Geelong is a city located 70 km south west of Melbourne, Australia, in the Great Ocean Road region on Corio Bay, part of Port Phillip Bay. Greater Geelong, with just on 210,000 population, is the second-largest city in the state of Victoria.

Understand

Geelong is more than just a country town - it is a sophisticated and cosmopolitan city. It has a diverse range of activities for all the family from nearby wineries to an antique carousel for the kids on the waterfront. Its close proximity, and good transport links, to both the Great Ocean Road (including Torquay, Twelve Apostles etc.) and the state's capital Melbourne make Geelong an ideal city to spend a few days. Whether you want to indulge in Australian History at the award winning National Wool Museum or swimming at the beach - Geelong has it.

• Geelong and Great Ocean Road Visitor Information Office, ☏ +61 3 5283 1735, toll-free: 1800 620 888, fax: 5223 2069NOCC. Princess Hwy, Little River. Every day 9AM-5PM. 

• Geelong Visitor Information Centre, 26 Moorabool St (cnr Brougham St), ☏ +61 3 5222 2900, toll-free: 1800 620 888, fax: 5223 2069NOCC. Geelong. Every day 9AM-5PM. 

Get in

By plane

Avalon Airport is the closest to Geelong, being about 20 minutes out of the CBD, with a shuttle bus operating to the city centre.

Avalon Airport also doubles as Melbourne's second airport with Jetstar operating domestic flights to Sydney and Brisbane.

Melbourne Airport is a couple of hours away.

By train

Frequent V/Line trains run from Southern Cross Station in Melbourne to Geelong and take about an hour.

By ferry

Car/passenger ferries cross the mouth of Port Phillip Bay between Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula and Sorrento on Mornington Peninsula. They depart each terminal on the hour every hour 7AM-6PM every day. From 26 Dec. until end of daylight saving there are also 7PM sailings. Foot passengers adult $8, 5-15 years $6, under 5 years $1, foot passenger’s bicycle $2, tandem $3; passengers with vehicle adult $4, 5-15 years $2, under 5 years $1; vehicle rates vary with season – car up to 5.5m between $38 and $45. [1]

By bus

McHarry's Buslines run to Geelong from Queenscliff (30 km) and other Bellarine Peninsula towns.

Get around

By car

Metered parking in the city costs $1.70 per hour, and is often time limited.

By bus

Geelong has a reasonable bus network operated under the umbrella of Geelong Transit Service. A 2 hour ticket cost $1.10 concession (Student/Health Care card) and $1.80 adult. The central bus exchange can be found on Moorabool street, in the heart of the CBD.

By bike

Bike hire is available on the waterfront in the afternoons on weekends and school holidays - no reservations are taken. Future rentals has longer term rentals available. There are no other rental options available in Geelong.

See

• Geelong Waterfront. A working maritime area, incorporating cafes, a carousel and botanical gardens. 
• Geelong Maritime Museum. 
• National Wool Museum, 26 Moorabool St (cnr Brougham St). Geelong. Every day 9:30AM-5PM except Good Friday and Christmas Day. Allow 90 minutes. Includes a tourist information office. $7:30 adult, $5.90 concession, $3.65 child. 
• You Yangs Regional Park (55 km south-west of Melbourne and 22 km north of Geelong. Access from Princes Freeway is via Little River if coming from Melbourne and Lara if coming from Geelong.). 08:00 - 16:30 weekdays, 08:00 - 18:00 weekends. Four main walks traverse the park. The 3.2 km walk to Flinders Peak (348m) takes 90 minutes and gives good views. The longest track is the 3 hour Branding Yard Track. 
• Geelong Performing Arts Centre (GPAC), 50 Little Malop St. Geelong. Situated in the cultural precinct, GPAC is constantly offering a plethora of dazzling local and international performances 

Do

• See an Aussie rules football match Kardinia Park, located on Moorabool Street is the home of the Geelong Cats, the local Australian Football League team. They are somewhat of a local institution. There are about half a dozen home games per year from April to August; the rest of Geelong's home games are played in Melbourne. Expect to pay about $20 for an adult, $12 concession and $5 for a child. Alternately you could catch a local league game on a Saturday afternoon. There are dozens at venues spread around Geelong, and matches are of a very high standard. Most grounds you can walk in free, whilst some have gates, expect to pay no more than $7-8.

• Bellarine Rail Trail starts from near South Geelong Station, and is a 35km cycling track to Queenscliff.

Buy

Two major shopping centres operate, Westfield and market square plaza they are situated in the Central Business District directly across the road from each other on Malop Street

Eat

• Riverview Coffee House, 59A Barrabool Rd, Belmont, ☏ +61 3 52442044. Cafe right on the edge of the Barwon River. Quoted to be the best hamburgers in town with just as decent coffee to match. Well worth checking out after a leisurely stroll down the Barwon. 

Drink

• Mrs Hyde, 11 Malop St, Geelong, ☏ +61 3 5223 1228. Mrs Hyde is a trendy bar and restaurant with a wide variety of spirits and wines. Cocktails $16-22, Pizzas $18. 

Sleep

• Aberdeen Motor Inn, 9 Aberdeen St Newtown, ☏ +61 3 52212177. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. A well established 36 room motel just 10 minute walk from Geelong CBD $85 - $145. 

• The Haymarket Boutique Hotel, 244 Moorabool St (crn Little Myers St), ☏ +61 3 5221 1174. Check-in: 15.00, check-out: 10.00. The Haymarket is in the style of the small hotels of Europe and America with much charm. Centrally located in the Geelong CBD the Hotel is furnished with French and English antiques, carefully blended with modern accommodation conveniences $155 - $250. 

Budget

• National Hotel Backpackers, 191 Moorabool St, ☏ +61 3 5229 1211, +61 4 10 529 935, fax: +61 3 5229 0373, nationalhotel@primus.com.au. Central Geelong From $19. 

• Irish Murphy’s Backpackers, 30 Aberdeen St, ☏ +61 3 5221 4335, fax: 61 3 5223 3055NOCC, geelong@irishmurphys.com. From $19. 

Mid-range

• Gate House On Ryrie, 83 Yarra St (Crn Ryrie & Yarra Street), ☏ +61 4 1754 196. Check-in: 11.00AM, check-out: 10.00AM. A Bed and Breakfast offering accommodations with all the grace and charm of bygone days this beautiful home was built in 1897. This B&B is serving ' traditional' continental breakfast and is included in the price, with a selection of fruit, yoghurt, cereals and breads with all the condiments, juices, tea and coffee. $100. 

Go next

Visit the Bellarine Peninsula or the Great Ocean Road.

Routes through Geelong

Adelaide ← Ararat ←	W  E	→ Melbourne
END ← Marshall ←	S  N	→ Lara → Melbourne
Warrnambool ← Winchelsea ←	S  N	→ Lara → Melbourne
Mount Gambier ← Colac ←	W                            N	→ Melbourne
Warrnambool ← Torquay ←	S                            N	→ END