Holiday houses in Portarlington

Occupying the northern tip of the Bellarine Peninsula, southwest of Melbourne, the historic coastal township of Portarlington is a popular summer destination, with sheltered swimming beaches and an attractive foreshore with views across Port Phillip Bay towards the You Yangs mountain range. Just behind the foreshore lies the town’s main commercial centre on Newcombe Street. A historical attraction worth checking out is the foreshore’s steam-powered Portarlington Mill, built from sandstone in 1857. Now housing artefacts relating to the history of the region, it’s typically open to visitors from September to May.

A hit with small kids, a miniature railway operates at Point Richards, northwest of the town centre, at various times throughout the year. If you arrive by car, you can also enjoy the scenic tourist drive along the Esplanade, a coastal route of around 10 kilometres that traces the foreshore between Portarlington and the neighbouring beach towns of Indented Head and St Leonards.

Summer is the high season in Portarlington, when visitors flock to its beaches. Well known for its Australian blue mussels grown just offshore, Portarlington’s prized shellfish are celebrated at the Portarlington Mussel Festival on the second Saturday in January, with live music, hundreds of market stalls, and a whole lotta mussels. While it’s typically too cold for swimming during the winter months, the National Celtic Folk Festival offers a compelling reason to visit during the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June. Australia’s premier festival showcasing Celtic culture, including music, dance, theatre, and storytelling, is a guaranteed good craic. The winter months also tend to proffer the best surfing conditions, with great waves for learning at Ocean Grove, just 25 minutes’ drive south of Portarlington.

Explore the Bellarine Taste Trail

Encompassing nearly 50 food and drink destinations, from wineries to blueberry farms, local mussel suppliers to award-winning restaurants, is the Bellarine Taste Trail. Learn more about the venues on the trail’s website, download a map, and choose your own adventure! Not driving? The website also lists several tour options.

Go diving or snorkelling in Port Phillip Heads Marine Park

At the southern end of the Bellarine Peninsula, just 20 minutes’ south of Portarlington, Port Phillip Heads Marine Park brims with marine life, with invertebrate life rivalling the diversity seen on tropical coral reefs. You can join dive tours or snorkel right off Port Lonsdale at the Township Reef. The Port Lonsdale Jetty is another popular snorkelling and diving spot.

Stretch your legs on the Surf Coast Walk

The coastal town of Torquay, less than an hour southwest of Portarlington, is well known as the gateway to the Great Ocean Road, but it’s also the beginning of the Surf Coast Walk, a 44-kilometre mixed-use coastal trail split into 12 sections, making it perfect for a short stroll up to a multiday trek. Head to the Surf Coast Walk website for interactive maps and walk planning info.