Bellarine Rail Trail

A 35km shared trail along the former Geelong-Queenscliff railway (opened 1879, closed 1976, a rail trail since 2000), linking South Geelong with Queenscliff across the Bellarine Peninsula. It starts in Geelong's southern suburbs, climbs gently through Leopold and Curlewis to Drysdale, then runs through open farmland beside the Bellarine Railway heritage line (steam and diesel tourist trains operate between Drysdale and Queenscliff) before finishing around Swan Bay at Queenscliff. Easy, mostly flat riding suitable for families, with towns offering full services at Geelong, Leopold, Drysdale and Queenscliff and wineries on the Drysdale-Queenscliff section. Trip-planning notes: about 1km near Point Lonsdale has historically been on-road, and the Bellarine Railway kiosk at Drysdale station only opens when trains run.

South Geelong Station via Amphlett Way and Carr St, across Breakwater Rd and Boundary Rd, then Moolap and Leopold (roughly 7km from Leopold to the Drysdale Station Reserve, which has toilets, playground, BBQs and drinking water). Past Curlewis to Drysdale (about 16km from South Geelong), then south through the former Mannerim and Suma Park stations (beside Suma Park winery) towards Point Lonsdale and along Swan Bay to Queenscliff station.