Itinerary: A family winter getaway on The Bellarine
There’s something special about hitting the coast during winter with the family. Sunrises and sunsets are up there as some of the best. Nights spent fireside soaking up every ounce of warmth. Refreshing coastal walks. There’s a lot to love, but one of the greatest perks of all during the off season is there’ll be more time spent doing and less time waiting.
Here is the perfect getaway full of winter activities for you and your family to refresh and rewild. Minus the queues.
Stay
Any good trip always starts with where to rest your head. For families, one of the top spots is a stay at BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Queenscliff Beacon. Perfectly positioned across from the beach, at the entrance to Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale, it’s in the heart of the action for family activities on The Bellarine.
Kids will love the indoor adventure playground, shaded giant jumping pillow, Go-Karts, interactive NEOS360 and heated indoor pool. There’s an outdoor gas fireplace for those chilly days and heated accommodation options too.
Choose from luxury villas, modern apartments, contemporary cabins and caravan and camping sites. Yes, you can bring your RV if you’ve got one!
See and do
Discover a winter wonderland at Adventure Park
During the school holidays, Adventure Park transforms into the Winter Glow Festival where you’ll find realistic snow, rides, light installations and ice-sculpting and fire-twirling displays to enjoy. You can even roast marshmallows on the open fire or build a snowman.
This event often sells out, so please book ahead for your visit.
When: 22 June – 3 August
To book tickets and for more information head here.
Whale watching at The Bluff
Each year from May until early October you can catch humpback whales, southern right whales, blue whales and orcas as they make the return journey to Antarctica. The perfect spot to catch them on The Bellarine is from The Bluff in Barwon Heads.
Grab your beanie, binoculars and your whale spotting A-game for a memory you’ll never forget.
Eat and drink
Flying Brick Cider House
Not only does Flying Brick Cider have a massive lawn for the kids to play on, it’s right next door to Adventure Park, which holds the Winter Glow Festival during the school holidays.
A dedicated kid’s menu, aptly names ‘crab apples’, features the classics of crumbed chicken tenders, battered local fish and pasta Bolognese.
Flavours are carefully considered in the main menu, with global influencers celebrating local produce. And a visit wouldn’t be complete without a tasting of the ciders, traditionally crafted and made from 100% fresh fruit. You can grab a tasting paddle of ciders or choose from a great range of Bellarine wines and craft beer.
Ket Baker
Baked goods hit different during winter. Head to Ket Baker for one-of-a-kind 100% sourdough baked treats, coffees and, if you’re lucky, a warming soup. Get it to-go as fuel for your winter adventures or have a wander of the rural property in Wallington.
