Geelong Central: Top Things to do & Must-See Events

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Central Geelong encompasses shopping centres, shopping strips, lanes and malls of shops. For this article I want to highlight some of the other fun things you can do in Geelong Central.

I know everybody loves a bit of retail therapy. If you want to see what shops are available in Geelong Central click on the website to view some of the great shops and shopping experiences in Geelong Central.

Come to Geelong Central on the weekends and take advantage of our Free Parking in the streets (the main shopping centres still charge for off the street parking). Free Parking is still time limited, so you can park for free for two hours only.

In this article I will highlight Art Galleries, Walking Trails, Markets, Playgrounds and other fun things to do in the Geelong Central precinct.

Geelong Waterfront Makers & Growers Market

The Geelong Waterfront Makers and Growers Market is held on the first Sunday of the month. Park on the Western Beach Road, Geelong and stroll across to Steampacket Gardens, on the Waterfront. Steampacket Gardens (and the Geelong Waterfront Makers and Growers Market) can be found between the Carousel and the Wharf Shed. At the Geelong Waterfront Makers and Growers Market you will find handcrafts and art, local produce and treats from regional growers.

The Festival of Food, Flavours and Fun

From the 6th to 27th July, Central Geelong celebrates The Tastes of Central Geelong with "The Festival of Food, Flavours and Fun".

Monday nights in Central Geelong, celebrate The Festival of Food, Flavours and Fun by trying the range of Pizza and Pasta specials during the Tastes of Central Geelong event.

Every Tuesday night during The Festival of Food, Flavours and Fun is Curry Night. Come and try the great range of curry specials on offer in Central Geelong.

Wednesday nights as part of the Tastes of Central Geelong and The Festival of Food, Flavours and Fun, there is a range of noodle specials on offer in Central Geelong.

There will be celebrity chefs, tasting tours, a Central Geelong bakeoff, children's activities and more.

Download a copy of the Tastes Program here
Central Geelong School Holiday Fun

With school holidays almost on us again, register to receive a Central Geelong School Holiday Fun Guide prior to each school holidays.

Central Geelong Marketing produces the School Holiday Fun Guide. The Fun Guide lists free activities on offer in Central Geelong during the Autumn, Winter and Spring school holidays. The Fun Guide also features special offers and discounts from Central Geelong businesses including discount meals at local cafes and restaurants and special offers to attractions. Click here to register for your copy.

The Winter school holiday program begins on Saturday, 28th June and finishes on Sunday, 6th July 2014. The program theme is Make It, Bake It, Grow It.

In Spring, in Geelong, the school holiday program starts onon Saturday, 20 September and finishes on Sunday, 5th October 2014. The program theme is Creatures.

Central Geelong Sidewalk Sales

Melbourne Cup Day, Tuesday 4 November 2014

Central Geelong is a great place for shoppers to flock to during the annual Central Geelong Sidewalk Sales on Melbourne Cup Day. This is Central Geelong's largest annual sale day. Over 180 Central Geelong businesses generally participate in the street trading and in-store sales from 9.00am – 5.00pm. You will find a huge range of genuine specials and discounts on fashion, home wares, services, electrical goods, food and more.

All special offers will be listed in the Sidewalk Sales Form Guide available late October. Watch the Geelong Advertiser for more details or book mark the Central Geelong website. Click on this link to find out more about the Sidewalk Sales.

Following the Form Guide, you will find a list of venues where shopaholics can watch the live action from Flemington and the Melbourne Cup itself at 3.00pm.

In Little Malop Central (The Mall) there will be live music and entertainment from 11.00am to 2.00pm. Watch out for the roving entertainers throughout Central Geelong.

Come join all the other shopaholics on Tuesday 4th November to take advantage of the bargains and have a great day out in Central Geelong.

Central Geelong Walking Tours

Join one of the Central Geelong walking tours to discover more in Central Geelong. Go on a Food Discovery walking tour or a Coffee Crawl walking tour. The walking tours are free, however a gold coin donation would be appreciated - all donations go to the Geelong Hospital.

Of course while you are on the walking tour you may want to indulge in food or coffee or both. You will need to pay for your coffee and food.

