The expo featured some amazing cruise deals and international travel specials plus a great range of bargain package deal holidays which were especially for the expo. There were over twenty free travel seminars which spread over three theatrettes of the hotel and a their huge showroom featured many of Australia’s leading travel providers as well as the Geelong Travel staff who were able to give valuable information to the more than 4000 people who attended.

The day was broadcast live on Geelong’s BayFM radio station and there were quite a few special guests pop in to greet the crowd including the Geelong Cats Premiership player Andrew Mackie.

For those who missed out there will be further Geelong Travel and Cruise Expo’s later in the year, keep an eye out on Intown for upcoming dates as they come to hand.

If you have some picks or tips or your own please drop us an email at info@intown.com.au Tweet us at @IntownGeelong or put something on our Facebook page at IntownGeelong – why not like us while you are there! Another great idea is put our free Android and iPhone app on your phone, and then you will have a direct link to us.

We have got through the Australia Day holiday and summer is in full strength. Here’s some of the best the region has to offer.

Events

Run Colac Charity Day
The 3rd of February sees a charity run for runners chosen charity Starting at the Botanical Gardens in Colac.

Heritage Festival
Colac P&A Society hosts a huge heritage festival at the Colac Showgrounds on the 4th and 5th of February. this festival will feature crafts, vintage machinery and plenty of fun activities.

Races at Geelong
The Geelong Race club hosts a meet on the 3rd of February at the Geelong racecourse in Breakwater. Pack a picnic, put on some fancy clobber and have a small flutter on the ponies.

Geelong Street Rodders at Queenscliff
There will be some magnificent machines around Queenscliff this weekend when the Geelong Street Rodders display their hot rods at the Queenscliff Recreational Reserve. This annual climaxes on Sunday with a Show and Shine on Sunday.

Rugby in Geelong
Friday night the 3rd sees the FxProo Super Rugby Trial Match between the RaboDirect Rebels and the Chiefs at Simons Stadium Kardinia Park

Markets

The Geelong Night Market – Johnstone Park
The third in the series of night markets at Johnstone Park takes place this Friday evening from about 5PM. This market is not to be missed, it’s got a great selection of international cuisine, wide selection of market stalls and the entertainment over the past few weeks has been sensational, and this week is set to be just as good. More Info.

Apollo Bay Community Market
For some beautiful homemade cooking and organic produce the Apollo Bay Community Market is the place to go on the Saturday morning the 4th of February. There will be plenty of crafts including jewellery, and clothing and fun for the kids. Find the market on the Apollo Bay foreshore from 8AM.

Bands & Shows

D12
The Bended Elbow hosts D12 the hip hop group from Detroit Michigan and has spawned the career of legendary rapper Eminem. Geelong is one of only 8 shows D12 are doing in Australia this tour.

Cats
The amazing Andrew Lloyd Webber classic musical Cats continues is successful run at the Geelong Performing Arts Centre until the 11th of February.

The 39 Steps
The Woodbin Theatre in Coronation Street Geelong West is featuring the Alfred Hitchcock classic until the 18th of February. Adapted by Patrick Barlow and directed by Kelly Clifford this show features Ed Dolista, Cassia Webster, Lachy Joyce and Jules Hart.

Festival of Sails
Once again the Royal Geelong Yacht Club will be putting on an amazing line up of action on Corio Bay and the entire Geelong waterfront precinct. There promises to be one of the biggest sailing turnouts ever seen in Geelong. The traditional Bay FM fireworks will take place at dusk on Wednesday night Australia Day so head down to the waterfront early to secure a great location.
See more details here

Rippleside
One of Geelong’s oldest Australia Day traditions the fun day at Rippleside is on again Thursday with over 40 free activities for families to enjoy. Presented by the Lions Club this fun day will have rides and amusements for the young plus plenty of free entertainment including sheep shearing, fire engines, and nursery farm. The fun starts at 11:00 AM

