Sitting on the west of Port Philip Bay, a mere hour’s drive southwest of Melbourne, Victoria’s second-largest city tends to fly under the radar. Yet this waterfront city of about 289,000 people is a destination in its own right. With expansive views of Corio Bay to the east and the dramatic granite ridges of You Yangs Regional Park to the north, Geelong is a thriving cosmopolitan coastal town. Here, you can stroll along the historic promenade with the wind in your hair, take a walking tour to immerse in the heritage and local art scene or learn about Aboriginal culture and spiritual connections to the land.
Geelong also marks the start of the Bellarine Peninsula, just a 25-minute drive east. It’s home to some of Victoria’s best vineyards, gourmet offerings and beaches perfect for surfing or swimming with wildlife. Like Singapore, Geelong is Australia’s only UNESCO City of Design – a mark of how both cities use creativity to build more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive communities. Geelong is also a global innovation hub on advanced manufacturing and clean energy, spearheaded by Deakin University, a partner of Singapore Airlines.
Here are seven great ways to experience the vibrant Victorian coast along Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula.
1. Walk along Geelong’s eclectic art trails
Geelong is a magnet for artists who are drawn to its sweeping mountain backdrop and expansive seascapes, as well as its small-town community feel. In this vibrant university town, some of the best art is free.
Geelong art trails are a popular way to get to know the town and take in some history and culture. There are 15 trails to choose from, including the First Nations NBN Box Art Trail, the Women’s Street Art Project and the St Leonards Heritage Trail. Each trail ranges from 3–6km, taking between one and three hours from start to finish – although you can jump in and out as you like.
Try the quirky Baywalk Bollard Trail, a two-hour walk starting from Rippleside Park through the waterfront to the Geelong Botanic Gardens. Admire more than 100 bollards painted to resemble pivotal characters from Geelong’s history, from its original Indigenous inhabitants to modern day heroes and entertainers.
To find your nearest art trail, street art, gallery or temporary installation, download the free Geelong Arts and Culture Trails app.
2. Sample wine from the Bellarine’s finest vineyards
The Bellarine Peninsula is home to more than 30 vineyards, from small boutique growers like Oneday Estate and Oakdene Vineyards to sprawling properties such as Bellarine Estate. Just take a 25-minute drive east from Geelong city centre, along Portarlington Road, and let the wine tour commence. Most of these vineyards specialise in cool climate wines, which are produced from grapes that have a long, cool growing season and thrive in close proximity to the ocean.
For a vineyard that offers breathtaking views of Port Philip Bay and the You Yangs Regional Park, visit Jack Rabbit Vineyard. Across the road at Terindah Estate, you can sample a variety of wines in a refurbished W Class tram bar – it looks like an old-school Melbourne tram on the outside but has the feel of an intimate country wine bar on the inside.
Finish off with The Whiskery just around the corner, a rustic-chic cellar door for Bellarine Distillery that produces gins and whiskeys, matured in oak barrels from regional Victoria. See if you can identify their notes of orange blossom honey, plum and red berries that make them uniquely Australian.
3. Take a boutique bay cruise and taste freshly caught mussels
In the coastal town of Portarlington, just beyond the vineyards and a 30-minute drive from Geelong, you’ll find a thriving mussel farming settlement known nationwide for the quality of its shellfish, thanks to the coolness and depths of the bay. Dig into fresh catch at Pier St Café, or hop aboard a Portarlington Mussel Tour to learn more about the trade. Mussel farmer Lance Wiffin takes visitors on an intimate cruise – no more than 12 people at a time – of Port Philip Bay on his refurbished 40-year-old mussel trawler.
Here, you can witness the mussel ropes being pulled from the sea – or even try it yourself. Then watch a live cooking demonstration and taste the day’s catch, cooked in various ways such as classic style mussels Kilpatrick (broiled and topped with cooked bacon, seasoned with Worcestershire sauce and ketchup) or in a cider broth, all with a glass of Bellarine wine in hand.
4. Hop aboard a gourmet train adventure
Another way to sample great Australian produce while on the move is to hop aboard The Q Train at Drysdale Railway Station, a simple 20-minute drive from Geelong or 15 minutes from Portarlington. This luxurious restored train offers guests a gourmet experience while it chugs along the historic Bellarine railway tracks. Over a three-hour journey that takes you from Drysdale to Queenscliff and back, you’ll experience a five-course degustation meal made from locally-produced ingredients. Think dishes like a seasonal vegetable bisque featuring Bellarine oyster mushrooms and Lard Ass Butter, or a cassoulet showcasing sausages created from Otway Ranges Dama Dama venison and Barongarook pork.
Savour your meal as the train gently winds through picturesque olive groves, farmland and dramatic coastal landscapes. For extra thrills, book the steam locomotive which runs on the first two weekends of each month. Its billowing steam and chuffing engine will enchant any train enthusiast.
5. Swim with dolphins and seals
Get up close to Port Philip Bay’s most stunning marine life at Sea All Dolphin Swims, located at Queenscliff Harbour 35 minutes from Geelong. Port Philip Bay houses the larger of only two known resident populations of Burrunan dolphins, and you can swim and snorkel among them, as well as spot wild Australian fur seals. All equipment is provided, and novices are welcome. If you prefer to stay dry, you can also embark on sightseeing boat trips.
While you’re at Queenscliff, wander down to the Observation Deck, where you might be lucky enough to spot stingrays that populate the harbour from September to June.
6. Experience native wildlife in their natural habitat
Around half an hour by car from Geelong is Serendip Sanctuary, a 250-hectare wildlife oasis that teems with kangaroos, wallabies, emus and birdlife. Explore four interconnecting trails that take you across the grassy woodlands and wetlands – each is clearly marked and no longer than a 2 km return journey, making it a family-friendly nature adventure.
7. Catch a wave along the Great Ocean Road
Bellarine Peninsula is also an ideal starting point to experience Australian surfing culture along the Great Ocean Road, renowned for pristine coastlines, rugged cliffs and dense bushland. Start in the seaside town of Ocean Grove on the southern point of the Bellarine Peninsula. Try catching a wave with Great Ocean Road Surf Tours, with their two-hour lessons suitable for the beginner to the advanced.
Drive 30 minutes southwest to Torquay, the birthplace of Australian surf culture. Here you’ll find the iconic Bells Beach, where the annual Rip Curl Pro surfing competition takes place in March. Learn from the patient experts at Go Ride A Wave, who offer lessons for all ages and skill levels.
Next, head to Anglesea, another iconic surf town 20 minutes southwards. Here, you can experience surfing along the classic Great Ocean Road coast with SeaEarth Adventures or embark on a kayaking trip along Anglesea River. For family-friendly fun, drive 30 minutes down to Lorne, where dense bushland comes right up to the shore. If you need a break from surfing, admire the stunning Erskine Falls, or the nine other waterfalls within 10km of this coastal town.
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