5 Things To Do With Kids in Geelong

Geelong in Victoria, offers a stunning coastline with golden beaches, a cosmopolitan waterfront and excellent access to water sports.

Create unforgettable memories with your kids in this family-friendly city.  From seaside playgrounds and sprawling Botanic Gardens to discovering great art with interactive digital apps. Get outdoors and take in the public art walks, play spaces and thrilling adventures.
 

Here is our guide to the top five things to do with kids in Geelong.

Stretching over 200 acres in east Geelong, the Botanic Gardens have been a feature of Geelong for over 150 years. The gardens offer a stunning blend of traditional and modern landscapes including the waterwise 21st Century Garden.

As you stroll around the grounds you will come across the iconic Geelong bollards and a range of garden sculptures. Incorporated into the landscape, The Sunken Glass House is one of the oldest buildings in the Botanic Gardens and it features seasonal plants throughout the year. 

Young nature lovers can join interactive Early Learning programs in the Food Bowl Garden. Interactive workshops, like the Pollinators Garden Workshop and Plant Features and Lifecycles connect young children to nature and gardening from a young age. 

You can also explore the Botanic Gardens through expert guided walks led by passionate volunteers who share fascinating stories, the history of the gardens and insights into the diverse plant collections.  

You will find the WYM Cafe nestled among the beautiful Fern Glade where you can enjoy pastries, cakes, healthy salads, wraps and toasties. Entry to the Botanic Gardens is free and there is also free parking and multiple public restrooms located throughout the gardens.

Located along the shores of Corio Bay, Geelong Waterfront is a vibrant area with restaurants, cafes, entertainment, landscaped gardens and public art. Offering a perfect blend of city life and natural beauty, the Waterfront is an ideal spot for families with lawns for picnicking and space for kids to run around.

Family-friendly activities include a large adventure playground, a Giant Sky Wheel, a beautifully restored circa 1892 carousel and the Eastern Beach miniature train, which stops at various locations along the way.

Public art includes talking bollards - colourful sculptures depicting characters from Geelong’s history. The bollards come to life and share their stories if you download the augmented reality app Activate Geelong.

The Waterfront promenade is ideal for jogging, walking, cycling and rollerblading and you can cool off at Leisure Link’s Winter Garden Splash Park.

Designed for all ages it offers a safe environment over the weekends and school holidays for families to enjoy the four pools, water cannons, giant tipping bucket, fountains and splash pad for the little ones. 
 

Geelong Waterfront also offers a variety of dining options with outdoor seating. From casual cafes to family style restaurants like Pavilion and Sailors Rest who offer kid-friendly menus and relaxed atmospheres. Head to Sailors Rest’s rooftop bar - the only one you’ll find along Geelong’s stunning waterfront for a pint and cocktails or enjoy freshly caught seafood while taking in the stunning views of Corio Bay at Fisherman’s Pier.  

You can also a grab a bite to eat from one of the many food trucks situated along the promenade. The Makers & Growers' Market is the place to be on the first Sunday of every month. Here you can stock up on local produce, buy locally made handicrafts and enjoy live music and a range food trucks.

For families looking for water-based adventure you can go jet skiing and stand-up paddle boarding - Action Water Sports offers rentals and classes. 

The Geelong Gallery, located in the cultural precinct on Little Malop Street, overlooks the Johnstone Park. It is particularly family-friendly with a special interactive digital tour guide named Orby.

The Orby app enhances your journey through the gallery and even brings artwork to life when you return home. Obry shares playful stories about artists and their works – like famed Aboriginal artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Australian artists Clarice Becket and Frederick McCubbin and Austrian-born artist Eugène von Guérard.

The Gallery Tots sessions offer play based activites and interactive storytelling for three and four year olds. Spark their imagination with arts and crafts, painting and inspired decorative art workshops. Contact the gallery to find out more.

Exposing kids to art at an early age helps to develop emotional expression, cultural awareness and promote a lifelong appreciation for the arts. Activities like the one’s Gallery Tots offers, encourages curiosity and offers hands-on learning.

Victoria's biggest water theme park, Adventure Park offers twenty-one thrilling rides including four world record waterslides and a lazy river. Families with older kids can bond over adrenalin adventures like the Tsunami triple-funnel waterslide, the Tornado - the biggest and longest waterslide in Victoria, and the six lane Aqua Racer.

Thrill-seekers can also soar twenty metres into the sky on the Air Balloons tower ride. Bonito’s Bay Water Play Zone offers smaller kids a Caribbean pirate adventure with splash pools, slides, and tipping buckets. There are also dry rides like the Crazy Coaster, Little Buggy Speedway and kids can spin around in classic Tea Cups. 

If you are planning on spending the whole day at the Adventure Park - bring along sun protection and consider reserving a  cabana or sunbed ahead of arriving. There are different cabana or sunbed locations in the park including Treetop Cabanas that offer a birds eye view of the park, the Tiny Tots cabanas with easy access to the splash pad, the sundeck cabana, or upgrade to a VIP cabana on the Lazy River.

All twenty-one water and theme park rides are included in the price of admission. The Adventure Park closes during the winter months and reopens annually in November. 

Just a short walk from the Botanical Gardens is the imaginative Geelong Play Space, where all kids, no matter their abilities can play together. The space has been designed for kids of  varying ages and needs, including those with special needs.

Play is such a big part of childhood – its where kids use their imagination, have fun, and play together without adult interference. Places like the Geelong Play Space which features the Australian designed Liberty Swing (a wheelchair-friendly swing), means kids in wheelchairs get to swing alongside their friends and feel included. 

The Play Space also offers different play areas including a pirate ship, interactive sound areas, a climbing area and a sandpit. It’s also a  great spot for a family picnic with under cover barbecues and picnic tables adjacent to the Play Space.

To use the Liberty Swing, you’ll need an MLAK key to access the safety belt compartment and to release the ramp on the swing. You can pick up a key from The Carousel at the Geelong Waterfront or the National Wool Museum on Morrabool Street.

Geelong has lots to offer families and the city makes for a fantastic half day, full day or as a week-long holiday destination.

• Only an hour from Melbourne, Geelong is easily accessible by freeway or the VLine Train.
• To cut down on expenses, plan to incorporate free activities as into your Geelong itinerary, like exploring parks, playgrounds, and the Geelong Waterfront.
• Pack comfortable walking shoes, hats, sunscreen and bring along water and snacks on excursions.
• Plan ahead and book online as much as possible to avoid queues and disappointment.

For accommodation options in Geelong, Novotel Geelong offers one of the best locations in the city, right on the waterfront and in the heart of the CBD. It’s a great base for families with its cosy family rooms and special perks when you’re staying with kids.

Every room comes with a balcony – some even with stunning water views. You’ll enjoy free WiFi and LCD TVs with Foxtel. Enjoy workouts in the InBalance Fitness Centre and take a dip in the heated outdoor pool or unwind in the steam room.

Novotel Geelong’s waterfront restaurant, Tempo Kitchen & Bar serves up delicious seafood dishes with its grill-style menu.