Visitors flock to the area to enjoy its famous beaches, relaxed vibe and trendy shopping strip. The vibrant coastal village is most popular in summer, but year round there are many reasons to visit, with gourmet food and wine options, cosy accommodation and plenty of activities to choose from.

EAT
 

Annie’s Provedore & Produce Store
A Barwon Heads institution, Annie’s Provedore & Produce Store is an absolute haven for foodies. Here you can sip on barista made coffee, graze on Italian inspired plates or tuck into a hearty home-cooked meal.  The shop floor is filled with local and internationally sourced produce, farmhouse cheeses, freshly baked breads, homemade cookies, jams and chutneys, cured meat as well as local, seasonal fruit and vegetables. Annie’s is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, and from Thursday to Saturday for dinner. 50 Hitchcock Avenue, Barwon Heads, +61 3 5254 3233

At the Heads
Located on the Barwon Heads Jetty, At the Heads is the place to go for spectacular coastal views matched with delicious food. From this iconic location guests can take in stunning panoramic views over the beach and the mouth of the Barwon River out to Bass Strait. Glass doors and windows on three sides ensure guests have expansive water views wherever they are seated. The service is casual and friendly and the atmosphere relaxed. Open seven days a week for brunch through to dinner, the restaurant has a nautical feel with a modern European influenced menu. Jetty Road, Barwon Heads, +61 3 5254 1277

Barwon Heads Winestore
Barwon Heads Winestore is new to the neighbourhood but has quickly made itself at home amongst the stores and cafes spanning Hitchcock Avenue. The independent, boutique winestore brings the finest wines, spirits and beers to the Bellarine with an emphasis on wine, beer and cider from the region. Open seven days. 2/86 Hitchcock Avenue, Barwon Heads, +61 3 5254 2741

STAY
 

Seahaven Village
Centrally located, Seahaven Village is within easy walking distance of Barwon Heads shops, cafes and beaches. An ideal winter escape, the apartments come equipped with amenities such as log fires, spas, state of the art kitchens and fresh seaside decor. There is also an outside living area in a garden setting. Guest can choose from one and two bedroom apartments or studio units at this four star, environmentally rated property. 3 Geelong Road, Barwon Heads, +61 5254 1066

Barwon Heads Golf Club
Nestled amongst the coastal dunes and just metres from spectacular 13th Beach Surf Coast, Barwon Heads Golf Club is one of the region’s most prestigious golfing and accommodation venues. With 19 ensuite rooms located within the clubhouse, guests can choose from a bed and breakfast package or full board stay-and-play package, which includes a round of golf. There are also four modern grass tennis courts onsite which guests are welcome to use. Barwon Heads Golf Club, Golf Links Road, Barwon Heads, +61 3 5255 6255

Barwon Heads Caravan Park
An iconic destination, the Barwon Heads Caravan Park was made famous by the ABC television show SeaChange. Guests can choose from four two-bedroom waterfront Beach Houses, including ‘Laura’s’ which featured in the show. Each of the fully self-contained Beach Houses feature stunning views of the Barwon River and out across the bay to Ocean Grove and Port Phillip Heads. The Caravan Park is also home to powered and unpowered camping and caravan sites and cabins, along with a wide range of facilities. Ewing Blyth Drive, Barwon Heads, +61 3 5254 1115

PLAY
 

Kiitos Living by Design
A shopper’s haven, Barwon Heads’ trendy thoroughfare, Hitchock Avenue, is brimming with boutique shops. A must visit location is Kiitos Living by Design, which is a great spot to visit for bright designer homewares, gifts and fashion. It is housed within a former retro-style garage, and boasts goods from some of the world’s best-known design houses including Marimekko and Orla Kiely. Shop 2, 5-7 Bridge Road, Barwon Heads, +61 3 5254 1835

Adventure Flight Co.
Thrill seekers can gain a bird’s eye view of the picturesque Bellarine coastline with Adventure Flight Co. Operating out of Barwon Heads Airport, options include scenic coastal flights and heart-pounding warbird adventure flights. Their powerful prop driven fighter aircraft can take guests from 0 to 300km per hour in under five seconds. For those seeking a gentler pace, scenic tours soar past the Barwon Heads Bluff over to Ocean Grove’s pristine surf beach and past the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. All flights are fully customisable. Barwon Heads Airport, 1405 Barwon Heads Rd, Barwon Heads, 1300 341 006

Thirteenth Beach Golf Links and Barwon Heads Golf Club
Barwon Heads is home to two of Australia’s highest ranked public golf courses, both with stunning coastal backdrops and challenging courses. Thirteenth Beach Golf Links is home to two courses – the Beach Course and the Creek Course – and also plays host to the Victorian Open Championships, held annually in February. Carved into the dunes, Barwon Heads Golf Club is steeped in history. Opened in 1924, the heritage-listed clubhouse is famed for its ambience and old-world charm and offers expansive views over the coastline towards Port Phillip Heads. 1732 Barwon Heads Rd, Connewarre, +61 3 5254 2922 and Golf Links Rd, Barwon Heads, +61 3 5255 6255

For more information on Barwon Heads and the Bellarine Peninsula, see here.

Eat. Stay. Play. Barwon Heads

Less than an hour and a half from Melbourne, Barwon Heads has long been a popular family holiday destination.