# Greater Geelong

    This article is about the Greater Geelong and Bellarine area, not just Geelong City.
Greater Geelong is the second largest city of Victoria with old and new architecture, shopping, galleries, theatres, and large parks and wineries. There is a lot more to Greater Geelong than just the principal city, such as the Bellarine Peninsula dotted with small towns and wineries, and the massive You Yangs Regional Park to the north of the city.
Visitors come to attend major sporting events, such as Australian rules football (AFL) and cycling. Greater Geelong is also a gateway city to both Melbourne in the north and the Great Ocean Road to the south.

## Regions

* North The northern areas of Geelong covering farmland, rural living, and the mountainous You Yangs Regional Park.
* Geelong The second largest city in Victoria full of shopping, offices, apartments, and the well renowned waterfront. The Barwon River straddles the suburbs of the city.
* Lara and Avalon Airport Includes the outer town of Lara, and the gateway to both Geelong and Melbourne, Avalon Airport.
* Bellarine Peninsula This area includes many wineries and small towns dotted around the coastline, such as Ocean Grove and Queenscliff.

## Cities

* -38.15144.351 Geelong - the lively main city of this region. Geelong is now a cosmopolitan growing city with many attractions to show for it.
* -38.022144.4072 Lara - a small residential town with local shops and close proximity to the airport.
* -38.1892144.4643 Leopold - a small residential area to the east of Geelong. It is considered the beginning of the Bellarine Peninsula.
* -38.15144.5666674 Clifton Springs/Drysdale - a coastal town on the peninsula, overlooking blue sea and the You Yang peaks.
* -38.116667144.655 Portarlington - a historic coastal town with high tourism in the summer months. Portarlington Pier overlooks the bay.
* -38.283333144.56 Barwon Heads - a coastal township with the mouth of the Barwon River next to packed beaches for holidaymakers.
* -38.266667144.657 Queenscliff - a small town with many local shops and restaurants. Has a ferry terminal and service to opposite Mornington Peninsula.

## Other destinations

* -37.95144.431 You Yangs Regional Park – a series of granite ridges that rise up to 300 m and overlook the Greater Geelong region.
* -38.233333144.452 Lake Connewarre – a shallow estuarine lake on the Barwon River. It is part of a wetland of international importance.

## Understand

Geelong is the second largest city in Victoria, and one of the fastest growing regions in the whole of Australia. Many parts of Greater Geelong are ideal for touring, with many activities to do in a small area.
There is so much more to this region than just Geelong. The Bellarine Peninsula is a whole other destination ready to be explored. The peninsula is best known for its small towns with local shops and businesses, as well as grand wineries and vineyards. These wineries are spectacular places to eat and even celebrate special occasions with friends and family.
To understand more of Greater Geelong, the Geelong article has additional information.
* Geelong and Great Ocean Road Visitor Information Office, ☏ +61 3 5283 1735, toll-free: 1800 620 888, fax: +61 3 5223 2069. Daily 9AM-5PM. Princess Hwy, Little River.
* Geelong Visitor Information Centre, 26 Moorabool St (cnr Brougham St), ☏ +61 3 5222 2900, toll-free: 1800 620 888, fax: +61 3 5223 2069. Daily 9AM-5PM.

## Get in
### By car

Geelong has good road connections to all its neighbouring areas. The main route through Geelong is the M1 Princes Freeway (Geelong Ring Road) to the west of the city, as well as LaTrobe Terrace in the middle of the city. Connections to the Bellarine Peninsula include the Bellarine Highway (B110), and the Surf Coast Highway (B100) runs south toward surf capital Torquay.

### By plane

Melbourne (MEL) is the main entry point to Geelong and surrounds, with flights to and from every Australian capital city. If choosing to arrive to Greater Geelong from MEL, bus services run between the airport and Geelong Train Station.
Avalon Airport is the secondary airport and closest airport to Geelong, with limited flights to the Sunshine Coast and Sydney.

### By ferry

The Spirit of Tasmania is a large ro-ro ferry operating between Devonport in northern Tasmania and Geelong with at least one daily scheduled service. See Geelong#By ferry for detailed information.
The Searoad Ferries is another company that operates a ferry route between the towns of Queenscliff on the Bellarine, and Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula.

## Get around
### By car

Traffic is generally light throughout the region all year round. The bustiest traffic times can be the public holidays and school holiday times of Victoria. Most of the region is covered with car parking spaces next to the road, as well as large parking spaces (particularly in Geelong).
Greater Geelong has a good road network spanning all directions. The Geelong Ring Road (Princes Freeway) acts as a backbone and serves the northern suburbs (Corio, Lara) of Geelong to the southern suburbs (Waurn Ponds, Highton). If travelling smaller distances or heading east, local and arterial roads are much faster.

### By train

The Geelong V/Line rail service is a regional train service from Melbourne.

## See

There are many parks and museums in Geelong.
Greater Geelong is also home to the start of the Great Ocean Road (specifically the Surf Coast Highway section).

## Do

The Geelong region is strong at AFL (Australian rules football) with the local team being the Geelong Cats. Although many of Geelong Cats' games are played in Melbourne, there are several home games played throughout the Greater Geelong region.

## Go next

* South West Coast (Victoria)
* Melbourne