Geelong

on the Great Ocean Road

Victoria's second-largest city sits on the Bellarine Peninnsula. The name 'Geelong' is derived from 'jillong', the Aboriginal word for bay, which means 'a place of the sea bird over the white cliffs'.

(source: visitvictoria.com)

Sunset over the bay at Geelong, 2011 by Barton van Laar, courtesy Tourism Victoria

Geelong's original inhabitants, who lived in the region for more than 25,000 years before white explorers arrived, were members of various clans of the Wathaurong tribe.

(source: Greater Geelong)

National Wool Museum, Geelong, courtesy Tourism Victoria

Winery, Geelong Region, 2008-9 David Hannah, (c) Victorian Wine Industry Association; courtesy Tourism Victoria

Attractions:

100 National Trust-listed buildings including two historic homes, The Heights and Barwon Grange
Geelong Heritage Centre (local government and community archives for Geelong since 1838)
Geelong Art Gallery
Waterfront
Geelong Riverview Tourist Park
The National Wool Museum
The Geelong Naval & Maritime Museum
Old Geelong Gaol
Ford Discovery Centre, Australia's first automotive technology discovery centre
Geelong Botanic Gardens, including their Edible Garden
Wineries
Serendip Sanctuary (20-minute drive from the Geelong city centre at Lara)
Balyang Sanctuary on the Barwon River banks and flood plain
Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary
Queens Park
Bellarine Rail Trail Geelong to Queenscliff
Belmont Common
Eastern Park
Johnstone Park
Rippleside Park
St Helens Park
Montpellier Park Lookout
You Yangs Regional Park
Brisbane Ranges National Park
Local Towns and villages

Geelong Waterfront on the Great Ocean Road; photo Mark Chew 2008, courtesy Tourism Victoria

Just the facts:

Contact: Geelong Visitor Information Centre
council site
Greater Geelong

Visit Victoria
Getting there: 75 kilometres south-west of Melbourne, 1 hour via the Princes Highway. Daily rail and coach services are available from Melbourne Southern Cross Station (formerly Spencer St Station).

Corio Villa, Geelong (c) 2007 Ken Stepnell, courtesy Tourism Victoria; 490x347