Towns & Villages

Sometimes the towns a little out of the way are home to the best surprises – each with their own unique character and appeal. And usually with less time queuing and more time exploring!

The coastal villages and rural towns may be smaller in size but they’re mighty in culture and experiences. Get off the beaten track and get discovering.

Tucked between Portarlington and Queenscliff, St Leonards is a relaxed seaside town that’s popular amongst retirees and holidaymakers seeking to unwind by the water.

It’s known for its strong fishing culture, slower pace and the St Leonards Hotel and shopping strip which featured in the ‘90s television series Seachange.

Pelicans are a common sight in town and can often be seen at the pier waiting for leftovers from fisherfolk.

Be sure to stop by the Miss Buzz Sirens Kiosk, a heritage boatshed on St Leonards Pier that serves great coffees and takeaway snacks.

Home to a couple of hundred residents and several attractions, Indented Head is a special corner of The Bellarine.

Parks and camping areas line the foreshore, making it a popular destination for fishing, swimming and lazy days by the tent.

The Ozone Shipwreck is a big drawcard for snorkellers and photographers, sitting 50 metres offshore. The wreck is a retired paddle steamer that was sunk in 1925 and is now a home for fish, stingrays and sometimes even leafy sea dragons.

Surrounded by rivers that weave around the town, Inverleigh celebrates the best of the slower pace in the countryside and it’s only 20 minutes from Geelong. Several BnBs and homestays let you enjoy this charming part of Wadawurrung Country.

Explore the historic township, established in the 1850s, and you’ll find a country pub, homely bakeries, a café loved by the locals and several little stores along the main strip in town.

It also plays host to the Inverleigh Dachshund Derby Day in March – a fun day out watching the little dogs race to the finish line.

Steiglitz is a window back in time to Victoria’s gold rush era. It was once a bustling gold mining town where, at its height, 1,500 people lived and worked. Today, it’s a ghost town, known as Steiglitz Historic Park where visitors can take a bushwalk and pan for gold.

The Court House displays relics from the past including photographs and artefacts.

Head to the nearby Brisbane Ranges National Park for Victoria's largest wildflower habitat and some seriously fresh air.