Basils Farm

Basils Farm is a working farm, cafe and event venue at 43-53 Nye Road, Swan Bay, on the Bellarine Peninsula, with kitchen-garden beds, a cellar door pouring estate wines, and lawns that fall away to views across Swan Bay toward Queenscliff. It opens 11am to 4pm on Mondays and Thursday to Sunday, closing Tuesday and Wednesday. Well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome in the outdoor garden and under-tree seating, which makes it a genuine Bellarine day-trip stop with the dog rather than a leave-them-in-the-car compromise.

The dog setup

Dogs stay outdoors and on lead for the whole visit: garden tables, lawn and the under-tree spots are all in bounds, while the indoor restaurant is people-only. The one thing that matters is booking ahead and mentioning the dog, so staff seat you in the garden section rather than inside. Keep dogs clear of the vegetable and kitchen-garden beds, and bring your own water bowl and waste bags, since onsite provisions are not guaranteed. The lawns and fire pit make it easy for a settled dog to stretch out while you work through a tasting.

From the garden to the glass

The kitchen cooks farm-to-table from produce picked in the onsite potager garden: seasonal shared plates, local meats and seafood, garden specials and desserts, with a dedicated children's menu for family tables. The cellar door pours cool-climate estate wines that reflect the Bellarine, and tastings can run out onto the lawns and garden tables. Sunday sessions sometimes add live music, and the animal encounters the property is known for keep kids occupied while the dog supervises from the lead.

Getting there and parking

The farm sits on Nye Road off the Bellarine Highway between Queenscliff and Drysdale, about 25 minutes from central Geelong. Parking is on site, and the coastal lanes around Swan Bay suit a quiet drive; combine it with a stop at the Point Lonsdale end of the peninsula for a beach walk.

Make a day of it

Before or after lunch, Point Lonsdale Dog Beach is the natural off-lead counterpoint a few minutes away, Shelly Beach via Queenscliff Beach adds a coastal walk, and La Loca Cafe in Queenscliff covers the dog-friendly coffee stop.

More options are on the Victorian dog friendly restaurants guide and the Swan Bay destination page.