Coming to Portarlington Mussel Tours? Give yourself a little more time.
Portarlington sits in a beautiful corner of the Bellarine Peninsula, surrounded by beaches, vineyards, coastal trails and small seaside towns — and you don’t have to travel far to find something worth doing.
You can walk beside the bay in the morning, browse local boutiques, spend the afternoon at a cellar door, head out fishing or swimming with dolphins, then finish somewhere beautiful for dinner.
Here are some of our favourite ways to explore the Bellarine while you’re here.
Start with Portarlington itself
Before jumping in the car, spend some time discovering our own town.
Portarlington’s foreshore is made for wandering. Start around the pier and harbour and follow the waterfront west, taking in views across Port Phillip Bay towards Melbourne and the You Yangs.
If you feel like stretching the legs further, the Bellarine Coastal Trail runs from the pier towards Point Richards. You don’t need to do the whole trail — walk for half an hour or so, take in the bay views and simply turn around when you’re ready.
It’s one of the nicest ways to see another side of Portarlington away from the main street.
Browse Portarlington’s local shops
Leave some time for Newcombe Street too.
Portarlington has a growing collection of independent boutiques and small businesses selling fashion, homewares, gifts and locally made pieces.
A few local favourites include The Ducks Nuts, HIVE, Kouture By The Sea and Just Next Door.
It’s worth having a wander rather than arriving with a shopping list — that’s part of the fun.
Get back out on the water
After seeing how mussels are grown with us, you might decide one boat trip isn’t enough.
For anglers, Portarlington is a great base for fishing Port Phillip Bay. Local fishing charters head out from the harbour, giving you another way to experience life on the water.
Or head around the Peninsula to Queenscliff for a very different marine experience with Sea All Dolphin Swims. Their tours include opportunities to swim and snorkel with wild dolphins and Australian fur seals, with sightseeing options for those who prefer to stay on deck.
For people who love the marine environment, it’s a natural companion experience to Portarlington Mussel Tours.
Make time for a Bellarine winery
You’re surrounded by one of Victoria’s great cool-climate wine regions, so it would be a shame not to visit at least one cellar door.
The Bellarine is known for pinot noir, shiraz and chardonnay, and many local wineries combine tastings with beautiful views, relaxed lunches and seasonal produce.
You’ll find plenty around Portarlington, Drysdale and Wallington — from well-known estates to smaller producers tucked away down country roads.
Our advice? Don’t try to do them all. Choose one or two, take your time and enjoy them properly.
→ Read our guide to Where to Eat & Drink in Portarlington & the Bellarine
Play a round of golf
If golf is your thing, bring the clubs.
The Bellarine is home to an impressive collection of courses, from relaxed local golf to some of Australia’s best-known coastal layouts.
Close to town, Portarlington Golf Club is just a few minutes from central Portarlington and offers a well-regarded course with excellent year-round playing conditions.
Further around the Peninsula you’ll find Curlewis Golf Club, 13th Beach Golf Links, Barwon Heads, Lonsdale Links and Queenscliff Golf Club.
In fact, six local clubs have joined together as Golf The Bellarine, making it easy to plan a round — or even a few — as part of a longer stay.
Find your favourite Bellarine beach
One of the pleasures of the Bellarine is that every stretch of coastline feels a little different.
For an easy swim or lazy afternoon, stay close to home on Portarlington’s north-facing beach.
Continue around the bay through Indented Head and St Leonards for quieter stretches of coastline and an old-fashioned seaside feel.
Or drive across the Peninsula to Point Lonsdale and Ocean Grove, where the scenery changes completely as Port Phillip Bay meets Bass Strait.
Point Lonsdale is great for a coastal walk, while Ocean Grove is the place to go if you’re looking for a proper surf beach.
Take one of the Bellarine’s best train rides
For a completely different way to see the region, climb aboard The Q Train.
The three-hour dining journey travels from Drysdale towards Queenscliff and back, passing vineyards, farmland and Swan Bay while courses featuring produce from the Bellarine, Geelong and Otways are served onboard.
It’s another experience that puts local food, storytelling and a sense of place at its heart — so unsurprisingly, we think our guests tend to love it.
A few more local ideas
If you have another day, go a little slower.
Walk through Point Richards Flora & Fauna Reserve, follow part of the coastal trail towards Indented Head, hire bikes, throw a line from the pier, watch the boats working around Portarlington Harbour or simply find a quiet section of beach and do very little at all.
And one of our favourite simple pleasures? Stay until late afternoon and watch the light change over Port Phillip Bay.
You don’t need an attraction or a ticket for everything.
Stay a little longer
There’s much more to the Bellarine than you can fit into a day.
Come for your Portarlington Mussel Tours experience, but give yourself time to discover the beaches, vineyards, golf courses, coastal towns, local businesses and people that make this part of Victoria special.
And if you need somewhere to base yourself while you explore:
