Find your retirement haven in Victoria’s magnificent Bellarine Peninsula where the good life meets the vagabond dream.
Picture yourself walking along the beach at sunset, feet being smoothed by the grains of sand, not an office block in sight but plenty of delicious wineries, farmers’ markets and welcoming locals.
Situated in the South West of Melbourne, the Bellarine Peninsula is the emerald jewel in the coastline that separates Port Phillip Bay from Bass Strait with rural farmland fanning out from the centre like a Victorian Tourism commercial set. The coastline includes Barwon Heads, which actually was a TV set for the long running series, Sea Change (currently re-running on Netflix). It’s no coincidence that it was filmed as it had to look enticing.
The Air Is As Crisp As The Scenery Is Lush
The Bellarine Peninsula enjoys a moderate summer. Maximum daily temperatures range between 20.9 and 22.4°C with overnight minimums averaging between 12.9 and 14.7°C. You’ll still need to wear a hat for protection from the sun but those long, hot summer nights where it seems impossible to sleep don’t usually happen around these parts.
Winter’s maximum temperatures average between 12.8 and 13.8°C with overnight minimums around 6.7 and 7.7°C. During this season the days are moderately cold, so pack your snug winter woolies.
August often has the most rain with around 15.6 wet days. But on the upside, think what this will be doing for all the forthcoming spring garden displays.
Arriving is easy, leaving is hard
Geelong, a 30 minute drive away, has its own airport at Avalon, just 21k outside the city centre with Jetstar services running several times a day. Geelong Transit Service has a bus service from the airport and taxis are plentiful. Once at `Bellarine’, another bus service, `McHarry’s' provides public transport connects the different suburbs there.
Access Geelong via the Bellarine and Portarlington highways. You could also drive from Melbourne in an hour and a half, depending on the traffic.
The most sublime way to travel is to take a ferry from Portarlington to Melbourne’s buzzy Docklands. It takes 80 minutes one way but the de-stressing value is priceless.
Finding your palace on the peninsula.
The main areas of the Bellarine Peninsula region include Barwon Heads, Clifton Springs, Drysdale, Indented Head, Ocean Grove, Point Lonsdale and Portarlington, which attract plenty of downsizers as well as young families, so there’s no shortage of local schools, parks and sporting facilities.
According to the Australian Bureau Of Statistics, the region also boasts one of the highest percentages of over-60s at 25% with a national average of around 18% so there’s no shortage of scenic retirement communities.
Certainly your money buys a lot more here. Recent sales, in February included a modern four bedroom house at 7 Amicus Street, Ocean Grove, which sold for $972, 500 - which would not even secure you a one bedroom apartment in many parts of Sydney.
Living your best life for less
The cost of living in the Bellarine Peninsula is significantly less than Melbourne and much less than Sydney. It’s still possible to buy a house just 10 minutes walk from the beach for less than $600k, while rents are up to 45% lower than they are in some parts of Melbourne.
You’ll also pay considerably less for tradies and builders to help with any renovations here and there’s no shortage of big name supermarkets to find your usual stocked items. However buying direct from local farmers, also helps with the cost of food.
Dining out is an accredited activity in Bellarine
Beguiling Bellarine has it all from decadent mussel feasts (there’s even a special festival in January to celebrate these superstar shellfish) - to delectable grazing plates at Merne at Lighthouse (the name of the restaurant is inspired by an indigenous term which means food from the earth), so you know it’s fresh and sustainable.
Many wineries have their own indulgent restaurants with menus devised to match the excellent pinots and chardonnays.
The wine tasting trail includes the renowned Scotchman’s Hill winery, Leura Park and Terindah Estate. But there’s also many more smaller boutique wineries in the countryside that produce stunning drops. And there no shortage of dining options with almost every cuisine represented here. The Bellarine Peninsula has been described as the next foodie heartland because of the number of celebrated chefs opening restaurants.
