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$413 per night from 16 Oct to 17 Oct
AU$413
16 Oct - 17 Oct
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 ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (156 reviews)
"This cute apartment was just what we needed for a short break."

Reviewed on 11 Mar 2025

Seahaven Village
Wyndham Resort Torquay

Wyndham Resort Torquay

4 out of 5
100 The Esplanade, Torquay, VIC
The price is AU$218 per night from 4 Nov to 5 Nov
AU$218
4 Nov - 5 Nov
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! (1,004 reviews)
"The room was pretty dirty, had coffee all over the floor and blacks hairs all throughout the bath. Lots of broken gates to pool/spa and some ammenities. Would stay again purely for convenience of the location not the resort itself."

Reviewed on 22 Sept 2025

Wyndham Resort Torquay
Admiralty Inn

Admiralty Inn

3 out of 5
66 Mckillop Street, Geelong, VIC
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is AU$127 per night from 29 Oct to 30 Oct
AU$127
29 Oct - 30 Oct
includes taxes & 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! (1,009 reviews)
"Comfortable accommodation"

Reviewed on 9 Oct 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! (156 reviews)
"This cute apartment was just what we needed for a short break."

Reviewed on 11 Mar 2025

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 ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (80 reviews)
"Overall very pleased with the property and amenities. However some things were a bit annoying. Like cutlery that's not really clean and needs dishwashing. TV that's quite small for the size of the living room. Lack of doors in all bathrooms and lack of ability to lock the doors even where there are ..."

Reviewed on 24 Sept 2025

Pet friendly Riverside Retreat
Quest Geelong Central

Quest Geelong Central

4 out of 5
71-77 Gheringhap St, Geelong, VIC
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Geelong. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (225 reviews)
"This was our second stay in 18 months. Central location, friendly staff and very clean rooms bring you back. Lots of dining options within easy walking distance."

Reviewed on 5 Oct 2025

Quest Geelong Central
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.

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Reviews of Barwon Heads

4.6
Top destination
5 - Excellent
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5 - Excellent 57%
4 - Good
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4 - Good 43%
3 - Okay
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4/5 - Good

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Will be back again asap

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