How to do an ‘Off peak. On point’ day trip to Geelong

Geelong’s off-season really means more of the good stuff (food, nature, culture) and less of the faff (stress, crowds, and, well, stressful crowds). The weather might be cooling down, but that means you’re actually getting the region – more or less – to yourself. Autumn foliage. Cosy coffees by the fire. Beautiful galleries. Walks in the Botanic Gardens under a flame-coloured, 150-year-old ginkgo tree. Whatever you’re looking for this off-season, Geelong has got you covered.

So what if you only had one day in the region? How would you spend it? We’ve taken the guess-work out of itinerary planning with our ultimate ‘Off peak. On point’ day trip itinerary. Throw on a beanie and let’s get cracking.

First things first, coffee. And there are plenty of options. If you’ve got a car, consider a quick detour to Paddock Bakery or Barwon Edge. Both have excellent winter vibes. If you’d like to explore Pakington Street (known locally as ‘Pako’) in Geelong West, head to King of the Castle for a smashing shakshuka, or the Thai eggs with house-made chilli jam. For water views and top-notch caffeination, look no further than Edge and Waterfront Pantry.

Time for some culture. Geelong Gallery on Little Malop is a great place to start – for over 125 years it’s been one of Australia’s premier regional galleries, amassing a mind-blowing collection of Australian and European painting, sculpture and printmaking. Next, wander down to the National Wool Museum on Moorabool Street. Sitting inside a beautifully restored 1872 bluestone woolstore, this place has two curated galleries and a bunch of seasonal exhibitions (not to mention a ripping gin bar).

For lunch, we recommend Little Malop Street, Geelong’s bustling café, bar and restaurant precinct. It would be faster to list the menu options not available here. Seriously, what takes your fancy? Ramen? Wine and cheese? Asian-style robata grill? Modern French? The options are pretty endless. For a relaxed pub-style lunch, check out the newly refurbished Eureka Hotel. Grab a seat on the rooftop, order an ice-cold Furphy, and soak up some of Geelong’s best inner-city atmosphere.

After lunch, it’s time to stretch the legs and go for a wander. A good route is to head down to the waterfront, then follow the beach east, up to Eastern Beach Reserve. This will take you past the Giant Sky Wheel, the Geelong Bollard Trail Walk, and the beautiful Eastern Beach Precinct. For bonus points, head up the hill to the Geelong Botanic Gardens. Autumn and winter are the perfect time to visit: crowds are small, there’s an on-site café with outdoor heaters, and the Gardens’ 150 year-old ginkgo biloba tree (rumoured to be the biggest and oldest ever cultivated) will be looking amazing.

Geelong’s restaurant scene has exploded over the last few years, with dozens of award-winning venues popping up around the city. For a pre-dinner cocktail, head to the gorgeous Anther Distillery in North Geelong (you can follow it up with a luxe dinner at 1915, too, if you fancy). For something closer to the city centre, head over to Pakington Street for world-class Singaporean at BAAH LAH!, or wander down to the hatted Tulip for modern Australian fine dining.