Lara is one of the many growing areas in the Geelong region. Being only 15 kilometers from the heart of Geelong and just inland from the Princes Freeway to Melbourne which is about another 40 minutes drive, many people are seeing the benefits of moving to this great little town and commuting either by car or the railway which runs through town.
Much of Lara’s charm is its rural and natural environment. The You Yang’s one of the most dominant features on the Geelong region’s skyline are located just north of the township and are a great day trip for anyone visiting the area. The ranges are not very high on world scale standing at only 352 metres but with Geelong being fairly flat and the outer hills all rolling towards the bay the You Yang’s are visible from just about all over the region.
The You Yangs are home to over 200 species of bird several reptiles and plenty of fury marsupials including kangaroo, koala, possum and even echidnas. The plant life is also very special with several types of gums, wattle and other native shrubs and bushes.
Just south of the You Yangs lies Serendip Sanctuary which is a favorite destination for people wanting to see some of our native wildlife up close. There are hundreds of kangaroos, emus, koalas, cape barren geese and even brolgas. Serendip is one of the regions hidden treasures, which is often overlooked by visitors- but those who visit never forget an amazing day out amongst the nature.
Avalon to the North East of the township is home to a huge motorsport complex, with regular race meeting and is quite popular. It overlooks the Avalon Airfield which is home the region’s airport which is serviced by Jetstar a subsidiary of our national carrier Qantas. Every second year on the odd year Avalon airfield plays host to one of Australia’s biggest events, the Australian International Airshow which attracts over 150000 visitors and brings tens of millions of dollars in orders to the aviation and military industries.
Avalon Beach to the south of the Airfield is another out of the way and somewhat unusual place which is well worth a visit. This small fishing village lies on the shoreline of Corio Bay. There are a interesting collection of holiday cabins and small houses and a boat ramp with good access to the bay.
For golf lovers Elcho Park has a great course and is one of the regions favorites. Elcho Park is also home to one of the region’s best equestrian parks and there are plenty of sporting facilities including soccer and other sports. Closer to town there is a 25 metre heated swimming pool which is very popular on a hot day.
To the west and North West of Lara is Anakie and the Brisbane Ranges. Anakie is home to Fairy Park which has been one of the region’s best loved theme parks for decades, with beautiful figures and models of many fairy tale stories. The Anakie and Brisbane Ranges area have some lovely bushland and there are quite a few gorges and other natural wonders to explore plus quite a few of the region’s best wineries, including Anakie Ridge, Del Rios and Mount Anakie Winery.
