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16 unique and surprising things to do in Geelong

Credit: Visit Victoria

Kristie Lau-Adams Kristie Lau-Adams
From 4WD adventuring to conquering Victoria’s largest water park, the best things to do in Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula set pulses racing.

Been to the boardwalk, done the carousel, got the T-shirt? Me too. Geelong, Victoria’s second-largest city, is undoubtedly one of my favourite spots to take the kids. But what struck me during my last visit was all the grown-up activity going on, particularly when I ventured into the neighbouring Bellarine Peninsula. Ranging from offshore expeditions that highlight the port city’s charms to hot air ballooning over Bellarine’s famed wine country, the best things to do in Geelong and the Bellarine threw me for six.

Here’s my hit list, along with some non-negotiable classics for your next visit.

In short

If you only pick one of the things to do in Geelong, make it the Portarlington Mussel Tour. You’ll score a literal taste of the city while out on that shimmering bay.

1. Comb the bay on a Portarlington Mussel Tour

Port Philip Bay at sunset
Port Philip Bay at sunset. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

The most delicious of the region’s offshore journeys, a Portarlington Mussel Tour offers seriously unique thrills across beautiful Port Philip Bay. I jump on a 40-year-old vessel to meet Lance, a mussel farmer, and his team who strive to keep my small Classic Mussel Tour group (there are multiple tours to choose from including a sunset cruise) entirely relaxed and showered with delights. The team chat all things mussels before launching into a mussel farming demonstration — where guests are invited to pluck your own morsel — as well as a cooking demonstration and the delivery of beautifully dressed mussels and snacks alongside beer and wine. The three-hour tour wraps with dessert, tea and coffee. It’s priced at $295 per person ($310 pp from May 1st 2026) but check the website for other tour pricing.

2. Cycle the Bellarine Rail Trail

Bellarine
Bellarine Peninsula is an under-the-radar gem of historic seaside villages.

You can’t visit Geelong and not do the Bellarine Peninsula, an under-the-radar gem of historic seaside villages, abundant produce, and cool-climate wineries. The best way to get there, I discovered, was on two wheels. The Bellarine Rail Trail runs 35 kilometres alongside a historic train route from the outskirts of Geelong to picturesque Queenscliff. It took around three and a half hours to cycle one way, and wildflowers set a serene scene amplified by coastal and countryside views.

3. Jump aboard The Bellarine Railway’s night ride

The Bellarine Railway
Embark on the vintage steam train journey. (Credit: The Wanderer Studio)

While we’re talking rails, let’s shine a light on The Bellarine Railway’s Steamlight Nights journey. Staged on sporadic winter dates each year (check the website for upcoming rides), the vintage steam train journey departs Queenscliff station before rattling through the night to a (faux) snowy playground where you’ll toast marshmallows over fire pits and dust one another in fluttery flakes. Fairy lights dial up the magic, making the whole thing a winner for adults and children alike. In 2025, adult tickets went for $20 a pop while children were priced at $15 each.

4. Tear up dirt tracks with Ragged Edge 4×4

the Ragged Edge 4x4 monster truck
Prepare for an epic road trip with a four-wheel drive in a monster truck.

Switch up the pace in a custom-built monster truck. Ragged Edge 4×4’s gnarly wheels offer extreme fun via V8 engines, almighty tyres and four-wheel steering. There are a bunch of packages (including a night drive) and tracks to tackle, all running out of Lara, which is about 20 minutes north of Geelong, but no matter where you land, expect tight turns, vertical rock ledges and other ridiculously hectic obstacles.

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5. Cut loose with the kids at Adventure Park

the crazy coaster at Adventure Park, Geelong
Conquer your fear and ride the rollercoaster.

Did you know Geelong is home to Victoria’s largest water theme park? Adventure Park is set to be bigger and better when it opens for summer again in November 2025 (the seasonal attraction turns into a winter wonderland during winter). A total of 21 rides will bring crowds through the doors as highlights including the triple-funnel ‘Tsunami’ water slide and ‘Lazy River’ never fail to get kids grinning.

