It's fascinating past is brought to life in cultural attractions, public art installations and heritage buildings.

As a large regional city Geelong has a thriving entertainment scene, quality hospitality venues and some seriously cool places to shop.

Food and drink ranges from casual coffee shops with alfresco facilities and pubs with bistros to trendy bars and top class restaurants.

See what's on at Events Geelong.

Explore the vibrant centre of Geelong, with the Geelong Arts and Culture Trails.

The Waterfront

Stretching from Eastern Beach around to Rippleside, the area incorporates many restaurants and cafes on the water's edge. There are places for kids to play, from open grassy areas to some of the biggest and best playgrounds in the region.

Over 100 sculptured bollards are installed around the Geelong waterfront. The bollards chronicle characters from the city's past and present, including dapper young ladies in neck-to-knee bathing costumes, 1930s lifesavers, a Geelong footballer, jaunty sailors, fishermen and a town band. View the bollard trail.

There are kids' attractions including the carousel, a miniature train ride and a skate park. Seasonally there are also bungee trampolines and a giant Ferris Wheel.

Children's attractions, open public space, a lively calendar of events and fabulous places to eat and drink make the Waterfront a Geelong must-do.

Music, arts and theatre

There is a lively music scene in the region, with many of the country's favourite concerts and music festivals close by.  The Queenscliff Music Festival, Meredith Music Festival and A Day on the Green Mt Duneed are all popular destinations, attracting quality performers and supportive crowds.

The Blues Train, based in Queenscliff, transforms the vintage steam trains of the Bellarine Railway into a rockin' and rollin' good time. Four of Australia's best blues acts perform in the four train carriages, making it a progressive party you'll never forget.

Theatre buffs will find something of interest too. Geelong Arts Centre services a regional need for a high quality performance venue. Offering two theatres, four conference and event spaces, plus a restaurant and café, the Centre hosts an array of musicals, plays, dance, comedy, festivals, community events and workshops.

The Bellarine Arts Centre in Drysdale is just one venue of many around our region where local theatre groups and travelling performers can be seen.

The Geelong Gallery houses a fantastic collection of art while the region boasts some fine contemporary galleries such as Boom Gallery in Newtown.

Museums and heritage

Discover the story of Australia's wool industry at the renowned National Wool Museum. Visit grand mansions with elegant gardens around Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula or drive the famous World War I memorial – the Great Ocean Road.

The Geelong Library and Heritage Centre is Victoria's largest regional archive and history resource facility. The Centre has exhibitions of collection material for free public viewing all year round and most of these displays are developed to enhance understanding of significant historic events, and/or celebrate anniversaries of major 'milestones' in Geelong and local district history.