(Photo courtesy of Geoje Seaworld)
Geoje Island, off South Korea’s southern coast, is the country’s second-largest island after Jeju Island. It offers a captivating travel destination to enjoy a variety of activities including water sports, delectable cuisine, and the island’s unique natural beauty. It is a fantastic choice for summer vacations, especially for families with children. Here are three great spots for the whole family to enjoy on Geoje Island!
Geoje Haegeumgang Island (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)
Geoje Sea World (거제씨월드)
(Photo courtesy of Geoje Seaworld)
Geoje Sea World is an aquarium known as a dolphin theme park with interactive dolphin and beluga whale programs. Visitors can watch dolphin and beluga shows and take pictures with them. In addition, there are special programs available for an extra fee (about $100) that allow visitors to interact and swim with dolphins and beluga in the water. Sea World also includes a small exhibit with 30 different reptiles, and various themed photo zones.
Forest Sound Park (숲소리공원)
(Photo courtesy of Forest Sound Park)
This wonderful park offers beautiful nature, a thick forest and flowing streams. Visitors can also encounter lively and adorable herds of sheep, rabbits, and other animals. At the Acorn Playground (Dotori Nori-teo), kids can run, play and jump freely. All facilities at Forest Sound Park, including parking, are free of charge. You can enjoy more activities at extra costs.
Address: San 13, Seosang-ri, Geoje-myeon, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
Hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Monday is closed)
Phone: 070-4618-1102
Fees: 3,000 won (feeding animals) / 5,000 won–6,000 won (Monorail)
Dadae Mudflat Experience Village (다대갯벌체험마을)
(Photo courtesy of Dadae Mudflat Experience Village)
Playing in the mudflats is a great activity for children in Korea, and this place offers a homi, small shovel and basket renting service to dig and collect clams directly from the mudflats. Since mudflats are exposed during low tide, the available schedule varies depending on the tides. Please make sure to call or check their website for reservation if you plan to visit. The village is closed when the tide comes in and the mudflats are underwater around one week per month.
Address: 6, Dadae 1-gil, Nambu-myeon, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
Hours: 2 hours available from the time the mudflats are exposed (Usually 12 p.m.-4 p.m.)
Phone: 055-633-1064
Ticket: 7,000 won–15,000 won
Website (Only Korean)
THINGS TO KNOW WHEN TRAVELING TO GEOJE ISLAND
TOP ATTRACTIONS
Wind Hill (바람의 언덕)
It’s renowned as one of the most famous tourist attractions in Geoje Island. Visitors can enjoy a fairy-tale-like landscape of blue sea, green fields and a wind power plant.
(Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)
Hakdong Black Pearl Pebble Beach (학동흑진주몽돌해변)
With its distinctive pebble beach and clear waters, visitors can enjoy swimming and walking along the beach.
(Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)
Myeongsa Beach (명사해수욕장)
The beach offers a wide sandy coastline and clear water, making it an ideal destination for swimming. Additionally, pets are allowed on the beach, providing a pet-friendly environment.
(Photo courtesy of Geoje City)
Oedo-do Botania (외도보타니아)
It’s a vast marine botanical garden, featuring a delightful assortment of flowers, plants and stunning landscape.
(Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)
Geoje Panorama Cable Car (거제파노라마 케이블카)
This attraction presents an opportunity to admire the breathtaking scenery of Geoje Island’s coastline and beyond while enjoying a ride on the cable car.
Geoje Panorama Cable Car (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)
TRANSPORTATION
Bringing your own car will provide the most convenient way to explore the various attractions on Geoje Island at your own pace. Since it is an island, relying on public transportation can be challenging, as missing a bus could lead to significant waiting times. If bringing a car is not an option, another recommended alternative is to travel to Busan first and then take a bus or rent a car to reach Geoje Island.
About 4-5 hours from Pyeongtaek (340 km or 211 miles)
About 2.5 hours from Daegu (170 km or 105 miles)
TRAVEL ROUTE
As the travel time is considerable, I suggest planning a trip for more than a day to fully enjoy a leisurely experience. The highly recommended travel route includes a journey from Busan to Geoje, which takes approximately an hour, or from Geoje to Tongyeong, just a 40-minute drive away. Not only are they close to each other, but they also offer exciting destinations to include in your travel itinerary.
