A taste of the French Riviera in Victoria?

A taste of the French Riviera in Victoria? It's possible if you check into this gorgeous new hotel in the Mornington Peninsula.

Just 90 minutes from Melbourne, seaside Sorrento is one of the Mornington Peninsula's most-loved villages and a drink at Sorrento's Continental Hotel, better-known as The Conti, has long been something of an end-of-day ritual for locals and visitors alike. After a five-year, $100 million renovation and expansion, the hotel has been reborn as the InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula.

The hotel's position high on the hill gives some of the rooms unobstructed sea views, and allows guests to step directly onto Sorrento's main shopping strip. Sorrento's galleries, cafes and boutiques draw a well-heeled crowd - the likes of Eddie McGuire have beach houses here - and the new hotel, with its chic restaurants and other venues, strengthens Sorrento's claim to be the Byron Bay of the south.

The brief to designers Woods Bagot was all about seaside glamour and you feel the vibe as soon as you walk in. There is an art deco influence in the soft pinks and greens in the lobby, echoed in the staff's chic yet relaxed uniforms, and the raffia-lined lift gives a playful seaside feel. The most dramatic ground-floor space is the soaring, plant-filled Atrium, which offers all-day dining, but there are clever design touches everywhere you look. An impressive collection of contemporary Australian art is displayed throughout the hotel.

Open the door to your room and the blinds will automatically raise - a nice touch that immediately creates a sense of arrival. Rooms are divided between the heritage wing and the new build. In the latter, each room comes with a balcony, jewel-coloured velvet bedheads and carpets designed by film designer Catherine Martin. My room is in the heritage wing and is kitted out with a dramatic sofa, a marble feature wall and an expansive bathroom where the tub has a view over Port Philip Bay.

Melbourne chef Scott Pickett is in charge of the food and guests have plenty of dining choices, from a la carte breakfast in the Atrium (think banana and blueberry acai bowl, breakfast tacos and avocado on pretzel) to casual dining in the public areas: The Conti bar, the beer garden and the promenade. Don't miss dinner at Audrey's, the flagship restaurant, a beautiful space where the marine greens and steely greys evoke the sea in its different moods. The seafood-focused menu offers both three- and six-course options, with highlights including a whipped cod roe crumpet and ribbons of local squid served with a shiitake XO sauce.

There is a lot to do on the Mornington Peninsula, from wineries and wildlife to shopping and hiking, and the hotel wants to ensure you make the most of it. Expect a call a few days out from your arrival from a staff member eager to help create an itinerary for your stay. Don't over-schedule yourself: once you are here, you may find it hard to leave. The guests-only pool deck is a great place to cool off while the Aurora Bathhouse and Spa is a haven of wellbeing, the place for a soak, a steam and a spa treatment. If you like to kick on in the evening, weekends are the time to visit Barlows, a speakeasy-style bar with regular live performances.

The Riviera vibe on the pool deck, with its chaises and cabanas, makes for a glamourous alternative to the peninsula's beaches.

Ute Junker was a guest of the InterContinental Sorrento.