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Geelong Women's Tour - February 21-22, 2008
About Geelong
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Geelong is the largest regional centre in the State of Victoria, situated approximately 75km south west of the state capital Melbourne on the shores of Corio Bay.
To discover more about things to do and places to see in Victoria please visit www.visitvictoria.com
For information on accommodation and tourism please visit http://www.greatoceanroad.org/geelong/index.asp
Visitor Information Centres
Getting around Geelong
Getting Around Victoria
Nature Pursuits
Cultural Pursuits
Walks and rides
Currency
Banks and foreign exchange
Dining out
Shopping
More information can also be found here
Visitor Information Centres Getting around Geelong
Getting around the City is easy with a network of roads and bus services that crisscross the area regularly. The train connects Lara, Little River, Corio, North Shore, North Geelong, Geelong and South Geelong. Hire car companies and taxi hire services are well represented in the region.
The Bellarine Peninsula Railway offers a heritage alternative to modern-day transport, and there is always cycling, sailing or boating.
Getting Around Victoria
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Victoria hugs the tip of the Australian east coast. Covering 227,600 square kilometres, the state is large enough to pack in a huge supply of attractions and activities, but also small enough that you can get to see and do most of them.
Victoria has an efficient transport system, allowing you to travel around the state by road, rail and air. A network of first-class roads, connecting the state's cities and towns as well as interstate destinations, means it is easy to reach your destination by car, motorbike or bicycle. Various train and bus companies operate services connecting Melbourne with intrastate and interstate destinations, while regular scheduled flights link Melbourne to regional centres. There are also ferry services to and from the popular beachside spots of Queenscliff and Sorrento.
Nature Pursuits
Geelong's founders have left a legacy of beautiful parks and gardens close to the city centre. They are wonderful places where you can relax and enjoy tranquil surroundings at anytime of year.
A little farther out are large national and state parks with native animals, including kangaroos and koalas. Sanctuaries provide protection for a range of birds, including many rare species.
Places to visit include:
- Brisbane Ranges National Park
- You Yangs Regional Park
- Barwon River and Buckley Falls
- Serendip Sanctuary
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Cultural Pursuits
Geelong is packed with places to go and things to do. The city's cultural precinct includes one of Australia's best regional art galleries and modern live performance theatres. The waterfront is home to another major live theatre, housed within the university's city campus, and a discovery centre that documents the local history of one of the world's largest car-makers. Sport, too figures high on the list, especially Aussie rules.
Places to visit include:
- Geelong Art Gallery
- Geelong Performing Arts Centre
- National Wool Museum
- Maritime Museum
- Geelong Botanic Gardens
- Gateway to the Great Ocean Road
- The Potato Shed
More information can be found here.
Walks and rides
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There's no better way to get to know a place than by walking or riding. Geelong's many sealed tracks provide a scenic and close-up look at dozens of attractions from fascinating and colourful waterfront bollards to wetlands filled with birds. The tracks skirt the bay and rivers, passing golf courses, parks, gardens, historic buildings, Aboriginal middens, Buckley Falls and urban areas. The are many access points that allow short, medium and long walks or rides.
Currency
Australia has a decimal system with 100 cents to the dollar (AUD$). Coins have values of 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and AUD$1 and AUD$2; notes have values of AUD$5, AUD$10, AUD$20, AUD$50 and AUD$100.
Banks and foreign exchange
In general, Australia's banking hours are Monday to Thursday 9.30am-4pm and Friday 9.30am-5pm. All the major banks, such as Westpac, ANZ, Commonwealth and National, have branches in Geelong. In smaller centres, some branches of the main banks have closed, so you'll have to go to the local post office or newsagent for your banking needs. In Geelong, all main banks are equipped to exchange foreign currency.
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Dining out
From the day's fresh catch to the impossibly rich jamon of Lara to the noble custacea of Apollo Bay, this region is dotted with people who are growing things, smoking things, cooking things, preserving things, fermenting things and selling things to eat. A wide variety of unique local produce , highly acclaimed restaurants and superb wines have given Geelong and the surrounding region a reputation for quality and character.
Geelong's city and suburban restaurants, cafes, hotels, clubs and bars serve all manner of food styles: Japanese, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Greek, French, Mexican, Spanish, Italian - everything your heart could desire in fun and lively surrounds!
Geelong people like to dine out and the local restaurant scene offers plenty of choice and diversity. From French and Thai, to vegetarian and Indonesian, and every cuisine in between, Geelong's restaurants have it on the menu. And the surroundings and styles are as varied as the food and wine. You can dine in lovely historic buildings or eat out in more contemporary surrounds.
When it's time for a break, Waterfront Geelong offers more than just a meal, snack or cup of coffee. Whatever you order comes with great bay views, compliments of the house. And much of the fare draws on the fresh local produce, including seafoods, meats, vegetables and fruits. It's a fabulous place to dine al fresco when the sun shines.
There are plenty of city and suburban cafes to explore where there's more than great coffee to enjoy. Pakington Street is a popular destination with trendy eateries at both its Geelong West and river ends. Tempting aromas of coffee, Italian, Asian and International cooking permeate the air.
Many areas around Geelong are ideal for grape-growing and early immigrants quickly discovered the possibilities. The region rapidly became Victoria's largest wine-making district in the late 1870s, until a pest decimated the industry across Victoria. Today, the industry is enjoying a spectacular resurgence and local wineries offer excellent wines for sale at their cellar doors.
Shopping
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If you like shopping - and who doesn't - Geelong offers you a real treat. From big central-city and suburban shopping centres, to strip and "sidestreet" experiences, Geelong has something for everyone. You'll find the biggest names in retail, food and specialty shops well represented. Expect all the top brands and clothing labels, extensive ranges and lots of bargains. Plua there are fascinating antique and bric-a-brac stores to explore.
Bay City Plaza and Market Square shopping centres are the city's main multi-level retail complexes. Both are fully air-conditioned and have plenty of off-street parking.
Bay City Plaza, in Malop Street, is a bright centre with two levels built behind the facade of one of Geelong's historic wool stores. It has more than 80 specialty shops, including two department stores and a supermarket.
Market Square Shopping Centre is just across from Bay City Plaza, occupying a large site bounded by Malop, Little Malop, Yarra and Moorabool streets. It also has a significant historical link, being on the site of the city's original marketplace. With more than 90 stores, including a major department store, leading supermarket and extensive food court, Market Square offers great variety and value.
Geelong's streets are filled with a mix of specialty shops offering everything from high fashion and home wares to gifts and electrical goods. The city also has a full range of commercial and financial services.
There's variety and bargains to be had in Geelong's suburbs. There are so many shops to browse, you'll be engrossed for hours. No matter what you are looking for, you are sure to find it in the suburbs.
Start off at the major centres. There's a string of large shopping centres surrounding Geelong with department, food and specialty shops. Corio Village, Town and Country Shopping Centre, Waurn Ponds, Newcomb Central and Bellarine Village, Newcomb are the main ones. Each is open 7 days a week, with supermarkets open for extended hours.
The suburbs are also home to the popular "strip" shopping centres, especially High Street, Belmont, and Pakington Street, Geelong West and Newtown. Both streets are busy, friendly places with a good mix of stores. They are great places to stroll and enjoy. Pakington Street also offers great cafes and is famous for its cosmopolitan ambience.
Larger stand-alone shops are located on major roads into the city. From Corio to North Geelong, you will find furniture and furnishings, electrical goods, audio-visual, computers, hardware, homewares and automotive. It is a similar story on the Bellarine and Surf Coast highways and Portarlington Road
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