About Geelong with Kids
Your local guide to family fun in Geelong, the Bellarine and Surf Coast
Welcome to Geelong with Kids, your go-to guide for the best things to do with kids in Geelong, on the Bellarine Peninsula and along the Surf Coast.
Created by the team behind Tot Hot or Not — Melbourne and Victoria’s biggest family travel site — this newsletter-first resource is packed with local events, day trip ideas, playgrounds, family-friendly eats, hidden gems, and travel tips curated especially for families living in or visiting Geelog, Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast.
If you’re short on time and big on adventure, we’re here to help you discover more, stress less, and make happy memories in this beautiful corner of Victoria.
What You'll Find
Delivered straight to your inbox every Friday, Geelong with Kids is your weekly cheat sheet for family fun.
Each edition includes:
🗓️ What’s On this weekend for families in Geelong and surrounds
🧭 Day trip and weekend getaway ideas across the region
🍦 Best kid-friendly cafés, bakeries and breweries
🛝 Reviews of local parks, playgrounds and nature trails
🎡 School holiday activity guides
🧺 Hidden gems even locals might not know about
Everything is personally researched and curated by real parents — no fluff, no filler, just the best of what’s worth doing.
Who’s Behind Geelong with Kids?
Hi, I’m Joyce Watts, founder of Tot Hot or Not and creator of Geelong with Kids.
After over 14 years exploring Melbourne with my kids and building Victoria’s biggest family travel site, I realised there was something missing — a hyperlocal resource for Geelong and the Surf Coast that parents could rely on each week.
So I created Geelong with Kids to fill that gap: a fast, friendly, trustworthy guide curated by real parents who know where the good stuff is.
When I’m not writing newsletters or testing out playgrounds, I’m running my digital marketing consultancy Bright Smart, or working on creative projects that help families connect through play and discovery.
Why Trust Us?
Because we’re not a faceless tourism brand or a content farm. We’re parents who live in Victoria and care about supporting local.
Our track record:
🧭 Backed by the same team behind Tot Hot or Not (1.1M+ pageviews/year)
💌 The Tot Hot or Not newsletter is already trusted by 20,000+ newsletter parents and carers in Melbourne, Victoria and beyond.
🤝 Collaborations with Geelong & Bellarine Tourism, Museum of Play and Art, National Wool Museum, Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong, local councils and family-friendly businesses.
🧡 Curated by parents, for parents.
Our Values
We believe in:
- Making family life easier and more joyful
- Championing regional events, local businesses and hidden gems
- Celebrating the everyday magic of living and travelling with kids
- Inclusive, accessible fun for all families
Supporting local tourism through storytelling and connection
Let’s Work Together
Are you a local business, attraction, tourism organisation or council wanting to reach engaged families in the region?
We offer newsletter features, social media promotion, sponsored content and custom campaigns for brands that share our values.
💌 Email hello@geelongwithkids.com to request a media kit and start a conversation.
