Geelong Tours & Day Trips

Geelong tours centre on wildlife and the water. From Queenscliff, dolphin and seal trips run on Port Phillip Bay between October and May, at Apollo Bay along the Great Ocean Road the Otways wildlife walks run daily, and in Geelong itself a balloon flight lifts off at sunrise. Use this page to pick a tour by season, time of day and how active you want to be, and head to the things to do in Geelong page for dining, surf lessons and more.

Dolphin and seal tours from Queenscliff

Queenscliff Boat Harbour is the departure point for Port Phillip Bay's marine life tours. The Dolphin and Seal Swim Tour is a popular choice: a 3.5-hour trip into Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park where snorkellers swim with Australian fur seals and dolphins. Tuition, snorkelling gear and a wetsuit are supplied, no experience is needed, and viewer tickets let non-swimmers join the boat. Morning trips leave at 8.30am and return around 12pm, with afternoon trips leaving around 1.30pm.

To stay dry, the 90-minute wildlife sightseeing cruise heads out from Queenscliff Harbour with a rooftop viewing platform, looking for pods of Burrunan dolphins and playful fur seals. Both water tours run from October to May, and sightings cannot be guaranteed, since the animals are wild and the operators adjust their route to the weather and water conditions.

Wildlife walks and an after-hours tour in the Otways

Wildlife Wonders is a protected sanctuary at 475 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay. The Walk with Wildlife Guided Conservation Tour is a 75-minute guided walk along a 1.4km all-abilities path designed by Brian Massey, an art director on The Hobbit, and it visits the Conservation Ecology Centre Research Hub. Walks leave every hour on the hour from 10am to 3pm, with a 20-minute early arrival requested.

The Great Ocean Road Guided Wildlife Walk is another 75-minute guided walk through the Otways, with an audio headset and binoculars included, and Wildlife Wonders says 100% of its profits go to conservation and research. For something after dark, the Otways Wildlife Sanctuary Dusk Discovery Tour is a 2-hour outing for a small private group, with a light meal and nocturnal animals coming out as the sun sets. Its departure time shifts with the time of year and is confirmed when you book.

A sunrise balloon flight over Geelong

The Geelong hot air balloon flight gives a different view of the region: about an hour in the air above Port Phillip Bay, the Bellarine Peninsula and, on clear mornings, as far as the You Yangs. It starts around 5am at the Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong, with the exact meeting time sent by SMS the day before. Launch sites change with the wind, a buffet breakfast follows, and the pilot makes the final call on the morning if the weather turns.

Choosing a Geelong tour

Season narrows the field first. The Queenscliff dolphin and seal tours run from October to May, while the Wildlife Wonders walks are daily, and the operator suggests a warm jacket in winter and a rainproof one all year, since it can rain at any time in the Otway Ranges. Time of day narrows it further: dawn for the balloon, morning or afternoon on the water, daytime for the walks and dusk for the after-hours tour.

Most of these meet you at the operator's own base, at Queenscliff Boat Harbour, Apollo Bay or Geelong, rather than collecting you. For a full-day trip along the coast rather than a single stop, see the Great Ocean Road tours page.

Frequently asked questions

What tours can you take near Geelong?

Tours near Geelong include dolphin and seal swims and sightseeing cruises from Queenscliff, guided wildlife walks and a dusk tour at Wildlife Wonders in Apollo Bay, and a sunrise hot air balloon flight over Geelong.

When is dolphin and seal season near Geelong?

The Queenscliff dolphin and seal swim and sightseeing cruise run from October to May each year.

Do you need to swim to join the Queenscliff dolphin tour?

No. The Dolphin and Seal Swim Tour sells viewer tickets for people who prefer to stay on the boat, and snorkellers get tuition and all equipment, with no experience needed.

How long is the Wildlife Wonders walk at Apollo Bay?

The Walk with Wildlife Guided Conservation Tour is a 75-minute guided walk along a 1.4km path with a gentle gradient, and it suits sturdy prams.

What time does the Geelong hot air balloon take off?

The Geelong hot air balloon flight starts around 5am from the Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong, and the operator sends the exact meeting time by SMS the day before.

Are there Great Ocean Road tours from Geelong?

Wildlife Wonders in Apollo Bay is on the Great Ocean Road and offers guided walks and a dusk tour, and the Great Ocean Road tours page lists full-day trips along the coast.

Choose by season and start time, and a Geelong tour becomes the anchor for the rest of the day.