Visit Barwon Heads and the Bellarine
There’s a reason why Cadel chose Barwon Heads as his Australian home base – this relaxed and pretty coastal village is a sanctuary for locals and visitors.
The town famously painted itself yellow when Cadel was riding – and winning – the 2011 Tour de France!
Here, you can find a beach for every occasion whether you’re surfing, swimming, paddling or snorkeling. Hitchcock Avenue is the charming main street where you’ll find beautiful shops, great coffee, food and ice-cream.
A fun way to discover the Bellarine Peninsula is by riding the 35km Bellarine Rail Trail, which takes you from South Geelong to Queenscliff.
Places to ride
Looping between Geelong and Barwon Heads, the region has all the ingredients for a memorable ride – beautiful beaches, waterfront roads and postcard-perfect wineries.
The 64km loop takes you past Thirteenth Beach before turning right up Horseshoe Bend Road. Head into the Geelong waterfront and then journey along Portarlington Road.
Turn right on Grubb Road and travel through Ocean Grove before winding back into Barwon Heads. See Great Ocean Rides for maps and details.
Things to do
The Bellarine is a golfer’s dream – home to five of Australia’s top 100 golf courses (Golf Digest). Play a round at Barwon Heads Golf Club (rank 23), Lonsdale Links (rank 36) or Curlewis Golf Club (rank 62) where there’s also a French restaurant. 13th Beach Golf Links has three courses to choose from – tee off at the Beach Course (rank 33), the Creek Course (rank 64), or the 9-hole short course.
At Barwon Heads you can swim in the wide and picturesque Barwon River estuary, along the sandy foreshore at the river mouth or at the neighbouring Ocean Grove Main Beach. Cast a line for a spot of fishing or, for more heart-racing adventure, head to the Bluff at Thirteenth Beach for lively surfing action. At Queenscliff, dive under the surface with Sea All Dolphin Swims and snorkel with wild dolphins, seals and colourful reef fish in Port Phillip. If you have kids in tow, treat them to a day of water play at Adventure Park in Wallington – Victoria’s biggest theme park.
The Bellarine is dotted with friendly cafés, wineries with water views, breweries, whiskey and gin distillers, and even a cider house. The Bellarine Taste Trail brings together makers and growers who have lovingly planted, picked and perfected the best things to eat and drink into an easy-to-follow farm-gate trail, all within 20-minutes’ drive of each other.
For more things to see and do, head to the Visit Geelong and The Bellarine website.
Where to stay
Accommodation @ Curlewis – Stay on-course in an eco-suite.
Campbell Point House – Suites inside a luxury French Chateau on Lake Connewarre.
Lon Retreat and Spa – Lon was named in Conde Nast Traveller’s Top 100 places to stay around the world.
The Nest – Sustainably-built pods with 180-degree views of Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove and Point Lonsdale.
Portarlington Grand Hotel – Experience modern luxury in one of 18 boutique rooms, all enclosed in stunning historical architecture.
Oakdene Vineyards Guesthouse – on 230 acres of coastal farmland, the original 1920s homestead has been thoughtfully restored.
Starhaven Retreat – these grand suites sit beachside near Portarlington with views across Port Phillip Bay to Melbourne.