Christmas gift guide
‘Tis the season… for Christmas shopping
From foodies to adrenaline junkies, to hampers and handmade gifts there is something for everyone. The Geelong and The Bellarine Christmas gift guide is here to make your life easier. Use this as your one stop shopping guide this Christmas season to explore and share the fabulous Geelong and The Bellarine area.
FOR THE ADVENTUROUS FRIEND
Scuba Diving
Ever wondered what the ocean looks like from below? Choose from a variety of courses for your water loving friend this Christmas. From beginners to seasoned professionals there is a gift for everyone. Let your friends see all the maritime beauty Port Phillip Bay has to offer with Bay City Scuba or Scubabo.
Hot Air Ballooning
What better way to show off the Geelong and The Bellarine than via the air. Geelong Ballooning and Liberty Balloon Flights offer breath-catching views of Port Phillip Bay, Moorabool Valley, and The Bellarine. You will truly win over someone with this one-of-a-kind experience.
Adventure Flight Co
Adrenaline, adventure, aviation! Everything on offer from Adventure Flights Co. Take your choosing of gift experiences from skydiving, air combat flights, aerobatic flights, scenic flights and many more to see Barwon Heads and surrounds from a whole new perspective. The quintessential goodie for the adrenaline seeker or explorer.
FOR THE FOODIE FRIEND
Pick up some local produce
Geelong and The Bellarine is home to incredible local produce that’s available direct from makers, growers and provedores. Visit local makers, including Lard Ass Butter for the creamiest, richest handmade butter, Bellarine Smokehouse for smoked fish goodies or pick up a treat from the wide variety of curated pantry’s at Wallington Rural Garden, Wildings Pantry and Annie’s Provedore for a wide selection of artisan pantry staples.
Get something for the sweet tooth
Check out Belmont’s famous, Yummy Mummy Lolly Shop to find the perfect gift for that lover of all things sweet. Enjoy a variety of candies from Australia, the United States, UK, and the Netherlands to introduce someone to their new favourite lolly. Also the perfect stocking fillers!
FOR THE WINE LOVING FRIEND
Visit a winery and pick a bottle
Immerse yourself in only the best local wine this Christmas by visiting some of the top wineries and cellar doors across the Moorabool Valley and The Bellarine. Find a magnificent bottle, or three, maybe even wrapped all pretty. Or if you don’t know your wine, a gift voucher will do just the trick. Head here to explore wineries in the region.
Or shop the shelves
Find the largest variety of local wines on offer at Geelong Cellar Door. From chardonnay to shiraz explore the wines that make Geelong and The Bellarine unique. Or pick up wines from near and afar at Union Street Wine. Talk to the experts to find a flawless last-minute favour to bring for Christmas lunch or to include in a festive hamper.
FOR A DIFFERENT KIND OF DRINK
Visit a distillery
Explore the variety of gift packs and sets on offer from some of Geelong and The Bellarine’s best distilleries. Anther Distillery sells gin tasting kits and mini cocktail packs, Ceres Distilling Co gift packs offer a variety of citrus gins, or visit the Bellarine’s first distillery, Bellarine Distillery/The Whiskery to purchase a ‘little bit of everything’ gin gift pack or purchase. You can even grab a bottle of whiskey here.
Pick up a brew (or six)
Geelong and the Bellarine is home to many delicious beers from great breweries offering gift packs this festive season. Visit FarmDog Brewing to purchase one of their six pack gift boxes with a choice of beers. Little Creatures is a must for its iconic beers, including Furphy made right here. Pop into Belmont’s Mt Pleasant Rd Brewers to pick up one of their mixed brew packs, or the many locations of Blackman’s Brewery to explore their variety of beers for sale and mix and match packs. Or for something a little bit different head to Flying Brick Cider Co to taste some of the area’s best cider or mix a four pack.
FOR THE EXPERIENCES FRIEND
Equilibrium Bellarine Massage Therapy
Know someone who has worked extra hard this year? Equilibrium Bellarine Massage Therapy offers remedial, therapeutic or relaxation massages, to take care of those sore spots. This dreamy gift will treat that special person to a self-care day right in the coastal town of St Leonards.
Meet the makers and growers
What’s better than a bottle of wine?… An opportunity to visit the wineries that make the wine themselves. Explore award-winning wineries and food venues across the Bellarine, Geelong or the Moorabool Valley with a day of tailored, private tours with Epic Taste Experiences. Or maybe your friend likes to pick and choose? Grab a voucher to try The Bellarine’s first hop-on, hop-off winery tour with Hop It.
A Cooking Class Experience
Drysdale’s Harvest Experience offers intimate cooking classes on The Bellarine. Let your friends unlock their creativity through garden to table experiences. This is the ultimate gift for someone looking to try something new, or that friend that you know could do with some help in the kitchen.
FOR THE FRIEND IN NEED OF A GETAWAY
What better way to enjoy wine, than staying the night at Bellarine Estate’s Coastal Glamp? Introduce your friends and family to the wonders of this side of the bay by staying on Portarlington Rd, the heart of the Bellarine’s wine region. Encourage them to let their hair down with onsite movie nights and artisan hampers on arrival.
Homestead Getaway
Do you know someone who loves to step back in time? Explore Shelford and the beauty of the Golden Plains through this unique 1850s homestead experience situated on twelve acres. Cedar Cottage, Shelford is your next sensational reward for that person due for some unwinding time.
FOR THE FRIENDS WHO LOVES HANDMADE AND LOCAL
Available in a verity of options, from print, to puzzles to towels, pick up the perfect memento of the region this Christmas. Check out their online store to collect your very own copy of the Bellarine map to celebrate this fabulous area.
Christmas Markets
Head to Belmont on 16 December to check out the infamous Piccadilly Christmas Market. With an inside area boasting some of Geelong’s finest local makers, you can discover handmade artwork, clothing, gourmet delights and many more. The ideal spot for a night out with friends and family with food vendors, face painters and live entertainment there is something for everyone.
Creative gift shopping
Geelong’s very own National Wool Museum and Geelong Gallery Store are both one stop shops for creative Christmas gifts With a focus on local and Australian made goods, you can find an exquisite homeware, souvenir, or giftware to fill a stocking, gift basket or Kris Kringle.
