The beach at Ocean Grove

Ocean Grove
One of the major holiday destinations on the Bellarine Peninsula.
Ocean Grove is located on the Bellarine Peninsula, 25 km south-west of Geelong and 98 km south of Melbourne. It lies on the eastern bank of the Barwon River estuary which separates it from its twin town Barwon Heads. The river connects the ocean to Lake Connewarre. As these towns possess both the closest ocean beaches to Geelong and safe family beaches along the riverbank, they are popular holiday destinations with a wide range of accommodation and holiday activities. Ocean Grove has a population of 9144 people (1996 figures), making it the largest settlement on the Bellarine Peninsula (with the exception of Geelong).

The area is thought to have been occupied by the Wathawurung people prior to European settlement which commenced in 1854 when William Bonsey took up a property. He used the wattle bark he found on the property to establish a leather-tanning industry. In 1887 two Wesleyan missionaries from the USA bought the land on which the town now stands. They had been involved in the establishment of an interdenominational settlement at Ocean Grove in New Jersey and sought to recreate the venture here. It failed to get going although the name has remained.

Fishing became the mainstay of the local economy until after the Second World War when Ocean Grove's potential as a holiday resort and residential area was fully recognised.

Things to see:  

Tourist Information
Tourist information is available from the Geelong Otway Tourist Information Centre in Geelong (tel: 03 5222 2900, or free-call 1800 620 888), from the Queenscliff Information Centre (tel: 03 5258 4843) and from the Bellarine Peninsula Visitor Information Centre, tel: (03) 5250 2669.

Smiths Beach
Smiths Beach is the town's lengthy ocean beach which is very popular for swimming, surfing and fishing. A surf lifesaving club is located off Surf Beach Rd. Yachting, waterskiing and scuba diving are also popular in local waters. There are many walking tracks which lead off Surf Beach Rd, Orton St, Ocean Throughway and the private road to Collendina Caravan Park (which runs off Bonnyvale Rd).

The view from Bluff Lookout across Barwon Heads

Foreshore Reserve
A long narrow promontory extends from the residential area of Ocean Grove south-west towards Barwon Heads. The river is on one side of this promontory and the ocean on the other. The Ocean Grove-Barwon Heads Rd passes through the middle of the promontory to the lengthy timber bridge (built in 1927) which links the two towns. Side roads lead off the Ocean Grove-Barwon Heads Rd to parking areas, picnic tables, toilets, camping areas and walking-cycling tracks which run parallel to both sides of the road.

The very lengthy foreshore reserve extends from the tip of this promontory all the way around to Buckley Park Foreshore Reserve at the south-eastern edge of town. There is a parking area, a rotunda and picnic facilities off Surf Beach Rd. A lookout offering excellent views of Bass Strait is located at the end of Lookout Rd which runs off Orton St to a point above the beach.

Ocean Grove Nature Reserve and Other Parklands
Ocean Grove Nature Reserve (143 ha) is the only remaining section of substantial native bushland on the Peninsula. It supports she-oak, tea-tree, banksia and wattle and is home to a koala community and the ant blue butterfly which was only discovered this century. Its larvae feed exclusively on ants.

The reserve is located at the northern edge of town, on the western side of Grubb Rd (an extension of Tuckfield St). There are two 3-km walking tracks and two birdhides. Pedestrian access is daily but vehicle access is only on weekends. It is closed on days of total fire ban.

A little further south there is a roundabout where Grubb Rd and Shell Rd meet. If you turn into Shell Rd Kingston Park is on the left (there is a restaurant on the corner and the park has barbecues and toilets and a playground) and the Shell Road Reserve is on the right. Collendina Reserve is located off Minerva Close while Lake Avenue Reserve and Blue Waters Lake are off Lake Avenue. The Begola Wetlands feature a range of waterbirds and can be accessed off Emperor Drive.

A Maze 'n' Things
If you follow Grubb Rd north to the intersection with the Bellarine Highway (6 km from the centre of Ocean Grove) you will see A Maze 'n' Things: a complex which features a giant three-dimensional wooden maze, a puzzle and jigsaw centre, a croquet court and a putting green. There is a kiosk, a playground and barbecues. It is open daily from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. and doubles as something of a tourist information centre for the Peninsula, tel: (03) 5250 2669.

Bellarine Adventure Golf
Opposite A Maze 'n' Things is Bellarine Adventure Golf, a mini-golf course, tel: (03) 5250 3777.

