weekend escape Archives - Salty Sweet Journeys

The seaside town of Portarlington on the Bellarine Peninsula has been renowned for especially one thing. MUSSELS! Read on to find out more about Portarlington, its Mussels and where to eat the best ones from.

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Where is Portarlington

Portarlington is nestled in Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula, just 1.5 hours from Melbourne and 30 minutes from Geelong. Just over a decade ago, this once sleepy seaside town was a quieter alternative to bustling Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads and Queenscliff if you were heading to the Bellarine Peninsula.

Grand hotel in portarlington — Portarlington Grand Hotel

But Portarlington in recent years has absolutely boomed. It gained popularity due to growing population, a new updated pier that has its own direct ferry line to Melbourne bringing loads of day-trippers, as well as a line up of festivals and events that keep the tourist coming.

Pair that with amazing sea views, and some great wineries just at your door step, making Portarlington a popular sea escape for a holiday, weekend or a day trip.

Getting there

The quickest way to get to and around Portarlington is by driving. It’s easily accessible to Melbourne and Geelong. Since the main pier re-development in 2015, there is also now a passenger ferry connection to Melbourne Docklands direct to Portarlington.

The ferry crossing takes around 1 hour and 10 minutes and runs once or twice per day depending on the day of the week. No cars can be taken on the ferry as it’s a passenger only ferry.

Portarlington ferry to docklands — Portarlington Ferry to Docklands

Prices for the 1 way crossing start are 18.50 AUD per Adults and 11 AUD for kids. Kids under 3 travel FREE but must still hold a ticket. Check on the Port Phillip Ferries Website for more information and updates.

Check Prices and Availability for Accommodation in Portarlington

Portarlington Mussels

Head to the main street on Newcombe Street and head towards the pier and you will see what this town is all about in an instant. MUSSELS!

Several cement mussel structures have been placed on the beach and can be seen as soon as you arrive near the pier! Mussels are indeed serious business here.

Portarlington has in fact been named the Mussel Capital of Victoria and these are supplied to top restaurants and sold in a lot of markets in Melbourne due to its name being renowned for quality.

Mussels have been grown in Portalington since the 1980′, but the popularity of eating these is only a recent thing of the past 40 years or so. From just a few farmers harvesting mussels, there are now over 20 mussel farmers in Port Phillip Bay.

Portarlington Mussels FAQ

What do Portarlington Mussels taste like?

The flavour profile of the Portarlington blue mussels is sweet, salty and so fresh fresh due to the clear water of Port Phillip Bay. They are not only super tasty, they are healthy too. Mussels are in fact low in fat and high in protein.

When are mussels harvested?

They are grown all year round, making them readily available!

How much do Portarlington Mussels cost per kg?

Portarlington Mussels and mussels in general are still a very affordable seafood to buy. At around 8.50 AUD per kg from your local fishmongers, it’s a generous feed for 2 people.

Where can you buy Portarlington Mussels from?

In Portarlington, you can buy the freshest mussels directly from the pier on the weekends and the local seafood shop there. See more in the section below on Where to get and eat the best mussels in Portarlington.

Outside of Portarlington, you will see these mussels for sale in major markets (like Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne) as well at some smaller farmer markets.

Devils Donuts on the Pier, the best in Portarlington!

Portarlington Mussel Festival

For what started off as a street festival back in 2007, the Portarlington Mussel Festival is now a permanent fixture in the towns events calendar. The festival has become so popular, that it now drives more than 30,000 visitors to Portarlington every year! The festival runs over one day usually in mid January, and one that has gained popularity all over Victoria.

Over 200 markets stalls are set up for the event, as well as live music, kids activities, beer and wine tastings. Of course, a lot of mussels are served up on the day in a variety of ways.

The Next Mussel Festival is scheduled for Saturday the 11th of January 2025, 9.30am to 5pm. More info at Portmusselfestival.com.

