Things to do in Geelong
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Geelong
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Spring is a best season, gardens and the Royal Geelong Show, warming water and pre Christmas prices.
Late summer to autumn is the other best window, warmest sea, Pako Festa, the Rip Curl Pro and the Cats return.
Peak beach and festival season with Festival of Sails and the Cadel Evans race, at peak prices and crowds.
Worst months, cold bay winds, water attractions closed or reduced and short days, but hotels are cheapest.
Shoulder gamble, finals football if the Cats are in, wildflowers up north and weather that can do anything.
What's on
- Festival of Sails late January
Australias biggest keelboat regatta on Corio Bay with a waterfront festival of food, music and fireworks.
- Mapei Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race late January to early February
UCI WorldTour one day cycling for men and women, starting and finishing on the Geelong waterfront.
- Pako Festa last weekend of February
Victorias largest multicultural street festival on Pakington Street, with a parade, global food and world music stages.
- Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Easter
The worlds longest running pro surf contest at Bells Beach near Torquay, a short drive from Geelong.
- Royal Geelong Show October
Four days of agriculture, rides, showbags and fireworks at the Geelong Showgrounds.
- Geelong Revival Motoring Festival late November
Historic cars and bikes sprinting along the waterfront course with a foreshore motoring festival.
Best things to do in Geelong
Eastern Beach Reserve
A 1930s Art Deco sea bath and terraced lawns on Corio Bay, free to swim and the best family waterfront in the city.
Baywalk Bollards
More than 100 painted pier bollards tell Geelong history along the waterfront walk from Rippleside to Eastern Beach.
The Carousel
A restored 1892 steam driven carousel in a glass pavilion on the waterfront, a short and charming ride for all ages.
National Wool Museum
The story of wool in an 1872 bluestone woolstore, with a working carpet loom that explains how Geelong was built.
Geelong Gallery
One of Australias oldest regional galleries, free to enter, with the classic paintings of Geelong and strong touring shows.
GMHBA Stadium
A Geelong Cats home game in a one team town, loud and parochial and the best spectator atmosphere in the region.
Geelong Botanic Gardens
Free gardens from 1851 with a striking dry garden and shaded heritage trees, the calm picnic alternative to the beach.
Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre
A community run Aboriginal cultural centre with native gardens, art, bookable tours and emus and wallabies to hand feed.
Where to stay in Geelong
Waterfront and CBD
first trip, all round base
Walk to the waterfront, Little Malop dining, museums and the station, with the citys main hotels on the bay.
Geelong West and Newtown
local neighbourhood, cafes and Pako Festa
Pakington Street cafes, wine bars and pubs give the street life the CBD lacks at night, 15 minutes walk from the bay.
Belmont and the Barwon River
value, families and travellers with a car
Cheaper motels and the river holiday park by the Barwon trails, with free parking and a short drive to everything.
Portarlington, Bellarine
wine, golf and a seaside second base
A bay town base for wineries, the ferry and dolphin boats, 30 minutes from Geelong for Cats games and city dining.
Think twice about
- Corio
No visitor accommodation or evening dining, higher crime reporting, and a long drive from every attraction. No reason for a visitor to base here.
- Norlane
No visitor accommodation or walkable attractions, higher crime reporting, and isolated at night. Bargain listings here are pricing the location.
- Breakwater and industrial South Geelong
Industrial pockets built for trucks, isolated and dark at night and cut off from dining, so a cheap room costs a taxi with every meal.
Best restaurants in Geelong
Tulip Restaurant
Geelongs destination fine diner on Pakington Street, contemporary Australian menus from an open kitchen.
ALMA Restaurant
Contemporary South American share plates and strong cocktails in a stylish two level room in central Geelong.
Sailors' Rest
The waterfront all day institution, cafe to rooftop bar, reliable for families and groups with a view over the bay.
Mavs Greek Restaurant
A family owned Greek kitchen on Little Malop Street for saganaki, kleftiko, moussaka and a seafood platter to share.
Sober Ramen
A tiny izakaya style ramen bar on Little Malop Street, rich broths and dumplings at cheap eat prices, no bookings.
The Hot Chicken Project
Nashville style hot chicken burgers and wings with heat levels to Evil, the best cheap dinner in the CBD.
Pakington Pantry
The Pakington Street brunch flagship, chilli eggs, shakshuka and generous serves with serious coffee.