Geelong Night Market
Last Friday night was the first of this year’s night markets at Johnstone Park and it was huge, thousands turned out for great food and some fantastic entertainment. Well the fun is happening again this Friday night so get down there and enjoy the festive fun.
See our Youtube video of last week’s event

Geelong Travel Expo
If you are thinking of taking a holiday visit the free travel expo at Four Points by Sheraton on Geelong’s water front this Sunday from 10am – 3pm. There will be all the major tour companies and over 20 free seminars where you can learn about tours and everything you need to know in planning your next big adventure.
For more info

Model Train Exhibition
The Corio Model Railway Club is holding its annual exhibition on the 28th and 29th of January at the Geelong West Town Hall in Pakington Street. It is always a delight for young and old to see these amazing models and try and comprehend the workmanship and detail that goes into producing these wonderful displays.
More info

Queenscliff’s Australia Day Festivities
The Borough of Queenscliff will be hosting a special Australia Day ceremony at the Town Hall in Learmonth Street. The fun will include a flag raising ceremony along with award ceremony. There will be children’s activities a sausage sizzle and even a free native plant for every family who attends. Entertainment will be supplied by Lisa Edwards and Michael Cristiano and you can meet and greet the Australia Day ambassadors for the Borough of Queenscliff. Fun starts at 11:00 AM.

Triple J Hottest 100
Plenty of the Geelong Pubs and Venues will be celebrating Australia Day with Triple J’s Hottest 100 Countdown on Thursday afternoon, including the and City Quarter on Cunningham Pier, The Bended Elbow and the Max Hotel just to name a few. We are tipping Gotye & Kimbra with Somebody that I used to know or maybe even Kanye West & Jay-Z’s “The Throne” will take out the big prize, but then again ‘Call it What you want’ by Foster the People has been huge.

Oz Fest
Cunningham Pier will be celbrating Australia Day on the whole weekend with a huge celebration including mini golf, enterainment, face painting and even the 2011 Geelong Cats AFL premiership Cup- how great will that be.

Lions Club Anglesea Breakfast
Start Australia Day with a true Aussie breakfast, a sausage, some egg and bacon on the river frontage from 8AM.

Lions Club Torquay Brunch
Torquay Lions club will be holding a brunch in Taylor Park from 10AM

Jump on our Twitter or Facebook and tell us what you are doing -maybe cooking up a great lamb bbq?

Held between 10 am and 3 PM at Four Points by Sheraton overlooking Geelong’s magnificent waterfront this event is a perfect way to plan or just dream about your next holiday.

All the major tour groups will have experienced staff on hand with expert information and plenty of brochures and good advice. Companies that will be on hand include Scenic Tours, Trafalgar, Uniworld, Globus, Carnival, APT, Princess Cruises, Qantas Holidays, Insight Vacations, Cunard, Peregrine and Travel Indochina. The friendly staff from Geelong’s leading travel agent will also be on hand to help you with ideas and even take bookings.

There will be 21 free 30 minutes seminars conducted by many of the tour companies which will give you firsthand information on on many of their products. These seminars not only are conducted by people who have been on the tours on offer but include videos, helpful hints and plenty of time for questions and feedback.

The day will include many special and exclusive travel offers which will only be on offer to visitors to the expo, and there will be plenty of hot deals including a whole array of new Early Bird airfares to Europe.

Whether you are looking to looking to travel Europe, Asia, USA, and Australia or anywhere in between there will a wealth of valuable information for you. The expo will also have something for any type of traveller, it doesn’t matter if you are a do it your-selfer with backpack and hiking or love the 5 star luxury – the expo will cover it all and everything in between.

Below you will find a special entry form,, print this out and bring it to the expo with your details entered and you will be in the draw for a fantastic 13 night round trip cruise from Melbourne to New Zealand. This magnificent cruise will be on board one of the Princess Cruises amazing fleet which are one of the finest sailing the seven seas.

Put the 29th of January in your calendar, that’s the Sunday after Australia Day and see you at the Four Points by Sheraton for the huge Geelong Travel & Cruise Expo.

Entry Form