Where to get and eat Portarlington Mussels from

Once you are in Portarlington, there are several places where you will find mussels on the menu. I’ve compiled a list below on my favourites, whether you want to make your own or dine out.

Where to buy fresh uncooked Portarlington mussels by the kilo:

Mr Mussel: Located on the Pier. Look for the small van that and buy the freshest mussels by the kg to make at home. Open Only on Saturdays and Sundays, 9 am to 3 pm. Price: 8-10 AUD per kg
Jenkins and Son Fresh Fish: The local fishmongers is located in Portarlingon just as you enter town. Jenkins and Son sells mussels and a big variety of other fresh fish and seafood, with specials depending on what has been caught on the day. Open Every day, 9 am to 5 pm. Price 8-10 AUD per kg

Restaurants specializing in Portarlington Mussels:

Pier St Restaurant Facing the beach in Portarlington

Pier St: Newly opened, located right on the beach on the right facing the pier. This beautiful brunch/lunch spot serves up a fabulous mussel chowder, as well as mussels in a white or tomato based sauce. Open Every day, 8 am to 3 pm. Price: 32-34 AUD per mussel main dish, full menu at pierst.com.au
Portarlington Grand Hotel: The stunning 1880 building right on Newcombe street offers dining in the newly refurbished stylish bistro and atrium. Mussels are served daily in a red sauce and can be on the special board served other ways too. Open Every day, 11.30 am to 8 pm (lunch and dinner service only). Price: 32 AUD per mussel main dish, full menu at portarlingtongrandhotel.com.au

Note: Little Mussel Café was another popular spot to eat Portarlington Mussels but has recently closed (July 2024). Keep an eye on the web for any potential reopening date!

Where to stay in Portarlington

There are several accommodation options to stay in Portarlington, from Motels to Caravan park and private rentals too. I’ve included below the most popular places to stay in Portarlington right in town perfect for a few days away.

Bellarine Bayside Holiday Park

On an fantastic location right in the centre of town on Portarlington Beach, this caravan park is a popular choice for visitors. Offering self-contained cabin style accommodation ranging from standard to spacious family cabins, it has camp kitchens and plenty of outdoor seating and BBQ areas.

Beach Pods at the Bellarive Bayside Caravan Park — The new beach pods at Bellarine Bayside Holiday Park in Portarlington – Image Courtesy of Expedia

For absolute beachfront accommodation, the newly built Beach Pods are located right on the beach, fitted with modern, timber look interiors (max 2 adults only).

Check Prices and Availability for Bellarine Bayside Holiday Park

Portarlington Beach Motel

Within an easy walk from town, the Portarlington Beach motel offers comfortable accommodation ranging from queen, studios and family & spa rooms. An outdoor solar-heated pool is available for guests to enjoy as well as a BBQ area and terrace.

Check Prices and Availability for Portarlington Beach Motel

Portarlington Beach Motel Pool – Image Courtesy of Expedia

Want to read more about Portarlington?

Hope you enjoyed this post on Portarlington Mussels!

Are you travelling to Portarlington with Kids? Check out my other post HERE for kid friendly attractions & accommodation in Portarlington.

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The Milawa Gourmet Region is an absolute foodie heaven! From cheeses, wine, gin and local produce, this little corner of the world has it all. Nestled right in the middle, Milawa is perfect for a gourmet weekend escape. Come and explore these 3 wonderful places and enjoy some delicious locally made treats.

Where is the Milawa Gourmet Region

The Milawa Gourmet Region encompasses the regional towns of Milawa, Oxley, Tarrawingee, Whorouly, Markwood, located in the north – east of Melbourne, Victoria.

The town of Milawa itself is just under 3 hours drive from Melbourne and nestled within the King Valley Wine Region & Milawa Gourmet Region. The closest largest town is Wangaratta, about 18 km away from Milawa.

The centre of Milawa is quite small and easy to miss actually – it just has your essentials like a general store, the bakery & the hotel. But don’t be fooled, have a little drive around and you will come across so many local producers and you will love the variety of foods & wineries they have on offer.

