Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary
The Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary sits right at the mouth of the Barwon River, just a short walk from Little George. It protects 17 hectares of reef and sea life, and you can explore it on foot at low tide without any special gear or planning. Just walk down to the rock platforms and start looking.
The rock pools are full of life. Limpets, barnacles, mussels, sea squirts, crabs, and long strands of Neptune's Necklace draped across the basalt. Kids love it. Adults love it too, though they pretend they are there for the kids. If you bring a snorkel, the underwater side is even better. Kelp forests, sponge gardens, rays, schools of fish, and if you are lucky, the odd Port Jackson Shark.
The Friends of the Bluff Barwon Heads are a local volunteer group who run free guided walks and activities at the sanctuary, mostly over summer. Their rockpool rambles are brilliant, especially if you have kids. You get a proper guided tour of what lives in the pools, what to look for and how to handle the animals carefully. They also run walks around the bluff itself, covering the coastal plants, birdlife and the history of the area. Check their Facebook page for upcoming dates.
Even without a guided walk, the trail around the top of the bluff is worth doing. There are several lookout points with views over the sanctuary, Bass Strait and along to 13th Beach. At low tide, you can walk around the base of the bluff. At high tide, stick to the top track.
A couple of things to know: the cliffs are fragile and there have been rockfall events, so stay clear of the cliff base and read the onsite signage. Also check the tides before you go, as there is no safe access at higher tides.