Cast your vote for Portarlington

PORTARLINGTON is getting the recognition it truly deserves, receiving a nomination for the 2025 Victorian Top Tourism Town Awards.

These awards recognise towns that offer exceptional visitor experiences and demonstrate a strong commitment to tourism, local community and storytelling.

Portarlington has been shortlisted in the Small Tourism Town category, celebrating destinations with 1,500 to 5,000 residents.

Our town joins the top tourism hotspots in the state, with coastal escapes, rural hubs and thriving regional centres in the running for three awards, rounded out by the Top Tourism Town and the Top Tiny Tourism Town gongs.

Of course, this accolade isn’t news to us, and we are well aware of the many attractions that our tranquil but vibrant coastal town has to offer.

This nomination reinforces Portarlington’s position as one of the region’s most attractive places to explore, and more tourists are clearly getting the memo.

About 677,000 visitors flocked to Portarlington last year; that’s 36 per cent more than in 2023.

Many of these visitors will be here this weekend for the National Celtic Folk Festival.

While this long weekend is a busy time for the region, there are plenty of activities and attractions that continue to lure tourists to the town throughout the entire year.

Every January, thousands descend on Portarlington for the acclaimed Mussel Festival, celebrating the fantastic food and beverage providers that support Australia’s mussel capital.

Outside of these festivals, foodies from far and wide make the journey to our beloved peninsula for adventurous mussel tours, cool climate wineries and scrumptious hospitality venues.

We now have not one, but two venues hosted by a hatted chef, while the restoration of the Portarlington Grand Hotel has returned the heritage building to its full glory.

Wine connoisseurs from across the country travel to our region to sip and indulge in some of Australia’s best drops.

Families and backpackers continue to book out accommodation every summer, with our pristine shores crowded throughout the school holidays.

It’s clear our mussel capital is deserving of this nomination.

This is a testament to the dedication of our hardworking hospitality and tourism operators who continue to provide unforgettable experiences for our guests.

So, I urge you to cast your vote for Portarlington in the 2025 Victorian Top Tourism Town Awards and show your recognition for the hard work of our community.

The winner of this category will go on to represent Victoria in the national awards, and I can’t think of a better representative of our state’s small-town tourism than Portarlington.

Voting is now open and closes Friday, June 27. To vote, head to vtic.com.au/toptourismtown/2025finalists/portarlington

Cr Trent Sullivan

Leopold Ward,

City of Greater Geelong