Barwon Heads Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Geelong - Bellarine Peninsula featuring a bridge and general coastal views as well as an individual male
Barwon Heads showing general coastal views and a bridge
Barwon Heads showing a bridge and a sandy beach
Barwon Heads which includes general coastal views as well as a small group of people
Barwon Heads

Spend a holiday in this seaside town, playing golf in picturesque coastal landscapes, sampling upmarket gourmet dining and experiencing the wildlife of the Barwon River Estuary.

Aquatic activities and wildlife experiences abound in Barwon heads, a holiday destination nestled between lagoons, farmlands and the mouth of the Barwon River. The town started in the 19th century as a small fishing settlement, but quickly attracted wealthy Melbourne holiday-makers with its stunning natural beauty.

Get your bearings at Barwon Head's commercial centre, along Hitchcock Avenue. Join a population of around 3,500 permanent residents mingling around this collection of shops, cafés and restaurants.

After breakfast, spend the heat of the day by the water. The Barwon River shoreline has the best swimming, with calm, cool waters lapping against its sandy banks. Alternatively, tackle the waves at beaches along the Bass Strait coastline. Sign up to a local surf school and learn how to ride the waves.

Walk to the Bluff Lookout on Point Flinders for a panoramic view of the township and the Bass Strait. Otherwise, enjoy the view from the Barwon Heads Golf Course, located along the foreshore reserve.

For a foodie experience, take a winery tour of the surrounding vineyards. Local grapes are paired and complemented with cheese platters. See stretches of farmland from above with an adventure flight in a supercharged military fighter plane. Hold your stomach these pilots love to pull some heart-pumping aerobatic manoeuvres.

Shift gear with a relaxing tour of the Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary, which hosts a thriving diversity of water plants and fish. See one of Australia's iconic native animals being nurtured at the Jirrahlinga Koala & Wildlife Sanctuary.

Spend a day enjoying the marshy vistas of Lake Connewarre, just outside town. Go boating, fish for bream and mulloway or camp by the water. This area is also perfect for birdwatching, with ibis and spoonbill amongst the most regular winged visitors.

Barwon Heads is located on the south coast of the Bellarine Peninsula, 90-minutes’ drive southwest from MelbourneOpens in a new window. Visit in March to see the Festival of the Sea, an annual celebration of the town's history, environment and culture.

Barwon Heads Golf Club
Barwon Heads Golf Club
3.5 out of 5
Golf Links Road, Barwon Heads, VIC
Stay at this 3.5-star beach hotel in Barwon Heads. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Popular attractions Barwon Heads Golf Club and Frank Ellis ...

Reviewed on 29 Jan 2014

Barwon Heads Golf Club
Rydges Geelong
Rydges Geelong
4 out of 5
Cnr Gheringhap & Myers St, Geelong, VIC
The price is £80 per night from 13 Jul to 14 Jul
£80
13 Jul - 14 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Geelong. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,003 reviews)
"I greatly appreciated the hotel location, professional staff and the excellent facilities!"

Reviewed on 30 Jun 2025

Rydges Geelong
Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong by IHG
Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong by IHG
4 out of 5
40 Ryrie Street, Geelong, VIC
The price is £72 per night from 13 Jul to 14 Jul
£72
13 Jul - 14 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Geelong. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (268 reviews)
"The Holiday Inn is modern and conveniently located. The only downside is that you have to separately book and pay a second party for parking your car, even though it’s parked underneath the same building."

Reviewed on 17 Jun 2025

Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong by IHG
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Seahaven Village
Seahaven Village
4 out of 5
3 Geelong Road, Barwon Heads, VIC
Stay at this 4-star apartment in Barwon Heads. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a garden. Popular attractions Frank Ellis Reserve Beach and Raffs Beach are ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (155 reviews)
"This cute apartment was just what we needed for a short break."

Reviewed on 11 Mar 2025

Seahaven Village
Oaks Vue Suites Geelong
Oaks Vue Suites Geelong
4.5 out of 5
6 Bellerine St, Geelong, VIC
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury aparthotel in Geelong. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, parking (surcharge) and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,432 reviews)
"Location to the water front in Geelong and close to shops and restaurants."

Reviewed on 29 Jun 2025

Oaks Vue Suites Geelong
Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park
Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park
3 out of 5
35 Bell St, Torquay, VIC
Stay at this 3-star beach cabin in Torquay. Enjoy a beach locale, a garden and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Front Beach and Torquay Golf Club are ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (652 reviews)
"Comfortable, clean and great location"

Reviewed on 21 Jun 2025

Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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