Summary
The small city of Colac possesses an exceptional location, nestled beyond the northern foothills of the Otway Ranges and right on the periphery of the Western Victoria Volcanic Plains.
This geographic position offers a diverse array of scenery nearby, including expansive saline and freshwater lakes, volcanic craters, diverse rainforests, lush fern-laden gullies, picturesque farmland, and windy heathland.
Colac’s remarkable heritage-listed Botanic Gardens were established 150 years ago and are situated along the foreshore of Lake Colac, the largest freshwater body in Victoria.
The city features an abundance of historical architecture, both along the primary thoroughfare of Murray Street and in the surrounding countryside at homesteads dating back to the 1840s.
1. Colac Botanic Gardens
This extensive Botanic Garden encircles the foreshore of Lake Colac.
Founded in the 1860s, notable botanists and landscape architects, Daniel Bunce (1813-1872) and William Guilfoyle (1840-1912), contributed profoundly to the gardens you see today.
Within the gardens, there are numerous species that are unique to older botanical collections, such as a magnificent Huntingdon elm, a giant pagoda tree, and four Tecate cypresses.
A 1.1-kilometre carriageway runs along the perimeter, providing shade under the mature oaks, and a lookout on the north side affords a view of the lake and the Warrion Hills beyond.
Meandering trails guide visitors past impressive specimens, including an extraordinary Bunya pine, and there is the former curator’s cottage (1924), now known as the Botanic Cafe, for a restful interlude.
2. Red Rock
The natural history surrounding the water-rich landscapes northwest of Colac is undeniably intriguing.
This area represents a Quaternary complex volcano, characterized by a series of craters and maars that mar the landscape like a monumental battleground.
The geological formations visible at Red Rock are approximately 8,000 years old, with the most recent eruption occurring no earlier than 5850 BCE.
This location boasts one of the largest volcanic fields globally, and includes significant crater lakes such as Lake Coragulac and Lake Purdiguluc, both filled with brackish water.
You can admire this fascinating topography and learn about its formation at the Red Rock Lookout, which also offers stunning views across the expansive saline Lake Corangamite.
3. Great Otway National Park
Colac is located just a few kilometers shy of the northern boundary of a national park that encompasses Cape Otway and much of its surrounding hinterland.
This proximity facilitates an astonishing variety of landscapes, ranging from the verdant, fern-filled gullies, rainforest-cloaked hillsides, and nearby waterfalls, to rugged cliffs, windswept heathland, and breathtaking beaches along the coast.
While this article will describe a few attractions within the park, it is worth noting that these highlight just a fraction of the many offerings in a region known for charming coastal villages, a sizable koala population, numerous walking and biking paths, and the magnificent Cape Otway Lighthouse.
The stunning coastal scenery can also be experienced along the 104-kilometer Great Ocean Walk, which traverses the park and provides opportunities to observe dolphins, seals, and migrating whales from May to October.
4. Memorial Square
Following World War I, a section along Murray Street was designated as a memorial space, anchored by a notable monument unveiled in 1924. This stately, temple-like structure, with its pediment and a pair of Corinthian columns, is constructed from sandstone and has since been adorned with plaques commemorating subsequent conflicts.
On the Murray Street side resides a more recent memorial honoring those who served in World War II and the Korean War, featuring a low wall, two slender columns, and a pool of remembrance.
Nearby, you can find the Lone Pine, which grew from a seed of an Aleppo pine at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, itself originally planted from a cone brought back from Gallipoli.
Memorial Square also offers a pleasant expanse of greenery within moments of Colac’s shops, cafes, and restaurants, equipped with a rotunda and a children’s playground on the west side.
5. Walking Heritage Tour
A remarkable aspect of Colac is that much of its significant historical heritage is concentrated along both sides of Murray Street (Princes Highway). Nearly all of these noteworthy buildings originated during a prosperous period between the late 19th century and the mid-20th century, when the city and its prominent families thrived due to an agricultural boom.
The architecture along Murray Street exhibits a variety of styles, encompassing palatial Victorian Italianate civic and government buildings, along with Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco influences.
Occasionally obscured by contemporary facades and signage, some true architectural marvels await discovery.
One such find is the Parkers’ car dealership (No. 215), designed in a Spanish Mission style, featuring names and logos from pre-Holden GM brands molded into its facade.
Another notable site is the Art Deco McMahons building, located at the intersection of Murray and Hart Streets, crowned with a tower above its entrance.
A map detailing Colac’s heritage sites is accessible from the visitor information center.
6. Lake Colac
The largest freshwater lake in Victoria is framed by the Botanic Gardens.
However, it is noteworthy that visitors may arrive at the shores of Lake Colac and find minimal water, as the lake’s level fluctuates according to weather conditions over extended periods.
Prolonged drought conditions led to the lake drying up in 2009 and again in 2016, creating the unusual scene of the Colac Yacht Club Jetty leading to nowhere.
When water levels are sufficient, the lake transforms into a popular destination for summer picnics, walks, barbecues, a myriad of water-based activities, and birdwatching, attracting thousands of waterbirds to its shores.
Lake Colac was formed through volcanic activity dating back well before the timeframe of Red Rock, during the Pleistocene and Tertiary Periods, when the outflows of Barongarook and Deans Creeks were obstructed.
7. Old Beechy Rail Trail
For sixty years, from 1902 to 1962, a narrow-gauge railway line connected Colac to the small town of Beech Forest in the Otway Ranges.