6. Tour the bay on a Port Philip Ferry

Port Phillip Ferries catamaran at the Portarlington Pier
Port Phillip Ferries connects Melbourne’s Docklands to Geelong via a 70-minute scenic trip.

Port Phillip Ferries connects Melbourne’s Docklands to Portarlington via a 70-minute scenic trip. The ferry itself is modern and clean, and barista-made coffee is plenty welcome. The journey glides across Port Phillip Bay, skirting the Bellarine Peninsula, before arriving smack-bang on the city’s waterfront next to the carousel.

7. Marvel in artworks along the Bollard Trail

the Bollard Trail at the Geelong waterfront
Find over 100 of these colourful characters on the Bollard Trail along the Geelong waterfront. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

Keen to get a feel for Geelong’s creative spirit? It runs rife along the Bollard Trail, found at the Geelong waterfront. In the 1990s, the late Melbourne-born artist Jan Mitchell transformed reclaimed timber pier pylons into works of art to showcase the city’s rich history. Her handiwork still stands, a trail of more than 100 colourful characters, each depicting integral pieces of one fascinating tale. The trail runs between Limeburner’s Point to Rippleside Park.

8. Keep creative juices flowing at the Waterfront Art Trail

Geelong waterfront
Walk the Waterfront Art Trail.

Tick off the bollards and launch into quirky sculptures, found at the Waterfront Art Trail at 1 Eastern Beach Rd. Encompassing Barcode Fountain, a stainless-steel water feature fitted with blue lighting, Cargo Boxes, packed with curiosities to pay tribute to Geelong imports during the days of early settlement, and more, the art trail is oh so Melbourne (edgy, cool and totally enthralling, in other words).

9. Go hot air ballooning with Liberty Balloon Flights

hot air balloons soaring above Geelong at sunset
Soak up all the scenery on a Liberty Balloon Flight. (Credit: Dan Powell)

Find fresh perspective with an up-in-the-air spin care of Liberty Balloon Flights. Launching at sunset all year round, the hot air balloons take off from varying locations depending on where the wind blows. Regardless, you’ll likely soar throughout the Bellarine as views out to Port Philip Bay and the ocean endlessly dazzle. The cherry on top is a sparkling wine-fuelled breakfast waiting for you once you’re safely on ground again.

10. Get your artsy hipster on at Little Malop St

a selection of wines at Geelong Cellar Door
Geelong Cellar Door has a fantastic range of local craft beer. (Credit: Armelle Habib)

Just a few blocks back from the waterfront, Little Malop Street is home to some of the city’s trendiest spots to eat, drink, shop and explore, including Geelong Gallery (more on that standout below). Next door is Geelong’s most architecturally smashing building — the futuristic dome-shaped Geelong Library and Heritage Centre. Across the road, another showstopper: the Geelong Arts Centre, a hub of theatre, music and drama. On the culinary front, don’t miss The Arborist, Sumi Geelong, or Geelong Cellar Door, to name just a few.

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11. Soak up serious street art in Geelong

Geelong’s trademark street art
Discover Geelong’s trademark street art hidden down the laneways. (Credit: Amy Carlon)

It’s bayside but we’re still in Melbourne. Geelong is famed for its stellar street art, hidden down laneways leading off Little Malop St. Look out for murals depicting significant Geelong identities on Denny’s Place, and a Moi-Yo Miller mural by Michael Cassar on the junction of James Street and Minns Lane. Moi-Yo, born in Geelong, once considered the most beautiful woman in the world, travelled the world as Dante the Magician’s assistant in the 1930s. Meanwhile, a quick stroll to 65 Brougham Street will give you the Unknown Mariner mural by Cam Scale, a tribute to Geelong’s maritime history.

