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| The beach at
Ocean Grove |
Barwon Heads
One of the major holiday destinations on the
Bellarine Peninsula.
For decades Barwon Heads was just another sleepy
seaside holiday destination. Then it was used as
the location for the hugely successful ABC-TV
series SeaChange and it became a place where
people wanted to go to check out the television
sites.
Barwon Heads is situated on the Bellarine
Peninsula 22 km south-east of Geelong and 95 km
south-west of Melbourne. Its population in 1996
was 2128. It lies on the western bank of the
Barwon River estuary which separates it from its
twin town Ocean Grove. The river connects the
ocean to Lake Connewarre.
As these towns possess both the closest ocean
beaches to Geelong and safe family beaches along
the riverbank, they are popular holiday
destinations with a wide range of accommodation
and holiday activities. Barwon Heads is somewhat
quieter and smaller than Ocean Grove. The town
has two jetties (off Ewing Blyth Drive and Ozone
Rd) and two boat-launching ramps off River
Parade.
Prior to European settlement the area is
thought to have been occupied by the Wathawurung
people and it is from their language that the
name 'Barwon' derives.
Things to see:
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Tourist Information
Tourist information is available from the
Geelong Otway Tourist Information Centre in
Geelong (tel: 03 5222 2900, or free-call 1800
620 888), from the Queenscliff Information
Centre (tel: 03 5258 4843) and from the
Bellarine Peninsula Visitor Information Centre,
tel: (03) 5250 2669.
Beaches and the Barwon Heads Golf Club
Safe swimming can be enjoyed from the long sandy
river foreshore (access via Flinders Parade or
off Ewing Blyth Drive) at the river mouth.
Thirteenth Beach is a popular ocean beach
(access off the Barwon Heads-Torquay Rd which
extends from Ewing Blyth Drive). Behind it is a
golf course (access via Golf Links Rd) which is
considered one of Victoria's most scenic as it
is set situated amidst rolling, coastal hills
and sand dunes with outstanding oceanic views.
However, the fees are VERY substantial.
Parks and Walks
A walking-cycling track follows Ewing Blyth
Drive as it bends west as Torquay Rd. Another
passes through Village Park (where there are
picnic facilities and a playground), connecting
Geelong Rd and Wandin Crescent. Another park
with picnic-barbecue-playground facilities can
be found behind the river beach adjacent
Flinders Parade.
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| The view from
Bluff Lookout across Barwon Heads
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The Bluff
'The Bluff' (also known as Barwon Head) extends
out from the south-eastern corner of town beyond
the river mouth and out into Bass Strait. It is
made of limestone which overlays lava deposits
but his formation also extends further out to
sea forming submarine reefs which caused a dozen
shipwrecks between 1850 and 1890. Bluff Rd
(which runs off Ewing Blyth Drive) leads to a
carpark, an ocean lookout and walking tracks. A
monument honours those killed in the wreck of
the Earl of Charlemont in 1853.
The Jirrahlinga Koala and Wildlife
Sanctuary
The Jirrahlinga Koala and Wildlife Sanctuary is
home to a range of native animals. There is a
hospital where sick, injured or orphaned animals
are nursed back to health. They are returned to
the wild where appropriate while others remain
at the sanctuary. To get there head north on
Sheepwash Rd from the roundabout where the
Geelong-Barwon Heads Rd, Golf Links Rd and
Sheepwash Rd meet. Turn left onto Taits Rd and
you will soon see the sanctuary to the right,
tel: (03) 5254 2484. It is open daily from 9.00
a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Breamlea
Breamlea is about 10 km west on the coast,
between Barwon Heads and Torquay. Beneath the
high sand dunes is Bancoora, a well-known
surfing beach. Access is via the Barwon
Heads-Torquay Rd which runs off Ewing Blyth
Drive.
Minya Winery
If you continue west from Breamlea along the
Torquay Rd there is a turnoff on the right into
Minya Lane where you will find the Minya Winery
which is open by appointment, tel: (03) 5264
1397 or (0408) 312 865.
Reedy Swamp and Lake Connewarre
Just to the north-west of Barwon Heads are Lake
Connewarre and Reedy Swamp which are important
migratory bird habitats and hence are havens for
waterbirds such as bitterns, swamp hens, ibis,
spoonbills, egrets, cormorants and herons. There
are mangrove swamps in Lake Connewarre State
Game Reserve on the southern shore. Access is
via a series of roads which run off the Barwon
Heads-Geelong Rd..
