Our most recommended things to do in Geelong, Victoria

Geelong: Balloon Flight at Sunrise

1. Geelong: Balloon Flight at Sunrise

Meet at a Rydges hotel in Geelong where you can park easily. From here, you will climb into one of the minibusses or 4x4 Troop Carriers. Hot air balloons float in the wind, so you will therefore begin by heading upwind to one of the various launch sites, where you can prepare the balloon for your flight. Preparations take around half an hour, throughout which passengers are welcome to help out if they are able and wish to. Following a safety briefing by your pilot after the balloon has been fully prepared, it will be time to take to the skies. It never stops amazing passengers how gentle ballooning is as an experience. When you go ballooning, you are not participating in an adrenaline sport, but are rather participating in what your guides like to refer to as "the gentle adventure of floating in the wind". Ballooning is an experience of enjoying the warm rays of the early morning sun, it is about enjoying the views, about sharing the moment with loved ones and friends, and can also simply be a gift people give to themselves. A hot air balloon flight is always an unforgettable experience, and each flight is different. Admire majestic views of Geelong and its surrounding area, the bay, the Barrabool Hills to the West, and the Barwon River. After packing the balloon away following your activity, you will be driven back to your original meeting place, where you will have the option of enjoying a delicious breakfast with the rest of the passengers and crew if you so wish.

Drysdale: Restaurant Train Dining Experience

2. Drysdale: Restaurant Train Dining Experience

Savor a degustation of exquisite local produce and scenic views in a relaxed atmosphere onboard Geelong’s restaurant train beginning at Drysdale Railway Station. Arrive early to visit Club Loco, a retro Bar Car, prior to boarding. When it’s time to depart, staff will welcome you onboard and show you to one of The Q Train’s restored Dining Cars. Once comfortably onboard, relax while perusing the beverage list that offers local, independent wines, beers, and ciders from the Bellarine and across Geelong and the Otways.

Melbourne: Around the Bay Food & Wine Taste Trail

3. Melbourne: Around the Bay Food & Wine Taste Trail

After being collected from your accommodation, you will make your way to the Geelong Waterfront. Geelong’s spectacular waterfront is the perfect place to start the day, and will provide you with the opportunity to breathe in the fresh sea air as you walk along the esplanade. After departing from Geelong, you will visit the Scotchmans Hill Vineyard. Set on the picturesque Bellarine Peninsula with magnificent views, your first stop includes a wine tasting at this old French provincial barn house, situated amongst the vineyards of an estate. Your tour then advances towards the Jack Rabbit Vineyard. Renowned for its breathtaking views, the house of Jack Rabbit Café will give you an opportunity to break for lunch and taste some of the Bellarine Peninsula’s epic eateries in a "local that the locals never want to leave". You will then sail upon the bay enjoying a Devonshire tea, observing the beauty of the area. St. Andrews Brewery is next on your experience, which is a craft brewery set amongst the beauty of the Mornington Peninsulas which was once a world-class horse training facility. There you’ll join the locals for a beer-paddle tasting and the opportunity to watch the brewers crafting and pouring fantastic brews right from the stable doors. Following the brewery, you will stop at Arthurs Seat and admire the panoramic views from Murrays Lookout across the bay to the city. You will eventually make your way to the Peninsula Bathing Boxes, iconic bathing boxes which are the area’s symbol of summer and are a tourist attraction to themselves. At the conclusion of your peninsular experience, you will be returned to your point of origin.

From Adelaide: 3-Day Trip to Melbourne with Wine Tasting

4. From Adelaide: 3-Day Trip to Melbourne with Wine Tasting

We start by traveling in to the Adelaide Hills. Here we explore Hahndorf, a traditional German town in the Adelaide Hills and Mt Lofty Summit with sweeping views of Adelaide. Our journey then takes us through grain and stock lands towards the town of Keith for lunch. Next we visit the World Heritage listed Naracoorte Caves to learn of the fossil discoveries of Mega Fauna. The Coonawarra wine region is close by, recognized as the premium Cabernet Sauvignon region of the world, where we stop for wine tasting. Tonight we are accommodated in luxurious rooms at ‘The Barn’ which also houses an award winning restaurant for dinner and breakfast. We start the second day with a visit to the ‘blue’ crater lake in Mt Gambier. Then drive on to Port Fairy before visiting Tower Hill Reserve where we are likely to see Emus, Koalas, Kangaroos and Echidnas. We then start the Great Ocean Road with the impressive limestone stacks of the Bay of Martyrs and Bay of Islands. London Bridge is next before ‘Loch Ard Gorge’, the site of the most famous 19th century Australian shipwreck. We retell the entire story from the calm voyage, the tragic wreck, the courageous survivors and their ultimate fate. While hearing the tale you will be able to see and hold some original artifacts, photos and documents from the ‘Loch Ard’ contained in our treasure chests. Twelve Apostles is close by, here we explain the creation of these limestone stacks and the constant wearing away of this coastline. Our journey then takes us into the Otway National Park and through to Apollo Bay and Skenes Creek where we arrive at your 4 star accommodation set high on a hill with great views overlooking the Southern Ocean. These private villas set within native forest offer the perfect environment to relax and unwind. Tonight’s dinner is at the award winning ‘Chris’ at Beacon Point’. This modern, Greek-Australian restaurant is a famous attraction in the area as well as being a superb restaurant with incredible views. The third day sees us leave our tranquil overnight setting to have breakfast in Apollo Bay. Our first stop is within the Otway National Park at ‘Maits Rest’. This is a 1km walk through a cool temperate rainforest gully discovering trees and ferns. We then turn towards Melbourne and travel along a very scenic section of the Great Ocean Road en route to Kennett River for a fantastic viewing of wild Koalas in their native setting. We also visit many scenic spots for photos and tell numerous stories behind the making of the road. We stop for lunch at the largest of the seaside villages, Lorne. After lunch we drive along the surf coast and take in the surf culture of the region with a visit to Torquay and Bells Beach. Our journey then takes us through the historic gateway to the Great Ocean Road, Geelong before we travel from the west over the ‘West Gate Bridge’ and escort you to your hotel and welcome you to Melbourne.

Geelong: Water Bike Coastal Tour

5. Geelong: Water Bike Coastal Tour

After a safety briefing and operational overview, participants will be fitted with lifejackets before departing from Eastern Beach. The tour will head out around the Royal Geelong Yacht Club before passing Fisherman's Pier. We will head towards the iconic Cunningham Pier, perhaps passing under for the adventurous travellers or simplying eyeing off a table at Wah Wah Gee. Riding along Western Beach until we reach Rippleside Park and Balmoral Marina, with Spirit of Tasmania's new Geelong home in the background. We return towards Eastern Beach, arriving back alongside the Eastern Beach Promenade for some well earned refreshments at Pavilion Geelong. A truely unique way to Geelong waterfont.

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Geelong, Victoria

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