Now Open: The Mornington Peninsula Has Scored a Luxe New Seaside InterContinental Hotel

So, you've been eyeing off all the new must-visit venues that opened within the newly revamped Continental Sorrento earlier this year — but you're not actually a Mornington Peninsula local? Well, fret not, because you can now stay right onsite, with the precinct's luxury 108-room InterContinental Hotel opening this week.

The latest Aussie offering for IHG Hotels & Resorts, the new seaside hotel occupies both a reimagined section of the existing 147-year-old limestone building and a separate newly-built wing. A collection of penthouses is also to come, to be unveiled later this year.

Steered by renowned firm Woods Baggot (W Melbourne, Barlow), sophisticated interiors mirror this old-meets-new energy, with plenty of modernised nods to the art deco and Victorian elements the site has rocked in eras past. There's a refined Mediterranean edge to the aesthetic, with sweeping bay vistas and, in each of the premium options, a complimentary in-room bar heroing local craft brews, vino and spirits.

Of course, facilities here lean to the fancy, including the blissful cabana-ringed guest-only pool deck, with palms, water views and a look that's plucked straight from your dream Euro beach holiday. Guests also have the Continental Sorrento's full suite of offerings on their doorstep, from the public bar, to fine diner Audrey's upstairs.

Gracing the walls throughout the hotel, expect to see a standout art collection, further fusing the past and the present with a broad-ranging curation of works by Aussie artists. Keep an eye out for the reimagined snaps from vintage Mornington Peninsula beach parties, capturing those cool coastal charms through the decades.

There's more luxury to come, too, with the site's Aurora Spa & Bathhouse slated to launch later this year, featuring a thermal bathhouse and wellness centre.

Find the InterContinental Sorrento at 23 Constitution Hill Road, Sorrento. Rooms start from $595 per night. You can learn more and book a stay over on the website.