Barwon Heads

Travel Guide

Geelong - Bellarine Peninsula featuring general coastal views and a bridge as well as an individual male
Barwon Heads which includes general coastal views and a bridge
Barwon Heads which includes a sandy beach and a bridge
Barwon Heads featuring 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 WiFi, and free parking. Popular attractions Barwon Heads Golf Club and Frank Ellis ...

Reviewed on Jan 29, 2014

Barwon Heads Golf Club
Rydges Geelong
Rydges Geelong
4 out of 5
Cnr Gheringhap & Myers St, Geelong, VIC
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
$99 nightly
The price is $109 total per night from Jul 13 to Jul 14
$109 total
Jul 13 - Jul 14
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Geelong. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,002 reviews)
"Reasonable price - close to everything we needed"

Reviewed on Jul 6, 2025

Rydges Geelong
Admiralty Inn
Admiralty Inn
3 out of 5
66 Mckillop Street, Geelong, VIC
$69 nightly
The price is $76 total per night from Jul 10 to Jul 11
$76 total
Jul 10 - Jul 11
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 3-star motel in Geelong. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,000 reviews)
"Price was very cheap which worried me but the quality was very high. Clean rooms, good wifi, good bed and home cooked eggs and bacon breakfast was perfect. Thank you. We will stay here again."

Reviewed on Jun 22, 2025

Admiralty Inn
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 WiFi, 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 Mar 11, 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 WiFi, parking (surcharge), and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,434 reviews)
"Great location, excellent customer service and the rooms are well kept, very modern and have very thing you could need. The option for the undercover locked parking is very convenient. Would definitely stay again if or when in the area."

Reviewed on Jul 5, 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! (653 reviews)
"Comfortable, clean and great location"

Reviewed on Jun 21, 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.

Popular places to visit

Cities near Barwon Heads