Portarlington

It’s not hard to see why Portarlington is so popular in summer, but it oozes charm any time of the year. It’s one of the bigger villages on the Bellarine.
The panoramic views across Corio Bay to the west and Port Phillip Bay to the north are magnificent, and on a clear day you can see Melbourne’s skyline across the water and the sparkle of city lights at night.
Over the long weekend in June, Portarlington is home to the National Celtic Festival. It is Australia’s largest and most diverse celebration of Celtic music and culture.
On the second Saturday in January the town celebrates the Portarlington Mussel Festival. There are plenty of fun activities and lots of iconic produce in the region.
Local Harvest, Local Eateries
A number of restaurants, cafe’s and bakeries line the main street. Portarlington’s reputation for fine dining is well established. It’s particularly famous for locally harvested Australian Blue Mussels, but you’ll find plenty more to stimulate the taste buds and local wines feature.
Get Some fresh Air
If you love fishing or just the feel of the water beneath a deck, there is plenty of boating access to the bay in this region. The shady foreshore is a delightful place to spend time, and the town has a scenic golf course where the kids can get in on the action at Port Mini Masters clinics, which run on Sunday mornings.
Heritage Mill
This is one of Portarlington’s heritage landmarks, which has been fully restored by the National Trust. Built from stone quarried on-site in 1857, today it is one of the few preserved Victorian flour mills. It’s worth a visit to catch a glimpse of 19th century life. Drop in on weekends from midday to 4pm between September and May.
For the Kids
In the warmer months the beach is the centre of activities for the kids due to the flat bay water, but when they want a break from it – or if the weather’s cool – get along to the miniature railway. It’s located in the Children’s Rotary Park and operates on the first and third Sunday of each month.