Situated between Drysdale and Indented Head, Portarlington sits on the very edge of the Bellarine Peninsula and for decades has been one the regions best loved holiday and some-what low key resort towns which is very child friendly with a lovely charm and sandy bayside beaches.
Portarlington is home to about 2400 people (including neighbouring Indented Head) and is about 30 km from the centre of Geelong and 104 km south of Melbourne via the Freeway and Highway but only 27 km across the Port Phillip Bay There are some sweeping views of the Bay including the You Yangs to the west and the skyscrapers of Melbourne to the north and Mornington Peninsula to the east.
The town has a small shopping strip Newcombe Street, with some good restaurants and cafes while the pub has been a favourite for years. Adjacent is a large park and camping area and the famous Portarlington Pier home to the fishing fleet and many a keen angler is only metres away. Portarlington has been attracting visitors and holidaymakers since the late 1900s and is jam packed with campers, caravans, cabins and tents during the summer months.
Other than the beach, the great fishing and close proximity to the Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula, local attractions in the area include the old flourmill which is open for visitors during the summer months. Several of the peninsulas finest wineries are in a short distance including Scotsman’s Hill and Bellarine Estate. Another favourite is Port Richards to the town’s west and is home to a very popular boat ramp and a unique miniature railway which families love to ride on Sundays over the warmer months.
Portarlington is a great place for camping, a picnic or just a quite spot of fishing off the pier that is located only meters from the Grand Hotel and the restored rotunda. The sandy shores of Port Phillip Bay are a enjoyed by hundreds on a hot day soaking up the sun or having a dip in the tranquil waters.
The 18 hole golf course is one of the Bellarine Peninsula’s best golfing facilities, plenty of bike tracks including a great ride around the tip of the peninsula along the foreshore to Indented Head and St Leonards.
Portarlington is home to many of the region’s major events, The National Celtic Festival which brings people from all over Australia is held every Queen’s Birthday weekend in June. Mid January the Mussel Festival is in full swing in the summer sun and a leg of the Bay Cycling Classic is held a week or two earlier in the New Year. The Bellarine Agricultural Show takes place in March and many of the wineries in the region hold special events and festivals including the Toast To The Coast in October. Late summer the waterfront also is home to the Portarlington Triathlon which is one of Australia’s longest running and considered one of the best.
A market that is held on the last Sunday of every month during the warmer months is also very popular for both locals and visitors. The market is held in the Primary School grounds on the morning of the first Sunday from September to April.
