Best of Geelong
Geelong Suburbs Guide: Finding the Right Neighbourhood
Geelong's residential areas spread from the bayside CBD west toward the Surf Coast and south toward the Bellarine Peninsula. Newtown, directly south of the CBD, is Geelong's most desirable inner suburb, with heritage homes, a strong cafe and restaurant strip on Pakington Street and good school catchments. Highton across the Barwon River has a quieter family character with elevated blocks and access to walking trails. Belmont bridges the gap between the city and the southern suburbs, with solid commercial amenity. Geelong West and Manifold Heights offer more affordable character homes close to the city. Armstrong Creek, Charlemont and Torquay to the southeast are newer growth corridors popular with first-home buyers. Drysdale and Leopold on the Bellarine offer lower prices with easy access to the peninsula beaches.
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1
Newtown
Geelong's most sought-after residential suburb, with heritage Victorian homes, a village café strip on Pakington Street and strong school catchments.
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2
Pakington Street Precinct
A boutique shopping and dining street in Newtown/Geelong West, known locally as 'Pako Street', with independent fashion, specialty coffee and weekend markets.
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3
Belmont
A solid mid-ring family suburb on the southern side of the river, with good schools, a busy high street and proximity to the waterfront.
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4
Ocean Grove
A Bellarine Peninsula beach town 20 minutes from Geelong with a surf beach, calm bay beach, a growing food scene and strong holiday and permanent resident market.
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5
Armstrong Creek
A new masterplanned growth corridor south of Geelong with affordable housing, new schools and infrastructure, popular with young families.
More Best of Geelong
- Renting in Geelong: Suburbs, Costs and the Surf Coast Market
- Weekend Getaways from Geelong: Great Ocean Road, Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast
- Geelong Waterfront: Dining, Art and Eastern Beach
- Great Ocean Road from Geelong: What to See on the World's Scenic Coastal Drive
- Bellarine Peninsula Guide: Wineries, Beaches and the Queenscliff Ferry
- Surf Coast Guide from Geelong: Torquay, Jan Juc and Beyond