Holiday houses in Drysdale

With lush farmland, rolling hills, scenic wineries, and beaches and bays nearby, Drysdale is brimming with rural charms. Sitting on the Bellarine Peninsula, about 100 kilometres southeast of Melbourne, Drysdale is located on the original Bellarine Peninsula Railway line. You can take scenic train excursions between Drysdale and Queenscliff, which provide stunning views over Swan Bay, the Bellarine Hills, and Port Phillip Bay. The Bellarine Rail Trail is also a favourite among cyclists, following the railway line that stretches from Geelong to Queenscliff. The gentle climbs offer beautiful coastal views, steep cliffs, sandy beaches, and sweeping vineyards — the town is home to award-winning wineries producing a variety of cool-climate wines, including pinot grigio, chardonnay, and cabernet.

Originally a potato farming community, Drysdale continues to be known for its beautiful natural scenery and wildlife. Lake Lorne — a small freshwater lake southwest of town — is a popular bird-watching site famous for its variety of waterbirds. Drysdale is also a popular access point for scenic drives along the Great Ocean Road to Bells Beach and the Great Otway lighthouse.

Autumn is the perfect season for securing your Drysdale accommodations. The comfortable temperatures and limited rainfall are ideal for driving the Bellarine Tasting Trail and sampling the goods at one of the local vineyards. Winter brings cold weather, including brisk temperatures and rain, which is a great time to head inside and warm up with some dancing at the Annual National Celtic Festival in June. Spring is pleasant, with temperatures warming up during the day and evenings remaining cool. The Queenscliff Music Festival brings local and international talent to the peninsula every November. Summer months are the warmest and best time for those wanting to enjoy the surrounding beaches or take a scenic drive along the coast.

The Potato Shed

The Potato Shed is a thriving music and performing arts venue in Drysdale. The industrial-size venue hosts professional theatre tours, live music, international artists concerts, a film festival, one-act plays, and art exhibitions. From ballet and Elizabethan plays to punk and school holiday shows, there’s a performance for all ages. Events are held all year round in a range of indoor and outdoor venues.

Bellarine Rail Trail

The Bellarine Rail Trail is a walking and cycling trail that stretches 35 kilometres from South Geelong to Queenscliff, following the historic Geelong to Queenscliff railway line. Mostly flat with a gradual climb in parts, and multiple access points, the route traverses farmland, rolling hills, scenic vineyards, and eucalyptus woodlands. For those not wanting to walk or cycle the return, the Bellarine Railway offers return service and bike storage.

Lake Lorne

Lake Lorne is a small freshwater lake located close to the Drysdale railway station. Home to a variety of waterbirds, including black swans, hardheads, and dusky moorhens, the lake is popular with birdwatchers. Explore the surrounding parkland with willows, eucalyptus, paperbacks, and pittosporums. The flat, two-kilometre walking trail around the lake is ideal for a relaxing picnic and watching the old steam trains roll by.