Just around the corner from the main street is Brown Brothers Winery – and that is a huge establishment with a gorgeous restaurant & cellar door.

Close up of grapes in a Winery — Source: Pixabay.com

TIP: If you like to ride, take your bike with you! Once you have settled into Milawa – you can ride to nearby Exley in the popular Milawa Gourmet Ride.

You can do a few (or many) stops along your pedal and have some delicious food or a wine tasting. Or, you can also join one of the many Pedal to Produce Tours available in the area.

Girl on a bike, riding is a popular way to visit the Milawa Gourmet Region — Source: Pixabay.com

Where to stay in Milawa

We were staying in nearby Whorouly for a week long country getaway and Milawa was our daily stop, only 15 minutes drive away to pick up some delicious food supplies.

There are many great options located in Milawa and in nearby towns, from cozy B&Bs to Motels, caravan parks & AirBNBs, there are lots of options for a weekend getaway.

My top pick if you want somewhere amazing is Lancemore Milawa. It has recently had a renovation and it is just a stunning property. You can check prices for Lancemore Milawa on Expedia HERE.

3 Must do stops in the Milawa Gourmet Region

Hurdle Creek Still – small batch gin distillery

When to visit: Open 10 am to 5 pm, Thursdays to Mondays (Closed Tuesday & Wednesday)

I had to stop here as I’m a big fan of gin and this was just too good to miss. The distillery is about 6 km out of town and well worth going!

Bottle of Cherry Gin from Hurdle Creek Still, a small batch gin distillery in the Milawa Gourmet Region

This unassuming looking shed, is a rustic gin distillery that only produce in very small batches, using juniper and a special combination of botanicals that are vapour infused into the spirit.

You can have a tasting for a small charge (or free if you make a purchase) and the owner will happily take through the process on how the gin is made. They have a great selections of gins for sale as well as other spirits they make like a zingy Japanese style Yuzu and a decadent Dark Cacao liqueur. A must see stop in the Milawa Gourmet Region.

Milawa Cheese Company

When to visit: Open 9 am to 5 pm, Everyday

This is a cheese lovers paradise – they have a wonderful array of cheeses and you can do a tasting. There is usually a board up saying which ones are on offer on a particular day.

Milawa Cheese, Camembert with crackers and fruit

They have a vast selection and they focus a lot on locally made bries, camemberts and different varieties of blue and goat cheeses too. I’m a big fan of camembert and I very much enjoy the Milawa Camembert, it’s creamy with a buttery, rich flavour.

In the store they also sell lots of other produce and chutneys, honey, crackers, jams.. you could very much make up your own nice picnic basket! There is also an adjoining café next door,

Milawa Bread and Kitchen, is open for breakfast and lunch and makes a beautiful array of fresh breads, that again you can enjoy with the cheeses.

Milawa Mustards

When to visit: Open 10 am to 4.30 pm, Everyday

This little place is a hidden gem. From outside, it’s a little house, but once you walk in I can guarantee you won’t be leaving without a few of these little jars of deliciousness.

This is another place that produces only small batches, made locally and onsite. If you are lucky enough to find all the mustard types in stock -they have 7 varieties, from the Classic Honey Mustard to French. My favourites, are the Bourbon & Green Peppercorn Mustards and they are excellent on some beef or pork.

This gorgeous little shop doesn’t just sell mustards either, they also have jam, dressings and chutneys. The Homemade Tomato Chutney, is another one I recommend adding to your basket – it’s perfectly spiced with oranges & ginger. You can get in in a mild or hot version and goes just so well with some cheese and bread.

Now, If anyone is going to Milawa soon, can you pick me up a jar??

Want to discover more of Regional Victoria, in Australia? Check out my other post on the Grampians.

Book

To check out some great accommodation deals in the Milawa Gourmet Region check out Expedia and AirBnB.

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