The Best Geelong Activities

Geelong activities lean towards the outdoors: surf lessons on the Surf Coast, rally car laps at Avalon, a sunrise balloon flight over the Bellarine Peninsula and a five-course lunch on a heritage train. Most run from a 30-minute hot lap to a 4-hour balloon morning, so two in a day is realistic when the start times line up. This page sorts them by the kind of day you want, and the main things to do in Geelong page covers the rest of the region.

Surf lessons at Torquay and Lorne

Torquay is a gentle place to learn, and the 2-hour surf lesson in Torquay meets at the Go Ride A Wave shop on Bell Street. A soft beginner board, leg rope, wetsuit or rashie, showers and change rooms are all part of the lesson, and sessions run at 10am and 1pm.

Lorne swaps the town beach for a scenic backdrop. The 2-hour Lorne surf lesson starts from a van at Lorne Beach on Mountjoy Parade, suits beginners and intermediates, and runs at 10am, 12pm and 1.30pm. If one lesson leaves you wanting more, the progressive surf course in Torquay spreads three 2-hour lessons over the course, backed by 12 online theory modules and lifeguard-qualified instructors.

Rally car laps at Avalon

The Rally School's dirt track sits at 55 Beach Road, Avalon, with options for passengers and drivers. The Hot Laps ride puts you in the co-driver's seat of a turbo rally car for 3 laps with a professional driver, a 30-minute ride all up. To take the wheel, the 8-lap XLR8 Pack gives you 8 laps to drive plus a bonus hot lap as a passenger in a 2-hour session, and the 2 Car Blast stretches that to 16 laps, 8 in each of 2 different cars.

Spectators are welcome and videos can be bought on the day. There is no public transport to the venue, and hot laps run on selected weekend dates, so check the session before you book.

A hot air balloon flight over Geelong and the Bellarine

The Geelong hot air balloon flight starts before dawn at the Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong on Ryrie Street, with the exact meeting time sent by SMS the day before. The flight lasts about an hour, launch sites shift with the wind, and the views take in Port Phillip Bay, the Barwon River, farmland and, on clear mornings, the You Yangs. A buffet breakfast follows the landing.

Weather has the final say. The pilot decides on the morning whether to fly, and each flight needs a minimum of 8 passengers.

Heritage train dining and a wildlife walk for a slower day

The Q Train's Q Class lunch or dinner serves a five-course degustation over a 3-hour return journey from Drysdale on the Bellarine Railway. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, nut-free and lactose-free options are available with advance notice, and the train is heated and air-conditioned and runs in all weather. For tables of 2, 4, 6 or 10, First Class moves dinner into a private compartment with a butler.

At Apollo Bay, the Walk with Wildlife Guided Conservation Tour is a 75-minute guided walk along a 1.4km all-abilities path, leaving on the hour from 10am to 3pm.

Choosing the right Geelong activity

Pick by pace first. Surf lessons and rally laps are active and hands-on, and finish in a couple of hours at most. The balloon flight and the Q Train are about watching the scenery go by, one with a very early start and the other with a set lunch or dinner departure. Couples after privacy have the First Class compartment or a sunrise flight, while families can look at the surf lessons and the wildlife walk, which both sell child tickets.

Weather matters too. The train runs in all weather, a balloon flight depends on the pilot's call on the morning, and the Rally School usually decides about postponing after inspecting the track at 7.30am. If you would rather sightsee than do, the Geelong tours and Geelong attractions pages cover wildlife cruises, guided walks and the waterfront.

Frequently asked questions

What activities can you do in Geelong in a day?

Most Geelong activities run from a 30-minute hot lap to a 4-hour balloon morning, which leaves room for two in a day if the start times and travel between venues work, for example a 10am surf lesson in Torquay and a 6.30pm dinner departure on the Q Train.

Do you need experience for a surf lesson near Geelong?

No. The Torquay 2-hour lesson is built for first-timers, with a safety briefing, a soft beginner board and a coach in the water, and the Lorne lesson suits beginners and intermediates.

Do you need a manual licence for rally driving at Avalon?

For the driving packages, yes. The 8-lap and 16-lap experiences need you to be proficient with a manual transmission, while the Hot Laps ride puts you in the passenger seat with a professional driver. The cars have height and weight limits, so check the product page before booking.

What happens if the weather is bad for a Geelong balloon flight?

The pilot makes the call on the morning of the flight, and cancellations are made for safety or to comply with regulations.

What should I wear for rally driving in Avalon?

Wear long trousers and closed-in shoes, because the floor of the car is often dirty and hot. Spectators who buy a hot lap on the day need to meet the same rules.

Are there Geelong activities for families?

Yes. The surf lessons sell child tickets, the Walk with Wildlife guided walk at Apollo Bay has child and family tickets, and its path suits sturdy prams.

Lock in the activity that suits your crew, check its start time against the rest of your day, and you have a Geelong trip with a proper highlight.