Theatre, Music and the Arts, Geelong and The Bellarine, Victoria, Australia

There is a lively music scene in the region, with many towns and villages hosting some of the country's favourite concerts and music festivals. Falls Festival at Lorne, the Queenscliff Music Festival, Apollo Bay Music Festival and Meredith Music Festival 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 across the region. As well as the main performing arts centres in larger towns that host a variety of plays, shows and concerts, there are many small theatres in towns and villages where local theatre groups and travelling performers can be seen.

The Geelong Gallery houses a fantastic collection of art including well known pieces by Eugene von Guerard, Frederick McCubbin, Tom Roberts and Arthur Streeton. Entry is free. The Geelong Gallery is just one of the places to visit on the Central Geelong Arts & Culture Walking Trails map, which is available at local visitor information centres. The guide also has details and maps for public art, iconic heritage buildings, museums, galleries and the Geelong Botanic Gardens. It is also available for download by clicking here.

There are fantastic galleries and specialty museums throughout the region. Lorne hosts the annual Lorne Sculpture Exhibition each October-November where pieces are picturesquely displayed on the Lorne foreshore.

Things to See & Do

Queenscliff

The Blues Train

Victoria's historic coastal town of Queenscliff is home to the world's one and only Blues Train. It is a unique experience that combines four of Australia's best live acts and the beautiful scenery of the Bellarine Peninsula on the Drysdale Railway line while aboard a real moving vintage steam train. It is one of Australia's most spectacular entertainment experiences - it is a mini festival in one night and a progressive party you'll never forget. Nothing captures the spirit of the blues quite like a steam train. Listening to the train whistle and the clickety-clack on the tracks you can imagine the old blues masters jamming it up on Mississippi freight trains as they were 'ridin' the blinds' around America's deep south. The Blues Train leaves Queenscliff Railway Station after guests have enjoyed a delicious meal complemented by fine Australian and local wines. The steam train then makes its way along 16 kilometres of track, gently rocking from side to side, seemingly in beat with the music. At each of the stops, Suma Park and Drysdale, revellers swap carriages to see another of the acts, so by the end of the night patrons have seen all four acts performing on the train. Drinks are available from the mobile bar that miraculously appears on each platform (from the converted guard's van). You can sit back, relax and listen to the music with a drinking on one of the seated carriages or get up and boogie the blues away in one of the dance carriages. Please visit the website for the different show dates.

Geelong

art@Wintergarden

art@wintergarden is a working studio gallery, situated in Geelong, where you will find art works of excellence including landscapes, still life, portraiture and sculptures. art@wintergarden hosts an exciting rotation of exhibitions, traditional and contemporary and operates an active studio space where small painting classes and workshops are regularly held. Artist/Proprietor Jill Shalless, founder of "Dabble 'n' Daub" moved into "The Wintergarden" in late 2004.

Geelong

Geelong Performing Arts Centre

Geelong Performing Arts Centre is a hub for live entertainment in the region, attracting some of the best performers from throughout Australia and overseas. Located in the heart of the city's cultural precinct, GPAC includes two theatres - the recently refurbished 800-seat Playhouse, and the more intimate 325-seat Drama Theatre - as well as a cafe, bar, foyer area, meeting rooms and rehearsal studios. The centre also manages the 2000-seat Costa Hall, located at Deakin University's Waterfront Campus, which is used for large-scale concerts, lectures and conferences. GPAC presents a range of performances through its Family Magic, Musical Mornings and Theatre Season programs, as well film festivals, touring productions, concerts, local theatre and school productions, so there's always something on at GPAC. Visitors to the region will appreciate the venue's central location and proximity to restaurants and accommodation. Since opening in 1981, GPAC has undergone several facelifts, most recently the $3 million refurbishment of the Playhouse to create a modern, technically superior and accessible theatre. To find out what's on at GPAC, go to our website.

Geelong

Leaf & Stone Garden Gallery

Leaf & Stone Garden Gallery is located in The Wintergarden building in Geelong. It stocks a great collection of original water features and garden artwork. Including fountains, sculptures, outdoor art work, birdbaths, pots, plaques and sundials. As well as outdoor furniture, garden related Books, Bonsai or exotic garden ornaments that will help you add a new dimension to your Courtyard or Garden

Geelong

Metropolis Gallery

Metropolis Gallery has an impressive range of paintings, limited edition prints, art glass and jewellery and presents an exciting calendar of exhibitions that can be previewed on the website. As well as works by contemporary and indigenous Australian painters including some of the Geelong region's foremost artists, Metropolis exhibits limited edition prints by top Australian printmakers including Jazmina Cininas, Robert Clinch, Graham Fransella, David Frazer, Nicolas and Madeleine Goodwolf, Deborah Klein, Damon Kowarsky, Adrian Lockhart, Marco Luccio, Vida Pearson, Deborah Williams and Joel Wolter. Metropolis Gallery presents Indigenous Art in association with several important Aboriginal Art Centres including Papunya Tula Artists and Ngurratjuta Many Hands Art Centre, and Collectors Shows that feature significant, smaller works by major Australian Artists. Always attracting attention at Metropolis are works by glass artists Philip Stokes, Amanda Louden, Brian Hurst, James McMurtrie and Keith Rowe, and a unique selection of designer jewellery is also helpful for those looking for a special gift. If you're visiting the Bellarine Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road, Metropolis Gallery is well situated in central Geelong with convenient street parking out front in Ryrie Street.

