Eastern Beach is the Number 1 attraction in Geelong. After all, it is a stone’s throw from the city center. So when looking for Things to Do in Geelong – Eastern Beach can’t be overlooked.
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How to get to Eastern Beach
It doesn’t matter where you are in the Geelong city center, it’s a short stroll to Eastern Beach. Just walk North from anywhere in the city and you will run into Eastern Beach (or close to it). If you are driving, there is loads of parking. Parking is generally free after 5:30 pm, but most parking has parking meters which can become quite expensive.
The actual address is the corner of Eastern Beach Road and Bellarine Street, Geelong.
Things to See at Eastern Beach
People-watching and fitness boot camps are probably the most popular things to do at Eastern Beach. But there are loads of other activities, here are just a few.
- Enjoy a BBQ on the free Electric Barbecues
- Grab a cuppa at the historic waterfront Pavillion Cafe
- Swim in the historic pool/fountain – Eastern Beach Children’s Pool
- Swim in the caged ocean swimming pool (Eastern Beach Promenade)
- Dive from the diving tower or diving boards into the ocean pool
- Play in the waterfront children’s playground
- Walk around the Eastern Beach Promenade (walkway above the water)
- Ride the Thomas the Tank Engine Train (a.k.a. Eastern Beach Train Tour)
- Stroll along the lovely sandy beach
- Play beach volleyball on the permanent volleyball nets
- Grab an ice cream or gelato from the Gelato vans
- Enjoy the Bollard Trail Walk
- Ride on the Giant Sky Wheel (seasonal)
- Check out Eastern Beach Mineral Spring
Eastern Beach Barbecues
There are several free electric Barbecues on the eastern beach lawns. These are often the location for large family gatherings, especially on sunny weekend days and public holidays. But it’s normally not too difficult to find a vacant barbecue.
Pavillion Cafe
This is a favorite during summer when ice creams and icy poles are absolute favorites. But the Pavillion Cafe is also an ideal spot to have a nice cuppa and a chat.
Eastern Beach Children’s Pool
The Childen’s Pool is filled with fresh seawater and comes complete with a picturesque water fountain. With shallow parts for small kids, the Eastern Beach Children’s Pool gets very busy on a hot summer day.
Eastern Beach Promenade
The Promenade is the #1 attraction at Eastern Beach. This is a large boardwalk that also houses a shark-proof cage for safe swimming. The swimming area inside has a variety of diving platforms, diving boards, and fun rollers.
You will see middle-aged gentlemen swimming inside the Eastern Beach Promenade every day of the year, it has become somewhat of a religion amongst the locals!
Eastern Beach Playground
The Children’s Playground at Eastern Beach is one of the best in the area. The variety of play equipment is staggering for kids between about 2 and 10 years old. And there is some wonderful seating areas for the parents to lazily wait for the kids to get bored, which is likely to take most of the day!
Eastern Beach Train Tour
The Thomas the Tank Engine tour is somewhat of a legend in these parts. The Children’s train weaves its way through the Eastern Beach area, all the way along the other parts of the waterfront. Rides are about $8 and run continuously on most days. Just look for one of the many sign-posted stops and pay the driver.
Stroll Along The Sandy Beach
No trip to Eastern Beach is complete without a stroll along the lovely white sandy beach. It’s a great spot for a photo with Geelong Yacht Club in the background.
Play Volley Ball on Eastern Beach
There are 2 beach volleyball nets permanently set up about halfway along the white sandy Eastern Beach. The sand is fine and expansive, just perfect for beach volleyball. So pack an esky, a few friends and a volleyball if you can.
Gelati Anyone?
There is usually a Gelati van parked at both ends of Eastern Beach. They also sell soft serve and regular ice cream, but they are best known for their large range of delicious Gelati treats.
Bollard Trail Walk
As you stroll along Eastern Beach, you will definitely notice several colorful bollards. These are iconic around Geelong, and there are well over 100 of them along the waterfront alone. These are the most instagrammable features along the Eastern Beach area for sure.
The Giant Skywheel
The Giant Skywheel comes and goes, but you will normally see it set up at the Eastern end of Eastern Beach. They run into the evening, and around sunset is probably the best time to enjoy the Giant Skywheel.
Eastern Beach Mineral Spring
Right up at the western end of the beach, past the promenade, you will find the historic site of the Eastern Beach Mineral Spring. Not really a big tourist attraction, it’s well worth a look for the more curious among you.
The Big Fountain
Above the Pavillion Cafe is a large picturesque water fountain. This is a fantastic spot for a family photo on a warm summer day, as you will see the entire promenade area in the background. This is the postcard shot you will often see of Eastern Beach.
Enjoy Eastern Beach Geelong
As you can see there is so much to see and do around the Eastern Beach precinct of Geelong. It is quite easy to spend 3-4 hours wandering around enjoying the sites. When you’re finished with that, check out our full list of Things to Do in Geelong, where you will find loads of other interesting attractions.
