Essentials
- City
- Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Population
- Approximately 285,000
- Internet Speed
- NBN Fiber options up to 100 Mbps; average 65 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- Australian Dollar (AUD). 1 AUD ≈ 0.65 USD, 1 USD ≈ 1.54 AUD
- Tap Water
- Safe and Drinkable (High quality from Barwon Water)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type I sockets (three-flat-pin)
- SIM Card
- Telstra (best coverage), Optus, or Vodafone. $30 AUD for 40GB/month
- Banking for Expats
- Commonwealth Bank (CBA), ANZ, Westpac, and digital-only Up Bank
- Accommodation
- Short-stay through Airbnb; medium-term through Stayz or Realestate.com.au
- Cashless Friendly
- Extremely high; Apple Pay and tap-to-pay accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, booking.com, and local agencies like Gforce Corporate Rentals
- Budget Accommodation
- Inn Keeper Geelong (approx. $80 AUD/night), Waterfront Geelong Guest House
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Waterfront/CBD (near Steampacket Gardens and Eastern Beach)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Pakington Street (Geelong West) for cafes or East Geelong for park access
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Federal Mills (North Geelong) - $40/day; Runway (North Geelong) - $35/day
- Best Cafe for Work
- Coffee Cartel (Little Ryrie St) and Winters Cafe (Pakington St)
- Networking Events
- Geelong Chamber of Commerce 'After Five' events; Silicon Beach Geelong Meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- Geelong International Expats Meetup Group; Friday nights at Little Creatures Brewery
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, DiDi, and 13Cabs
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Geelong e-scooter trial (Neuron Mobility); Bicycle Centre Geelong (approx. $40/day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Eastern Beach (city center); Torquay Surf Beach (25 mins away)
- Top Regional Airline
- Jetstar (operating from Avalon Airport - AVV)
- Top International Airline
- Qantas, Air New Zealand (via Melbourne Airport - MEL, 1 hour away)
- Highway Access
- Princes Freeway (M1) connecting to Melbourne in 60-75 minutes
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Geelong Railway Station (V/Line service to Melbourne Southern Cross)
- Public Transport Passes
- Myki card ($6 purchase + credit); approx. $10.60 daily cap for travel to Melbourne
- Regional Travel
- V/Line trains to Melbourne; Gull Airport Shuttle to MEL International Airport
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- University Hospital Geelong (Ryrie St) and Epworth Geelong (Waurn Ponds)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Wonder Yoga (CBD) - $25/class; Upstate Studios (Newtown)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Derrimut 24:7 Gym (Newtown) - $15/week; YMCA Geelong
- Laundry Services
- Soap Opera Laundrette (Pakington St) - approx. $6 per wash
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, DoorDash, and Menulog
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Fresh Seafood at Fisherman's Pier or a 'Parma' at any local pub
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Wholefood-Bin (CBD); Born/Raised (Geelong West)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Armageddon Cake (Malop St) - late night cakes; Augustus Gelatery
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Aldi (Belmont/West Geelong); Market Square Shopping Centre
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.com.au, Kogan, and Catch.com.au
- Grocery Delivery
- Woolworths Online, Coles Online, and Milkrun
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Little Malop Street (precinct with Beav's Bar, The 18th Amendment)
- Local Brewery
- Little Creatures Brewery (South Geelong); White Rabbit Brewery
- Wine Bars
- Geelong Cellar Door (Little Malop St); Union Street Wine
- Street Food Stalls
- Geelong Night Market (Seasonal/Summer at Johnstone Park)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Pistol Pete’s Food N' Blues (Southern USA); Mavs Greek Restaurant
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The Baywalk Bollards (over 100 painted figures); Cunningham Pier
- Museums & Art Venues
- Geelong Arts Centre; National Wool Museum ($10 entry)
- Historical Sites
- Geelong Gaol Museum ($20); Old Geelong Post Office
- Religious Sites
- St. Mary of the Angels Basilica
- Annual Events
- Pako Festa (February); Festival of Sails (January)
- Cultural Districts
- Arts Precinct on Little Malop Street
- Theater Venues
- Geelong Arts Centre (The Play House); Geelong West Town Hall
- Local Markets
- Beckley Park Market (Saturdays); Geelong Waterfront Makers & Growers Market
- Music Scene
- The Barwon Club Hotel (Rock/Indie); Workers Club Geelong
- Street Art
- Powerhouse Geelong (Graffiti art space in North Geelong)
- Cooking Classes
- Free to Feed (occasional pop-ups); Truffleduck
- Art Galleries
- Geelong Gallery (free entry for permanent collection); Boom Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- The Heights Heritage House and Garden
- Local Heritage
- Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative representing the traditional owners
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- You Yangs Regional Park (20 mins drive); Barwon River trails
- National Parks Nearby
- Great Otway National Park (60 mins drive); Brisbane Ranges National Park
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Bellarine Rail Trail (35km from Geelong to Queenscliff)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Montpellier Park (Highton) for city views; Flinders Peak (You Yangs)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve; Reedy Lake
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Restricted/Illegal in public coastal areas; permitted in designated fire pits at caravan parks
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Australia Post (locations in CBD, West, South Geelong); StarTrack
- Tech Repair Services
- Geelong Technology Group; Phone Surgeons (CBD)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Geelong Table Tennis Association (North Geelong)
- Language Classes
- Diversitat Geelong (various community language programs)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Geelong Library & Heritage Centre (The Dome) - architecturally stunning work space
- Community Centers
- Geelong West Neighborhood House; South Geelong Community Center
- Gaming Lounges
- The G-Lounge (Gaming and Esports venue)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Geelong RSL (Pokies); nearest Casino is Crown Melbourne (75km)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $8,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $340,000 AUD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $6,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $248,000 AUD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $8,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $480,000 AUD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $5,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $348,000 AUD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $7,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $600,000 AUD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $5,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $440,000 AUD)
- Corporate Tax
- 30% (standard) or 25% for small businesses
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% (subject to double tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% for income over $190,001 (plus 2% Medicare levy)
- VAT
- 10% GST (Goods and Services Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, comprehensive rules applied by the ATO
- Property Tax
- Council rates (based on property value) and State Land Tax for non-primary residences
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp Duty (approx. 5-6% of purchase price depending on value)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; standard residency rules apply. High tax for residents.