Geelong & The Q Train Experience
Days:
5 Days
Activity:
2. Moderate
Transport:
Fly
$3,195.00
Tour description
Discover the charm and character of Victoria’s vibrant port city on this beautifully curated journey through Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and Melbourne. With its sparkling waterfront, proud industrial heritage and welcoming community spirit, Geelong provides the perfect base for exploring the region. From coastal drives to Torquay, Bells Beach and Lorne to visits to Barwon Park Mansion, the National Wool Museum and the historic Geelong Gaol, each day offers a blend of history, scenery and relaxed discovery. The Bellarine Peninsula adds its own flavour with sweeping farmlands, seaside villages and tranquil wetlands teeming with birdlife.
A highlight of the tour is the unforgettable Q Train Experience—a moving gourmet journey through the Bellarine countryside. As you travel from Drysdale to Queenscliff aboard this award-winning restaurant on rails, you’ll enjoy a beautifully crafted five-course degustation featuring the finest local produce, paired with regional wines and ever-changing views. The tour concludes with a night in Melbourne, where world-class galleries, iconic sporting venues, riverside precincts and a flourishing arts culture showcase why the city is often called Australia’s cultural capital. With comfortable accommodation, thoughtfully planned experiences and all the care of an OCT tour, this getaway offers the perfect mix of food, scenery, history and indulgence.
Tour Departure Location = Sydney
Travelling from somewhere else? After selecting your room, click Book Now and add an alternative return flight to your booking.
Ex Brisbane – From $3,395 pp
Ex Adelaide – From $3,395 pp
If you wish to depart from any other location, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team for a personalised flight quote.
Itinerary
Our adventure begins as we fly from Sydney to Melbourne, then journey to Geelong, a vibrant city blending waterfront charm with rich history. After we enjoy lunch, we step inside the formidable Geelong Gaol, exploring its bluestone walls and hearing tales of life behind bars from the 19th century. We then visit the fascinating National Wool Museum, discovering Australia’s wool industry through interactive displays and heritage exhibits. Later, we settle into our hotel and gather for a welcome dinner, sharing stories and anticipation for the days ahead.
Holiday Inn Geelong
Lunch, Dinner
This morning, we journey to Barwon Park Mansion, a magnificent 42-room bluestone homestead built in the 1870s. Over morning tea, we learn about the Austin family and life on a 19th-century pastoral estate before touring the grand interiors and gardens. We enjoy lunch nearby, then travel the breathtaking Great Ocean Road, where rugged cliffs and crashing waves reveal one of Australia’s most scenic drives. A short stop at Bells Beach, famous for its surf and spectacular views, offers the perfect photo opportunity before returning to Geelong for dinner.
Overnight: Holiday Inn Geelong
Meals Included: Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch, Dinner
After a leisurely morning, we travel to Drysdale Railway Station to board the Q Train, a unique rail dining experience that transforms the historic Bellarine Railway into a moving restaurant. As we journey toward Queenscliff, we savour a five-course degustation, crafted from seasonal local produce and paired with Bellarine wines, all enjoyed within beautifully restored heritage carriages. Panoramic windows reveal rolling farmland and glimpses of the coast, making this a truly memorable highlight of our tour. Returning to Geelong, the afternoon is free to explore at leisure before we gather for dinner together at the hotel.
Overnight: Holiday Inn Geelong
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, we farewell Geelong and travel to Werribee, where we embark on an open-range adventure at the Werribee Zoo, home to majestic animals from across the globe. We then enjoy lunch and a peaceful stroll through the fragrant Werribee Rose Gardens before continuing to Melbourne. After checking into our hotel, we relax over dinner, ready for tomorrow’s city highlights.
Overnight: Best Western Travel Inn Carlton
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we set out to explore Melbourne’s city highlights, discovering its blend of grand architecture, leafy boulevards, and cultural landmarks. We pause for morning tea in the serene Royal Botanic Gardens before touring the legendary Melbourne Cricket Ground, a temple of Australian sport. Over a final lunch together, we share reflections on our journey before transferring to the airport for our flight home.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch
Activity Levels
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1. Easy
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2. Moderate
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3. Active Moderate
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4. Adventurous
Testimonials
Hi Kerry Great trip as usual in the Alps. Hans was able to secure 2nd spot on the bus line and we were away very quickly leaving lines of buses behind us. The motel was excellent and the food service the quality A1. The chap in charge of the Bar and foor service, lan, was most attentive and with the help of Hans did a wonderful job of keeping everyone happy. The escorted Tour of Albury by Allan was one of the best I have encountered. The Hibernian Hotel was ‘spot on’, the hotel was spacious and the food perfect. The Red Stag Deer Farm was without doubt one of the highlights of the trip. The complex looks over the valley with sweeping views. The owners gave a very informative and entertaining talk and we really could have stayed longer. I believe it would be an ideal venue for a bit of variety to say have morning tea at Bright and then go to the Red Stag for Iunch and a talk by them. They did well out of the bus with people buying lots of their products. Most of the people on the bus have done the same Bright trip previously in one form or another and the inclusion of this I feel would draw other ‘past’ travellers to do the same trip again. I know I can speak for everyone, it was a top trip.
Regards David
Re: Batemans Bay Hi Debbie, We have just returned from a 4-day trip to Bateman’s Bay with with Jimmy as our driver. I wanted to email to tell you how good he was. He was so friendly and pleasant, nothing was too much trouble, and his help / support of our older Ex-Servicemen and their wives was outstanding. He was also very interested in out stories which was lovely. I know we always get that level of service from OnCourse, and wanted you to know that it continued with Jimmy. He was so articulate on the microphone and always had some interesting bits of information about where we were or where we were near. The weather on our trip could have been better, but he did his best, moved things around, found places for us to stop in the rain, and always with a smile on his face and made the trip so enjoyable. His handling of the coach was also something we all commented on. Once again, another lovely trip away, and I wouldn’t hesitate to go on any trip Jimmy was involved in.
