Barwon Heads Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Geelong - Bellarine Peninsula showing general coastal views and a bridge as well as an individual male
Barwon Heads showing a bridge and general coastal views
Barwon Heads which includes a bridge and a beach
Barwon Heads which includes 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.

Seahaven Village

Seahaven Village

4 out of 5
3 Geelong Road, Barwon Heads, VIC
The price is AU$402 per night from 1 Sept to 2 Sept
AU$402
1 Sept - 2 Sept
includes taxes & fees
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 ...
Seahaven Village
Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong by IHG

Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong by IHG

4 out of 5
40 Ryrie Street, Geelong, VIC
The price is AU$175 per night from 17 Sept to 18 Sept
AU$175
17 Sept - 18 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Geelong. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong by IHG
Wyndham Resort Torquay

Wyndham Resort Torquay

4 out of 5
100 The Esplanade, Torquay, VIC
The price is AU$218 per night from 14 Sept to 15 Sept
AU$218
14 Sept - 15 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star beach hotel in Torquay. Enjoy free parking, 2 outdoor pools, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in our ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,002 reviews)
"Happy with the staff service ."

Reviewed on 3 Aug. 2025

Wyndham Resort Torquay
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 ...
Seahaven Village
Pet friendly Riverside Retreat

Pet friendly Riverside Retreat

Barwon Heads
Book a stay at this golf vacation home in Barwon Heads. Enjoy a garden, laundry facilities, and patios. Popular attractions Raffs Beach and Frank Ellis Reserve ...
Pet friendly Riverside Retreat
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 ...
Oaks Vue Suites Geelong
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