Geelong, Australia: travel guide
Waterfront city and the gateway to the Great Ocean Road
Victoria's Waterfront City — a charming regional city known for its waterfront, arts scene, and gateway to Great Ocean Road.
About Geelong
Geelong is a waterfront city on Corio Bay, about an hour from Melbourne, and the traditional starting point for the Great Ocean Road. Its promenade, restored pier area and old wool-store buildings give it a pleasant, walkable centre.
Things to do in Geelong include strolling the Eastern Beach foreshore, browsing the galleries and laneway bars and looking out for the painted bollards along the waterfront. The Bellarine Peninsula nearby has wineries, beaches and small seaside towns, and the Surf Coast leads on to the famous coast road.
Geelong suits road trippers, weekend visitors from Melbourne and anyone who wants a smaller regional city. Summer is the busiest season, and late spring and early autumn are calmer.
- Country
- Australia
- Currency
- AUD
- Time zone
- Australia/Melbourne
- Nearest airport
- AVV
Last updated
Top places to visit in Geelong
Eastern Beach Reserve
swimming-enclosure · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Geelong's 1930s art-deco bathing complex on Corio Bay — a netted swimming enclosure, promenade, lawns and a children's pool, all free to use.
Geelong Waterfront Baywalk Bollards
public-art · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
More than 100 painted timber bollards by Jan Mitchell strung along the waterfront, each a character from Geelong's history — a free self-guided art trail.
Geelong Botanic Gardens
garden · about 1.5 h · free entry
One of Australia's oldest botanic gardens (1851), on Eastern Park above the bay, with a 21st Century dry garden, conservatory and heritage tree collection. Free entry.
You Yangs Regional Park
regional-park · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
A cluster of granite peaks rising abruptly from the volcanic plain north-east of Geelong, with the Flinders Peak climb, mountain-bike trails and Bunjil's geoglyph.
National Wool Museum
industrial-museum · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Australia's only museum devoted to wool, in a bluestone 1872 woolstore — working Axminster carpet loom, mill-worker histories and a contemporary textile gallery.
Geelong Gallery
art-gallery · about 1.5 h · free entry
A regional gallery next to the Town Hall holding a strong Australian collection including von Guerard's View of Geelong and McCubbin's A bush burial. Free general entry.
Bells Beach
surf-beach · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The Surf Coast's most famous point break and home of the Rip Curl Pro, with clifftop viewing terraces above a powerful right-hand reef wave.
Point Danger, Torquay
headland · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
The headland lookout at Torquay marking the start of the Surf Coast and the Great Ocean Road, with views over Front Beach and the surf breaks south.
Things to do
- Great Ocean Road Day Trip Day Trip · 10 h
- You Yangs Flinders Peak Walk Hiking · 2 h
- Geelong Waterfront Bollard Trail Tour · 1.5 h
Where to stay in Geelong
- Waterfront about AUD 2,000 per night
Vic coastal city with accommodation
Getting to Geelong
Airport: Geelong (AVV)
Getting around
- Bus
- Train
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Backpacker job-deposit
Major tourist zones
Online "casual work" offer demands $50–200 deposit for "uniform/training"; job doesn't exist.
How to avoid it: Never pay deposit for a job before starting. Use official jobactive portal.
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Frequently asked questions about Geelong
- What are the main places to visit in Geelong?
- Places covered in our Geelong guide include Eastern Beach Reserve, Geelong Waterfront Baywalk Bollards, Geelong Botanic Gardens, You Yangs Regional Park, National Wool Museum.
- Where should I stay in Geelong?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Geelong: Waterfront.
- How do I get around Geelong?
- Ways to get around Geelong covered in our guide: City bus, Train, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Geelong?
- Scams reported to us for Geelong include Backpacker job-deposit. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- Which airport is nearest to Geelong?
- The nearest airport to Geelong has the code AVV.