Activities off Geoje
The Gyeongsamnam-do province has many hidden treasures. The smaller cities (Tongyeong, Hadong, Gimhae, Goseong) have cute cafes and fun cultural experiences. The bigger cities (Changwon, Jinju, Busan) offer festivals, museums and shopping. To see what’s available you can follow instagram korea_travel_gsnd or visit the official website: https://www.gyeongnam.go.kr . Remember to use the tourism hotline 1330 if you need more information.
TONGYEONG
ISLAND SIGHTSEEING AROUND GEOJE & TONGYEONG
Apart from the well-known Oedo Botania Island, there are several other islands easily accessible from Geoje and/or Tongyeong. This blog article provides information on some of the islands and gives practical information on how to organise a visit: geojetravels.home.blog
DONGPRANG MURAL VILLAGE
ADDRESS: 6-18 Dongpirang 1-gil, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
WEB: www.dongpirang.org
In 2007, the local community decided to protect this hillside village from developers by getting together to create street art and turning it into a vibrant tourist attraction. The artwork is repainted every 2 years or so. There are some good views of the sea and Ganguan Port. Lots of cafes too.
DPIRANG
TELEPHONE: 1544-3303
ADDRESS: 29 Nammanggongwon-gil, Jeongyang-dong, Tongyeong-si
WEBSITE: http://dpirang.com/guide-eng/
TIMES: Schedule changes by season. Closed every Monday and selected red days.
FEES: Adults 15,000 KRW* Teenagers 12,000 KRW* Children 10,000 KRW* children under 6 years old have free entry.
*up to 50% discount on this ticket if you show a same day admission ticket for Tongyeong Cable car or Adventure tower.
Dpirang is located on Namyangsan sculpture park in Tongyeong, this park lights up at night with different illusions and themes. A great outing for the family, you are transported into a fairytale adventure of the forest.
SKYLINE LUGE TONGYEONG
TELEPHONE: 055-1522-2468
ADDRESS: 178 Balgae-ro, Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnamdo.
EMAIL: tongyeong@skylineluge.com
WEBSITE: www.skylineluge.com/en/tongyeong
Skyline Luge Tongyeong sits below the Hallyeosudo Cable Car which takes visitors to Mt Mireuksan. Skyride is a scenic adventure on a 5-seater chairlift that gives you a bird’s eye view of Hallyeo National Marine Park and hundreds of islands dotting the coastline. The Luge is a cart gravity ride on wheels that provides riders full control over their descent on a purpose-built track.
Children over 110cm tall can ride the Luge alone, whilst children who are 85cm – 110cm in height must be accompanied by a guardian.
Skyline Luge provides an outdoor experience suitable for riders of all ages and experience levels.
See the website for details of opening hours and prices.
GEOBUKSEON (TURTLE SHIPS)
TELEPHONE: 0507-1410-6675
ADDRESS: 236 Jungang-dong, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
TIMES: 09:00-18:00, closed on Mondays.
FEES: adults 1,500 KRW, teenagers 1,120 KRW, children 520 KRW
Three replicas of the famous turtle ships. Under the leadership of Admiral Yi Sun Sin, these were significant in the Korean navy defeating the Japanese during the Imjin War in the 16th century. For a small admission fee, you can go on board and get a feel for life on board the ships. Information is mainly in Korean, although some English, plus videos and pictures are available.
GOSEONG
GOSEONG DINOSAUR WORLD EXPO CENTER
ADDRESS: 1116, Danghangman-ro, Hohwa-myeon, Goseong-gun
TELEPHONE: 055-670-3816
WEBSITE: www.dino-expo.com
TIMES: Summer 9:00-18:00, Winter 10:00-17:00*
FEES: Children KRW 4,000, Adults KRW 7,000
*Closed on Mondays
Korea’s first dinosaur footprint fossil was found in Goseong. Fossilized footprints of dinosaurs in Goseong were believed to have been formed during the Cretaceous period 100 million years ago. Read more: https://korean.visitkorea.or.kr/kfes/detail/fstvlDetail.do?fstvlCntntsId=ce010596-12fe-43cb-9386-3f09a4397ef1
The Danghangpo resort complex includes a family recreational park consisting of a picnic area, camping site, Adventure Amusement Park and Sea Leisure-sports Facility. The Natural Art Park consists of a Natural History Exhibition Hall exhibiting stuffed animals such as bears, a dinosaur’s egg and fish and shellfish fossils. There is a Natural Sculpture Park with wild flowers and a Styled Stone Exhibition Hall, as well as an Agricultural Relic Exhibition Hall, Folk Play Ground, Guardian Statue Park, One Hundred Million-Year-Old Wave Mark, Fossilized Dinosaur’s Footprints, and Sandbar Experience Ground. Danghangpo Resort is a multi-purpose tourist destination where visitors can study nature and have good family fun.
For more info about Goseong check out this blog: https://goseongguy.com/goseong-dinosaur-theme-park-world-expo/
GOSEONG DINOSAUR MUSEUM
ADDRESS: 618 Jaranman-ro, Hai-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do.
TELEPHONE 055-832-9021
Website http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=826653
Goseong Dinosaur Museum (고성 공룡박물관), located in Sangjogam (상족암) County Park, is Korea’s first dinosaur museum. It was built next to one of the world’s largest dinosaur footprint fossil sites and opened to the public on 9 November 2004. Located in the center of the beautiful Sangjogam area, the museum is a tourist attraction that showcases both major dinosaur footprints as well as breathtaking scenery. The four-story building offers five exhibition halls and other special-purpose rooms such as an A/V room.
