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B E L L A R I N E P E N I N S U L AB E L L A R I N E P E N I N S U L A

The Pull ofThe Peninsula

One of Victoria’s best-kept secrets, the Bellarine Peninsula is home to wineries,

award-winning pies, fantastic sea views and pristine golf courses. By Helen Alexander.

WHEN IT COMES to daytrip destinations that are an easy drive from Melbourne’s CBD, two areas spring to mind – there’s the Yarra Valley, which has been welcoming weekend wine-tasters to its cellar doors for decades, and Mornington, with its rugged coastline and hot springs. But what about the Bellarine? Situated to the southwest of the city, with Port Phillip Bay on one side and the Bass Strait on the other, the towns and villages of this stunning peninsula demand exploration.

TIME FOR TUCKERYou know you are in for a treat when a region boasts its very own Taste Trail. Featuring some of the best cellar doors, restaurants, cafés and small producers in Victoria, download the visitor map or pick one up at a tourist information outlet – it will lead you to some real gourmet treasures. But to get you started, tuck into a delicious brunch at Elk Horn Roadhouse in Wallington. This beautiful café prides itself on serving homemade, seasonal dishes and was recently awarded three stars in The Age’s Good Food Under $30 guide. For another tasty cheap eat – and to sample something of an Australian institution when it comes to food-on-the-go – a chunky steak pie from Rolling Pin is a must. With two bakeries (Ocean Grove and Queenscliff) this meat-fi lled pastry offering was named Australia’s Best Pie 2013.

In the evening, recover from a busy day exploring with a reviving cocktail at the Lounge @ Salt. Situated above a contemporary art gallery in Queenscliff, stepping into this

antique-strewn lounge bar is like stepping back in time. Enjoy your aperitif from the comfort of a plush leather chair and take in your quirky surrounds before walking down the road to Vue Grand. This iconic hotel is home to several dining spaces, from the award-winning Grand Dining Room to Vue Street Bar on front verandah, which is the perfect place to sample local brews from Bellarine Brewing Co. Their Mussel Stout pays tribute to the region’s famous seafood – sample them for yourself in Portarlington, situated at the northernmost point of the peninsula.

THE PERFECT DROP The compact peninsula is easy to travel around in a day, but with more than 20 wineries you need to plan your stops carefully. For its eccentric charm, the cellar door at Oakdene, situated in an upside down house, is a must. Their wines, which are named after members of the family (the 2012 William shiraz is especially good) and sculpture-fi lled garden café mean it can be hard to tear yourself away, but if you venture a couple of kilometres down the road you will be rewarded with some of Victoria’s best sparkling wine at Leura Park Estate. Next up – two wineries with stunning vantage points. On a clear day, you can see Melbourne’s skyline from Jack Rabbit Vineyard, while pouring a mean pinot and offering stunning views over Swan Bay to Queenscliff is Kiltynane Winery. And remember – many of these wineries have fantastic restaurants, so take a look at the menu if you want tolinger over a long lunch in the countryside.

The Grand Dining Room at Vue Grand.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Surrounded by water, there are great sea views all over the peninsula – highlights include joining a tour of Point Lonsdale lighthouse and staring out at the dramatic rip at Port Phillip Heads. If you are feeling adventurous, take in this stunning coastal landscape from the water with South Bay Eco Adventures – the team runs boat tours through these tumultuous waters to Nepean Bay and passes heaps of local attractions along the way, from military fortifi cations to shipwreck sites and, in the right season,a colony of Australian fur seals.

Golfers take note – there are several stunning greens here including Barwon Heads Golf Club, which has been rated among the top 50 courses in Australia. Then for keen cyclists, the Bellarine Rail Trail runs 32km from Queenscliff to Geelong alongside the region’s old train tracks. For a shorter journey,and to allow time for more pit-stops along the way, tackle the 17km section from Drysdale to Queenscliff and give tired legsa rest by hopping on the peninsula’s atmospheric steam trainfor the return journey.

Caption.

Point Lonsdale. Photo: Nic Crilly-Hargrave.

Elk Horn Roadhouse. Photo: Nic Crilly-Hargrave. Caption.Kiltynane Wines. Photo: Nic Crilly-Hargrave.

Oakdene Cellar Door.