GEELONG & THE BELLARINE
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 hotel (Rydges Geelong) 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, golf resorts (Curlewis Golf Club & Resort) offers an exceptional course and very cool eco-suites, 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 or Lon Retreat & Spa an exclusive luxury retreat at Point Lonsdale.
Travel west to the Great Ocean Road or East along the Princes Highway to Melbourne.
MUST DO EXPERIENCES
Jack Rabbit Vineyard
Enjoy a sun-kissed afternoon at a Bellarine winery. Jack Rabbit Vineyard offers unrivalled panoramic views across Corio Bay and headlines a chorus of possibilities.
Golf
Tee-off at one of Australia’s Top 100 Golf Clubs. Play a round on the Par 72 course at Curlewis Golf Club or smash them out on a state-of-the-art 18-bay driving range.
All Aboard
Welcome aboard the Q Train, Australia’s premier restaurant for a delightful moving feast – a six-course degustation dinner showcasing the Bellarine’s best produce (and views).
Wool Museum
At Geelong’s National Wool Museum, tap into the history and heritage of an amazing fibre in a city once known as the wool centre of the world.
Cruise the Bay
Cruise the glittering waters of Port Phillip Bay, from Queenscliff to Sorrento and back with Searoad Ferries (cars and passengers), or from Portarlington to Melbourne (and back) with Port Phillip Ferries (foot passengers only).
