Young foodies to explore Geelong one bite at a time

A FLAVOUR-packed tasting trail is returning to central Geelong these school holidays, giving children the chance to explore their city, discover new tastes and make friends along the way.

The ‘G-Kids’ Tasting Trail’ discovery tour, to take place tomorrow (Friday, July 11), will be guided by June O’Brien, the owner of food tourism business Epic Taste Experiences, and will weave its way through some of central Geelong’s cultural hotspots, hidden gems and best-kept secrets, with a focus on highlighting produce local to the region.

Suitable for children aged between 7 and 14, the trail is all about trying new things and encouraging young tastebuds to explore foods they may otherwise assume they won’t like, while introducing parents to venues they may not have visited before.

“The whole point with any of these trails with kids is to let them be the judge and taste the food,” Ms O’Brien said.

“I want the kids to come and taste for themselves because quite often they are influenced by their parents.

“It’s about also getting them to eat good, healthy choices.”

The tasting trail comes off the back of its successful debut last year, that saw its eager participants sample Indian-inspired tacos, paella, raw oysters and more.

Several surprises have been planned for next week’s edition of the tour, but Ms O’Brien won’t give any of them away, with the menu remaining a closely guarded secret to allow children the best chance to sample without preconceptions.

“The kids all promised that they will try everything at least once, and it was fantastic, they all did. Even raw oysters… they all had a go,” Ms O’Brien said of last year’s trail.

Epic Taste Experiences’ popular ‘Arts & Eats’ tasting trail for adults will also return this year and will be held on July 12. While the session has already been booked out, additional dates are likely to be made available in the coming days.

The events form part of the month-long Tastes of Greater Geelong festival, held until July 20. This year’s festival will feature more than 80 events, spanning venues across the municipality, from Armstrong Creek and Corio to Portarlington, with a spotlight on the array of international cuisines available in Geelong.

For more information, or to secure tickets, head to geelong.link/Tastes2025