Indented Head: Coast, Nature and History

Coastal trails, maritime history and a woodland wetland give Indented Head a varied character. The Bellarine Coastal Trail, the Ozone wreck and several memorial sites offer different points of interest. You can shape your stay around activity, history or nature and consider which of these themes appeals to you most.

Getting around on foot and by bike

The Indented Head Beach to Bush Walk is 4.6 kilometres long, rated easy and takes approximately one hour. The route offers views of Port Phillip Bay. Its length and approximate duration provide a practical guide for planning your day; the bay views also make the walk scenic.

The Bellarine Coastal Trail serves a different purpose: it is the main walking connection between Portarlington, Indented Head and St Leonards. The trail is wide and mostly flat, and is suitable for family bike rides. This gives you two different options to weigh up: a single walk with a stated distance and approximate duration, or a route connecting three settlements that is also suitable for cycling with the family.

The Ozone wreck and its anchor

In 1925, the hull of the paddle steamer Ozone was sunk off Indented Head to act as a breakwater for small boats. Today, the wreck is considered an easily accessible shallow dive site. The ship’s story is therefore connected both to the coast and to a specific experience on the water.

On land, an Ozone anchor serves as a memorial to the ship: it stands on the cliff near Taylor Reserve and faces the wreck. The dive site and the anchor shed light on maritime history from different perspectives—one underwater, the other as a visible reminder on the coast.

Memorial sites and local history

Matthew Flinders landed in 1802 at the place now known as Indented Head and set up camp there. A cairn in Indented Head commemorates this landing. Another cairn in Batman Park marks the spot where John Batman came ashore in 1835 to camp. The dates help distinguish between the two historical episodes.

Batman Park on The Esplanade is a public coastal recreation area. Its history has been associated with picnicking, camping and fishing since at least the early 20th century. A stone obelisk was also erected in 1931 to commemorate the landings of Batman and Flinders: the Batman-Flinders Memorial.

Woodland, wetland and water

On the western edge of the town is the 13.6-hectare Indented Head Woodland Nature Reserve. It is one of the last remaining examples of the endangered Plains Grassy Woodland on the Bellarine Peninsula. The wetland in the reserve provides habitat for the Latham’s Snipe. This migratory bird travels between Japan and Australia each year—a long-distance journey that connects a distinctive natural feature of the area with a faraway part of its migratory route.

Time by the water can also shape your stay: Indented Head has safe swimming beaches. Wrathall Reserve has a two-lane concrete boat ramp and a timber pier.

Discover more destinations: Waurn Ponds

Return to the main travel overview: Greater Geelong City.