The route has since been repurposed into a rail trail, officially opened in stages between 2005 and 2015. Over two-thirds of the Old Beechy Rail Trail’s 45 kilometers are situated along the tranquil, traffic-free trackbed of the former railway, with approximately 15 kilometers on quieter local roads.
While traversing the path, you will encounter rolling hills, farmland, and patches of rainforest.
In the early to mid-20th century, numerous sawmills established their own tramways in the forest, and remnants of these sidings can still be observed along the trail.
8. Coragulac House
The serene countryside surrounding Colac is dotted with beautiful old estates and homesteads.
Coragulac House, conveniently located near the Red Rock Scenic Lookout, was established in 1873 by the Robertson family, pastoralists who are currently undertaking a long-term restoration of the property.
Visitors can admire splendid original features, such as a grand Entrance Hall adorned with a vaulted, cedar-panelled ceiling, wallpapers embossed with the Robertson crest, an Art Nouveau chandelier, and an impressive oak mantelpiece embellished with dueling dragons in beaten copper.
Guided tours of the estate are available, allowing visitors the opportunity to explore independently at the conclusion of the tour.
Morning and afternoon tea, or a light lunch, can be arranged as part of the visit.
9. Tarndie
A brief drive east along the Princes Highway leads you to one of the oldest surviving homesteads in the state.
Shortened to Tarndie, this estate has been under the ownership and management of the Dennis family since 1840, reflecting the family’s Cornish roots.
Tarndie is known as the birthplace of the Polwarth sheep—a dual-purpose breed for meat and wool—first cultivated on the property by Richard Dennis in 1880. The current flock descends from these original Polwarth sheep, producing high-quality wool for over 140 years.
The property offers accommodation for overnight stays, or a brief visit to explore the 400-meter Farm Trail to learn about the flock and the nuances of wool production.
The Farm Shop provides a selection of wool products and bespoke yarns.
10. Beeac Windmill Park
Windmills have become a defining feature of the rural Australian landscape, alongside kangaroos, dirt roads, and the characteristic red earth.
Despite their historical significance in milling grain and pumping groundwater, these machines have gradually fallen into obsolescence and may soon vanish from the landscape.
Located on the shores of the lake of the same name, Beeac Windmill Park preserves a small collection of windmills manufactured by six different local producers from the 1890s to the 1940s.
Several of these artifacts have been restored using archival photographs as guides.
The park includes a kiosk and an informational plaque detailing the history of the windmills, their manufacturers, and their applications.
11. Sunday Markets
Organized by the Rotary Club of Colac, a popular market takes place at the Showgrounds on the third Sunday of each month.
The market operates from 10:00 to 15:00 (10:00 to 14:00 during May to September) and serves as a genuine community event, showcasing the finest offerings from Colac and the Otway region, including food, arts, and crafts.
The variety of goods on offer is extensive, typically including handmade chocolates, preserves, fresh produce, jewelry, plants, clothing, and numerous food vendors.
Each month features a rotary barbecue at the market, along with various activities and entertainment options for children.
12. Otway Estate
Nestled within the lush Otway Rainforest, just south of Colac, is a combined winery, brewery, and cidery.
The vineyard was established first, planting its inaugural vines in 1983. The climate in this region of Victoria is ideal for cultivating red varieties such as Shiraz (noted for its plum and berry flavors) and Cabernet Sauvignon (known for its robust fruit-forward profile). The estate’s craft beer label, Prickly Moses, utilizes pristine Otway rainwater to produce an extensive range of brews, from pilsner and stout to pale ale, brown ale, hefeweizen, and saison.
All these exceptional wines and beers, along with the highly-regarded Forbidden Fruit cider, can be enjoyed at the estate’s café and bar, which also features wood-fired pizzas.
13. Otway Fly Treetop Adventures
The 40-minute journey to the heart of the Otway Ranges is rewarding for those seeking an extraordinary treetop experience.
This elevated walkway ascends 25 meters above the rainforest floor and extends for 600 meters amidst the canopy.
In addition to providing a unique viewpoint of the rainforest’s vegetation and wildlife, visitors are treated to remarkable vistas of the Otway Ranges.
The outlook from the 45-meter Spiral Tower or the cantilevered platform extending over Young’s Creek is truly spectacular.
Young visitors can uncover the mysteries of the rainforest on the Rainforest Ranger Trail, while those craving a thrill can explore an extensive network of ziplines in the forest canopy, available on the Otway Fly Zipline Tour.
14. Lake Corangamite
Located west of Lake Colac is the significantly larger Lake Corangamite.
At 23,000 hectares, this is the largest permanent saline lake in Australia and forms an important component of the Western District Lakes RAMSAR site.
In recent decades, declining water levels have led to increased salinity, which has reduced the abundance of fish and waterbirds that once thrived here.
However, depending on annual conditions, the salinity and lake levels may fluctuate, resulting in sporadic gatherings of migrating waders such as red-capped plovers along the shore.
At other times, visitors can simply appreciate the scale of the lake and enjoy breathtaking sunsets from the eastern side at Red Rock.
15. Colac Visitor Information Centre
Colac is home to one of the two accredited Visitor Information Centres in the Otway Region.
This center serves as an essential resource regarding Colac, the volcanic plains of the Western District, the Otway Ranges, and the agricultural lands situated between them.
You can explore a comprehensive collection of brochures and leaflets, or consult with friendly staff members for recommendations on various topics, including accommodation, local attractions, food and drink trails, natural landmarks, or hiking and mountain biking routes.
Additionally, the center’s shop features an array of charming handmade gifts sourced from Colac and its surroundings.
