Marcus Hill: Railways, Architectural History and Wine

Suma Park combines holiday accommodation with the Bellarine Railway and the Bellarine Rail Trail; the town’s history includes the differently classified buildings of Suma Park and Carlyle. Banks Road adds a winery and restaurant to the mix. You can therefore consider accommodation type, railway, trail and dining separately when choosing where to stay.

Stay at Suma Park

Suma Park is offered as boutique rental accommodation, with twelve spacious, self-contained holiday cottages for groups. This is holiday-cottage accommodation, not hotel rooms. If you are travelling with several people, the group accommodation is a useful consideration alongside the type of accommodation. Check availability directly, as the offering may change.

Railway connection and Rail Trail

The Bellarine Railway is a currently operating heritage railway connection between Queenscliff and Drysdale. Suma Park has a station on this line; there is also a private platform on the property, connected to the railway. If you are planning a trip, check the current timetable and service information, as train services and times may change.

The Bellarine Rail Trail runs separately, directly alongside Suma Park. From the property, you can access the trail via Suma Park Station. This gives you two distinct points of reference for planning: the railway connection between Queenscliff and Drysdale, and access to the trail at the property. As trail access conditions may change, check them before planning to use it.

Homestead and residence in the Heritage Overlay

In the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme’s Heritage Overlay, Suma Park is recorded as a homestead with a weatherboard timber house and a barn. The address covers 2121–2259 Bellarine Highway. Carlyle is recorded in the same overlay as a residence; the address covers 2041–2119 Bellarine Highway. The descriptions therefore differ in specific terms: at Suma Park, the house and barn are included in the homestead listing, while Carlyle is listed as a residence. Anyone interested in the area’s architectural history will find two different building types here rather than a single, uniform motif. The term “weatherboard” refers to timber cladding and thus specifies the construction of the house.

Wine and dining at Banks Road

Banks Road Vineyard is a family-run winery with small-scale production in Marcus Hill. Banks Road Cellar Door & Restaurant offers current vintages from the winery and a menu inspired by modern Australian cuisine. This adds a place to eat and drink, with wine and food, to the area’s accommodation, railway and architectural-history offerings. Opening details may change; check the latest information before planning a visit.

Discover more destinations: Amherst, Cottles Bridge, Fingal, Harrietville, Gowanbrae, Chepstowe, Tarrington, Gipsy Point.

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.