Reedy Swamp and Lake Connewarre
Just to the north-west of town are Lake Connewarre and Reedy Swamp which are important migratory bird habitats and hence are havens for waterbirds such as bitterns, swamp hens, ibis, spoonbills, egrets, cormorants and herons. There are mangrove swamps in Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve on the southern shore. Access is via a series of roads which run off the Wallington Rd and the Bellarine Highway.

Adventure Park
Set in 52 acres of picturesque parkland, Adventure Park has a wide range of activities for families, including a 115-metre raft waterslide, go-karts, jumping castles, volleyball, a merry-go-round, paddleboats, the Big Bouncer, flying foxes, an archery range, Adventure Island mini-golf, aqua bikes, moon bikes, juming jets and canoes, the Paddle Pop Express Train and the Adventure Playground. Facilities include a kiosk and cafe, undercover seating and wheelchair access. Gas barbecues and lockers are available for hire, birthday parties can be organised and group bookings are also available for corporate and social clubs.

Admission charges were (at June 1, 2002) $15.50 for general admission (there is an additional fee of $4.50 for a five-minute ride on the go-karts), free for under 4s, $9 for senior citizens (55 yrs & over) and the disabled and $22 for a two-day pass. An annual pass is also available for $40.

Opening hours are from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. from Wednesday to Monday and every day in school and public holidays. Adventure Park is closed for about two months each winter, approximately from July to September.

To get there, follow the Wallington Rd north for 9 km to the Bellarine Highway and turn right. You will very soon come to a turnoff on the left onto Swanbay Rd. Just by this corner, at 5 Swanbay Rd, is the Park, tel: (03) 5250 2756 or email, havefun@adventurepark.com.au. The web site is www.adventure-park.com.au. A site map is available from the admission centre.

Horseriding
The Australian Equestrian Academy is located at 1625 Bellarine Highway (just east of the intersection of the highway and Grubb Rd). Koombahla Park Equestrian Centre is located 1.5 km north of Ocean Grove at 365 Wallington Rd. It offers horseriding and tuition and is open by appointment, tel: (03) 5255 1020.

	Motels
	Boat Ramp Motel 14 Guthridge St Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5255 2018 Facsimile: (03) 5255 2110 Rating: ***1/2
	Ocean Grove Gardens Motel 17-19 Lake Ave Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5256 1199 Facsimile: (03) 5256 1966 Rating: ***1/2
	Ocean Grove Motor Inn 64 Wallington Rd P.O. Box 37 Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5256 2555, 1800 812 707 Facsimile: (03) 5256 2206 Rating: ***1/2
	Hotels
	Ocean Grove Collendina Resort Hotel Bonnyvale Rd Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5255 1122 Facsimile: (03) 5255 2860 Rating: **
	Ocean Grove Collendina Motel/Hotel Bonnyvale Rd P.O. Box 220 Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5255 1122 Facsimile: (03) 5256 2860 Rating: **1/2
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Ocean House B & B 86 President Ave Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5255 2740 Facsimile: (03) 5255 2740 Rating: ****1/2
	The Terrace Lofts Bed & Breakfast 92 The Terrace Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5255 4167 Facsimile: (03) 5256 1101 Rating: ****
	Cottages & Cabins
	Ti-Tree Village Cottages 34 Orton St Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5255 4433 Facsimile: (03) 5255 4433 Rating: ****1/2
	Caravan Parks
	Green Valley Caravan Park 14 The Terrace Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5255 1605 Rating: ***
	Ocean Grove Holiday Park 90 Wallington Rd P.O. Box 333 Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5256 2233 Facsimile: (03) 5255 1046 Rating: ***1/2
	Ocean Grove Riverview Family Caravan Park Barwon Heads Rd Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5256 1600 Facsimile: (03) 5256 2162 Rating: ***1/2
	Restaurants
	Blue Ocean Cantonese Banquet Restaurant 81 The Parade St Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5255 2754
	Mexican Wave Restaurant 62 The Terrace Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5255 2605
	Ming Terrace Chinese Restaurant Cnr Presidents Ave & The Terrace Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5255 2207
	Ocean Grove Pizza 80 The Terrace Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5255 4874
	Thai Mekong Licensed Restaurant Cnr Presidents Ave & The Terrace Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5256 1161
	The Dunes Restaurant Surf Beach Rd Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5256 1944
	The Mex Restaurant Cnr Grubb & Shell Rds Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5255 1959
	Cafés
	Blue Fin Cafe Shop 1, 63 The Terrace Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5256 2161
	Bon Appetit 64d The Terrace Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5255 1832
	So Delish 70b The Terrace Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5255 2050
	The Dunes Cafe & Bar Surf Beach Rd Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5256 1944
	The Terrace Bakery Cafe 66a The Terrace Ocean Grove VIC 3226 Telephone: (03) 5256 1261