Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GEELONG &
BELLARINE PENINSULA
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Geelong
POP 216,000
Geelong is Victoria's second-largest centre, a proud, industrial town with an interesting his-
tory and pockets of charm. While Melburnians love to deride its little cousin as a boring
backwater, in reality few of the knockers have veered off its main thoroughfare to really get
to know what makes the town tick. A new bypass means travellers can skip the city and
head straight to the Great Ocean Road, however, there are lots of reasons to make a stop
here.
The Wathaurung people - the original inhabitants of Geelong - called the area Jillong.
Today the town is centred on sparkling Corio Bay waterfront and its city centre, where her-
itage buildings from the boom days of the wool industry and the gold-rush era have now
been converted into swanky restaurants and bars. It's also a footy-mad town, passionate
about its AFL team, the Cats.
As well as being a gateway to the Bellarine Peninsula and Great Ocean Road, it's also a
laid-back alternative to staying in Melbourne, only an hour away. With the imminent clos-
ures of its oil refinery and the iconic Ford motor-industry hub, both of which have been the
lifeblood of Geelong's economy, it is a town in transition and in the process of reinventing
itself, perhaps best exemplified by its new celebrity mayor, flamboyant ex-UK paparazzo
Darryn Lyons.
Sights & Activities
Geelong Waterfront
The centrepiece of Geelong is its sparkling waterfront precinct that looks out to the yachts
bobbing on Corio Bay. It's a great place to stroll, with plenty of restaurants set on scenic
piers, plus historical landmarks, sculptures, swimming areas, playgrounds and grassy sec-
WATERFRONT