Giving your shopping muscle a workout
There’s two major shopping centres, which include Gateway Plaza in Leopold and the recently completed Kingston Village in Ocean Grove where you’ll find plenty of big name retailers, which will probably save you that trip into Geelong.
Many of the pretty coastal villages and towns around the Bellarine Peninsula have weekend markets with fresh produce including artisan cheeses, meats, seafood, chocolates, and wines plus organic fruit and vegetables. It pays to get there early to find the best of the best.
For a different shopping excursion, take a ferry ride to Sorrento where there’s lots of chic boutiques which cater to the Portsea crowd. Visit Cable Melbourne for original separates or find resort footwear at Cinori Shoes. There’s also plenty of fashion chain stores there including Witchery, Country Road and Peter Alexander.
Take a break from boutique hopping to dine at one of Sorrento’s many restaurants including The Sisters Kitchen Garden Cafe or have a pub lunch at the Hotel Sorrento. However before you catch the ferry home, visit Just Fine Food - the home of Sorrento’s famous vanilla slice. Need we say more?
Taking really good care of yourself
Bellarine Community Health offers a host of different services including general practice, `physio’, dental and aged care. There’s also many clinics all over the peninsula including Swan Hill Healthcare, which is open 24 hours. For specialist healthcare, consider the University Hospital at South Geelong or the many fine hospital campuses at Melbourne, which is just a 90 minute drive away.
Living it up
From pleasant strolls around the beaches to fishing, water sports and taking a dive to many of the famous shipwrecks here, there’s a lot going on above and below the waterline. You could enter Wreck2Reef - 2.5km swim held in the protected waters of Half Moon Bay at Indented Head where major shipwreck - the Ozone went down.
Landlubbers may explore some interesting walks including Point Lonsdale Lighthouse to Ocean Grove. You must check out Buckley’s Cave near the Lighthouse where escaped convict, William Buckley, lived for many years among the Indigenous people. (It’s where the phrase - You have Buckley's chance, comes from.)
The Bellarine Rail Trail is a 32km trail from Geelong to the Bellarine Peninsula (you can eat as many vanilla slices as you like after that one). And if you prefer woodland scenery, set out on the Edwards Point Walk to St Leonards, which is where you will find some extraordinary flora and fauna.
There’s also many fine golf courses including Barwon Heads Golf Club to hit off among the sand dunes, as well as nearby bowling greens, skydiving options and yes, steam train rides. The Bellarine Railway operates steam and diesel trains from the Queenscliff station on most weekends.
While you’re there explore the shops and the stately hotels, perfect for afternoon tea. The Queenscliff Music Festival also takes place here every November.
Actually the Bellarine Peninsula is big on festivals including A Toast To The Coast, which runs over two days of wining and dining. And wait for it, there’s also the Annual Scarecrow Competition with some of the best entries on display along the Bellarine Highway. Just remember that it’s happening if you’re returning from another wonderful lunch one day or you really might think that you’re seeing things. Well in the Bellarine Peninsula anything is possible.
Summing Up
Why you should go
- Securing property is an excellent investment as prices are set to skyrocket, according to property analysts.
- You’ll be well nourished with all that fresh produce
- Wine buffs rejoice - your paradise awaits
- You could buy that beach house you always dreamed about
- Enjoy spectator sport in Geelong including the Geelong CATS AFL team (the theme song is based on The Toreador, in case you want to practice, they win a lot ).
- Close proximity to premium healthcare and major transport routes.
Why you need to know
- Humidity can be high and you may need air `con’ in summer.
- Prepare for a tourism invasion over Christmas when some local prices will go up.
- Watch out for the venomous Copperhead Snake near water, though they’re mainly timid.
- The Growling Grass Frog - the world’s biggest frog also enjoys the Bellarine’ waterways. They make give you a fright as the female grows to 10.4cm.
- Dieting is hard with so much excellent food and wine available.
