Local favourites worth a summer drive

If you’re staying local for the impending summer holidays, here’s a few spots which may be worth a visit over the coming warmer months, depending on which direction you want to head.

Like most of us, you’ll probably be Surf Coast bound at some point. The new Pt. Danger Beach House is open seven days for lunch/dinner (and breakfast too on weekends) and would have to be one of the best locations of the entire township. This esplanade fronted venue is the reincarnation of Frontbeach Taphouse, which closed earlier this year, and there’s some good foodie-dishes (like seared scallops in Nduja butter) on an otherwise more crowd-pleasing food menu, which should satisfy both locals and touring visitors. The booze side of things features tap beers, summer cocktails and the like, and there’s certainly worse places you could picture spending a leisurely afternoon in the summer. Double points for being completely dog-friendly too.

The summer love isn’t just for the coastal spots either, with the folk of Moriac and surrounds set to enjoy a weekly rotating schedule of food vendors at the Moriac General Store’s Food Truck Friday, running from now until the end of February. The local operators locked in for these coming nights include Gypsy Burger, Chubby Bao and Shumei’s Dumpling Co. There’s inside seating (and loads of outside), plus being a fully licenced bottleshop, your drinks supply for the evening is sorted. Even if you can’t get along for one of these nights, it’s a cosy spot for a coffee in general if you’re out that way, and has faithfully catered to the small town’s locals for many, many years.

Last weekend I was in Queenscliff and in need of caffeine, so I asked one of the local shopkeeps who has the best coffee. I then asked a second (just to be sure) and they both gave the same answer: Ziggy + Kit. Although rather small, there is some limited seating inside, but I can see it probably being occupied more by the local Queenscliff persons due to its local popularity, more than tourists. Coffee was quality and the range of toasties and jaffles (*not tasted) looked superb, as did some other sweet treats on display. If you find yourself in the town, make sure you call past the recently renovated Esplanade Hotel, which is basically on your way towards the ferry terminal. The multimillion dollar fit out is an impressive one, but soon won’t be the only destination on Gellibrand Street, with The Queenscliff Hotel set to open early next year after – quite literally – years of restorations. Promising luxury accommodation rooms and fine dining spaces, in what is truly one of the most stunning old buildings on the entire Bellarine, the reopening of the QH is worth keeping on your radar, although I’ll no doubt keep you updated on its progress via this column over the coming few weeks.

Staying on the Bellarine, Oakdene has opened the new home of its cellardoor and restaurant, called Quiddity Place. I’m unsure what’s behind the name, but The Hidden Frog is their destination eatery where Chef Dwayne Bourke is manning the pans. He’s executing a food menu that is somewhat reminiscent of his Pettavel days, combining seasonal local produce with European technique, but in perhaps a more accessible, less-Hat-intended way. The grounds the restaurant sits on also feature an art gallery and multiple accommodation spaces, plus obviously the winery’s cellar door, so you can quite easily spend the better part of an afternoon here. It certainly helps the wines are also some of the best value – in my opinion – found on the entire peninsula.

And finally, if like me, you plan to spend much time over summer around our city and suburbs, I can highly suggest swinging past Tulip in Geelong West on a Friday afternoon, as their annual Oyster Bar pop-up is on again. I really like the location of this: they open up their side bifold doors onto the cute, bricked arcade area adjacent to the regular dining room, suiting the sunny-afternoon-courtyard-vibe. $40 will get you a dozen oysters, freshly shucked in front of your eyes, alongside any condiment assortment of your choice. I’ve seen some menus around town charging as much as $6 to $7 for a single one of these, so $40 for twelve – or less than $3.50 each, if you prefer the math – seems bonkers good value. Ohh and the drink specials they have on these nights are pretty good too. Please book though: the few outside table spaces fill up without much trouble!

Swing past Tulip in Geelong West on a Friday afternoon, as their annual Oyster Bar pop-up is on again.