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GEELONG information & attractions
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Introduction:

Geelong is Victoria's second largest city, located on Corio Bay, and within a short drive from popular beach-front communities on the Bellarine Peninsula as well as being the gateway to the famous Great Ocean Road, which begins just south of Geelong at Torquay.

The city itself boasts a large commercial centre which extends down to the foreshore, offering visitors the chance to explore popular beach-front attractions such as Eastern Beach with its swimming enclosure, the Steampacket Gardens, the dining options available on Cunningham Pier, and several coastal walks, dotted with collections of bollards depicting historic characters. Elegant architecture, colourful gardens and parks, and the backdrop of Corio Bay are all symbolic of what locals refer to as the "city by the bay".

Locations of interest for visitors include the National Wool Museum, the Old Geelong Gaol, the Ford Discovery centre, the Botanic Gardens at Eastern Park, and a number of other museums, galleries and historical buildings.

The Barwon River meanders through Geelong and its surrounding suburbs, fronted by a number of attractive parks and the scenic Buckley Falls in Fyansford. On its journey to the coast, the river flows through the wetlands of Lake Connewarre before entering Bass Strait at the twin towns of Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove.

 
Attractions:

Ford Discovery Centre
An interactive automotive museum showing how cars are designed, engineered and built
National Wool Museum
Established as Australia's only comprehensive museum of wool, it is housed in a historic 1872 bluestone wool store

Art & culture:

Geelong Gallery
Housing an outstanding collection of Australian paintings, sculptures and decorative arts
Geelong Performing Arts Centre
A cultural facility comprising of theatres, event spaces, a restaurant and cafe and offering a wide range of performances and events
Narana Creations
An Australian Aboriginal cultural tourism centre, providing an introduction to indigenous culture

Shopping & markets:

Market Square Shopping Centre
Also located in the heart of Geelong and originally the site of a produce market, it contains a selection of speciality stores
Westfield Geelong
Situated in the heart of Geelong and just one street back from the bay foreshore, the centre has around 180 retail and department stores

Parks, gardens & trails:

Bellarine Rail Trail
Commencing in suburban Geelong South, this walking and cycling track heads east to Drysdale where it then follows the Bellarine Peninsula Tourist Railway all the way to Queenscliff, passing through farmland, native vegetation and along the edge of Swan Bay
Geelong Botanic Gardens
Located in Eastern Park, the gardens feature a collection of plant life from around the world and Australian arid climate and native sections

Festivals & events:

Geelong Highland Gathering
Held in Queens Park, it offers a popular and comprehensive display of Scottish culture, livestock, merchandise and musical folklore
Geelong New Year Waterfront Festival
Held across both New Years Eve and New Years Day on the picturesque foreshore in Geelong, it features a spectacular midnight fireworks display with a family fun day on New Years Day including markets, food stalls and live entertainment
Pako Festa
Victoria's premier multicultural event with stage performances, a smorgasbord of cultural food, workshops, art & craft exhibitions, street performers and a street parade
Royal Geelong Show
Bringing the country to the city, this show has been running for over 150 years and features displays, exhibitions, competitions, entertainment, rides and fireworks

Local tourist guides:

Visiting Geelong
Local government tourism guide featuring attractions, maps, history and other tourism information

* All the above links are external and open up in a new window

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