Off-Peak. On Point: Geelong boasts the best of fine art and delicious dining

Go Off-Peak and reap the benefits.

There’s something spectacular about central Geelong during the ‘off-peak’ season. The renowned waterfront ripples with movement, ebbing and flowing from calm to chaotic and breathing life into the bay. Boats bob up and down, Melbourne is merely a mist across the other side of Corio Bay and the horizon doesn’t seem so far away. 

Further into the city centre, the off-peak period is on-point, bringing a sense of relaxation. Visitors and locals light up the town, gathering at the pub to watch the footy, wining and dining with ease, hospitality hopping from day into the night, and exploring the world-class exhibitions and performances programmed in local art spaces. Adding to the mystifying atmosphere, in the evening the neon lights of Little Malop Street’s dining strip reflect on the glistening pavement, guiding you from the activities of the arts precinct into the hearty hospitality hotspot. Yes the off-peak season in Geelong is on-point, and this year is no different with award-winning experiences on offer.

Keep up to date with what is happening in and around regional Victoria here.

Art drives the attraction.

 

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The off-peak period sees the annual The Archibald Art Prize make an exclusive Victorian visit to Geelong Gallery. The most prestigious art prize in Australia, The Archibald Prize is awarded annually to the best portrait, ‘preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in art, letters, science or politics, painted by any artist resident in Australasia’. This year the title was awarded to Julie Fragar for her portrait of fellow artist Justene Williams, titled “Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene)”. The Geelong Gallery is the first touring venue to display the work, along with the portraits from all finalists from the competition judged at the Art Gallery of NSW. It opens Saturday 30 August and runs until Sunday 9 November.

Within the arts and culture precinct, sitting across the road, Geelong Arts Centre has a dynamic program of performances on offer, including stand-up comedy from Lawrence Mooney, Geraldine Hickey and Llyod Langford, tribute shows to Olivia Newton John, Neil Diamond, Robbie Williams, Taylor Swift and artists of the 60’s and 70’s, Leo Sayers Still Feel Like Dancing? sell-out show and the highly anticipated season of ballet/circus fused feature Duck Pond from Yaron Lifschitz & The Circa Ensemble. 

 

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Next door, contemporary and experimental arts house, Platform Arts deliver a curation of arts experiences exploring contemporary identity and the mediated self in season Un/scripted. Works include Villain Edit and performance piece Death Warmed Up from boundary-pushing artist Georgia Banks, a costume and character workshop delivered by award-winning fashion and wearable art designer Lazarus, movement workshop, Unscripting the Body with Jessica Tanto, and more.

Dining defines the stay.

 

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From performance to plate, the waft of warm food will lure you down Little Malop. Sober Ramen tingles the nose with their piping hot bowls of authentic Japanese ramen, and delicious dumplings. Share a selection of the finest foods and drinks with a modern Middle Eastern twist at The Arborist. Executive Chef Anthony Hammel and Head Chef Chantal Chenery have designed a menu ready to ravish the mouth. 

Warm up by the fire at Cellar Door with a glass of red and a charcuterie board of the region’s best deli meats and cheeses. Fancy taking in the still of the street? Sit under the large umbrellas by the outdoor heaters and soak in the sounds of the city. Top off the night with a stop into the cosy, secret speakeasy, The 18th Amendment Bar. This prohibition bar from the creative hospitality mind of Gorge Camorra, turns cocktails into creations. Their winter warmers are taken from film references, the Nosferatu is a wicked blend of feijoa gin, elderflower liqueur, absinthe, peppercorn agave, topped with aloe soda. Their hot buttered secret is a concoction of gin, macadamia liquor, butter syrup, berry tea and a touch of honey, served hot, hot hot! In addition, their signature cocktail list includes electrifying edition the Thomas Edison – vodka, melon, lychee, mint, acid and flower, served in a lightbulb that literally leaves you buzzing, and their Bonnie and Clyde is a dangerous pairing of vodka, passionfruit, coconut, citrus and foam.

In addition, fine dining restaurant Felix Restaurant will be launching a brunch menu, offering a free coffee or tea to The Archibald Prize ticket holders.

 

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Hibernation is hardly part of Geelong’s off-peak wiring. The city is ablaze with installation, performance, and culinary delights

This article was made in conjunction with Visit Geelong Bellarine.