Best Beaches on the Bellarine Peninsula: From Ocean Grove to Portarlington
The Bellarine Peninsula has two distinct coastlines and they behave very differently. The ocean-facing south side gets Southern Ocean swell and is better for surfing. The bay side faces Port Phillip and is calm enough for swimming year-round. This post covers the beaches worth visiting on both sides, with real ratings and facility details from BeachCheck.
Ocean Grove Beach
Ocean Grove Beach sits at 4.7 stars across 643 reviews on BeachCheck. It's the main town beach for Ocean Grove and faces southeast, which means it collects swell from the Southern Ocean. The beach stretches around a kilometre and a half along the Barwon River mouth, with sand that stays firm and walkable at low tide.
This is a surf beach, not a swim beach. The break is fairly consistent, picking up swell that wraps around the Bellarine tip, and it's popular with intermediate surfers who find Point Lonsdale too crowded on weekends. If you're bringing kids who want to swim, the calmer section near the river mouth is the better choice.
There's a car park at the northern end off Orton Street and another accessed from Dunes Drive near the surf club. Both fill up in summer by 9am. The town itself is directly behind the beach: cafes, bakeries, and a small supermarket all within a few minutes' walk.
The Ocean Grove Main Surf Beach is the dedicated surf zone just south of the main beach. It rates 4.8 stars across 235 reviews and has lifeguard patrols in season. This is where you want to be if surfing is the point of the trip.
Barwon Bluff
Barwon Bluff rates 4.8 stars across 505 reviews, which puts it among the highest-rated spots on the Bellarine. It's not a swimming beach in the traditional sense. Barwon Bluff is a rocky headland where the Barwon River meets the sea, and it's primarily worth visiting for the walk and the views back along the coast toward Torquay.
The track along the bluff takes about 20 minutes one way and gives you elevated views of the surf break below. On a clear day you can see the You Yangs inland and the city skyline to the northeast. The bluff is also a popular fishing spot for locals targeting salmon and snapper off the rocks.
Getting there: park at the end of Bluff Road in Barwon Heads. There's a small free car park. The township of Barwon Heads is just behind you with a handful of cafes and the pub if you want lunch afterward.
Portarlington Swimming Beach
Portarlington Swimming Beach rates 4.4 stars across 78 reviews. This is a bay beach, which means flat water and no surf. The water is calm even in moderate winds, which makes it the right choice if you're visiting with young kids or want somewhere to actually swim rather than watch surf.
The beach fronts Portarlington town and sits near the historic pier, which dates to the 1860s. Swimming conditions here are good from November through April. Outside of summer the water temperature drops enough that you'd want a wetsuit if you're in for more than a few minutes.
The foreshore reserve behind the beach has BBQ facilities and a playground, so it works as an all-day family spot. There's free parking along Newcombe Street.
Portarlington is around 35km from Geelong via the Bellarine Highway. It's also served by the Portarlington to Melbourne ferry, which runs from the Docklands precinct from October through April and takes about 70 minutes.
Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff
The southern tip of the Bellarine has two towns close together: Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale. Neither has a large beach in the BeachCheck database at current, but both are worth knowing about if you're doing a full Bellarine circuit.
Point Lonsdale faces the Rip, the narrow channel where Port Phillip Bay meets Bass Strait. The lighthouse walk gives you one of the better views of shipping traffic on the Australian coast. Queenscliff has a small harbour beach that's calmer than anything on the ocean side.
If you're continuing around the Bellarine after visiting Portarlington, the drive from Portarlington to Queenscliff via St Leonards takes about 25 minutes.
Practical Notes
Best for swimming: Portarlington Swimming Beach (calm bay water, suitable for families)
Best for surfing: Ocean Grove Main Surf Beach (4.8 stars, patrolled in season)
Best for walking: Barwon Bluff (4.8 stars, elevated views, 40-minute return walk)
Getting to the Bellarine: From Melbourne, take the Princes Freeway to Geelong then the Bellarine Highway (about 90 minutes to Ocean Grove). From Geelong CBD, Ocean Grove is 30 minutes. The ferry from Melbourne Docklands to Portarlington is a useful option if you want to avoid driving.
Time of year: The Bellarine works year-round for walking and sightseeing. For swimming, November to April is the realistic window unless you're in a wetsuit.
Browse all Bellarine and Geelong-area beaches at BeachCheck.