You can access the Bellarine Peninsula via Geelong or by ferry to Queenscliff from Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula.

Things to do:

Barwon Heads, in Southern Victoria Australia and part of the Great Ocean Road tourism region, has undergone a 'Sea change' in recent years after featuring as the idyllic seaside location of Pearl Bay portrayed in the ABC television series Sea Change.

Barwon Heads

Barwon Heads faces Bass Strait and the ocean swells of the Roaring Forties and long sandy beaches with an underlay of reef are the delight of surfers, swimmers, fishermen and beachcombers. The tranquil Barwon river estuary beach is a favourite with young families.

Activities & Attractions

Jirrahlinga Koala & Wildlife Sanctuary Taits Road Barwon Heads Phone (03) 5254 2484

Scenic flights available from Barwon Heads Airport. See the Great Ocean Road, Surf Coast, Twelve Apostles and much more in a modern Cessna aircraft. South Barwon Air Services Barwon Heads Airport 1405 Barwon Heads Road Connewarre Phone (03) 5254 2338. Barwons Heads Charters 3 Baytown Close Barwon Heads

Skydive the Great Ocean Road. Jump with Victoria's most experienced team. Professionally edited videos available. Service and satisfaction guaranteed. Open seven days a week. Affiliated with Australia Parachute Federation and Australian Parachuting Safety Council Inc. Phone 0414 686 722

Golf Courses include Barwon Heads Golf Course just 200m from Tobermory Cottage and Thirteenth Beach Golf Links on the Geelong-Barwon Heads Road. More about the region's golf courses >>

13th Beach

Rugged sandy surf beach a year-round favourite surfing beach. Lifesavers patrol the beach during summer. Only a short walk from Tobermory Cottage by the Sea Holiday House.

Restaurants & Eateries

At The Heads Barwon Heads Jetty Phone (03) 5254 1277 - Take a coffee break during the day or bring family and friends for a unique and affordable breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Ocean Grove

Ocean Grove is only 1.5km from Barwon Heads and is a popular walk with coffee stops at both ends. The walk from the village of Barwon Heads, across the bridge and along the beach to the main Ocean Grove beach is a flat walk and takes about an hour return, not allowing for coffee stops.

Victoria's most popular surf beach is the claim to fame for the resort and residential seaside town of Ocean Grove which boasts one of the best retail centres outside Geelong with plenty of variety and all the usual services of a major centre. Ocean Grove beach is an excellent ocean swimming and surfing beach with kilometres of sandy beach and gentle surf. Lifesavers patrol during summer.

Attractions

Queenscliff is almost as old as white settlement and is a wonderful example of a Victorian seaside village. Boutique art and craft galleries, specialty shops and antique and old wares stores includes some of the villages old churches enjoying a new life as bookstores and galleries. The famous Queenscliff Art and Craft Market is held at Lower Princes Park on the last Sunday in the month September to May.

Peninsula Searoad Car/Passenger ferry - Departs hourly, 7am-6pm from Queenscliff to Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula. Take a short sea journey to the resort village of Sorrento across Port Phillip Bay. Extra 7pm service Boxing Day to Easter Tuesday.

Bellarine Peninsula Railway - Queenscliff to Drysdale steam train journeys. The steam-driven Bellarine Peninsula Railway Historic carriages are pulled by restored locomotives out along the bay leaving from Queenscliff Station. One trip is to Lakers Siding and takes 40 minutes return. The longer trips is to Drysdale 8km away and takes approximately one and a half hours return. Trains operate Sundays, public & Victoria school holidays (Tuesday & Tuesday) Extra days during Easter & Christmas holidays. Group travel and charter packages available. web  site >>

Queenscliff Lighthouses - the Black Lighthouse was built in 1862. It is one of the four leading lights used by pilots and ships' masters to alight their vessels with the channels through the treacherous Rip entrance to Port Phillip Bay. It is the only original black basalt lighthouse in Australia and is located within the grounds of the Australian Army's Fort Queenscliff. The White Lighthouse was also built in 1862. It alights with the Black Lighthouse to indicate a vessel's line in the deepest channel at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. It is built of basalt  but painted white to distinguish it from the Black Lighthouse. The lighthouse is automated and unmanned and can be found at the bay end of Hesse Street.

