A cosy pit stop before you drive on the Great Ocean Road
An extension of Geelong, Barwon Heads is a slice of coastal charm not too far from Melbourne.
The Great Ocean Road begins in Torquay. Barwon Heads is the town just before the Great Ocean Road begins,
It’s a great pit stop before you join the Great Ocean Road – perfect for fuelling up, grabbing a snack, or spending a lazy afternoon on the beach. Got more time to travel the Great Ocean Road? Spend a day in the ocean here at Barwon Heads to avoid the crowds that flock to the heavier touristy towns like Torquay.
With beginner-friendly surf and a peppering of bars and restaurants in the town, Barwon Heads is a great destination for those looking for a slightly less touristy stop before the Great Ocean Road.
Life in Barwon Heads moves at a slower pace, and it’s hard to believe you’re only 90 minutes away from Melbourne. It feels a million miles away from the city!
If you’re a surfing newbie, Barwon Heads is a particularly great spot, providing some of the best surf along the Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula.
With heaps of space to enjoy the ocean, plenty of restaurants and cafes with some of the best golf courses in Australia, Barwon Heads is a small beach town that feels more like a holiday village.
What to do in Barwon Heads?
Heading to Barwon Heads? Visitors can enjoy…
- Surfing
- Skydiving
- Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary
- Dine out at one of the coastal restaurants
- Coastal walks
- Paddleboarding
Surfing
The surf-friendly waves of Barwon Heads are approachable and perfect for beginners and pros alike. Whatever your surfing ability, there are some great spots for a surf along the Barwon Heads beaches.
Where can you surf at Barwon Heads?
Head out to Thirteenth Beach for a long stretch of coastline that offers a few different places to surf. This enormous expanse of beach provides plenty of spots for both beginners and advanced surfers alike.
Skydiving
Not only can you surf the ocean’s currents, you can surf over the air currents too! Just over Bells Beach, you can skydive over the coastline, which offers unforgettable views of the endless coastline.
Just next to Torquay, you’ll find this wonderful spot to skydive! Jump out of a plane at Skydive Great Ocean Road.
The Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary
Wander around at low tide, and spot the marine life that emerges in the rock pools. It’s also a great place to snorkel – catch the diverse array of marine life that swims around the shallow shores.
Look out on the horizon and watch whales before they migrate along the coast during breeding season (between May and November). Catch them during these colder months, as they head to the warmer waters of Queensland.
Dine out
There are some spots along the beach to get a bite to eat after your fun on the beach. Head here in the warmer weather and dine outside at one of Hitchcock Avenue’s delicious eateries!
There are plenty of great spots for a post-surf bite to eat, or cafes with beach views to pair with your morning coffee.
Coastal walks
Take yourself for a coastal walk. Head along the Barwon Heads Coastal Bluff – this is the perfect little spot for a nature hike that circles the beach. This 3.5km walk goes along the coastline and allows wonderful views of the ocean.
Paddleboarding
Early birds can catch a serene sunrise by going on a paddleboard. Or catch the sunset with a late afternoon paddleboard. The Barwon River Estuary is the calmest area for a paddleboard. In the summer, enjoy a sunset with a scenic paddleboarding session.
Is Barwon Heads worth it?
If you’re heading to the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne, and you’re looking for a pit stop that’s more local and a lot less touristy, then Barwon Heads is worth the stop! Just 22 minutes from Geelong and only a 90-minute journey from Melbourne, Barwon Heads is your ultimate first pit stop before you get onto the Great Ocean Road.
Pressed for time? Want to see the whole Great Ocean Road in one day? If your Great Ocean Road is all about seeing the 12 Apostles, the Great Otway National Park, and exploring the wildlife of Victoria, then perhaps Torquay or Lorne might be a better first road trip stop.
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