Your ultimate weekend guide to exploring the best of Geelong

Crowne Plaza Geelong: Located on the waterfront and with 200 rooms to choose from - many featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views across Corio Bay - this is the city's largest and newest premium accommodation. With an onsite cafe, Italian restaurant and spectacular 10th-level sky bar, the hotel is perfect for those who don't want to stray far from their room. Prices start from about $250 per night. ihg.com

Waterfront Apartments: These modern apartments are located just steps from the sand of Corio Bay and boast private balconies with water views over Eastern Beach. The self-contained apartments are perfect for those staying a bit longer, with each featuring a full kitchen and laundry facilities. Prices start at about $200 per night. stayingeelong.com

Geelong Holiday Park: A gateway to both the Geelong waterfront and the Bellarine Peninsula, this is a fantastic, pocket-friendly base for families. With options ranging from $38 for a powered campsite on grass to $180 for a three-bedroom villa, there's a space to suit every budget. Amenities include a heated swimming pool, outdoor bouncing pillow and a camp kitchen, catering for the whole family. hampshireholidays.com.au

Provenance Restaurant: Nestled on the edge of the Barwon River, this spectacular, heritage-listed 19th-century bluestone paper mill has been transformed into a breathtaking dining room that delivers a modern Australian menu designed to complement the cool-climate drops on offer. The hyper-local ingredients are so seasonal, some of the produce is handpicked from nearby suburban backyards. Letting the kitchen take the wheel with the chef's three-course Feed Me set menu is the best way to experience this, complemented by expertly matched wines curated by the venue's passionate staff. provenancewines.com.au

Retreat Restaurant and Bar: Tucked inside a heritage-listed former post office, this offers intimate French dining while extending its history of community and connection into a new chapter. Cosy and full of character, it's a perfect spot for casual or pre-dinner aperitifs and a relaxed meal that showcases the specific flavours of the region, including anchovy pissaladiere and confit duck leg with cotechino sausage. theretreat.au

Born & Bread Bakehouse: After settling into a larger home in an old mechanics workshop on Pakington Street since January, this cult favourite offers artisan pastries and rustic breads, crafted from local organic flour and dairy. This is the place for parents to join the weekend morning queue for their espresso fix and pain au chocolate, while the kids eye off the popular pecan sticky buns. bornandbreadbakehouse.com.au

Spin the wheel: If you want to call on your artistic flair in a beautifully revamped bluestone building by the tranquil sound of flowing water, this is it. Tucked inside the historic Fyansford Paper Mill Precinct and overlooking the Barwon River, Elizabeth Bell Ceramics breathes new life into the industrial site. Visitors can immerse themselves in a hands-on ceramics class or learn the art of wheel-throwing or hand-building, before the studio fires and glazes your favourite creation, leaving you with a beautiful, custom takeaway piece that is ready for collection in four-five weeks. elizabethbellceramics.com

Waterfront wonders: Geelong's vibrant waterfront precinct offers plenty of adventure for the whole family. Kids can jump aboard the historic 1892 vintage carousel, ride the iconic trackless train or the giant Sky Wheel, and hunt for the more than 100 whimsical, hand-painted bollards, depicting historical figures to everyday people who shaped the city's past. Follow the promenade down to the Eastern Beach reserve, complete with enclosed sea baths and an art deco children's pool. While a playground for kids, the waterfront is equally equipped for parents looking to unwind or take a leisurely walk along the 250-metre-long Cunningham Pier.

Getting there: Geelong is highly accessible, sitting just an hour's drive from Melbourne's central business district. If you prefer to take public transport, V/Line operates a train from Southern Cross Station to Geelong Station every 30 minutes, taking just over an hour.

Getting around: While the waterfront promenade is walkable, having a car is highly recommended if you plan to explore the large regional city. Reaching areas like the Fyansford Paper Mill or embarking on a coastal drive through the nearby Bellarine Peninsula is much easier with your own transport.

Good to know: As the second-oldest AFL club behind Melbourne, the Geelong Cats are the heartbeat of the region. That means the roads, trains, pubs and cafes will be packed during a home game at GMHBA Stadium (Kardinia Park). Check the local fixture list before you drive down to avoid any pre- or post-game gridlock.

Explore more: tourismgeelongbellarine.com.au

The writer was a guest of Crowne Plaza Geelong and Visit Victoria