12. Be totally awed at Geelong Gallery

the exterior of Geelong Gallery
Geelong Gallery is one of Australia’s oldest regional art galleries. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

Yet another unmissable collective of creativity, Geelong Gallery, established in 1896, is one of Australia’s oldest regional art galleries – and definitely one of the best. Here you’ll discover the annual Archibald Prize, plus dazzling Australian and European painting, sculpture, printmaking and decorative arts collections from as far back as the 18th century.

13. Discover local talent at Boom Gallery

Boom Gallery, Geelong
Boom Gallery showcases the work of local, interstate and international creatives.

Don’t miss Boom Gallery, a dynamic contemporary gallery in Geelong West. The space showcases the work of mostly local, sometimes interstate, creatives which extend to sculptures and jewellery inside a separate object gallery. Check the website for current exhibitions and if something really takes your fancy, regular exhibition openings invite members of the public to celebrate over a wine.

14. Learn something new at the National Wool Museum

a flock of sheep inside the National Wool Museum, Geelong
The National Wool Museum is Australia’s largest museum dedicated to wool. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

The National Wool Museum is housed in a beautifully restored 1872 bluestone wool store close to the waterfront. It’s Australia’s largest museum dedicated to wool and traces the industry’s origins from the 1840s through to today. What I love about the space is its fixed, award-winning ‘On the Land: Our Story Retold’ exhibition, which reveals the history of Australian wool through traditional storytelling out of Wadawurrung Country. The exhibition was crafted by Wadawurrung woman Corrina Eccles, Wadawurrung elder Bryon Powell and Wadawurrung artist Deanne Gilson.

15. Step back in time at The Fyansford Paper Mill

Old Paper Mill
The Old Paper Mills at Fyansford is a restored 1870s bluestone complex.

On the city’s fringe, The Fyansford Paper Mill is worthy of your to-do list. The restored 1870s bluestone complex harks back to the beginnings of Geelong’s industrial era. Today it’s an arts and cultural precinct with more than 15 businesses spanning art galleries, studios, retailers and food. Provenance Wines is a standout, arriving as a cellar door and a restaurant. The entire site is just gorgeous, located on the Barwon River with leafy walks and waterfalls to uncover.

16. Sharpen your skills with a Harvest Experience cooking class

the Geelong Harvest Experience
Wander through the kitchen garden and harvest produce.

Who knew Geelong was the place to refine your culinary chops? Harvest Experience is a family-run business that strives to show visitors how to live directly off the land. There’s a bunch of classes on offer, but I recommend going the original, full-day ‘Harvest Experience’ where you’ll wander the kitchen garden, harvest produce yourself, learn how to prepare and cook it, and finally, gobble it down. Only six people are signed on at a time, making the experience super intimate and personalised. Other classes include a pizza and mozzarella tutorial and DIY sweet condiments lesson.

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Kristie Lau-Adams
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
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Inside Geelong’s glow-up from factory town to creative capital

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    Abandoned mills and forgotten paper plants are finding second lives – and helping redefine a city long underestimated. 

    Just 15 years ago, Federal Mills was a very different place. Once among the most significant industrial sites in Victoria, the historic woollen mill was one of a dozen that operated in Geelong at the industry’s peak in the mid-20th century, helping the city earn its title as ‘wool centre of the world’. But by the 1960s global competition and the rise of synthetic fabrics led to the slow decline of the industry, and Federal Mills finally shuttered its doors in 2001. Within a few years, the abandoned North Geelong grounds had become makeshift pastoral land, with cows and goats grazing among the overgrown grass between the empty red-brick warehouses. It was a forgotten pocket of the city, all but two klicks from the bustle of the CBD.  

    Geelong cellar door wine bar
    Geelong has shed its industrial identity to become an innovative urban hub with reimagined heritage spaces. (Image: Ash Hughes)

    Federal Mills: from forgotten factory to creative precinct 

    Today, the century-old complex stands reborn. The distinctive sawtooth-roof buildings have been sensitively restored. An old silo is splashed with a bright floral mural, landscapers have transformed the grounds, and the precinct is once again alive with activity. More than 1000 people work across 50-plus businesses here. It’s so busy, in fact, that on a sunny Thursday morning in the thick of winter, it’s hard to find a car park. The high ceilings, open-plan design, and large multi-paned windows – revolutionary features for factories of their time – have again become a drawcard.  

