Bellarine: Wine, Art and Views

Bellarine offers several concrete reasons to shape a trip around your own interests: wine tastings, contemporary art, views across Corio Bay and Texas BBQ dishes. The experiences mentioned are associated with Hat Rock Vineyard, Hat Rock Contemporary, Bellarine Estate and Jack Rabbit Vineyard. They give the area different highlights rather than prescribing a single itinerary. So if you’re looking for a holiday rental in Bellarine, you can first consider whether wine, art, scenery or food is the deciding factor for you.

Wine tastings and planning your visit

The timing of a visit to Hat Rock Vineyard is clearly specified: the winery is open Friday to Sunday, from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Tastings from Monday to Thursday are available by arrangement after contacting the winery by email. For planning purposes, it’s worth keeping these details separate: the opening hours apply to visits to the winery; for tastings on the weekdays mentioned, you’re expected to make contact by email in advance. This lets you consider the day of the week alongside the focus you want for your trip.

Jack Rabbit Vineyard also offers wine tastings, at the House of Jack Rabbit Tasting Room and Cellar Door. The tasting venue is named specifically. This gives you a different point of reference than Hat Rock Vineyard: there, opening days and times are listed, while here the specific venue for wine tastings is given. So anyone wanting to include tastings in their trip can consider two different places on Bellarine, each with its own details.

Hilltop setting and views across the bay

Bellarine Estate is set on a 100-acre property on the northern slopes of the hills between Drysdale and Portarlington, and offers views across Corio Bay. Jack Rabbit Vineyard offers panoramic views across the bay towards Melbourne, the You Yangs, Geelong and beyond. The landscape references differ: Bellarine Estate’s described setting includes its hillside location and Corio Bay, while Jack Rabbit Vineyard highlights a panorama and several named landmarks. If a particular landscape is important to your travel decision, you can use these different views as specific points of reference.

Art and Texas BBQ

Hat Rock Vineyard is also home to Hat Rock Contemporary, a contemporary art gallery in Bellarine. Wine tasting and the gallery cater to different interests, but both are associated with this winery. If contemporary art is one of your travel interests, Hat Rock Contemporary offers another specific point of interest alongside the winery’s wine offering.

Bellarine Estate serves Texas BBQ dishes, including Wagyu brisket, free-range pork ribs and homemade sausages. These dishes make its culinary focus tangible and set it apart from the tasting and art offerings. For travellers who also look for specific food options when choosing a holiday destination, the BBQ offers a distinct reason to consider Bellarine.

Choosing the right focus

When looking for a holiday rental in Bellarine, you can start with the aspect of a trip that appeals to you most: perhaps a wine tasting, art, a scenic view or a culinary experience. Hat Rock Vineyard’s specific visiting hours help with timing; the different views and offerings provide further points to consider. This way, you can first decide which side of Bellarine appeals to you most for your stay.

More places to discover: Strathbogie, Puckapunyal, Kyabram, Korong Vale, Skye, Dartmoor, Heathcote, Colac.

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.