Celebrating our region

There is a reason around six million people visit the Greater Geelong region every year. We live in a beautiful part of the world, with so much to see and do.

Sometimes as residents, it’s easy to forget what we have around us.

With interstate travel now opening up again, I’m sure many of us are understandably itching to get on an aeroplane or dust off the caravan and spend some time in a different part of Australia.

But I would love to see this summer become all about the ‘staycation’ for the Greater Geelong community.

Our local tourism industry has been hit incredibly hard by the events of the past eight months and, as a community, we have an opportunity to help their recovery by supporting local however we can.

And given the Victorian Government has focused the easing of restrictions around outdoor activities, it’s also a perfect time to discover some gems in this region that you may not have visited before (or maybe re-discover some old favourites).

As a Lara resident and proud representative of Geelong’s north, I’m a little bit biased – but I don’t think there are many better places for a day out than the You Yangs.

It’s a stunning place for a hike or a picnic, with spectacular 360 degree views from Flinders Peak taking in Geelong, Melbourne and Port Phillip.

And something many people might not know: because it’s a Regional Park and not a National Park, you can also take your dog!

The You Yangs are very significant to the Traditional Owners, the Wadawurrung people – so it’s a good place to learn a little about the cultural heritage of this region stretching back thousands of years.

Near the top of Flinders Peak there’s a lookout over the Bunjil Geoglyph below.

This is a rock sculpture of Bunjil, the creator spirit of the Wadawurrung people in the form of a wedge-tailed eagle.

And at Big Rock, there are wells that were chiselled and burnt out of rock to hold drinking water. These were relied upon by the Wadawurrung in times when water was scarce.

Nearby Serendip Sanctuary is also a beautiful place to visit, especially if you want to see some native Australian wildlife.

There are kangaroos, wallabies, emus and more than 150 species of birds – many of them rare and endangered.

It also features picnic areas and BBQs, making it a great spot for a day out with the family.

In and around Lara and Little River there are many other places of interest too.

The Lara Museum in the old Lake Bank Hotel – Lara’s only surviving 19th century hotel – offers an interesting look at the history of the town and also has a very well kept garden.

And speaking of gardens, the Roraima Nursery specialises in unusual and exotic plants, and also features a fantastic range of metal sculptures. An inspiring place for anyone looking for some fresh ideas for the backyard.

The Kevin Hoffman Walk is a real hidden gem along Hovells Creek in Lara. It’s easy to access and features more than 1000 different species of Australian native plants and flowers. It’s a popular place for photographers because there’s always something in bloom.

The Little River Mechanics Institute is a beautiful building with services run by passionate volunteers.

It has a heritage library that includes some original books from the institute’s beginnings in 1910, as well as a collection of local, rural and Aboriginal Australian history.

So while visitors will naturally flock to the Geelong waterfront and the beaches of the Bellarine this summer, those are just some ideas for a day trip in a different direction.

Geelong’s north is a wonderful place to visit and I recommend you come and enjoy it – and support our local cafes and restaurants while you’re here.

For more ideas about things to do locally over the summer, visit www.visitgeelongbellarine.com.au.

And if you’re in the mood to discover a new park or nature reserve anywhere in the Greater Geelong region, www.geelongaustralia.com.au/embracethespace is a good resource.

As it becomes more crowded with the arrival of summer visitors, the City of Greater Geelong is encouraging everyone to stay COVID-safe by ’embracing the space’ and spreading out at some of our lesser known outdoor spaces.

There are 334 parks and kilometres of protected natural habitat and wetlands in this region – why not discover a new one this weekend?

Finally, if you would like to get in touch with me about any local issue, please do: [email protected].