Geelong

Narana Creations

Narana Creations is an Australian Aboriginal cultural tourism and educational enterprise, which is committed to providing a welcome entree to today's indigenous culture. Visitors can experience exhilarating cultural demonstrations, amazing didgeridoo playing and try 'hands-on' boomerang throwing. Also available for purchase is genuine Aboriginal art and craft of the highest quality.

Geelong

ONE5ONE Gallery

Gallery and showroom, retailing and wholesaling of in-house designed unique and exotic furniture, architectural pieces, homewares, antiques and bohemian antiques. Including in-house import and export of exotic and unique pieces. Plus a large range of folk art, artifacts and curios, together with local and original artworks. The gallery has over 25 years experience in the design, production and distribution of their in-house products locally, nationally and internationally. Innovative, inspiring, living pieces. In addition to supplying a wide section of local and international clients, gallery clients have also included architects, interior designers, project builders, film producers and advertising agencies who have sought out that special and unique "stand out" piece. Whether it be, a brass and iron table crafted from ancient doors, huge carved double doors salvaged from a remote Indian fort, an ancient hand-carved Tibetan cabinet, an intricately carved and inlaid Indian palace sideboard or a centuries old hand-crafted, hand-painted temple from Kashmir, ONE5ONE Gallery specialise in the creation and import of unique, in-house products...

Geelong Pakington Street

Boom Gallery

Boom Gallery is a vibrant and active contemporary art gallery. It represents a cross section of work from emerging and established artists, with a strong regional bias. Boom Gallery exhibits most media, including painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, photography, design and small objects. Boom Gallery gives artists a platform to exhibit and sell their work and provide information to the customers about art investment.

Geelong

Geelong Gallery

Visit the Geelong Gallery to view works from the permanent collection as well as a vibrant program of special exhibitions. Since its establishment in 1896 the Gallery has amassed a magnificent collection of 19th and 20th century Australian and European paintings and decorative arts, including 18th and 19th century English porcelain, British art pottery, colonial Australian silver, as well as contemporary Australian paintings, prints, sculpture and ceramics. A particular focus of the collection is early images of the Geelong region. The Gallery's outstanding collection includes many works of national significance such as Eugene von Guerard's View of Geelong (1856) and Frederick McCubbin's A bush burial (1890).

Point Lonsdale

Muse

As the name suggests Muse is an art and design studio that aims to inspire. As an established studio on the Bellarine Peninsula, the artisans work with different mediums and disciplines from traditional to contemporary. Muse have installations in private residences, interior and exterior, corporate receptions, offices, hotels, restaurant and apartments. Their range covers Trompe L'Oeil, Faux Finishes, Fresco, Fine Art and Realism. For an enlightening experience come and indulge in the artwork that the studio offers. Classes are also available for children and adults at all skill levels. Accommodation and Art Class packages are also available upon request. Please call for more information.

Queenscliff

Salt Contemporary Art

Established in 2004 in Queenscliff, Victoria, Salt Contemporary Art exhibits the works of Contemporary Australian Painters, Sculptors and Ceramicists. Housed in an historically significant former drapery store, the gallery offers two spacious levels of exhibition space. Offering a dynamic, regularly changing exhibition schedule, and regular arts related events including lectures, exhibition openings and biannual Indigenous exhibitions co-curated by Susan McCulloch and Emily McCulloch Childs, the gallery is a must see for all art enthusiasts. Current exhibition: 'The Fallen Re Turned': an exhibition of ancient Redgum forms by Paul Barton'. The exhibition features vessels Barton has created from fossilised red gum. The ancient wood has been scientifically carbon dated by the Australian National University and the tests confirmed the trees were remnants of a fossil forest from 10,000 to 50,000 years ago. 'The Fallen Re Turned' concludes on April 20. More images of Paul Barton's work can be found at the website. Salt Contemporary's Mezzanine gallery currently features an exhibition of paintings, sculpture and glass by artists including Tarli Glover, Victoria McCaffrey, Bridgit Thomas and Holly Grace. Please see the website showcasing more art and updated information.

Packages & Offers

Seahaven Village - Taste of The Bellarine $495

Relax at stunning Barwon Heads Friday and Saturday night in a cosy 4.5 star one bedroom spa suite.

Romantic getaway at Whitecrest Resort from $620

Romantic Getaway package including 2 nights, sparkline wine, fine handmade chocolates and flowers.

Seaside Family Escape $275.00 per night

Includes self-contained two bedroom Apartment, kids eat free at Latitude-38 restaurant, 20% discount off day spa.

BIG 4 Beacon Resort Blues Train Package

A unique musical experience! Toe tapping entertainment, a cool drink and a good laugh. Rock your stay in Queenscliff with Blues Train tickets and award winning accommodation at BIG4 Beacon Resort.

Theatre, Music and the Arts

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