Bellarine Peninsula

Bellarine Peninsula Family

From nature play and heritage train rides to library sessions and junior sport, families across the Bellarine Peninsula have practical ways to spend time together, build skills and try something new. When extra help is needed, local and regional services also support children, young people, parents and carers through different stages of family life.

✨ Play, stories and shared activities

Meerkat Manner

For an indoor play day in Ocean Grove, children can explore climbing and sliding equipment, while younger visitors have a dedicated toddler soft-play area. The venue also takes bookings for children’s birthday parties. Opening hours may change during school holidays, so check the current details before setting out.

Wildflower Kids Community Playgroup

Born Wild Community runs nature playgroup and stay-and-play sessions at changing locations around the Bellarine. Listed gathering places include Ocean Grove Nature Reserve, Barwon Heads Beach, Drysdale Recreation Reserve, Clifton Springs Beach, Point Richards Flora and Fauna Reserve and Portarlington Beach. Families book sessions through Humanitix, making it important to confirm the day’s location when registering.

Drysdale Toy Library

Families with children aged from birth to six can refresh their play options without buying every toy. This SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre initiative uses a click-and-collect system, with members able to borrow up to four toys for two weeks. Membership is required.

Ocean Grove Library

Weekly Babytime, Toddler Time and Preschool Storytime sessions give younger children opportunities to enjoy books, songs and early learning with their adults. Children can also use Play and Learn touchscreen computers, gaming consoles and iPads inside the library. Wheelchair access is available.

Geelong Regional Libraries – Holiday Fun! and children’s programs

Bellarine branches, including Ocean Grove and Drysdale, host regular children’s programs and school-holiday activities. Depending on the current calendar, sessions can cover art, technology, Lego, Minecraft or nature-focused learning. Check What’s On before attending for the branch location, age guidance and whether bookings are needed.

🚂 Family outings and discovery

Bellarine Railway

Take a journey on this volunteer-run heritage railway, with departures from Queenscliff or Drysdale according to the experience booked. Selected dates feature family events such as Day Out With Thomas. Accessible toilets are provided at both stations, but wheelchair carriage access needs to be arranged in advance.

Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre

The Victorian Fisheries Authority’s Queenscliff centre combines an aquarium, laboratory and classroom with field-based learning such as rockpool and mudflat activities. Curriculum programs cater for early childhood, school and tertiary groups, while advertised school-holiday programs provide an access option for families. The centre is not generally open to the public during school terms, so plan around a booked or advertised program.

🏀 Junior sport and active skills

Bellarine Peninsula Basketball Association – Aussie Hoops and Slam Jam

Children aged five to ten can start basketball at Bellarine Indoor Sports Centre in Drysdale. Aussie Hoops introduces the game, while Slam Jam combines skills practice with a short game in a development competition. The association can also assist players aged six to twenty who do not yet have a junior team to seek placement.

Bellarine Aquatic & Sports Centre – Junior Soccer Program

Saturday-morning indoor soccer sessions offer coached skills, drills and a short friendly game. Children join the group suited to their age, with options for ages four to seven and eight to twelve-plus. Classes must be booked through the centre’s member portal.

🌱 Child development and family support

Bellarine Community Health – Child, Youth and Family Services

Family-centred health and development support is available for children under twelve, alongside youth services for people aged twelve to twenty-five. The Child, Youth and Family Hub in Ocean Grove has therapy spaces and sensory equipment. Available disciplines include speech pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and children’s mental health support, serving communities including Ocean Grove, Drysdale, Portarlington and Point Lonsdale.

Bellarine Community Health – Children’s Therapy Groups

Therapist-led groups at Ocean Grove Kingston may include Prep Readiness, Little Talkers and Minimal Pairs. Programs are designed around areas such as communication, confidence, teamwork and connection. They run at various times according to interest and therapist capacity, with government-subsidised and NDIS access pathways listed by the provider.

Speak Play Learn

Children can access speech pathology assessment and therapy for speech, language, social and literacy development. Clinic appointments are offered in Ocean Grove, while mobile support may take place at home, childcare, kindergarten or school in Barwon Heads, Point Lonsdale, Queenscliff and Drysdale.

Ocean Grove Occupational Therapy

This mobile paediatric occupational therapy service works with children aged two to twelve and their families across the Bellarine Peninsula and surrounding areas. Sessions may be delivered at home, early learning settings, school or in the community, addressing areas such as self-care, play, sensory needs, emotional regulation and fine motor skills. NDIS participants must have self-managed or plan-managed plans to use this provider.

Meli – Early Years Supports

Regional early support is available for children under six with developmental concerns and their families, either individually or in groups. Meli also lists Supported Playgroups, Sunshine Circles for parents or carers with children aged from birth to six, and HIPPY, a two-year early childhood enrichment program for parents and carers. No referral is required for the listed early-years pathway.

❤ Youth and sensitive family support

headspace Ocean Grove

Young people aged twelve to twenty-five can seek confidential free or low-cost support from mental health professionals, nurses, GPs and alcohol and other drug counsellors. Telehealth mental health consultations may help nearby young people who cannot travel to Ocean Grove. Operated by Bellarine Community Health, headspace Ocean Grove is not an emergency service.

Meli – Supervised Contact Services

For eligible children aged twelve and under living in the Bellarine, Queenscliff and other listed regional areas, Meli provides supervised contact visits and facilitated changeovers. Both parents must complete an application, and further intake information may be requested. Children subject to Child Protection orders are not eligible, and waiting times vary.

📌 Before you book or visit

• Check age ranges and eligibility: programs differ considerably, from baby sessions to youth support for people up to twenty-five.
• Confirm bookings and availability: holiday activities, therapy groups, sports classes and visiting programs may require registration or run only on selected dates.
• Ask about access needs early: contact the provider before attending if your family needs wheelchair access, sensory accommodations or other practical support.
• Review fees and funding pathways: confirm current costs, membership requirements and any government-subsidised or NDIS conditions directly with the provider.
• Clarify adult supervision: check whether a parent or carer must stay, participate or complete forms, particularly for playgroups, young children’s activities and support services.

🌟 If you run a family-focused business, service, activity or community group serving the Bellarine Peninsula, you are warmly invited to add your own listing or submit an update so local families can find accurate, useful details.

⚠️ Accuracy Note: We do our best to keep this information useful and up to date, however details can change over time. If you notice anything that appears incorrect or out of date, please let us know and we will review it. Local business owners and community leaders can also help keep local information accurate by logging in and creating or managing their own listing and useful content on bellarinepeninsula.com.