From the comfort of a fully refurbished 40-year-old Huon Pine vessel, experience the joy of tasting native Angasi oysters and mussels freshly plucked from the cool, deep waters of Port Philip Bay.
Picturesque Portarlington is known as the mussel capital of Victoria — it harvests 60 per cent of Australia’s mussels. The quality is exceptional thanks to the cool depths of Port Philip Bay.
The mussels cultivated by Lance Wiffen and his Sea Bounty team have been hailed as “exquisite” by leading chefs including Attica’s Ben Shewry and Noma’s Rene Redzepi.
The family-owned company has been cultivating mussels and taking small groups out on its trawler for decades. Inspired by the positive response, in 2021 it launched Portarlington Mussel Tours, boutique and intimate tours for a maximum of 12 people.
Coming together in a luxurious but relaxed environment, guests are given a front row seat to the mussel and oyster farming process.
The Classic Mussel Tour costs $295 pp ($310 from May 2026) and includes cooking demonstrations and tastings of mussels, Angasi oysters and other local produce. Sip on local Bellarine wine and beer while watching the mussel ropes being pulled from the water.
The Deluxe Seafood Tour costs $495 pp and offers an elevated seafood experience. The four-hour immersive experience includes a curated menu of Port Phillip Bay and Bellarine seafoods including mussels, Angasi oysters, scallops, abalone and gin-cured salmon, followed by cheese platters and dessert.
The beverage list is pretty spesh too: as well as premium Bellarine wines and beers and a Bellarine Distillery gin cocktail, you can sip on an Ocean Aged Vintage Cuvee — cellared under water at the mussel farm.
Tours depart from Portarlington Pier, a 1½ hour drive or 70-minute ferry ride from Melbourne, or 25 minutes’ drive from Geelong. Guaranteed you’ll come away with a new appreciation of mussels and oysters, an understanding of sustainable aquaculture, and lasting memories of a great day on the bay. You might even get to spot some dolphins or other wildlife.
More information: www.portarlingtonmusseltours.com.au