day Hamper valued at over $1000.
Book here.
Where: 95 Belmore Street, Yarrawonga
Yugen Tea Bar
It can be hard to find the perfect gift for mum. Yugen Tea Bar has organised the perfect Mother’s Day High Tea. The menu includes a selection of savoury and sweet items, including Sourdough crumpet, smoked eel, crème fraiche and Oscietra Caviar, spanner crab millefeuille, and brown butter chawanmushi, followed by petit caramel éclairs, pear bordelaise tartlets and rose macarons. Served with a glass of Champagne and tea selected by their tea sommelier. A preorganised chocolate Bonbon Box & special note from mum can also be added on with your personalised message. There is no better way to thank her for all the ways that she has made your life special.
Book here.
Where: 605 Chapel St at the Capitol Grand, South Yarra.
Omnia Bistro & Bar
Make your mother feel the very best this Mother’s Day at Omnia. With your booking we will organize a sparkling wine on arrival and a sweet gift to take home. Treat your mum to an afternoon of elegance and exceptional dining this Mother’s Day at Omnia. With a cultivated menu featuring European flavors and techniques, lunch at Omnia is the perfect way to celebrate your mum in style.
Add-ons: Bouquet of flowers on arrival for mum. Book via OpenTable.
Where: 625 Chapel St, South Yarra VIC 3141
Pipis Kiosk
Take mum for a long lunch on the beach to celebrate everything she’s done for you over the years. We are offering a cocktail on arrival for mum and a generous set menu based on seasonal produce and will feature some of the finest sustainable ingredients mother nature has to offer. Keep an eye on our socials for more details closer to the day. All dietaries can be catered for, with prior notice essential. The menu is prepaid with beverage charged on consumption and finalised on the day.
Book via OpenTable.
Where: 129a Beaconsfield Parade, Albert Park VIC 3206
If you know of any businesses running Mother’s Day events and want to give them a shout out, let us know!
