Carolyn’s guidebook
Food and wine scene
The area around Connewarre has great cafes, restaurants and wineries left to right of us. The Bellarine, Surfcoast and greater Geelong area all have places worthy of a visit or two. Of course these are our personal experiences that we are sharing and hope they will match yours.
Great place for gin! They offer a personalised gin tasting with great food as well. Very passionate staff. Their 'Teddy and the Fox' gin is fantastic making some great cocktails. About half an hour away from here and in an area that has lots of other wineries and places to visit.
https://www.bellarinedistillery.com.au
59 locals recommend
The Whiskery
2 Scotchmans RdGreat place for gin! They offer a personalised gin tasting with great food as well. Very passionate staff. Their 'Teddy and the Fox' gin is fantastic making some great cocktails. About half an hour away from here and in an area that has lots of other wineries and places to visit.
https://www.bellarinedistillery.com.au
Also known as Basil's Farm, it has amazing views over Swan Bay with outdoor seating and indoor. On a sunny day it's magic sitting out on a table on the lawn amongst the fruit trees and exploring their very expansive home grown vegetable garden. Good staff and a great wine tasting venue.
78 locals recommend
Basils Farm
43-53 Nye RdAlso known as Basil's Farm, it has amazing views over Swan Bay with outdoor seating and indoor. On a sunny day it's magic sitting out on a table on the lawn amongst the fruit trees and exploring their very expansive home grown vegetable garden. Good staff and a great wine tasting venue.
A very schmick winery - great views and very well set up with wines, food and merchandise. If it's sunny, I would call up and request a table as far out on the lawn as possible with views. It's all nice but a table on the edge of the lawn gives you impressive uninterrupted views and just a nice way to spend a lunch or afternoon.
151 locals recommend
Jack Rabbit
85 McAdams LnA very schmick winery - great views and very well set up with wines, food and merchandise. If it's sunny, I would call up and request a table as far out on the lawn as possible with views. It's all nice but a table on the edge of the lawn gives you impressive uninterrupted views and just a nice way to spend a lunch or afternoon.
A great local winery with a large bistro (Barrell Hall cafe) for food. This is where they hold many music festivals - A Day on the Green.
28 locals recommend
Mt Duneed Estate
65 Pettavel RdA great local winery with a large bistro (Barrell Hall cafe) for food. This is where they hold many music festivals - A Day on the Green.
One of our favourite spots. Either sitting out on the deck enjoying the warmth of the sun, in the far corner enjoying the amazing view of Barwon River at sunset or in in the leather lunges in front of the fire in winter. It's the water setting, the high ceiling with skylights and exposed beams that gives the vibe. Look out for steak night on Wednesday night - great bargain!
97 locals recommend
At the Heads
1A Jetty RdOne of our favourite spots. Either sitting out on the deck enjoying the warmth of the sun, in the far corner enjoying the amazing view of Barwon River at sunset or in in the leather lunges in front of the fire in winter. It's the water setting, the high ceiling with skylights and exposed beams that gives the vibe. Look out for steak night on Wednesday night - great bargain!
Worth a stop here if exploring the Great Ocean Road. Fantastic and delicious food. The service for us has been excellent and the food so dang tasty. I have a few dietary issues and they were so happy to accommodate....one of mine is garlic and for a Greek Restaurant to help out was impressive.
They have a sister restaurant closer by in Airies Inlet called A La Grecque and we're yet to try this one but hear it's very good too.
72 locals recommend
IPSOS Restaurant & Bar
48 Mountjoy ParadeWorth a stop here if exploring the Great Ocean Road. Fantastic and delicious food. The service for us has been excellent and the food so dang tasty. I have a few dietary issues and they were so happy to accommodate....one of mine is garlic and for a Greek Restaurant to help out was impressive.
They have a sister restaurant closer by in Airies Inlet called A La Grecque and we're yet to try this one but hear it's very good too.
This is more the intimate winery - very basic setting but still has an ambience. John is always up for a chat and loves telling his story. One a few tables outside and a couple inside but you feel the love. Certainly an economical visit with reasonably priced wine and platters. When we went it was $10 for a glass of their red but only $20 for the bottle - soooo he was happy for us to have a glass and take the bottle home.
Wayawu Estate
1070 Bellarine HwyThis is more the intimate winery - very basic setting but still has an ambience. John is always up for a chat and loves telling his story. One a few tables outside and a couple inside but you feel the love. Certainly an economical visit with reasonably priced wine and platters. When we went it was $10 for a glass of their red but only $20 for the bottle - soooo he was happy for us to have a glass and take the bottle home.
Now here's a place with so much to offer. A great restaurant or cafe, great tasting room and lots of art installations about for an enjoyable garden wander with a couple of wines. No specific views, except maybe the vineyard, but it's very busy with things to look at. Easy for a quick visit for a tasting, sit down at the cafe for lunch or step it up with a restaurant visit.
93 locals recommend
Oakdene Vineyards, Restaurant and Cellar Door
255 Grubb RdNow here's a place with so much to offer. A great restaurant or cafe, great tasting room and lots of art installations about for an enjoyable garden wander with a couple of wines. No specific views, except maybe the vineyard, but it's very busy with things to look at. Easy for a quick visit for a tasting, sit down at the cafe for lunch or step it up with a restaurant visit.
