The Greater Geelong area is absolutely terrible for picnic opportunities. You can’t walk 100 metres without stumbling across a perfectly lush patch of grass or a secluded beach overlooking some crystal blue water.

Spread out the really big picnic rug and grab some fish and chips at one of our top ten picnic spots in this world class corner of Victoria.

EASTERN BEACH FORESHORE, GEELONG

An iconic Geelong meeting place and picnic spot, the steep grassy slopes of Eastern Beach are a picnickers’ delight. There’s an outdoor, kid-friendly wading pool, a fully enclosed baths-style swimming area and an awesome playground for the kids. There’s even a ferris wheel!

GEELONG BOTANIC GARDENS

Smell the roses and take a self-guided walking trail to pick up fallen leaves and flowers with the kids, or settle in for the morning with a coffee and cake served straight to your picnic rug from The TeaHouse café.

THE DELL, CLIFTON SPRINGS

A natural amphitheatre, the sheltered Dell is one of the Geelong region’s hidden treasures (pictured).

It’s a bit of a walk down from the cliff top but once you’re there, the secluded reserve boasts calm, shallow water, myriad grassed areas with BBQs and stunning views over Port Philip Bay.

PORTARLINGTON FORESHORE

With towering pine trees and a stunning expanse of manicured lawn, Portarlington is the perfect shady spot to grab an ice cream and picnic the day away.

On a clear day you can spot the outline of the high rises of Melbourne and thank your lucky stars you’re a world away from the rat race.

PRINCESS PARK, QUEENSCLIFF

With an abundance of beautiful old pine trees, a state -of-the-art playground and amenities, this grassy reserve backs onto the Queenscliff front beach and is the perfect spot to settle in for the afternoon and into the evening.

Most importantly, it’s super close to a fish and chip shop. And a pub.

POINT LONSDALE FORESHORE RESERVE

The green slopes at the Lonny front beach have been through a lot of rejuvenation over the years, but this season they’re finally looking lush and picnic-ready.

Overlooking Point Lonsdale bay with views stretching across to Point Nepean and the Mornington Peninsula, there aren’t many better picnic spots for a warm summer’s evening.

Bonus points for the maritime themed kids playground to keep the little ones entertained.

OCEAN GROVE SURF BEACH, ROTUNDA PICNIC AREA

With perfect strips of green grass overlooking the cobalt blues of Bass Strait, the Rotunda picnic area is a lovely little surf check spot to unwind with a coffee.

If shade is a requirement of the day, there’s a public access Rotunda with electric BBQs so you can tuck into a hot snag or two after a long day at the beach.

BARWON HEADS PLAYGROUND, FRANK ELLIS RESERVE

Where the Barwon River meets the sea, Barwon Heads is a bustling coastal town whose population swells during the summer months with day trippers and holiday makers from Geelong and Melbourne.

This little spot on the foreshore is adjacent to the Barwon Heads Pub and boasts an impressive playground with an even more impressive and usually calm stretch of riverside beach popular amongst standup paddle boarders.

TORQUAY FRONT BEACH

The surfing capital of Australia, Torquay is a vibrant seaside resort town whose beaches are wildly popular all year round with surfers and joggers alike.

Anywhere from Fisherman’s Beach on Zeally Bay (or Fisho’s, as known by the locals) round to the front beach is our bet for the best picnic spot. The beach is more sheltered than the back beaches from Jan Juc to Bells, and there’s an amazing playground and a plethora of beach bars and restaurants to choose from along the Esplanade.

LORNE MAIN BEACH

This thriving coastal bush paradise is another summer mecca for Melbournians and Geelong residents looking to escape the city heat.

As far as exceptionally placed, enormous expanses of lush shorefront lawn go, Lorne takes the cake. Grab a shady spot amongst the gum trees and be prepared for a visit from a sulphur crested cockatoo, or two.

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