Victoria: Bellarine Peninsula (Geelong)

"Gateway to the Great Ocean Road"

Geelong and Queencliff are two of the oldest established communities in Victoria

Bellarine Peninsula Geelong Regional Guide

Geelong is the second largest city in Victoria and home to over 250,000 people. It is set on the bay front 74 kilometres from Melbourne and is the gateway to the Great Ocean Road. Over the years it has been transformed into a modern, cosmopolitan city offering beautiful landscapes, exciting eateries, wonderful accommodation, museums and galleries.

It is the original home to the fastest growing sport in the world, our own indigenous game of Australian Rules Football. Not only was Geelong one of the games' two founding teams, the oldest football sporting clubs in the world, it was the first club of both its co-originator, Thomas Wills, and also the player after whom the AFL Best and Fairest award is named, Charles (Chas) Brownlow. It is the only regional city in Australia with a representative team in the countries highest league, the Australian Football League, indeed one of the only regional teams in any major national league in the world.

Queenscliff has kept most of the older buildings and is a relaxing place to visit. The ferry leaves from here to transport vehicles and pedestrians alike across the Heads of Port Phillip Bay to Sorrento and the bays eastern peninsula of Mornington and Portsea.

Port Lonsdale and its lighthouse as well as the little (growing) towns along the coast down to Lorne all feature places to stay and to have a relaxing meal by the Great Southern Ocean. At Lorne the Great Ocean Road while at nearby Bells Beach and Torquay surfers will usually always find a great ride at the famous site known for its history in World Surfing Championships.

Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula Highlights Links