Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine

07/09/2026

Blame Mabel is a family-owned vineyard, cellar door and farm stay, offering guests a genuine country experience through w**e, accommodation, produce and gatherings in the Moorabool Valley.

Gareth Rowe is one of the faces behind the business, which was named after his dog, Mabel. She’s charming, opinionated, occasionally moody, and has become a firm part of the business story.

Among Gareth’s proudest achievements has been bringing the vineyard back to life. He says seeing the vines recover and yields gradually increase has been incredibly rewarding, while positive feedback from industry professionals about their Riesling has made the journey even more special.

On a day off, you'll likely find him exploring other local w**eries, enjoying a long lunch or poking vintage shops for treasures to add to their accommodation. He’s draw to other vineyards, and loves fellow Moorabool Valley favourites Clyde Park, Lethbridge W**ery and Austin's, along with The Batesford Hotel for its authentic country feel.

And when asked to choose between coffee or tea, he opts for option C – W**E!

04/09/2026

Portarlington's gold trophy is going on tour! 🏆😍

To continue the celebrations of Portarlington's gold win as Victoria's Top Small Tourism Town the trophy will be popping up at a few businesses around the town - starting with the info booth.

A big thank you to the tourism industry, businesses and community that helped rally the votes and that make Portarlington the incredible town that it is.

👀If you'd like to see the trophy head to the below spots:

Stop 1: Portarlington Community Information Booth - 4-18 September
Stop 2: Portarlington Grand Hotel - 18 September - 2 October
Stop 3: Portarlington Golf Club - 2 October - 9 October
Stop 4: Jack Rabbit Vineyard - 9 October - 23 October
Stop 5: Bellarine Bayside Portarlington - 23 October - 6 November

03/09/2026

to Bellarine Estate who are celebrating 30 years this month! What a milestone 👏

This month we are turning the BIG 30!

Three decades of great W**e, Good Times and Amazing memories.

**ery **es

27/08/2026

Last week was the 2026 Victorian Accommodation Awards for Excellence. to our members who brought home the gold:

Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong won gold for Regional Accommodation of the Year.

Novotel Geelong's Tempo Kitchen and Bar won gold for Regional Hotel Restaurant and Jake Shelberg, Director of Food and Beverage won gold for F&B Employee of the Year.

Bayside Geelong Hotel & Apartments won the award for Excellence for Inclusion and Accessibility.

We are so proud of all the winners and finalists from our region!

25/08/2026

Congratulations to Lethbridge W**es for winning the 'Wild Card of the Year' in the 2027 Halliday W**e Companion Awards for the second year running with the 2020 Radikal 'Orange' w**e!

24/08/2026

Nestled away in Newtown is Jade and May, a store that curates sleepwear, loungewear, homewares and gifts with a focus on natural fibres and independent makers from all over the world.

The face behind the business is Carlie O’Louglin. From designing their own collections to discovering independent makers, Carlie brings everything together to create a distinctly Jade and May feel. One of the things she loves most about the job is finding beautiful things and learning about the people behind them.

It doesn’t hurt that Carlie is a self-confessed treasure hunter. Give her a market, a tiny backstreet shop or a local maker to discover and she'll happily lose a few hours uncovering some fun finds.

And the soundtrack to a perfect workday? Chateau by Angus & Julia Stone. Dreamy, relaxed and a little escapist, it’s the perfect accompaniment to a day spent surrounded by beautiful things.

20/08/2026

to our TGGB members who are finalists in the Geelong Business Excellence Awards.

With more than 300 entries this year, being named a finalist is no small feat. It places these businesses and individuals among the very best our region has to offer.

• Hamilton Group – Business of the Year, Commercial and Operational, Customer Experience & Service
• The Q Train– Business of the Year, Marketing and Brand Impact
• Marie-Claire Trotter (The Q Train) – Business Leader of the Year
• Matt Cowdell (Arthur St Digital) – Business Leader of the Year
• Geelong City Market – Emerging Business
• Brand Tales – Emerging Business
• Arthur St Digital – Employer of Choice, Community and Social Impact, Innovation Excellence
• Harvest Experiencet Experience – Environmental & Sustainability
Winners will be announced at the Presentation Night on Thursday 5 November.

📷 Geelong Business Excellence Awards

18/08/2026

It was a beautiful morning in the sunshine today for our Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale member catchup.

Thanks to all the members who came along, and a huge thanks to Early Nancy for hosting us!

17/08/2026

Welcome to Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine's new Member Spotlight Series!

We're excited to help our tourism community get to know the people behind the businesses that make Geelong & the Bellarine such a special place.

First up, meet Richard Lodge from The Rock Adventure Centre !

Since 2001, The Rock Adventure Centre has been home to Geelong's climbing community, supporting both indoor and outdoor climbing. If The Rock had a mascot, it would be a boulder (of course).

When Richard’s at work, he can’t live without the stereo. He says the space feels strange without music playing. And if he wasn’t there? Richard might still be making false teeth!

Away from work, you might find Richard at Little Creatures, racing motorbikes, or dreaming about ticking El Capitan off his bucket list.

When asked what decision has had the biggest positive impact on the business, Richard’s answer was simple: trusting staff to do their jobs and listening to ideas from outside the business.

12/08/2026

More moments from a golden night for our region last night. 🏆✨

We're still smiling after Portarlington was crowned Victoria's Gold Small Tourism Town last night at the Victorian Top Tourism Town Awards in Traralgon.

This achievement belongs to all the tourism and hospitality businesses, volunteers, community and local champions who work every day to create the experiences that make Portarlington such a special place to visit.

From the waterfront and ferry arrivals to w**eries, restaurants, tours and events, this recognition reflects a destination that continues to punch above its weight.

We were also thrilled to see June O'Brien awarded Bronze in the Victorian Tour Guide Awards. As an exceptional guide with Epic Taste Experiences and a TGGB Board Member, June is a passionate advocate for our region and a true collaborator who generously shares her knowledge, energy and enthusiasm with visitors and industry alike.

It's off to the Nationals now for Portarlington. The national Top Tourism Town awards are held in Canberra on 15 September. Fingers crossed for a national win!!

Congratulations again to all of you who play a part in making Portarlington and our region well-deserving recipients of significant achievements like this. We all have so much to be proud of. 👏