Geelong Sports & Outdoors Tips by Marpessa Top 5 Page for this destination

Baseball

Geelong is the proud home of a newly built baseball stadium (although not a stadium like Telstra Dome in Melbourne). Three new diamonds have been built and the main diamond has lights for night games.

During the summer it is the home of the Geelong team and during the winter it is home to the Saints and Lara.

Update: This summer the Japanese team Cibba Lotte have been using the Geelong grounds for their Spring training, the Chinese Taipei team have been down here as well. So along with the Australian team they have all been having 'friendly' games. It was incredible baseball to watch - great plays, bats breaking, home runs, everything!

Equipment: Currently there are no seats, just concrete in a step formation, so bring a seat or something comfortable to sit on while you cheer for Geelong!!

Address: Pionner Rd., Waurn Ponds

Directions: From the City Centre it takes about 15-20 minutes, headed south.

Theme: Other

Footy!

One of the biggest sports attraction in Geelong is AFL (Australian Football Rules). Geelong has one team in the AFL - the Geelong Cats. Their uniform is navy blue and white stripes - blue for Corio Bay and white for the seagulls above the bay, the club has existed since around the turn of the 20th Century.

Watching AFL is about as Aussie as you can get. Skilled Stadium, home of the Cats, is a great place to get a taste of footy - especially with the new stadium - it has cat claws and everything! :)

And if you're in the crowd sing along when they win:

We are Geelong, the greatest team of all!
We are Geelong, we're always on the ball!
We play the game, as it should be played
At home or far away
Our banners fly high, from dawn to dark
Down at Kardinia Park!

(the winning teams anthem is always played at the end of the game)

Just a warning though, you get your usual couple of hooligans, but nothing serious. Also, no matter what sport you are going to see in Australia, the food they sell is always over-priced.

Equipment: A scarf suppporting your team, and as the majority of the games are held in the colder months, a warm jacket.

Address: Skilled Stadium

Directions: 1 minute south of the city centre on Moorabool St. Can't really miss it!

Phone: 5244 7447

Theme: Sports Watching

Website: http://www.gfc.com.au

Triathlons

Another spectator sport - Triathlons. Spring-Autumn Geelong often hosts Triathlons. the latest one was the Australian Triathlon Championships held on the 27th of March. So we get the big ones, but there are also smaller triathlons, and local schools giving it a try as well.

They are usually held down at Eastern Beach and the surrounding area.

Equipment: Hat and sunscreen.

Address: Waterfront, Geelong

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.geelongcity.vic.gov.au

For the Rugby Fans!!

Admittedly I do not know a lot about Rugby - although I learnt a bit during the 2004 World Cup - "Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!"

So for those who come to Geelong and the surrounding area looking for info on rugby - to see if they can see a local match, visit the websites below. (The Geelong team is called the 'Geelong Rams' and their home ground is in Moolap, Geelong).

www.rugby.com.au also has information on the Tri Nations, Bledisloe Cup and many other competitions at different levels.

Address: Moolap, Geelong

Theme: Sports Watching

Website: http://geelong.rugbynet.com.au/

Basketball

The Geelong Supercats represent Geelong in the NBL (National Basketball League). The season starts in March and finishes in August/September. The Supercats were formed in 1977 and therefore next year will celebrate their 30th Anniversary.

The Supercats home, The Arena, is Geelong's foremost basketball stadium. It was also used recently for some of the games in the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games (Australia ended up beating New Zealand in the Final - 81 to 76, although that match was played in Melbourne).

Address: The Arena, 110 Victoria St., North Geelong, 3215

Directions: Next to North Geelong railway station.

Other Contact: info@supercats.com.au

Phone: 5277 1711

Theme: Sports Watching

Website: http://www.supercats.com.au

A day on the course

Well I'm not really a golfer - but I can still recommend the Barwon Valley Golf Course. The course is 18 holes with a Par 70 (and a length of 5718m). There is also a putting green and club house (which can be used for functions).

The course is situated on public commons and wetlands and is next to the Barwon River.

Address: Barwon Heads Rd., Belmont

Directions: Belmont - near K-mart, but on the opposite side of the highway.

Phone: 5243 5443

Theme: Golfing