Anglesea Holiday Rentals & Accommodation

Head to McGain's Nursery Café for a charming dining experience among carefully tilled outdoor gardens. Owners Pam and Peter Mcgain began their nursery-turned-organic food store and café in 2000. The business has since grown in popularity among locals and visitors, who come for the farm-fresh vegetables and advice on how to maintain the perfect garden. Head to the nursery, The Garden Centre, and choose a memento of your Anglesea vacation from its selection of potted plants.

Guests can peruse the food store's selection of wines, cheeses, biscuits, jams, and fresh produce, and stop in for breakfast or lunch. The café exclusively serves coffee from Cartel Coffee Roasters, with professionally trained baristas manning the impressive-looking La Marzocco coffee machine. Freshly squeezed juices and artisanal teas are available as a morning coffee alternative. Try the avocado and garden tomato breakfast topped with Meredith goat cheese or a BLT of naturally smoked bacon served with tomato chutney on a warm bread roll. Dine among the plants on the patio or take your meal away for a pleasant picnic.

Visitors of all ages are welcome to explore their artistic side at Anglesea Art House, a friendly community center committed to keeping the people of Anglesea creative. Join the weekly classes and learn pottery, watercolour painting, printmaking, and mosaics. The centre also hosts weekend workshops featuring prominent neighbourhood artists, as well as monthly art exhibitions.

Kids on school holiday will love the Kids Art Bash, where they create memorable pieces of work for parents to take home as a unique souvenir of their holiday in Anglesea. Though the art studio is monitored by volunteers, parents can accompany their children and create crafts side by side. The site's wheelchair accessibility makes it welcoming for people of any age and ability to find their passion as an aspiring artist.

Little bundles of energy can let loose and literally bounce off the walls at Jumpz Anglesea, the outdoor 360-degree trampoline park conveniently located on the scenic Great Ocean Drive. Kids can flip forwards and backwards, or bounce from side to side – the safety padding keeps kids safe as they unleash their inner kangaroo. When they need to recharge, head to the Jumpz kiosk for gourmet pizza and healthy snacks. Parents can sip freshly roasted coffee or a cold summer beverage while watching their little ones have a bouncy blast.

Plan a family BBQ at Jumpz's newest outdoor addition, The Deck, a large shaded seating area outfitted with barbeques, bocce ball courts and board games. Grab a photo of your loved ones by the deck's giant mural of a sunset on the Great Ocean Drive before experiencing the real thing on a ride back to your Anglesea holiday home.

Spend an afternoon exploring the bush and wetlands at Coogoorah Park Nature Reserve. Bird lovers can spot swamp harriers, spotted pardalotes, black-fronted dotterels, and white-faced herons while touring the grounds. Pack a bicycle or prepare for a morning jog along the dirt trails. There are two looping paths to choose from on your bushwalking adventure, with signposts to guide visitors on their journey.

Head to Inverlochy Playground to see a replica wooden ship built to commemorate a boat that crashed by the shore in 1902, or pack a picnic and enjoy a meal on the park grounds, which are equipped with BBQs, public restrooms, and wooden tables. Bring or rent a kayak, canoe, water bike, or paddleboard and explore the wetlands – the friendly folk at Anglesea Paddle Boats may be able to rent you some equipment. Fishing is also allowed here, as long as you follow the conservation guidelines listed at the dock’s platform. Dogs are welcome, provided they stay on a leash.

Taking place over one weekend each September, the ANGAIR Wildflower and Art Exhibition is a vibrant community event that celebrates the rich botanical heritage of the local region. Highlights include a spectacular wildflower display at Anglesea Memorial Hall, guided wildflower walks, native plant sales, and an art exhibition.

Shopping enthusiasts and art-loving visitors will also enjoy Anglesea Riverbank Markets, where you can purchase fresh local produce, gorgeous handmade wares, and much more. Alternatively, the Lorne Sculpture Biennale is an outdoor sculpture event held every two years in the town of Lorne, just 29km southwest of Anglesea. Falls Festival, a popular music event, also takes place here every December.

Situated approximately 13km northeast of the town, Bells Beach is one of Australia's foremost surfing destinations, hosting several major events throughout the year. The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach takes place each year over the Easter long weekend, and attracts the world's best surfers, as well as thousands of enthusiastic spectators. Other popular events at Bells Beach include The Drop Music Festival and the Bells Beach Surf Film Festival.