👶 Things To Do With Younger Children on the Bellarine Peninsula
Adventures for Your Littlest Explorers
Travelling with younger children? You’re in the right place. The Bellarine Peninsula is packed with fun, safe, and low-key activities for young families — and when you stay at Sandpiper House, you’ve got everything you need for both on-the-go adventures and at-home comfort.
Here are our top child-friendly things to do around the Bellarine — where the pace is mostly gentle, the smiles are big, and the memories are easy to make.
🍳 Start With a Hearty Breakfast at Sandpiper House
Fuel up for the day with the included breakfast hamper — fresh bread, cereals- including homemade granola, eggs, spreads, yoghurt, pancakes and fruit. Younger children love helping butter toast or choosing their cereal, and there's plenty of space in the dining area or outdoor setting to enjoy a slow, sunny start.
🛝 1. Drysdale Reserve Playground & Duck Pond
🦆 Nature + play = happy kids
Just a short 5 minute drive from Sandpiper House, this shady local park offers a fully fenced playground, picnic tables, and a gentle duck pond walk where younger children can feed the ducks and run free on the grass.
📍 Location: Wyndham Street, Drysdale
🎟️ Cost: Free
🧺 Top tip: Pack snacks or a picnic for a relaxing morning outdoors
🚂 2. Bellarine Railway – Family Steam Train Rides
Chugga-chugga-choo-choo! For train-loving kids, the heritage steam train between Queenscliff and Drysdale is an unforgettable ride. Short trips are available, with carriages perfect for curious little passengers. Look out for themed days like a Day Out with Thomas days, where the train is dressed up in its best Thomas the tank finery. Or the Polar express train ride.
📍 Location: Departs Queenscliff or Drysdale
🗓️ When: Sundays and holidays-check web for specific dates and times
🎟️ Cost: Under 4s ride free with adult
🌊 3. Portarlington Safe Swimming Beach
Perfect for little paddlers, Portarlington Beach offers calm, shallow water, gentle waves, and soft sand. There’s also a playground, cafe and toilets nearby. Ideal for sandcastle building, shell collecting, and supervised splashing. You can often see small fish in the shallows.
📍 Location: Pier Street, Portarlington
🧺 Top tip: Go early to avoid afternoon breezes and bring sunshades
🧁 4. Play in the Sandpit and Pet the Sheep at Basils Farm
A hit with animal lovers! Younger children can meet baby doll sheep and chickens, explore the kitchen garden, and enjoy a babyccino in the family-friendly café overlooking the vines. Plenty of open space to roam.
📍 Location: Swan Bay Road, near Queenscliff
🗓️ Open: Thursday–Monday
🎟️ Entry: Free but you must be dining in the restaurant (food and drink available for purchase in the fabulous restaurant)
🪁 5. At-Home Fun at Sandpiper House
When it’s time to slow down (or if nap time is calling), there’s plenty to do right at Sandpiper House:
🎨 Colouring and games in the games room
🎶 Kid-friendly tunes on the record player
🦴 Supervised playtime with pet-friendly toys in the secure yard
💦 Splash in the heated pool (with adult supervision)
Whether you're inside reading books or outside enjoying the garden, Sandpiper House is built for relaxed, family-friendly comfort.
🎨 6. The Potato Shed – Family Theatre & Events
This local performing arts hub often hosts kid-friendly shows, storytime sessions, and interactive events for younger children. Check their calendar for puppet shows, music mornings, or school holiday programs.
📍 Location: Peninsula Drive, Drysdale
🗓️ When: Various dates throughout the year- check the Potato shed website for specific events and times
🎟️ Cost: Varies — some events free or low-cost
☕ 7. Child-Friendly Cafés on the Bellarine
Need coffee and calm? These local spots are great for families:
The Bungalow, Drysdale: Toys, high chairs, and space to stretch
FarmDog, Wallington: Outdoor seating, big lawns, and babycinos
Noble Rot, Point Lonsdale: Great for lunch while younger children nap in the pram nearby
👟 8. Walk the Bellarine Rail Trail (Short Sections)
Bring the pram or little scooter and enjoy a flat, scenic trail with plenty of access points between Drysdale and Queenscliff. Great for fresh air and easy walking with minimal road crossings.
📍 Access: Start at the Drysdale Station
🗓️ Open: Year-round
🏡 End the Day with Family Time at Sandpiper House
Wind down with:
A cozy dinner in the outdoor kitchen
Toasted marshmallows by the fire pit
Storytime in the comfy lounge or quiet bedrooms
With a secure yard, family amenities, and thoughtful extras, Sandpiper House is more than child-friendly—it’s child-happy.
💛 Final Thoughts
Travelling with younger children doesn’t mean missing out—it means discovering simple joys, slower days, and big smiles. From playgrounds to petting farms, beach fun to backyard play, the Bellarine is bursting with kid-approved adventures.
And with Sandpiper House as your base, you can relax knowing comfort, convenience, and calm are always close at hand.