Swim with the dolphins with Sea All Dolphin Swims - Swim with beautiful dolphins and playful seals. Hundreds of bottlenose dolphins feed and frolic in the southern reaches of Port Phillip Bay. Take an organised bay adventure from Queenscliff for a closer look at these fascinating marine mannals. The tour also includes snorkelling with seals, visiting gannets and other bay features. All gear supplied. Leaving Queenscliff daily. 8am and 1pm. (weather permitting) Bookings essential. web site >>

Game & Recreational Fishing Charters - Game fishing Queenscliff and Bass Strait. Shark, Snapper, King George Whiting, Salmon and Barracouta. Sport fishing and shark fishing charter. Operates daily with all gear supplied and all fish cleaned. Max. 8 people. web site >>

Impulse Charters - Game fish Bass Strait or fish the famous "Rip" on a fully equipped boat or just go for a cruise and see historic fortresses, lighthouses, submarine wreck, seals and dolphins. Undercover seating and toilets. Quality tackle and bait supplied. Phone 0412 552 959.

Spray Farm Historic Homestead. Art gallery, formal gardens, wine sales and tastings 7 days a week. Open for lunch on weekends and public holidays.

Adventure Park 1251 Bellarine Hwy Wallington Phone (03) 5250 2756 Open 10am-5pm daily. (Closed Tuesday except school & public holidays.) Action packed family fun with 19 rides: two raft waterslides, jumping castle, archery range, paddle boats, par 3 nine hole golf, flying foxes, go-karts, adult bouncer, 18 hole mini golf, train rides, aqua bikes, kiosk and cafe. website>>

A Maze'n Things Cnr Grubb Rd & Bellarine Hwy Wallington Phone (03) 5250 2669

Country Connection Adventure Park Cnr Bellarine Hwy & Swan Bay Rd Wallington Phone (03) 5250 2756

There is also a miniature railway for the children at Portarlington.

Food & Dining

Seafood is freely available on the Bellarine Peninsula thanks to the fishing fleets that operate from some of the Peninsula villages. Queenscliff has a long tradition of fishing dating back more than 170 years.

Fruits of the Soil - top quality produce includes berries, apples and vegetables from the fertile Bellarine Peninsula soils. Many of the Peninsula's farms give visitors the opportunity to pick your own fruit. Strawberries are ready at Wallington from November and crisp, sweet and juicy apples are available from February to May. Delicious blueberries are in season from Boxing Day to late February from Wallington.

History & Heritage

Fort Queenscliff Museum, King St, Queenscliff - Historical and educational guided tours. Weekends and public holidays 1pm-3pm. Mid-year school holidays 1pm & 3pm. All other school holidays, weekday tours 11am, 1pm & 3pm. Group tours by arrangement. Victoria's Defence Heritage.

Queenscliff Historical Museum - social history display of the Borough of Queenscliff from 1838. An educational and entertaining experience. Collection of photographs, early newspapers, diaries, family records, artefacts and lace and textiles traces the life and times of the village from the late 1830s. Research & family history enquiries welcome. Open 2-4pm daily. Entry Adults $2 Children Free.

Aboriginal Cultural Interpretation Centre Narana Creations 410 Torquay Road Grovedale Phone: (03) 5241 5700 - View the beauty of Aboriginal culture. Learn about bush food, medicinal plants. Book for fun cultural presentations, boomerang throwing, didgeridoo playing. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Sat 10am-4pm. website>>

Nature & Wildlife

Ocean Grove Nature Reserve is the Bellarine Peninsula's largest pocket of remnant vegetation. More than 130 different bird species including koalas and other Australian wildlife on 143 hectares. The nature reserve has walking tracks and picnic facilities. Located off Grubb Road, Ocean Grove.

Tour Operators

Gallivan Tours - scenic and winery tours. Sit in air conditioned comfort and let the locals show you the sights. Travel the Great Ocean Road, visit local wineries, pat a kangaroo or koala plus much, much more! Phone (03) 5244 0908.

Kalinda Tours - Geelong's leading tours established 1994. Great Ocean Road, wineries of Victoria, Grampians, Phillip Island & Penguins, Ballarat Sovereign Hill & wildlife, Puffing Billy & Healesville Sanctuary, Great Southern Touring Route. Overnight tours available to all destinations. Phone (03) 5267 2581. Website>>