Exploring the City of Geelong | A Travel Diary
- Andi Dela Torre Griffiths
- May 8
- 3 min read
Hi, how have you been? I hope you're doing well and staying cool or warm (depending on where you're from).
Today's post will be a travel diary from months ago.
We visited Geelong at the start of the year, and this was my favorite part of our last trip to Australia. We didn't get to spend quality time with my husband's family because of their current setup, but at least we got to see other places, like Geelong. It was our first time going here, and we enjoyed our time. Beautiful. Of all the places we've visited in Australia (so far), this was what we both liked the most. It's peaceful. It seems that the people here have a more relaxed and natural lifestyle.
This city is located Southwest of Melbourne and offers plenty of waterfront attractions such as The Cunningham Pier, Eastern Beach, and the Sky Wheel, among others.
Going Around | Geelong Travel Diary
We were able to check out a few spots and here’s some of them.
Pakington Street is a shopping strip popularly called Pako by locals; this is where you can find restaurants, hobby stores, cafes, and all kinds of shops. We stopped by to check it out and loved it.
I also got a hot cup of Mocha from 7 Origins Cafe, which was delicious (I like their customer service).
The Geelong Boat House
One of my college friends based in Melbourne suggested a fish and chips place by the pier. It's called The Geelong Boat House, a waterfront spot where you can dine while enjoying the view. It's nice.
Since we already had lunch at our Airbnb, we only got snacks and tried the Fisherman's Basket, which had a bit of everything in it (one barramundi, a scallop, a prawn, a crab stick, calamari rings, and fries). It came with a tartare sauce that reminded me of my mom's.
The food was good, but the view was better. The sea glistened because of the sun, beautiful! We tried sitting outside to enjoy this view, but it was super cold (even with the sun out), so we ended up moving inside.
Geelong Botanic Gardens
The garden was what I looked forward to the most because I heard it was beautiful (indeed, it was). We stayed here for an hour; we just sat and then walked for some oxygen.
They have a cafe inside the botanic gardens, but it can only accommodate a few customers, and like most establishments there, they also close early.
The Conservatory reminds me so much of the Philippines because of all the colorful, tropical plants. They are pretty to look at and exude so much good energy.
Cunningham Pier
The first thing I noticed when we went to the waterfront area was the Cunningham Pier (because of the big Red sign). Based on what I've found online, it was an active port facility back in the day. At present, the pier serves as a venue for special events, but you can also go there and take photos if you want.
People were fishing on this side earlier that day.
If you get hungry, you can pick from nearby restaurants, bars, and ice cream stores across the road (not in photos). You won’t run out of options in that area. Hmm. What else? Helicopter tours are available for those who want to take their experience to the next level.
Others
You can check out the Eastern Beach Reserve while you're there. It's a park where you ride the Ferris wheel, swim in an enclosed seawater pool, and have a picnic;
Wear sunscreen and wear comfortable clothes.
That would be all for my Geelong Travel Diary. Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