    Paddock Bakery andPatisserie
    Paddock Bakery and Patisserie is housed within the historic wool factory. (Image: Gallant Lee)

    At Paddock, one of the precinct’s newer tenants, weaving looms and dye vats have been replaced by a wood-fired brick oven and heavy-duty mixers. Open since April 2024, the bakery looks right at home here; the building’s industrial shell is softened by ivy climbing its steel frames, and sunlight streams through the tall windows. Outside, among the white cedar trees, families at picnic benches linger over dippy eggs and bagels, while white-collar workers pass in and out, single-origin coffee and crème brûlée doughnuts in hand. 

    Geelong: Australia’s only UNESCO City of Design 

    Paddock Bakery
    Paddock Bakery can be found at Federal Mills. (Image: Gallant Lee)

    “A lot of people are now seeing the merit of investing in Geelong,” says Paul Traynor, the head of Hamilton Hospitality Group, which redeveloped Federal Mills. A city once shunned as Sleepy Hollow, and spurned for its industrial, working-class roots and ‘rust belt’ image, Geelong has long since reclaimed its ‘Pivot City’ title, having reinvented itself as an affordable, lifestyle-driven satellite city, and a post-COVID migration hotspot.  

    And the numbers stand testament to the change. In March 2025, and for the first time in its history, Greater Geelong became Australia’s most popular regional town for internal migration, overtaking Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Current forecasts suggest Geelong will continue to outpace many other Australian cities and towns, with jobs growing at double the rate of the population.

    Tourism is booming, too. The 2023-24 financial year was Geelong and The Bellarine region’s busiest on record, with 6.4 million visitors making it one of the fastest-growing destinations in the country. It’s not hard to see why: beyond the city’s prime positioning at the doorstep of the Great Ocean Road, Geelong’s tenacity and cultural ambition stands out.  

    As Australia’s only UNESCO City of Design, Geelong is swiftly shaking off its industrial past to become a model for urban renewal, innovation, sustainability and creative communities. The signs are everywhere, from the revitalisation of the city’s waterfront, and the landmark design of the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre and Geelong Arts Centre, to the growing network of local designers, architects and artists, and the burgeoning roster of festivals and events. That’s not even mentioning the adaptive reuse of storied old industrial buildings – from Federal Mills, to Little Creatures’ brewery ‘village’ housed within a 1920s textile mill – or the city’s flourishing food and wine scene.  

    The rise of a food and wine destination  

    boiler house
    Restaurant 1915 is housed within a restored former boiler house. (Image: Harry Pope/Two Palms)

    Traynor credits now-closed local restaurant Igni, which opened in 2016, as the turning point for Geelong’s hospo industry. “[Aaron Turner, Igni’s chef-patron] was probably the first guy, with all due respect, to raise the bar food-wise for Geelong,” he says. “People now treat it really seriously, and there’s clearly a market for it.” While Igni is gone, Turner now helms a string of other notable Geelong venues, including The Hot Chicken Project and Tacos y Liquor, all within the buzzy, street art-speckled laneways of the CBD’s Little Malop Street Precinct. Many others have also popped up in Igni’s wake, including Federal Mills’ own restaurant, 1915. Housed within the cavernous boiler house, 1915’s interior is dramatic: soaring, vaulted ceilings with timber beams, exposed brick, a huge arched window. The share plates echo the space’s bold character, playing with contrast and texture, with dishes such as a compressed watermelon tataki, the sweet, juicy squares tempered by salty strands of fried leeks, and charred, smoky snow peas dusted with saganaki on a nutty bed of romesco. 

