Portarlington takes bronze in tourism awards

AUSTRALIA’S mussel capital clinched bronze last week in the annual Victorian Top Tourism Town Awards, an accolade that acknowledges Portarlington’s “outstanding visitor experience”.

The awards, an initiative of the Victorian Tourism Industry Council (VTIC), were announced in Shepparton last Wednesday, with Portarlington taking third in the small tourism town award category, for destinations with a population between 1,500 and 5,000 people.

The application, put together by Tourism Greater Geelong and Bellarine (TGGB) highlighted the seaside locale’s thriving culinary scene, award-winning wineries, historic landmarks and panoramic views across Port Phillip Bay.

It is these unique attractions that have been attributed to the township’s growing visitor numbers, with Portarlington recording a 35 per cent jump in visitors between 2023 and 2024 alone.

Acting VTIC chief executive Chris Porter said the awards program, which is now in its fifth year, is about celebrating the regional destinations that are “off the beaten track”.

“The winners are a reflection of the quality visitor experiences that can be found in all parts of the state, with visitors more likely to stay for a least one night, rather than just the day, due to their fantastic offering.

“I’m a real big advocate for towns like Portarlington. It’s a great town, it’s hidden out of the way, it’s still got that bit of old town character about it. You’ve got the bakery down the main street, the great restaurants.

“We’re just so pleased that places like that can be recognised… [and] we look forward to continuing to grow the awards program and recognising the great tourism destinations that we have.”

Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine executive director Tracy Carter celebrated the award, praising the efforts of the local services and vendors who made the recognition possible.

“This award really comes down to the amazing work of our local tourism operators who work tirelessly to create the kind of experiences that people remember and come back for time and time again,” she said.

Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj described Portarlington, with its port-to-plate menu offerings, as “the ultimate foodie destination” and celebrated its broad visitor appeal.

“Portarlington is so much more than a charming seaside town,” he said.

“Visitors can enjoy stunning views across the bay, boutique mussel cruises, award-winning wineries, beautifully-restored heritage buildings, fishing, boating and even a round of golf at the local course.

“And Portarlington is home to an incredible variety of events for a small town, including the National Celtic Folk Festival and, of course, the Portarlington Mussel Festival.”

Public voting formed a key component of the awards’ judging process, accounting for 10 per cent of each of the 25 finalist town’s final scores, with 30,000 votes received across each of the different award categories.

Murradoc Ward councillor Rowan Story said the city was proud of the recognition and thanked everyone who voted for Portarlington.

“I’m thrilled to see all the local hospitality and tourism operators – as well as the friendly residents – who make Portarlington such a wonderful place to visit getting the recognition they deserve.”