Best Beaches Near Geelong 2026 | Local Guide

Geelong Beaches 2026, Overview

Geelong's beaches span two very different coastlines: the calm, sheltered Corio Bay foreshore along the city waterfront, and the powerful Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula ocean beaches from Torquay to Point Lonsdale. Geelong residents are spoiled for choice, bay swimming in the city foreshore or world-class surf at Bells Beach within 30 minutes. Here's a guide to Geelong's best beaches.

Geelong City Waterfront (Corio Bay)

• Eastern Beach, Eastern Beach Road, Eastern Geelong. The city's foreshore swimming area, with the Eastern Beach Reserve, an art deco swimming enclosure dating from 1931, and the famous Geelong waterfront carousel and boardwalk. Good for families, though bay water (not ocean) and the water quality can vary in summer. The heritage swimming enclosure is one of Geelong's landmarks.

Surf Coast Beaches (30 minutes south)

• Torquay Beach, The Esplanade, Torquay. Home of Australian surfing. Excellent patrolled beach, good surf for beginners and intermediate surfers, Surf World Museum, Surf City shopping precinct (Rip Curl, Quiksilver, Billabong factory outlets). Torquay is the gateway to the Great Ocean Road.
• Jan Juc Beach, Jan Juc. Next beach south of Torquay. Powerful surf, less crowded than Torquay, popular with experienced surfers.
• Bells Beach, Bells Beach Road, Bells Beach. The world's most famous surf point break and site of the Rip Curl Pro (WSL competition). Not suitable for swimming, spectacular for watching from the cliff top. 5 minutes south of Torquay.

Bellarine Peninsula Beaches (30-45 minutes south-east)

• Barwon Heads Beach, Hitchcock Avenue, Barwon Heads. A beautiful and popular beach town at the mouth of the Barwon River. Good surf on the ocean side; calm river mouth for children on the river side. The "Seachange" TV show was filmed here. Excellent cafe scene.
• Point Lonsdale Beach, Point Lonsdale. At the entrance to Port Phillip Heads. Wild and beautiful ocean beach with the famous lighthouse. Powerful rip tides at The Rip (experienced surfers only). Calm bay beach on the port side.
• Ocean Grove Beach, Ocean Grove. Long patrolled beach on the Bellarine Peninsula. Popular family destination, large surf life saving club.

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