Bellarine Peninsula wine tours: Which wineries can I visit near Geelong?
Bellarine Peninsula wine tours from Geelong visit wineries such as Leura Park, One Day Estate, the Whiskery, Mermerus Winery and Oakdene Estate.
The Bellarine Peninsula at the south-western end of Port Phillip Bay is not one of Australia’s best known wine regions. It has some way to go before it can compete with the likes of the Hunter Valley, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Margaret River.
The Bellarine Peninsula does have several good cool climate wineries clustered together, however. Whether you get there on the Portarlington ferry from Melbourne to Portarlington, the Queenscliff ferry from the Mornington Peninsula or drive from Geelong, it’s easy to string several wineries together on a self-guided wine tour of the Bellarine.
3 Geelong experiences to book in advance
- A water bike tour along the coast.
- A sunrise balloon flight – see the bay, hills and river from above.
- Rent an electric picnic boat on the Waterfront.
Bellarine Peninsula wine tours from Geelong
If the driving gets in the way of the drinking, though, you can let the professionals take charge. Bellarine Peninsula wine tours are available from Geelong, with companies such as Bellarine Winery Tours.
Pre-Covid, Bellarine Winery Tours operated jaunts around the Bellarine Peninsula wineries for $135 per person. These tours included lunch and a glass of wine, plus tastings at four wineries.
Alas, for the moment, only private Bellarine Peninsula wine tours are available. These private Bellarine tours include tastings at three wineries, lunch and a glass of wine. Again, they cost $135 per person, but a minimum of six people must book for the tour to go ahead.
Bellarine Peninsula wineries
Wineries included vary, and the route is adaptable to the tastes of the customers. But the Bellarine Peninsula wine tours might stop at Basils Farm, One Day Estate, Bennetts on the Bellarine or Mermerus Winery. Other options include Scotchmans Hill, Terindah Estate, the Whiskery, Leura Park and the Jack Rabbit Winery.
Sometimes the Bellarine wine tours will also stop at Oakdene Estate, McGlashas Wallington Estate or Banks Road.
Pick-ups from accommodation are included. Book via the Bellarine Winery Tours website.
The best places to stay in Geelong
The top Geelong accommodation options are:
- For an affordably-priced, good quality motel: Parkside Motel.
- For fabulous apartments near the beach: Vue Apartments Geelong.
- For a family-friendly hotel with an indoor pool and balconies in each room: Novotel Geelong.
- For a facility-packed holiday park: Tasman Holiday Parks Geelong.
More things to do in Victoria
The best things to do in Omeo, Victoria.
Sample beers by the river at the Bright Brewery in Bright.
See the enormous Steavenson Falls near Maryville.
Enjoy Macedon Ranges wines in Romsey.
The best things to do in Gisborne, Macedon Ranges.