Barwon Heads: Golf, River and Nature

Barwon Heads combines golf with experiences on the river estuary and a protected marine environment nearby. You can tailor your trip to different interests: golf, water or nature. The golf options, river activities and trails at Barwon Bluff give you concrete ideas to help plan your trip.

Golf courses with different character

13th Beach Golf Links has two championship courses. The complex also includes a nine-hole short course. Since 2013, 13th Beach has hosted the Men’s and Women’s Vic Open. This brings together different ways to play and a special role in the tournament calendar. If golf is a focus of your trip, you can consider both the championship courses and the nine-hole option when planning.

The Barwon Heads Golf Club has a different golf history: it is Australia’s first true links course. Visitors can play a round for a green fee on selected days. If you’d like to play there, check in advance which tee times are available on your preferred day. The two golf options therefore differ not only in their course formats, but also in what matters for planning: at 13th Beach, the choice between championship courses and a short course; at Barwon Heads Golf Club, its links tradition and selected green-fee days.

River activities with one important condition

Visitors can kayak on the river at Barwon Heads, and swimming in the river estuary is also an option. Stand-up paddleboarding is possible when the current is suitable. These water activities all take place on the river, but they don’t have the same requirements: the current is specifically important for stand-up paddleboarding. Keep this condition in mind if you plan to take part.

The mix of golf and water can give your trip different focuses. You might want to make golf the main activity one day and set aside time for the river estuary on another. The combination that suits your trip is best decided according to your own interests and how you’d like to spend your days.

Barwon Bluff: sanctuary and walking trail

Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary is accessible from the town of Barwon Heads. The nearby protected area covers 17 hectares and protects reefs and marine life. Visitors can explore the sanctuary’s rock platforms and beaches on a guided or self-guided tour. Alongside the river activities, this gives you a protected natural area to include in your plans.

A walking trail around Barwon Bluff crosses a mix of steps, gravel and sand. These changing surfaces are a practical part of the walk: if you plan to follow the trail, be prepared for the ground to vary along the way. Together with the sanctuary tours, it’s another way to focus your trip on nature and exploration.

Plan your stay around your interests

Whether golf, the river or nature is your priority makes a difference to your daily plans. For a golf-focused stay, the two golf venues offer different options; kayaking, swimming and stand-up paddleboarding add the river estuary to the mix. Barwon Bluff expands the choice with a protected marine environment and a walking trail with varied surfaces. You can plan your trip around one main focus or combine activities, without spending every day in the same way.

If you’re looking for a hotel in Barwon Heads, decide before comparing options whether you’re mainly planning to play golf or would rather mix up your days with water and nature. Compare accommodation options based on your personal travel preferences, and if you’re planning a round for a green fee, keep the selected days in mind. This way, your planning starts with the experiences that draw you to Barwon Heads and then moves on to which accommodation suits your own needs.

Explore more destinations

Explore more destinations: Grassdale, Springvale, Keysborough, Ardeer, Sedgwick, West Wodonga, Glenrowan, Clayton South

For the main travel overview: Victoria.