Bellarine

Bellarine, which gives its name to the entire western peninsula of Port Phillip Bay, is a tiny locality found between Portarlington and Drysdale just over 30 km from Geelong. During its hayday in the 1860s the population reached 350 people when the area was devoted to a mixed agricultural production and market gardens.

Since then, numbers have declined with the dominance of the wheatlands and in the 1990s Bellarine united together with five other cities to become part of Greater Geelong City.

Other towns in the area include Leopold and Clifton Springs.

The road between Drysdale and Portarlington has several wineries, which are open for tastings and cellar door sales.

Portarlington is a popular holiday town for the city dwellers of Melbourne and Geelong who enjoy the safe swimming and excellent fishing. There is a museum in the town"s historic flour mill.

The small seaside town of St Leonards was used by the producers of the popular ABC series, Sea Change, and is popular with families for safe swimming, fishing and sailing.

Find out more about the Bellarine Peninsula.