Admission / Participation Fees:
Adults (ages 19-64): 3,000 won / Group: 2,500 won
Youths (ages 13-18): 2,000 won / Group: 1,500 won
Children (ages 3-12): 1,500 won / Group: 1,000 won
* Group: 30 people or more
CLOSED on Mondays
GOSEONG MASK MUSEUM
ADDRESS: 23 Yuldae 2-gil, Goseong-eup, Goseong-gun
TELEPHONE: 055-670-2948
OPEN: 09:00-18:00
Closed on Mondays, public holidays & day following statutory holiday.
Museum exhibits a variety of masks, including ritual and recreational masks. There is an education centre that aims to explain the meaning and purposes of different types of masks.
Information is mostly in Korean.
CHANGWON
CHANGWON MARINE DRAMA OPEN FILM SET
ADDRESS: 산183-2 Seokgok-ri Gusan-myeon Masanhappo-gu, Changwon-si Gyeongsangnam-do
TELEPHONE: 055-248-3711
OPEN: 9:00-17:00, Mon-Sun.
Marine drama film set where traditional and modern dramas are made. Takes just over an hour to drive from Geoje.
HADONG
HADONG RAIL PARK
TELEPHONE: 055-882-2244
ADDRESS: 2446-6 Gyeongso-daero, Bukcheon-myeon, Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
WEB: hdrailpark.com/
A rail bike is a 2, 3 or 4-seater cycle designed to let it travel along disused rail tracks. Rail biking has become popular in Korea with families and friends. At Hadong, you start by riding on a steam train which takes you from Bukcheon station to another station where the rail bikes are waiting. You then cycle back along the return journey. This takes you through some spectacular scenery, as well as a series of long tunnels where light shows are projected onto the tunnel walls & ceiling. Operating hours and prices are given on the website.
HADONG ALPS LEPORTS (ZIPLINE)
TELEPHONE: 055-884-7715
ADDRESS: 493-9 Gyeongchung-ro, Geumnam-myeon, Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
WEBSITE: www.hdalps.or.kr
OPEN: Opening hours vary slightly, depending on season and weather conditions. See website for details.
COST: Varies from KRW30,000-KRW45,000 per person, depending on age and whether visiting on weekend or weekday. See website for full details.
The course is located at Gumo Mountain in Hadong County. Course length is over 3,186 metres, running from the top of Gumo Mountain down to Gyeongchung Temple. Speeds reached can be in excess of 120 kilometres per hour. Online reservations are recommended for weekends and holidays. You need to arrive 30 mins before the reservation time-slot.
The option is given to buy a photo which is taken near the end of the ride – KRW20,000 unframed or KRW30,000 framed.
HADONG CABLE CAR
TELEPHONE: 055-883-2000
ADDRESS: 461-7 Gyeongchung-ro, Geumnam-myeon, Hadong-gun
WEBSITE: hadongcablecar.com
FEES: Adults 20,000 KRW, Children 15,000 KRW children under 3 years old have free entry.
The Hadong Cable car gives spectacular views of Hallyeohaesang National Park. On clear days you can see Namhae in the distance. The Cable Car is 2556m, constructed on the popular Mt. Geumo (849m), it is the highest mountain peak in the South Sea.
GIMHAE
GIMHAE NAKDONG RAIL PARK
ADDRESS: 647-3 Masa-ri, Saengnim-myeon, Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do
TELEPHONE: 055-333-8359
WEB: http://www.ghrp.co.kr/
OPEN: 09:00-18:00 April-October; 09:00-17:00 November-March (Closed last Monday in the month)
COST: Rail bikes can take up to 4 persons. Prices range from KRW15,000-KRW23,000 per bike, depending on number of passengers.
The rail bike ride runs for about 3 km and crosses the Nakdong River. The trip takes about 40 minutes. Bikes have a plastic cover to give protection from rain and sun.
If booking online, tickets must be collected no later than 20 mins before scheduled reservation time.
Other attractions at the park include an observation tower, a cafe set in an old railway carriage and the Raspberry Wine Cave, located in an abandoned railway tunnel.
JINJU
GYEONGSAMGNAMDO ARBORETUM
ADDRESS: 386 Sumogwon-ro, Ibanseong-myeon, Jinju-si
TELEPHONE: 055-254-3811 (Other for information: 055-754-7969)
OPEN: 9:00-17:00 (Close at 16:00 in winter season. Closed on Mondays and 1st day of the month)
This arboretum (botanical garden devoted to trees) is only one hour’s drive from Geoje and is popular with families. There is a children’s playground and grassy areas for picnics. A museum and various exhibition facilities are located within the grounds. Museum exhibits cover the ecology of local trees and plants, as well as videos demonstrating traditional Korean woodcraft and lacquerware. Korean language only but lots of visuals and hands-on activities for children. There is also a small animal zoo in the grounds of the gardens.
BUSAN
DAEJEO ECOLOGICAL PARK
ADDRESS: Busan Gangseo-gu Daejeo 1(il)-dong 1-9
WEB: www.busan.go.kr/nakdong/daejeopark01
WEB: Information on bicycle rental shops at Daejeo Ecological Park and other Busan parks: english.busan.go.kr/bsbicycle02
Located on the banks of Nakdonggang River near Gimhae airport. The park is a habitat for migratory birds. There are marshlands and waterways, a bamboo garden, flowers, grasses, exercise facilities and walking/bicycle trails. The trails are flat, so suitable for children.
Bicycles can be hired from a rental shop inside the park, just across the street from one of the car parking lots. (Note: the address given above is for this car park). Bicycle rental shop opening hours: 09:00-18:00 (9:00-17:00 Nov-Feb).