The Geelong Boat House
Fish and chips on a century old barge floating on Corio Bay, the cheap waterfront lunch that is actually on the water.
Best bars in Geelong
The 18th Amendment Bar
A Prohibition styled speakeasy on Little Malop Street with a serious gin shelf and theatrical cocktails.
Geelong Cellar Door
A walk in wine bar pouring Geelong and Bellarine wines by the glass with cheese and charcuterie platters.
Outdoor things to do in Geelong
You Yangs Regional Park
Granite peaks, the Flinders Peak climb and over 50 km of mountain bike trails with views back over Geelong and the bay.
Serendip Sanctuary
A free wetlands sanctuary with bird hides, emus, kangaroos and wallabies on short trails 20 minutes north of the city.
13th Beach Golf Links
The Bellarines tournament course, 45 holes through surf beach dunes and home of the Vic Open since 2013.
Barwon Heads Golf Club
A heritage links through coastal dunes beside a grand old clubhouse, rewarding placement over power in the sea wind.
Curlewis Golf Club
A firm and fast modern Bellarine course with a restaurant, mini golf and accommodation that suit mixed groups.
Barwon Valley Golf Club
A relaxed 18 hole public course along the Barwon River with a driving range and the cheapest good round in Geelong.
Jack Rabbit Vineyard
A hilltop Bellarine cellar door and cafe looking across the bay, the best single stop for a winery lunch day.
Sea All Dolphin Swims
A half day boat trip from Queenscliff to snorkel with fur seals and swim with wild dolphins in the marine park.
Best hotels in Geelong
Novotel Geelong
The top full service hotel in Geelong, balconies over the bay and the most complete facilities in the city.
Portarlington Grand Hotel
A renovated 1888 grand hotel on the Portarlington waterfront, the Bellarines most characterful luxury base.
Rydges Geelong
A reliable four star in the CBD with pool, spa and bay view rooms a short walk from the waterfront and station.
Oaks R Suites Geelong
Modern serviced apartments with full kitchens at the CBD waterfront junction, best for longer stays and families.
Anchor Geelong
A small, spotless boutique style motel that out reviews its price band, ideal for travellers out exploring all day.
Admiralty Inn
A classic clean motel near the waterfront with spacious rooms and free parking at the bottom of the central market.
Barwon River Holiday Park
Cabins, villas and sites in river parkland with a pool and kids facilities, the cheapest good family base in Geelong.
Is Geelong expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | A$110 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | A$230 a person |
| Splurge | A$450 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- GMHBA Stadium: weeks ahead
- Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre: a few days ahead
- Geelong Gaol Museum: a few days ahead
- 13th Beach Golf Links: weeks ahead
- Barwon Heads Golf Club: weeks ahead
- Curlewis Golf Club: a few days ahead
- Jack Rabbit Vineyard: a few days ahead
- Sea All Dolphin Swims: weeks ahead
- Book dolphin swims weeks ahead in summer, plus Cats home game tickets and waterfront hotels on game weekends.
- Book Tulip at weekends, Bellarine winery lunches at weekends, and 13th Beach tee times well ahead.
- Book gaol night tours at weekends and Adventure Park tickets online in school holidays.
Is Geelong safe?
- Swim inside the Eastern Beach enclosure or between the flags at patrolled beaches, and do not swim at Bells Beach.
- Use normal city awareness late at night around the bus interchange and Market Square in the CBD.
- Carry water and go early at the You Yangs in summer, as the peak track has little shade and no water.
- Emergency number throughout Australia is 000.
Geelong travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Cunningham Pier as a destination on its own, rather than as part of the bollard walk with lunch at the Boat House.
- Waterfront restaurants chosen by view alone, when Little Malop and Pakington Street eat better one street back.
- The Giant Sky Wheel as a substitute view for adults, when Flinders Peak at the You Yangs is the real panorama.
- Driving to the Twelve Apostles and back to Geelong as a relaxed summer day trip, which is long and punishing.
Getting around Geelong: public transport and more
- VLine trains run to Melbourne about every 20 minutes at peaks, about an hour, and the station is a 10 minute walk from the waterfront.
- You do not need a car in central Geelong, Pakington Street or South Geelong, which are all walkable.
- You need a car or a booked tour for the Bellarine, You Yangs, Serendip Sanctuary and Bells Beach.
- Use a myki card for trains and buses in and around Geelong.
Who Geelong suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | OK |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | OK |
Make Geelong your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
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