Free Things to Do in Geelong: The Best No-Cost Activities

Geelong's free activity landscape centres on the recently redeveloped waterfront precinct, the Barwon River trail network, and the city's access to the Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula's natural environments that, while some charge entry, have extensive free foreshore and beach access complementing the ticketed components. The Geelong Art Gallery is one of Australia's finest regional galleries with free general entry.

Geelong Waterfront foreshore — the Geelong Waterfront's redeveloped Eastern Beach precinct (free), the restored Art Deco Eastern Beach Baths (free exterior, modest fee for bathing), the foreshore sculpture trail (the 100-plus painted fibreglass bollards lining the promenade represent historical Geelong characters, free to explore), and the views across Corio Bay provide an excellent free foreshore experience.

Geelong Art Gallery — the Geelong Art Gallery (free general entry, Little Malop Street) has an excellent permanent collection of Australian colonial and contemporary art including Eugene von Guérard's landscapes of the Geelong region that provide extraordinary historical context for the current landscape. One of regional Victoria's finest free cultural resources.

Barwon River trail — the Barwon River trail from Fyansford to Geelong follows the river through the central suburbs and out to Eastern Park, providing an excellent free walking and cycling corridor through Geelong's most attractive urban environment. The Barwon Valley Activity Centre near the Barwon Grange heritage homestead is free to access for walking.

Eastern Park and gardens — Eastern Park (above the waterfront, free entry) has the Geelong Botanical Gardens, the heritage cottage, and the walking tracks through the native bush reserve that sits immediately above the Corio Bay waterfront. The park is genuinely beautiful in spring when the wisteria tunnel is in bloom.

Surf Coast walking tracks (free) — the Great Ocean Walk and the Surf Coast Walk sections from Torquay south through Bells Beach to Anglesea have free public access on gazetted walking tracks, providing excellent coastal walking through the most dramatic section of the Surf Coast with no entry charge.

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