    Woolstore
    The Woolstore is a new restaurant and bar housed within a century-old warehouse. (Image: Amy Carlon)

     The Woolstore, one of The Hamilton Group’s most recent hospo projects, opened in February. It occupies a century-old riverside warehouse and exudes a more sultry, fine dining ambience. Much like Federal Mills, the blueprint was to preserve the original brickwork, tallowwood flooring and nods to the building’s former life. That same careful consideration extends to the well-versed, affable waitstaff as well as the kitchen. Head chef Eli Grubb is turning out an eclectic mix of ambitious and indulgent mod Oz dishes that deliver: strikingly tender skewers of chicken tsukune, infused with hints of smoke from the parrilla grill, and glazed with a moreish, sweet gochujang ‘jam’; nduja arancini fragrant with hints of aniseed and the earthy lick of sunny saffron aioli; and golden squares of potato pavé, adorned with tiny turrets of crème fraîche, crisp-fried saltbush leaves, and Avruga caviar, to name but a few stand-out dishes.  

    Woolstore menu
    Woolstore’s menu is designed for sharing.

    Breathing new life into historic spaces  

    On the city’s fringe, hidden down a winding side road with little fanfare, lies a long-dormant site that’s being gently revived. Built from locally quarried bluestone and brick, and dating back to the 1870s, the complex of original tin-roofed mill buildings is lush with greenery and backs onto the Barwon River and Buckley Falls; the audible rush of water provides a soothing soundtrack. Fyansford Paper Mill is one of few complexes of its time to survive intact. It feels steeped in history and spellbindingly rustic.  

    “We were looking for an old industrial place that had some charm and romance to it,” explains Sam Vogel, the owner, director and winemaker at Provenance Wines which moved here in 2018. When he first viewed the building with his former co-owner, it was in such a state of disrepair that the tradie tenant occupying the space had built a shed within it to escape the leaking roof and freezing winter temperatures. “To say it was run down would be an understatement,” he notes. “There was ivy growing through the place; the windows were all smashed. It was a classic Grand Designs project.” 

    Provenance Wines
    Provenance Wines moved to Fyansford Paper Mill in 2018. (Image: Cameron Murray Photography)

    The team has since invested more than a million dollars into their new home. Where paper processing machinery once sat, wine barrels are now stacked. Vaulted cathedral ceilings are strung with festoon lights, and hidden in plain sight lies a shadowy mural by local street artist de rigueur Rone – one of only three permanent works by the artist.

    While the award-winning, cool-climate pinot noir, riesling and chardonnay naturally remain a key draw at Provenance, the winery’s restaurant is a destination in itself. Impressed already by whipsmart service, I devour one of the most cleverly curated and faultlessly executed degustations I’ve had in some time. It’s all prepared in a kitchen that is proudly zero-waste, and committed to providing seasonal, ethical and locally sourced meat and produce under head chef Nate McIver. Think free-range venison served rare with a syrupy red wine jus and a half-moon of neon-orange kosho, shokupan with a deeply savoury duck fat jus (a modern Japanese take on bread and drippings), and a golden potato cake adorned with a colourful confetti of dehydrated nasturtiums and tomato powder, and planted atop a sea urchin emulsion.  

    handcrafted pieces
    Bell’s handcrafted functional pieces on display.

    The complex is home to a coterie of independent businesses, including a gallery, a jeweller, and its latest tenant, ceramicist Elizabeth Bell, drawn here by the building’s “soul”. “There’s so much potential for these buildings to have new life breathed into them,” says Bell, whose studio is housed within the old pump room. “Even people in Geelong don’t know we’re here,” she says. “It’s definitely a destination, but I like that. It has a really calming atmosphere.”  

    A Melbourne transplant, Bell now feels at home in Geelong, which offers something Melbourne didn’t. “If this business was in Melbourne I don’t think it would’ve been as successful,” she notes. “It’s very collaborative in Geelong, and I don’t think you get that as much in Melbourne; you’re a bit more in it for yourself. Here it’s about community over competition.”  

    Elizabeth Bell
    Ceramicist Elizabeth Bell has a store in Fyansford Paper Mill.