If you and a group of friends would like a tour of Central Geelong you can contact the Central Geelong on 5272 4297 or email [email protected] You can contact the Central Geelong information centre on 52724297

Parks and Gardens

Come to Geelong for the shopping, the sidewalk sales, the coffee shops and food. Come and discover lots of fun things to do on a budget too. Pack a picnic lunch, drive down the highway to Geelong, take advantage of our free parking all weekend, and explore our parks, gardens, playgrounds, walking trails, bike tracks and picnic spots. You will find them all in Central Geelong.

Central Geelong has a range of major public parks. Johnstone Park in Gheringhap Street has nice sloping lawns, leading down to the historic rotunda. Within the Johnstone Park area you will also find the War Memorial, the Geelong Art Gallery, and the Geelong Library.

The Steampacket Gardens and Transvaal Square can both be found within the Waterfront Geelong area. There is lots of park area, lawns, seats, palm treees and Norfolk Pines to provide shade. From the Waterfront Geelong meander along the footpaths to Eastern Beach. There are cafes dotted along the waterfront all the way to Eastern Beach.

At Eastern Beach you will find the children's pool and the enclosed swimming area for families, behind safe shark-proof fences. From Eastern Beach all the way back to St Helen's Beach and Rippleside, you will find public barbecues, toilet facilities, sheltered picnic tables and chairs.

Still hungry for cullture? Geelong Botanic Gardens are located above Eastern Beach. Entry is free. There is a huge array of plants set amongst English landscaping. There are hot houses full of tropical plants. Rose beds galore. Some of the bollards decorate the Geelong Botanic Gardens grounds.

Geelong Botanic Gardens is situated within Eastern Park. Eastern Park is popular for picnics, walking, jogging, golf or just taking in the view. Rotundas provide shade in summer and protection from the elements during the colder months.

More? What about Playgrounds?

Central Geelong has such a wealth of interesting things to see and do, however your children will probably just want to play.

In front of Deakin University, Waterfront Campus (opposite Deakin University) you will find the Youth Activities Area. This area has a skate park, and an event and activities space. You will find young people skating, riding bikes up and down the ramps, there is a basketball hoop, and there are speakers built into the walls in the Youth Activities Area.

There are other playgrounds too! At Eastern Beach Reserve there is a playground not far from the swimming pools.

Rippleside Park is found between Drumcondra and Rippleside. There is lots of lawn area for picnics, swimming from the shore or from the short piers - watch out for people fishing from the piers.

Within Eastern Park is the Geelong Play Space. Just another playground area for your children. There is a Liberty Swing in the Geelong Play Space. You can access a key for the Liberty Swing from the National Wool Museum (26 Moorabool Street) or The Carousel (1 Eastern Beach Road).

Just replace the key in the handy key return box near the Play Space entrance when you are ready to leave the playground.

If you want any more information about the playgrounds or parks you can contact
Parks Victoria (Geelong Office)
74 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, VIC 3220
Phone: 5215 5121

There is so much to see and do in Geelong. I haven't even made much mention of the Art Galleries and Museums. Come on down to Geelong. There is a tourist information kiosk within the National Wool Museum gift shop at 26 Moorabool Street. There is another tourist information kiosk on the Geelong Waterfront in front of The Carousel at 1 Eastern Beach Road.

Our Jewel in the Crown - Geelong Waterfront

Situated on Corio Bay, the Geelong Waterfront takes in Eastern Beach, the Bollard Trail, The Carousel, Cunningham Pier, and so much more.

There are restaurants and cafes along the waterfront, landscaped gardens, parks and open spaces, walking and cycling paths, attractions, markets and public art.

Take a train ride on Thomas to see the Waterfront, or catch a helicopter flight or jump on the seaplane. (At time of publishing our seaplane is not up and running. Hopefully we will see the seaplane up in the air again soon.) Jump on one of the boats (The Hygeia) or ships (The Enterprise) for a cruise on Corio Bay.
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Don't take my word for it! As our current Mayor Darryn Lyons says "Giddyup!" and head down to Central Geelong for a great day, weekend or week away in the peace and quiet of the beautiful town of Geelong on Corio Bay.

Images courtesy of
Central Geelong, Whats on in Geelong, City of Greater Geelong website

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