Hop It’s 5 must visit spots on The Bellarine
From experiencing the McLaren Vale and picking grapes at Steels Gate Wines in the Yarra Valley to honeymooning in Tuscany, Sara and Jon, have taken their love for hands-on travel and created the perfect day trip around The Bellarine with Hop It.
Hop It is The Bellarine’s one and only hop on, hop off bus service, allowing you to create your own journey through the coastal region and explore it your way. Sip your way through wineries, distilleries and breweries.
Check out Sara and Jon’s top five must-visit spots on The Bellarine.
Lethbridge at Hat Rock
Hop off and enjoy a personal sit down tasting of what we think is some of the best wine The Bellarine has to offer. Some of our favourites have to be the Nebbiolo, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay.
Named after the geographical location of the winery, shaped like a hat, Lethbridge at Hat Rock is just a stone’s throw away from Portarlington. Ray Nadeson and Maree Collis began their love for wine at their Lethbridge location in 1996, both having backgrounds in neuroscience and chemistry.
Bennetts on Bellarine
Bennetts on Bellarine has a lovely warmth to the venue with their relaxed atmosphere and beautiful views out back. Wood-fired pizzas are served alongside a great choice of other snacks and foods.
Their wine list is extensive showcasing some of those classic Bellarine wines such as Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay – it would be very hard to find a wine you don’t like here! Oh, and they have live music!
The Whiskery
The Whiskery is one of Jon’s favourites given the fact he loves whisky! But they don’t stop there, if you like gin then this is the place for you. If you’re a dog lover you’ll also love the fact their gins are named after their dogs. The Whiskery has a cosy atmosphere with leather couches and a fireplace. Great to hop off during the colder months with their outdoor fire pit.
Russ Watson and Lorelle Warren opened The Whiskery in 2015 and were the only distillery on the Bellarine Peninsula at the time. They’ve since casually added the accolade of Australian Gin Distillery of the Year under their belts!
We love this family run, independent distillery and it’s a must hop for those spirit lovers.
FarmDog Brewing at McGlashans
Think family run, dog-friendly, great wood-fired pizzas, beer, spirits, and wine – FarmDog Brewing summed up in a nutshell.
With cosy vibes inside and beautiful scenery along with seating outside you can’t go wrong. Our faves from here have to be their Farm Dog Dark Ale and I.P.A.
Image credit: Monika Berry
Oakdene Vineyards Cellar Door
Oakdene Vineyards is one of our favourite cellar doors that has a wow factor being an upside-down house! We love this family run winery showcasing amazing cool climate wines. Fun fact: all of their wines are named after family members! You really connect with their story and the team that work there are all locals of the area who share the same pride and passion as the owners.
There’s so much to enjoy here from their cellar door, restaurant, cafe, wine bar and accommodation. You can either hop off here or even stay the night and hop on the next day from outside your doorstep.
To experience these venues (along with many other) firsthand, to find out more and book your trip with Hop It visit www.hopit.com.au/bellarinepeninsula.
