Portarlington

Day trip to Portarlington The laid-back coastal town of Portarlington on the Bellarine is the ideal destination for a fun-filled and cost-effective day away. Thanks to Port Phillip Ferries twice-daily ferry service, you can cruise over and back in a day, enjoying some seaside fun along the way. Take your pick from this list of…

Making Memories – ‘Must Do’ Family Weekend in Portarlington Portarlington, a true hidden gem in the Bellarine, is the perfect destination for a fun-filled weekend with the kids. And whatever their age, there’s an activity that is sure to please! DAY 1 DOUBLE SHOT LATTE! – (or perhaps an English Breakfast?!) Whatever your style, start…

It doesn’t get much better than escaping the hustle and bustle of the city. Especially boarding the ferry for an overnight stay on the Bellarine. From luxury villa escapes, beachside or vineyard camping and everything in between, the charming seaside village of Portarlington has got you covered. Read on for a round-up of some top…

There’s no Hallmark card that could possibly be written to describe how important THIS Mother’s Day is, in such times. But like many of us, there’s been a lot of reflecting and assessing life’s priorities.   {Here’s what we know is true}   ♥ Some Mums are going to need some “Timeout” ♥ Some Mums…

You’ve finally set a date. The girls are locked for the next catch up. Excitement is reaching peak levels. But you have one final detail to work out……. Where to? What to do? Well, there’s good news and there’s even better news. You can hop on board a ferry at Docklands, Portarlington or Geelong. Just…

The New Seachange The concept of a Seachange has always been to throw in your job and move to the coast.  But what if you loved your job? Can you still work in the city and live on the coast? We were living in Hoppers Crossing, which is one of the fastest-growing areas in Australia….

Cover image photo credit @d0nnspics (via Insta).

Shut down your computers, put away those calculators and lodge those documents – it’s time to start planning your end of year celebrations (and boy, do we love a good celebration). If you’re on the hunt for the perfect way to enjoy the festive season with your team, look no further. We’ve joined forces with…

Oh, there’s nothing like tuning in to one of our favourite tv shows – MasterChef – and spotting our good friends from Q Train on there.  Yes, you read correctly, The Bellarine’s very own QTrain was on Masterchef Australia tonight. Did you see it? An exciting Masterchef challenge that showcased the Q Train and Queenscliff…

Life is like a box of chocolates;  You never know what you’re gonna get…  Except in the case of sweet treats in Portarlington.  In this scenario, you know exactly what you’re gonna get. Sizes, styles and saccharinity may vary but the consistent delivery of quality sweet treats in Portarlington is assured.  Check out some of…

Our friends at Bella E-Bike Hire have put together some great ideas on what to get up to around Portarlington… by bike. And yep, they have baskets on board to fill up with all the beautiful produce (wines) you might come across in your journey 🙂 Here’s what Jeremy has to say…… Hiring an electric…

Local winery Bennetts on Bellarine have been busy bees with a cellar door refurb this past winter and spring, bringing their dream venue to life. We’ll admit we have been keeping watch on the renovations when passing by, and have been waiting with bated breath for the big reveal. Well now we need wait no…

In need a good dose of retail therapy, or just plain love the thrill of the hunt? The quaint and charming seaside town of Portarlington is a treasure-trove of unique stores boasting beautiful clothing, modern gifts and home wares – all just waiting to find their new forever homes. So go on, be hero…

  A BIG thank you to everyone that participated in and entered our “Name our Weedy Seadragon” competition.   After a huge amount of very worthy and diverse entries (including a Weedy McWeedy Face) we’re super excited to have selected a name for our friendly mascot. Congratulations to our winner, Ocea Smith who…

Can you feel it? Can you smell it in the air? That’s right, friends. Victoria is finally waking from a long and slumbering Winter. It’s time to pop on your boat shoes, seas the day and head across Port Phillip Bay to check out all the Bellarine has to offer during this magnificent season. Feature…

Bet you didn’t know that mussel jerky was a thing? One of the mussel farmers has even been brave enough to trial chocolate coated mussels. Say what? When your town’s most famous export is mussels, I guess it’s only natural to want to experiment with the product and see what might be the next big…

Winter, don’t think about battening down the hatches, hiding under the doona and indulging in some serious comfort eating.

Drysdale; home to local history, produce perfection and the freshest fish in the nation!  Richard Cornish (Melbourne based food writer, author and events host) has penned the article “Six Reasons to Visit Drysdale”  for the Sydney Morning Herald. The reasons to visit Drysdale that Richard has highlighted are true-to-word, as locals will attest.  From one…

Over the three-day long weekend in June (8, 9, 10 and 11) the historic seaside town of Portarlington is alive with music, energy and excitement. People come from near and far to celebrate and experience the rich and passionate Celtic culture – at the National Celtic Festival. Portarlington plays host to international and national music…

The much-anticipated opening of The Whiskery,  the newest distillery/cellar door offering on the Bellarine is the perfect weekend outing for city dwellers looking to make a day trip to the coast. Avoid traffic and designated driver negotiations by making the journey aboard Port Phillip Ferries. Travel in comfort and take in sweeping views as you…

Our Geelong Footy Ferry services have been a hit so far. We’ve also had heaps of interest from Portarlington people wanting to head on these Geelong trips as well. So we’ve come up with a special package for those wanting to cruise all the way to cheer on the Cats or their opposing teams. If…

Make it a Mother?s Day weekend! May 12 & 13.

For many, the idea of a perfect day out includes sensational local wines and indulging in local fare.  Wine Wheels is located on the Bellarine Peninsula and offers epicurean adventures to satisfy every fabulous foodie. Your Wine Wheels adventure begins from the Port Phillip Ferries dock at Portarlington, where the Wine Wheels bus is waiting to…

As our hot summer continues (and shows no immediate signs of abating) the beach is one of the best places to be. And just quietly, we think Portarlington has some of the best beaches in and around Melbourne. Jumping aboard Port Phillip Ferries at Docklands, you can travel in air-conditioned comfort and take in city…

It is summer and where better to be than on the Bellarine. As the sun shines down and the temperature heats up, take your pick and head to one of the many splendid beaches that the Bellarine offers; Portarlington, Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, Breamlea, to name just a few!  Book yourself in for the night,…

One of our favourite little haunts on The Bellarine would have to be Bennett’s on the The Bellarine. Jamie and his family have created a wonderful space, where you can indulge in local wines, hearty pizza and soak up the sunshine and views from their vineyard. On our last visit, we asked Jamie to write…

The great thing about Portarlington is that everything is close by. It’s easy to access all the essentials, and finding a place to lay your head is pretty simple to do. No there aren’t any large hotels or resorts, but that’s what sort of gives the town charm. But there are heaps of Airbnb’s, traditional…

Being a “foodie” means a true commitment to finding the newest and most exciting places to eat and drink. Foodies want something unique, something that presents a story and of most importantly places that will offer up some pretty snappy Instagram posts! Well, Melbourne might be the foodie capital, but there is a place just…

Picture yourself here. Nuff said! When you arrive in Portarlington off the ferry, there’s only one choice you need to make. Turn left or right? Walk, ride, skate, run or skip your way along the coastline filling all your senses with pleasure and joy. Here’s what you’ll see. The majestic You Yangs can be seen…

There’s something special about the wineries of the Bellarine. The Bellarine is part of the wider Geelong wine region. The region is united by boutique, family owned winegrowers producing premium quality hand crafted wines. The Bellarine has been one of Victoria’s best kept secrets. The shelter of Port Phillip Bay is perfect for producing cool…