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REGIONAL VICTORIA
WITH THE 50TH NATIONAL LIONS CONVENTION JUST
successfully staged in Geelong and attended by 1800 delegates,
the city is moving ahead in leaps and bounds. In 2003 Geelong
will host many conferences, of which will be two major Rotary
conventions and two international academic meetings.
A recent win for the International Sailing Summit will see
major players of the sailing industry descend on Geelong from
around the world next year for a four day conference at the Four
Points Sheraton in combination with the annual Bundaberg
Rum Festival of Sail.
It is Geelong's proximity to Melbourne, its diverse range of
conference properties, and the many and varied off-site activities
that is seeing the city attract a greater number of corporate meetings,
conferences and special events.
Hand in hand with the region's growth in conference business
is the rejuvenation of Geelong's waterfront transforming it from
an industrial port to a vibrant leisure precinct. New restaurants and
wide walking, skating and cycle paths make it an attractive area to
enjoy after a busy day of meetings, or for unique dining experiences.
Before or after dining, delegates can take a stroll around
Corio Bay to see the new art installations along the foreshore,
including the 104 Baywalk Bollards, created by local artist Jan
Mitchell. Other artworks by Mark Stoner and Maggie Fookes
and Bill Perrin are also located here, and well worth a visit.
As an extension of the waterfront, Geelong's central activities
district has also been undergoing beautification.
Nearby destinations that offer a wide choice of experiences
and facilities include: Lorne, Bellarine, Queenscliff, Barwon Heads,
Torquay and Anglesea.
Lorne is set between Loutitt Bay and the lush, cool Otway
forests. In Lorne delegates can wander the foreshore, hire a sea
kayak, learn to surf and hire a paddleboat. It is home to the
award-winning Cumberland Lorne Conference and Leisure
Resort one of the region's most popular venues for meetings.
Bellarine is the region just outside Drysdale on the
Bellarine Peninsular which has fast become a key wine growing
district and home to major producers such as the Scotchmans
Hill Group. The historic homestead of Spray Farm located in
Bellarine is a fantastic venue for corporate events and meetings
as is the impressive Bellarine Estate Winery.
The seaside village of Queenscliff was once a holiday resort
for Melburnians who arrived by steamboat. Here visitors can
walk the streets to view imposing Victorian-era hotels, charming
old churches and quaint galleries. Besides the well preserved
architecture Queenscliff is a key focal point to undertake such
activities as fishing, diving, snorkelling and dolphin and seal
watching.The Vue Grand Hotel and the Ozone Hotel are both
located here.
Barwon Heads is a picturesque village at the mouth of the
Barwon River. The popular ABC television series Sea Change
was filmed here, whilst Torquay and Anglesea are renowned surf
coast towns offering plenty of beach/water activities.
Off-site activities
With more than 20 vineyards dotted throughout the region,
conference delegates can break meetings with intimate wine
tastings at cellar doors or even enjoy an off-site dinner at one of
the renowned venues such as Spray Farm Historic Homestead
or Pettavel Winery.
Indeed, the Geelong wine region dates back to 1879 and
now produces some of the highest quality wines in the world. It
remains one of the gems of the Australian wine making industry
and is one of the few regions where wineries are family owned
and produce only premium and ultra-premium, estate grown,
bottled wines.
For the golf enthusiast there are 20 courses to choose from.
Some of the more popular courses are Curlewis, Queenscliff,
Geelong, and now the challenging 13th Beach at Barwon Heads.
Those who prefer to immerse themselves in the natural
environment can enjoy the natural beauty of the Great Ocean
Road, the Otway Ranges,You Yangs, and a multitude of national
parks. For delegates looking for more adrenaline charged activities
you can try your hand at sky diving, learning to surf at the world
famous Bells Beach, indoor rock climbing, parasailing, game
fishing, swimming with the seals and dolphins, flying over the
12 Apostles or just cruising on the bay.
GEELONG ATTRACTS THE
Big Events
The Geelong region of Victoria, about one hour south-west of Melbourne, is increasingly
attracting a larger share of meetings business both from the Melbourne corporate market and nationally thanks to a
growing inventory of quality venues and new product.
