Geelong should woo cruise ships

Story this weekend about plans to make Geelong port four times larger and dredge for larger cargo ships. They should be chasing the cruise industry to bring jobs to Geelong. Geelong would be a great cruise port with excursions to queenscliff, Torquay, Bells Beach, Tiger Moth flights etc.

Story this weekend about plans to make Geelong port four times larger and dredge for larger cargo ships. They should be chasing the cruise industry to bring jobs to Geelong. Geelong would be a great cruise port with excursions to queenscliff, Torquay, Bells Beach, Tiger Moth flights etc.

I do not know much about Geelong but it would be a great jump off stop fro the Great Ocean road as well.:D

It would be a great port.

There was talk of it a few years ago and I remember one of luxury ships booked in there, but then the owner of the wharf canceled the call as he did not want cruise ships messing up his development. The ship had to anchor and tender ashore and since then I have not heard of any calls.

Once a public asset is sold , its lost to the community , and to future generations.

Are they looking at building a new wharf?

Not sure whether Geelong would be a great port, having been there. Hardly time to "do" the Great Ocean Road.

Not sure whether Geelong would be a great port, having been there. Hardly time to "do" the Great Ocean Road.

The Great Ocean Road could be done on a full-day trip from Geelong, provided the return trip was on the Princes Highway. It would be around 400km total with the scenic part on a windy slower road. It would be a long day and it would only work if the ship was leaving in the evening.

The Great Ocean Road could be done on a full-day trip from Geelong, provided the return trip was on the Princes Highway. It would be around 400km total with the scenic part on a windy slower road. It would be a long day and it would only work if the ship was leaving in the evening.

And that would be the problem. Leaving late. Most port stops leave around 6pm. Also would have to be completed during daylight if a tender stop. We've traversed the Great Ocean Road a few times and not sure how a convoy of buses would work.

The Great Ocean Road could be done on a full-day trip from Geelong, provided the return trip was on the Princes Highway. It would be around 400km total with the scenic part on a windy slower road. It would be a long day and it would only work if the ship was leaving in the evening.

Part of the way would be fine also.:D

Part of the way would be fine also.:D

Yes. The best of the off-shore features are in the 20km stretch of coast around Port Campbell. West of there the scenery is more 'ordinary'.

Seeing as ships ready offer the GOR as tour options from Melbourne, Geelong would at least cut a couple of hours of the tour time. You could also do tours to Queenscliff and the ferry to Sorrento to look around and back again. The Bellarine peninsula is also beautiful with some great beaches to spend the day at.

Seeing as ships ready offer the GOR as tour options from Melbourne, Geelong would at least cut a couple of hours of the tour time. You could also do tours to Queenscliff and the ferry to Sorrento to look around and back again. The Bellarine peninsula is also beautiful with some great beaches to spend the day at.

Yes, I am sure that being that little bit closer would bring in a whole range of new things that were just that bit too far from Melbourne.:D

2 to 3 cruise boats come here to Geelong each year and they tender ashore. Main attractions are Great Ocean Road and local Wineries .

You could make the stop 8 am to 8 pm.

If its a tender stop then I'm not sure tenders would be able to operate in dusk/dark light. And it's quite rare for ships to depart after 6pm unless its a major city. Eg Sydney.

If its a tender stop then I'm not sure tenders would be able to operate in dusk/dark light. And it's quite rare for ships to depart after 6pm unless its a major city. Eg Sydney.

In summer, sunset is late in Geelong - 8.30pm at the end of November.

I am sure they could make it work if there was money in it for them.:D

I'm pretty sure at least one of the cruise ships last summer also stayed in Corio Bay until about 1am before making the short trip around to Melbourne. Obviously not much use for tenders but if they could dock at a pier...

I am sure they could make it work if there was money in it for them.:D

If they could dock in Geelong , the cruise lines would jump at the chance. 2 ports so close ,yet offering such a difference.They would save money and passengers , both local and overseas would have the chance to see and experience the delights of the City of Melbourne , then have a day exploring from Geelong and the Ocean Road or the Peninsula .

Perfect for all. :)

If they could dock in Geelong , the cruise lines would jump at the chance. 2 ports so close ,yet offering such a difference.They would save money and passengers , both local and overseas would have the chance to see and experience the delights of the City of Melbourne , then have a day exploring from Geelong and the Ocean Road or the Peninsula .

Perfect for all. :)

Definately agree, Australia needs to have some major infrastructure projects and cruise docks/terminals in some of these locations would be good for tourism.:D

Definately agree, Australia needs to have some major infrastructure projects and cruise docks/terminals in some of these locations would be good for tourism.:D

Maybe one factor that makes Councils hesitate to spend the money is the time between having the infrastructure in place and cruise ships actually coming to the port. As we know, cruise itineraries are set in place a couple of years ahead of time and maybe a cruiseline wouldn't include a port until the dock was built or at least well under way.

Maybe one factor that makes Councils hesitate to spend the money is the time between having the infrastructure in place and cruise ships actually coming to the port. As we know, cruise itineraries are set in place a couple of years ahead of time and maybe a cruiseline wouldn't include a port until the dock was built or at least well under way.

Yes, but itineraries do change and if they are going there as a tender anyway, becoming a dock is probably worth the investment to secure cruises for the future.:D

Thanks for the comments. I think Geelong would work well in summer as it brings the world famous surf beaches closer. From the melbourne pier to Geelong in early morning or afternoon traffic is over an hour.

Found one article that says millions has been earmarked for Yarra st pier and they want 25 cruise visits a year.

http://www.cruiseabout.com.au/cruise-news/regional-ports-prepare-for-cruise-future/

Based on the experience Port of Melbourne had with environmentalists in dredging the South Channel of Port Phillip I imagine it will be a long while before the Geelong Channel is considered for enlarging. Not only does the channel have to be deepened but it would need to be widened to handle these 70,000 GRT plus vessels, and that is expensive. The boutique Silverseas boats ( 17000 GRT ) do go there.