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Five Great Reasons to Visit Geelong & The Bellarine
Just over an hour from Melbourne, Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula are where the coast meets culture, fine food, and relaxed living.
With its waterfront charm, quaint seaside towns, award-winning wineries, and welcoming community, this region makes an ideal getaway for interstate travellers. Whether you are after adventure, a beach break, or a culinary experience, here are five great reasons to plan your next escape to Geelong and the Bellarine.
Feast on Outstanding Regional Dining
Geelong’s food scene has flourished in recent years, transforming the city into a true destination for dining.
Little Malop Street has become the go-to laneway precinct, brimming with innovative cafés, modern bistros, and wine bars. Brunch lovers will appreciate its artisan sourdoughs, seasonal produce, and excellent coffee, while evenings bring a lively atmosphere with small plates and cocktails.
Down by the waterfront, restaurants make the most of Corio Bay views. From fish and chips on the foreshore to modern Australian menus at established eateries, you’ll find dining options to suit every mood.
On the Bellarine, the focus is on farm-fresh and ocean-fresh. The Bellarine Taste Trail leads you to farm gates, provedores, and weekend markets showcasing olives, cheeses, berries, and of course, Portarlington’s world-famous mussels. Pull over for a farm shop tasting, or linger at a paddock-to-plate restaurant where you can meet the makers behind your meal.
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Sample World-Class Wines
Wine lovers will feel right at home on the Bellarine Peninsula. Boasting more than 40 cellar doors and is known for its cool-climate varieties, shaped by sea breezes and fertile soils.
- Visit Victoria
- Jack Rabbit Vineyard
Some of the standout wines found here are crisp chardonnays, elegant pinot noirs, and sparkling rosés, though you’ll find everything from aromatic whites to robust shiraz.
Some of the best experiences combine great wine with great views:
Jack Rabbit Vineyard, perched on a clifftop, offers sweeping vistas across Port Phillip Bay to the You Yangs and Melbourne skyline.
Scotchmans Hill is one of the region’s most established wineries, producing award-winning wines in a rustic farmhouse setting.
Oakdene Vineyards brings a touch of fun, with its upside-down house cellar door and eclectic gardens.
Leura Park Estate is known for its sparklings and alfresco vibe, with live music on weekends.
Wherever you choose, you’ll find a welcoming, down-to-earth approach that makes wine tasting here a relaxed and enjoyable experience.
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Dive into Beaches, Bays & Water Fun
The coastline is one of the region’s greatest drawcards. Families gravitate to Eastern Beach in Geelong, with its art-deco promenade, swimming enclosure, and grassy lawns perfect for picnics.
Over on the Bellarine, the calm bay waters at Queenscliff, St Leonards, and Portarlington are great for paddling and safe swims.
For surf, Ocean Grove’s Main Beach is a popular spot with lifeguards on duty in summer, while just beyond the Bellarine, legendary Bells Beach is a magnet for surfers from around the world. Even if you don’t surf, it’s worth visiting to watch the powerful waves roll in.
Water adventures abound. Join a tour from Queenscliff to swim alongside dolphins and seals, snorkel shipwrecks, or take a kayak out on Swan Bay. Anglers can cast a line from jetties or join a fishing charter in search of snapper or whiting.
Families will also love Adventure Park Geelong, Victoria’s largest water park, where slides, lazy rivers, and splash zones promise a full day of fun.
Activities for Every Traveller
Beyond the coast, Geelong and the Bellarine offer experiences for every kind of traveller.
Cyclists and walkers can follow the 35-kilometre Bellarine Rail Trail, winding through farmland, vineyards, and wetlands between Geelong and Queenscliff.
Hikers can explore the You Yangs Regional Park, a granite ridge offering panoramic views and trails for all abilities. In spring, nearby Brisbane Ranges National Park bursts with wildflowers.
Cultural explorers can now visit the Wathaurong Booln Booln Cultural Centre in Geelong, with gardens, native wildlife, local art, and a café serving bush-inspired flavours.
Golfers are spoilt with courses like Barwon Heads and 13th Beach, consistently ranked among the country’s best public access courses.
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- Geelong Bollards
- City of Greater Geelong
Immerse Yourself in Culture & Heritage
Geelong and the Bellarine are as rich in culture as they are in natural beauty.
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Start with the Baywalk Bollards along Geelong’s foreshore, more than 100 brightly painted wooden figures that bring the city’s history to life in a quirky, open-air gallery. The Geelong Gallery, founded in 1896, houses an impressive collection of Australian works, while the newly redeveloped Geelong Arts Centre stages theatre, dance, and live music in state-of-the-art venues.
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History buffs can explore the National Wool Museum, a reminder of Geelong’s role as Australia’s wool capital, or step inside the bluestone walls of the old Geelong Gaol. On the Bellarine, Queenscliff is a time capsule of Victorian architecture. Its grand hotels, lighthouses, and Fort Queenscliff reflect its 19th-century role as a defence post guarding the bay.
Practical Tips to Plan Your Visit
Getting to Geelong
Geelong is around an hour’s drive or train ride from Melbourne. Avalon Airport offers direct interstate flights, and for travellers from Tasmania, the Spirit of Tasmania now docks at Geelong, making it easier than ever to bring your car across the strait.
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Getting around: A car is the best way to explore both the city and the peninsula, though cycling trails and ferries also provide memorable ways to travel.
Best time to visit
Summer (Dec–Feb): Best for swimming, festivals, and long days by the beach.
Autumn (Mar–May): A great time for wine touring and cooler outdoor adventures.
Winter (Jun–Aug): Quiet, cosy, and ideal for gallery visits, cellar doors, and coastal walks.
Spring (Sep–Nov): Wildflowers bloom, events pick up, and the weather is mild for exploring.
Geelong and the Bellarine pack a lot into a compact region: a lively waterfront city, charming coastal towns, award-winning wineries, and cultural depth. Its location makes it easy to reach, yet once you’re here, the relaxed pace makes it feel like a true escape. Whether you’re planning your first visit or returning to explore further, this coastal pocket of Victoria offers experiences that stay with you long after you leave.
