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Greater Geelong and The Bellarine: Top 5 secrets of our region

Whether you are planning to experience Geelong in Summer, Autumn, Winter or Spring, there are a few things that remain the same throughout the year. These are the things that make our region a stand out destination! So, it’s about time we shared the secrets of our region.

World Famous Bollards:

Quite possibly the most upright citizens of Geelong, our Bollards have really made a name for themselves! These guys and dolls were once the old timbers and piles from the city pier. But have now been transformed into; Eastern Beach lifesavers, bathing beauties, fireman, tram conductress, steam captain and Salvation Army woman, to name just a few. There’s over 100 bollards artfully placed around Geelong, all of whom you can introduce yourself to on the Bollard Trail; a two-hour walking track between Rippleside and Limeburners Point. Meet, greet and photograph yourself with Geelong’s infamous and iconic bollards.

World Famous Wine Region:

Wine lovers, prepare your glasses, because it’s time to sit amongst the vines and sip on your favourite varietal. Geelong, The Bellarine and Moorabool Valley offer up an array of award winning wineries. We have featured three below, but our region is home to more than 50 wineries.

Provenance Wines

Proudly awarded a red 5-star rating by Halliday Wine Companion this year, with 13 wines rating 93 points or above. They won Gourmet Traveller’s Australia’s Best Cellar Doors Awards 2020 – Best cellar door with food for the Geelong Region. In 2018 and 2019 they were awarded Gourmet Traveller Star Cellar Door Award for the Geelong Region, as well as the coveted Halliday Wine Companion 2019 Best value winery in Australia.

Clyde Park

Not only is this winery famous for it sweeping views of the Moorabool Valley, they are also known as the best cellar door as awarded  by the Gourmet Traveller’s in 2020. Along with this they have received a few Gold and Silver’s for their Pinots and a 5-star winery ranking.

Oakdene Chardonnay

2019 Oakdene Bellarine Peninsula Chardonnay has been selected as one of the best by category in the Best Whites under $25!  This Chardonnay is rated 94 points and is one of only 5 Chardonnays featured in the category!

City Founded on Wool:

Back in the founding days of Geelong, the town’s major trade was in wool. Geelong’s proximity to farmlands and accessibility to a port helped establish it as the city of wool. In the early 1900’s most of Geelong’s  waterfront was devoted to wool trade; huge wool stores lined the foreshore and Brougham Streets, waiting for vessels to arrive. Now, Geelong celebrate it’s woollen roots through the National Wool Museum. The Museum is centred around two stories: one, where you can experience life on the farm and; two, where you discover the process of fleece to fabric.

Rich in Art & Culture:

From the galleries to the streets, walls and paths, Geelong is absolutely bursting with private and public art. Statues, murals and art installations have been beautifully created by talented artists and perfectly placed across this great city.

Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre

Award winning Narana  Aboriginal Cultural Centre offers an authentic, immersive cultural experiences.

Experience the World’s Oldest Living Culture first hand with a Free self-guided tour or book a group “Experience Narana” tour delivered by our expert Cultural Interpreters.

Listen and Learn about Ancient Dreaming stories, Connection To Country through Songlines, artworks, cultural artefacts and bush tucker.

The Art Gallery exhibits & sells artworks from internationally acclaimed and emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait artists to suit all budgets.

Surrounded by Coastal Towns:

The Bellarine Peninsula is one of Victoria’s favourite getaways. It has magnificent beaches, north facing bay side beaches and some of world’s most amazing surf beaches and resort towns along the south west coastline. Below we have listed three must see areas when you visit the Bellarine Peninsula.

Portarlington

The bayside township of Portarlington overlooks Port Phillip Bay  and Melbourne’s incredible skyline. Portarlington is a bustling fishing port, being home to a large fishing fleet which catches the famous blue mussels. Over the summer months Portarlington is bustling with hundreds of campers along its long foreshore which overlooks the sandy beach.

Thirteenth Beach, Barwon Heads

Located on the southern face of the Bellarine Peninsula, Barwon Heads is home to a sweeping stretch of windswept coastline that’s often gloriously devoid of other people: Thirteenth Beach. Measuring nearly five kilometres long, this untouched swathe of silica is backed by dunes and coastal scrub for most of its length, and home only to a surf club, founded in 1961.

Lonsdale Bay – Santa Casa, Queenscliff

This quaint seaside village  has long enticed visitors with its old-timey charm.  Wander around the main streets littered with historic buildings that house cafes, pubs and antique stores. it’s like taking a step back in time. It’s also surrounded on three sides by water, meaning there’s plenty of prime coastline to choose from, dotted with historic piers and sandy beaches.