Wondering what to do in and around Geelong and the nearby coastal villages of The Bellarine?
We’ve done the hard yards and road tested the best to bring you 10 compelling reasons to come visit!
Destination Dining
The region is home to some amazing regional dining and some fabulous newcomers have hit the scene. Three restaurants were recognised and awarded chef’s hats in the latest Good Food Guide (2023) – Tulip on Pakington Street, boutique French eatery Bistrot Plume in suburban Belmont and as its namesake says, La Cachette is a hidden refined modern French inspired restaurant off Geelong’s waterfront. Felix will delight with an eye-catching interior and a modern focus on seafood and vegetables. On The Bellarine, Merne is a highlight with its inspiring locally sourced shared menu. Curlewis Golf Club has a superb French restaurant Claribeaux and Jack Rabbit Vineyard restaurant sits high on the hill overlooking the You Yangs, the bay and Melbourne with award-winning food and wine. Find boutique wineries, farm gates and provedores and establishments serving up dishes featuring local produce on the Bellarine Taste Trail. Pick up a map and start discovering today.
Reinventing the past – in style!
Creative and inventive locals continue to transform old manufacturing spaces converting them into hip cafes, bars, restaurants and accommodation. On The Bellarine, The Whiskery, set on a former Cobb & Co historic site continues to turn heads with its original Teddy and The Fox gin, while The Q Train offers guests a gastronomic journey of local produce on board restored Queenslander carriages. In Geelong Little Creatures Brewery and White Rabbit Brewery & Barrel Hall have firmly imprinted themselves at the site of the old woollen mills and The Old Paper Mills at Fyansford along the Barwon River is home to the award-winning Provenance Wines and arts and culture precinct. Impressing visitors with its grand makeover is the awe-inspiring restaurant 1915 and adjacent distillery, Anther Distillery, in the old Federal Mills site in North Geelong.
Melbourne’s not the only place with a thriving laneway culture
In and around Geelong’s Little Malop Street the city continues to thrive, with every doorway eluding a surprise for the senses. You will find Geelong Cellar Door, a wine bar dedicated only to Geelong wine, middle eastern share dishes at The Arborist, cleverly created around the excelsior tree, a hidden 1930s speak-easy cocktail lounge in The 18th Amendment Bar, ramen and sake at Sober Ramen, dumplings galore at Drunken Dumpling bar and Bahjong Dumpling Bar and Westend is the ideal meeting place for contemporary Australian cuisine and a vast range of beers and wines. Around the corner on Gheringhap Street you’ll discover Augustus Gelato and delicious Asian dishes on the grill at Sumi.
World class beaches – surf, swim, paddle
Avid surfers head to popular surf spots such as 13th Beach or Raafs Beach in Barwon Heads, while beginner surfers can enjoy a surf lesson at Ocean Grove with Go Ride a Wave, Sea Earth Adventures or Great Ocean Road Surf Tours. Families can take advantage of the pristine sand and gentle waves at the Ocean Grove main beach, considered one of the safest in Victoria. The mouth of the Barwon River, Barwon Heads is great for paddling and rock pooling. Other great beachside spots are at Point Lonsdale and the sheltered and family friendly bay at Portarlington. Geelong has the Eastern Beach Reserve with sandy bay beach, sea bath pool, playground and the iconic bollards.
Unique boutique accommodation.
Lon Retreat and Spa allows guests to slow down and relax. Set on 200 acres overlooking the ocean, the adult only exclusive retreat features seven luxurious suites and a mineral spa. The Woods Ocean Grove offers a tranquil escape complete with outdoor bath, pizza oven and firepit amongst the gum trees. Laze on the deck, in the spa and ogle at the expansive views from the luxury eco-cabins at The Nest. Take the opulence up a few notches at the Mansion Hotel & Spa in Werribee and you’ll find heritage charm at the Portarlington Grand Hotel (1888), an icon that’s just had a mega makeover resulting in plush rooms with a hint of Art Deco. New, refined accommodation abounds by the fairways at Curlewis Golf Club and 13th Beach Golf Links. Why simply visit a winery when you can stay? The new eco villas overlooking the vines at McGlashan’s Wallington Estate offer abundant light and space.
Arts and Culture
Visit the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre’s magnificent five-storey dome structure with children’s tactile area, archive collection, café and of course a library. Head over the road to the Geelong Arts Centre which has just been through stage one of its redevelopment and is going through stage two to be transformed into of the best creative and performance spaces in regional Australia. MoPA (Museum of Play and Art) is a creative, intellectual, fun learning and interactive space for young children. Geelong Gallery is one of Australia’s leading and oldest regional art galleries with an outstanding collection including Eugène von Guérard’s View of Geelong (1856) and Frederick McCubbin’s A bush burial (1890). The National Wool Museum explores the landscape through thousands of years of Wadawurrung culture to the more recent wool industry and hold renowned temporary exhibitions as well.
It’s all about the water
With a spectacular coastline that spans from Geelong to Barwon Heads and beyond, it’s no surprise there’s plenty of water-based activities. Swim with the dolphins with See All Dolphins Swims or cruise between the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsula aboard Searoad Ferries vehicle and passenger ferry. You can now access Geelong and Portarlington direct from the Docklands as a foot passenger with Port Phillip Ferries. Great Ocean Road Surf Tours will have you up in no time or snare a catch on a fishing charter from Queenscliff Harbour.
Time to par-tee
The Bellarine is a golfer’s paradise with outstanding public courses which are consistently rated in the Top 100 Public Courses in Australia. Take your pick from Barwon Heads Golf Club, one of the two courses at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links – where the Vic Open champions play, the meticulously reinvigorated Curlewis Golf Club or the unique Lonsdale Links. Add golf courses at Queenscliff (sitting on the scenic Swan Island) or Portarlington to the impressive list of courses.
On your bike
Whether you wear shorts or lycra, the region is home to a number of cycling trails. The You Yangs are great for mountain biking, boasting two designated mountain bike areas with 50 kilometres of track. The Bellarine Rail Trail is a scenic 35 kilometre trail that winds from South Geelong to Queenscliff. Thousands flock to Geelong in January every year for the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. Cyclists can join Cadel himself in the People’s Ride which starts and finishes in Geelong. Or go scenic and let the power take you on one of Bella E-bike Hire’s electric bikes.
Keep it in the family
Geelong’s waterfront comes alive in summer. Young ones love discovering the old world charm of the beautiful Geelong Carousel and older kids enjoy the diving boards at the historic early century Eastern Beach promenade. Everyone enjoys the iconic bollard trail. Out of town head out to Adventure Park, to ride the Tsunami water ride and many more, and stay in the cool safari tents at Big 4 Bellarine or family friendly Ingenia Holidays Queenscliff Beacon.
For further information go to www.visitgeelongbellarine.com.au
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