This place is a must but is only open Sundays (on this one-day as the title suggests). Great space with a real rustic vibe. Large open fireplace for winter escapes. Well known for their Paella Pan or y can choose burgers or pizza. Wine's pretty good too. Recommended if you're in town on a Sunday!
19 locals recommend
Oneday Estate Winery & Function Centre
45 Curlewis RdThis place is a must but is only open Sundays (on this one-day as the title suggests). Great space with a real rustic vibe. Large open fireplace for winter escapes. Well known for their Paella Pan or y can choose burgers or pizza. Wine's pretty good too. Recommended if you're in town on a Sunday!
I've been here a few times and had a different experience each time. For lunch you can sit with a peaceful view over the billabong and enjoy the local wine and some good food. It's only a very small winery and strongly advise you to ring before you go to make sure it's open and lunch is on. During summer they do have a small concert series and entertainment varies but a very cute amphitheatre offers a great intimate vibe and you can bring along your own picnic.
6 locals recommend
The Minya Vineyard & Winery
95 Minya LnI've been here a few times and had a different experience each time. For lunch you can sit with a peaceful view over the billabong and enjoy the local wine and some good food. It's only a very small winery and strongly advise you to ring before you go to make sure it's open and lunch is on. During summer they do have a small concert series and entertainment varies but a very cute amphitheatre offers a great intimate vibe and you can bring along your own picnic.
A formal restaurant inside and an outdoor area with more casual atmosphere. Good restaurant and great wine on offer. A little more up market than a few of the other casual dining areas of Barwon Heads.
39 locals recommend
BeachHouse Barwon Heads
48 Hitchcock AveA formal restaurant inside and an outdoor area with more casual atmosphere. Good restaurant and great wine on offer. A little more up market than a few of the other casual dining areas of Barwon Heads.
As an alternative to wineries, this is worth a visit with some great cider tastings and can have live music. Also has good food. We enjoyed both the cider and food and ambience of the place!
82 locals recommend
Flying Brick Cider Co
1269 Bellarine HwyAs an alternative to wineries, this is worth a visit with some great cider tastings and can have live music. Also has good food. We enjoyed both the cider and food and ambience of the place!
A little eclectic with it's very odd collection of, well, everything. Each corner has different vintage bits and pieces. From old Weetbix tins to an old diving suit. The times we've gone, the wine tastings have been good but not necessarily offered in a passionate way. They have some beers as well but not for tastings including an ale with abalone involved. Their platters are good sizes and not bad value. The owner also often has his cars on display and there's an old bus from a bygone era - no shortage of memorabilia here.
19 locals recommend
McGlashan's Wallington Estate
225 Swan Bay RdA little eclectic with it's very odd collection of, well, everything. Each corner has different vintage bits and pieces. From old Weetbix tins to an old diving suit. The times we've gone, the wine tastings have been good but not necessarily offered in a passionate way. They have some beers as well but not for tastings including an ale with abalone involved. Their platters are good sizes and not bad value. The owner also often has his cars on display and there's an old bus from a bygone era - no shortage of memorabilia here.
Airey's Pub is a great stop on the Great Ocean Rd or just a day visit from here. We've actually only been on cooler days and always managed to get a table in front of the fire. Been impressed with the chef making amendments with my dietary needs and friendly staff. Good choice of beers and wine and food has always been great. Suggest a walk to the lighthouse first to get the appetite going. This is the lighthouse featured in the ABC's series Round the Twist.
78 locals recommend
Aireys Pub
45 Great Ocean RdAirey's Pub is a great stop on the Great Ocean Rd or just a day visit from here. We've actually only been on cooler days and always managed to get a table in front of the fire. Been impressed with the chef making amendments with my dietary needs and friendly staff. Good choice of beers and wine and food has always been great. Suggest a walk to the lighthouse first to get the appetite going. This is the lighthouse featured in the ABC's series Round the Twist.
Food scene
On your way down the Great Ocean Road and if you like chocolate then this is a must. Actually even if you're not, it's still an interesting visit. Plenty of sample chocolate on offer and fantastic place to purchase local gifts. There's a window into the chocolate making area, a cafe, an ice creamery and every type of chocolate in every type of presentation you can imagine.
Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery
1200 Great Ocean RdFor those wanting to explore local produce, this small market could be of interest. Although not all totally local, there is plenty of local bread, cakes, preserves, honey, meat etc for you to purchase. Only on a Saturday morning from 8am to 1pm and this is where I go regularly....even just for the sultana and rosemary sour dough.
25 locals recommend
Torquay Farmers' Market
For those wanting to explore local produce, this small market could be of interest. Although not all totally local, there is plenty of local bread, cakes, preserves, honey, meat etc for you to purchase. Only on a Saturday morning from 8am to 1pm and this is where I go regularly....even just for the sultana and rosemary sour dough.
Sightseeing
Great beach to walk around and when the tide's right, it's got some great rockery areas to explore. Just a nice beach with plenty to see and often not on the tourist map.
74 locals recommend
Point Roadknight
Great beach to walk around and when the tide's right, it's got some great rockery areas to explore. Just a nice beach with plenty to see and often not on the tourist map.