A cosmopolitan city with a dazzling waterfront, charming industrial past and a beautiful, beachy backyard. 

Geelong is just an hour’s drive from Melbourne yet boasts a laid-back vibe. The waterfront sparkles with quirky bollards, a circling promenade, twirling carousel and a buzzing restaurant strip.

Geelong’s effortless charm is easy to love, from casual city-central Eastern Beach to the lush and shady botanic gardens, all within strolling distance. Just uptown the CBD has a thriving arts and cultural precinct, big city hotels such as Rydges Geelong or Vue Apartments and more than 100 National Trust listed buildings. Age-old industrial sites are being transformed into funky new spaces.

A 20 minute drive beyond Geelong, the beautiful Bellarine Peninsula entices with seaside villages, rural charm, grand old hotels, lighthouses and beaches. It’s a food-lover’s paradise with boutique wineries, eateries, pubs and bars, all championing the abundance of fresh and seasonal local produce. For an overnight stay in the pretty village of Queenscliff try BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Queenscliff Beacon.

Travel west to the Great Ocean Road or East along the Princes Highway to Melbourne.