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GEELONG
Your
journey
in
the
Great
Ocean
Road
region
begins
at
the
historic
and
bustling
City
of
Geelong,
72
kilometres
south
west
of
Melbourne.
The
provincial
centre
is
one
of
the
state's
most
historically
significant,
with
National
Trust
classifications
on
more
than
200
of
its
buildings.
As
Victoria's
second
largest
city,
Geelong
is
renowned
for
its
artistic
heritage,
cultural
diversity,
internationally-renowned
wine
making
and
sporting
leadership.
In
and
around
Geelong
are
a
variety
of
historic
and
country
gardens
that
are
especially
spectacular
in
Spring.
The
Botanic
Gardens
are
popular
with
families,
as
are
the
recreation
areas
of
Rippleside
and
Eastern
Beach,
overlooking
Corio
Bay.
In
town,
the
old
Dennys
Lascelles
Woolstore,
built
in
stages
from
1872,
houses
the
National
Wool
Museum
which
explores
Australia's
wool
heritage.
On
the
sporting
front
there
are
more
than
22
golf
courses,
stadiums
for
basketball,
football
and
gymnastics,
surfing
and
soccer.
The
Australian
International
Airshow
and
Aerospace
Expo
at
Avalon
draws
thousands
of
people
from
around
the
country
and
the
world
every
two
years
to
see
the
latest
in
aerospace
technology.
GEELONG'S
HINTERLAND
Just
north
of
Geelong
lies
the
hinterland
where
you
can
enjoy
national
parks,
explore
bush
tracks,
and
visit
waterfalls,
picnic
areas
and
wildlife
sanctuary.
Serendip
Sanctuary
in
Lara
is
home
to
more
than
150
species
of
native
birds
and
a
host
of
native
animals.
Visitors
have
a
rare
opportunity
to
see
threatened
species,
thanks
to
the
sanctuary's
captive
breeding
program.
A
gentle
climb
to
the
highest
point
of
the
You
Yangs
Regional
Park,
Flinders
Peak,
is
rewarded
with
spectacular
views
in
all
directions.
Barunah
Plains,
west
of
Geelong,
was
once
the
largest
sheep
station
in
Victoria
and
still
operates
today.
Its
mansion,
outbuildings
and
refurbished
shearers'
quarters
are
there
to
be
enjoyed
by
visitors.
Along
the
Barwon
River,
from
Breakwater
to
Buckley's
Falls
are
wonderful
walks.
Legendary
convict
William
Buckley
escaped
from
the
convict
settlement
near
Sorrento
in
1803
and
managed
to
survive
by
living
off
the
land.
He
was
befriended
by
local
Koories
and
lived
with
them
for
32
years.
He
took
white
settlers
to
the
Buckley's
Falls
area
in
the
early
1800s
to
see
the
scenery.
BELLARINE
PENINSULA
To
the
east
of
Geelong
lies
the
Bellarine
Peninsula
which
is
famous
for
safe
swimming,
water
sports,
excellent
fishing
and
golf.
Towns
including
St
Leonards,
Ocean
Grove,
Port
Arlington,
Point
Lonsdale
and
Barwon
Heads
offer
a
wide
array
of
accommodation
and
activities.
The
romantic
holiday
resort
of
Queenscliff
is
steeped
in
history
with
grand
guest
houses,
stately
old
buildings
and
Victorian
homes.
Queenscliff
offers
a
charming
insight
into
life
in
the
1800s
and
showcases
the
art
of
gracious
living.
The
Queenscliff
Maritime
Centre
and
Museum
reveals
the
town's
relationship
with
the
sea
and
its
early
beginnings
as
a
port.
TORQUAY
AND
THE
SURF
COAST
Torquay
is
where
the
Great
Ocean
Road
begins
its
journey
westward.
Torquay
is
the
surfing
capital
of
Australia
and
some
of
the
finest
boardriders
in
the
world
flock
to
Bells
Beach
every
year
for
the
annual
Easter
Classic.
Surfworld
in
Torquay
is
Australia's
only
surfing
museum
and
Hall
of
Fame.
As
well
as
the
wild
surf,
there
are
popular
family
beaches
and
picnic
areas
on
the
Esplanade
and
Fishermens
Beach
on
Zeally
Bay.
From
Torquay
the
road
heads
gently
inland
but
the
ocean
is
never
far
away.
If
you
can't
see
it,
the
strong
smell
of
salt
in
the
air
serves
as
a
constant
reminder.
ANGLESEA
AND
AIREYS
INLET
You
rejoin
the
coast
at
Anglesea,
a
quiet
holiday
village.
Here
you
can
enjoy
great
fishing,
sailing,
swimming
and
walking.
Point
Roadknight,
a
popular
sheltered
beach,
is
a
family
favourite
and
the
walk,
at
low
tide,
to
Point
Adds
is
invigorating.
So
too
is
a
round
at
the
Anglesea
Golf
Course
-
that's
if
you
don't
mind
sharing
the
greens
with
grazing
kangaroos.
Split
Point
Lighthouse
provides
the
visitor
with
fantastic
views
and
a
breathtaking
cliff
walk
to
the
beach.
Undersea
volcanoes
created
the
cliffs
and
off-shore
stacks
of
Painkalac
Creek
which
runs
through
the
outskirts
of
Aireys
Inlet
and
is
surrounded | 
