Top 5 things to do with kids on the Bellarine Peninsula

Last weekend we spent some time exploring Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula, and discovered some fabulous family activities. And being 1.5 hours drive from Melbourne, it's super accessible.

Here are my top 5 picks for Bellarine with kids:

Berry picking

Tuckerberry Hill in Drysdale is a fun spot to pick blueberries and strawberries. (Some even make it into the bucket.) They also have a cafe here that serves delicious local food at very reasonable prices.

Take in the storytelling opportunities

Ever heard of William Buckley? An escaped convict, Buckley is said to have lived in this cave, underneath where the Point Lonsdale lighthouse now sits, for 32 years, with the local indigenous people helping him to survive. There's so much history here and so many stories to unfold and talk about with your kids.

Visit the black and white lighthouses

Whenever I think of a lighthouse I imagine a lone person, rugged up in layers, inside the tower that’s standing defiantly against the blasting wind and sleeting rain. In my mind it’s a lonely existence that’s filled with hours upon hours of being alone with your thoughts, which, I must admit, is quite an appealing thought at times. Never mind the fact that nearly all of Australia’s lighthouses aren’t manned anymore, I still can’t shake this idea. I wonder if everyone shares this romantic perception of lighthouses, or is it just me?

It doesn’t matter, really – the lighthouses at Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale are magnificent in their loneliness. 

Fort Queenscliff

The first shots of both world wars were shot from right here at Fort Queenscliff as our southern shores were protected from invasion. Guided tours are available to learn more.

Play at the beach

Sometimes you just have to sit back and laze and play at the beach. Many of the beaches along the Bellarine are more suited to surfers seeking huge waves, but families can head to the safer beaches along the Bay (rather than Bass Strait) - think Portarlington or Geelong.


We stayed at the Big4 Bellarine while we were on the Peninsula, who added go-carting, water slides and jumping pillows to our list of things to do!