Top 15 Activities and Attractions in Warrnambool, Australia

Victoria‘s Great Ocean Road concludes just east of this appealing coastal city, conveniently positioning you for short excursions to natural marvels such as the Twelve Apostles and Bay of Martyrs.

Here, rugged formations, arches, and caves have been meticulously shaped from multicolored limestone by the turbulent Southern Ocean.

This coastline holds a somber history, with over 600 ships claimed over the centuries; the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village provides insights into these historical maritime tragedies.

During the winter months, Logan’s Beach in Warrnambool serves as a calving ground for southern right whales, allowing visitors to witness this spectacle from a panoramic viewpoint.

1. Great Ocean Road

Warrnambool is situated just off the western extremity of a National Heritage-listed road stretch that spans 243 kilometers east around Cape Otway to the city of Torquay.

This remarkable endeavor was initiated after World War I and constructed by approximately 3,000 returned veterans as a tribute to their fallen comrades.

The advantageous aspect of being in Warrnambool is the proximity to many of the Great Ocean Road’s most treasured vistas.

Destinations such as the Bay of Islands and the Twelve Apostles are easily accessible from the city, resulting in a journey as inspiring as the attractions themselves.

2. Bay of Islands

For a distance of 32 kilometers between Warrnambool and Peterborough, there are uninterrupted stunning ocean vistas.

A variety of beaches along the coast are accessible, though the true delight of the Bay of Islands lies in its towering limestone cliffs and enormous stacks, continually battered by the Southern Ocean.

This coastline hosts the only marine cormorant nesting site in Victoria, in addition to rare flora such as the fragrant spider orchid and the sun orchid.

Priority on your itinerary should be the cliffs and twisted stacks of the Bay of Martyrs, which can be appreciated via a four-kilometer walking trail.

There are remarkable views and a wetland reserve at Massacre Point, while in Peterborough, all the small bays bear names inspired by yet another shipwreck, offering stunning panoramas on the golf course.

3. Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village

An area known as the Shipwreck Coast is bound to hold intriguing narratives, and this heritage-listed site cascading down to Lady Bay is the ideal place to encounter them.

Flagstaff Hill features Warrnambool’s original lighthouses, in addition to its fortifications, and is designed to reflect a maritime village from the 1870s, blending historic architecture with modern structures.

Spanning over 10 hectares, there are more than 40 buildings and vessels to discover.

Visitors will find the largest collection of shipwreck artifacts in Victoria, the most remarkable being the Loch Ard Peacock.

This earthenware peacock statue, crafted at Minton Potteries in Staffordshire in 1873, was designed by French sculptor Paul Comolera.

It is advisable to remain until dark for the “Tales of the Shipwreck Coast” Sound and Light Show, which showcases the coast’s Aboriginal culture, its whaling past, and the events that instilled fear among mariners.

4. Port Campbell National Park

Continuing on from the Bay of Islands, you will arrive at Port Campbell National Park, which extends from Peterborough to Princetown.

The splendid limestone stacks towering above the waves within the national park are among the highlights of the Great Ocean Road.

The most photographed features are the Twelve Apostles, a group of seven monolithic structures reaching heights of 50 meters.

Other significant attractions include the London Arch, a natural arch remaining after its bridge collapsed in 1990, and Loch Ard Gorge, an inlet of clear blue water surrounded by yellow cliffs adorned with lush vegetation.

This cove is named for the Loch Ard clipper, which sank at this very location with a luxurious cargo in 1878. At the easternmost edge of the park, the cliffs of the Gibson Steps feature a staircase winding down to the beach, offering views of towering stacks from below.

Lastly, The Grotto showcases a natural arch, cave, and blowhole, best visited in the later hours to catch the sun setting through the opening.

5. Logan’s Beach

Every year between June and September, southern right whales migrate to this beach in Warrnambool to calve.

It is notable that these creatures approach within mere hundreds of meters from the shore, close enough to be observed in detail with the naked eye.

A long, multilevel, and fully accessible platform has been constructed high atop the dunes to provide an optimal view of the surf.

Southern right whales reside predominantly in the Antarctic for most of the year and migrate to warmer waters during the winter months.

This species was extensively hunted in the 19th century, but has made a recovery since whaling was banned in 1938.

6. Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve

This wildlife reserve, located approximately ten minutes northwest of Warrnambool, occupies a vast extinct volcanic crater.

Emerging from the otherwise flat terrain are a cluster of volcanic cones, surrounded by a lake and wetlands.

The reserve is home to a diverse range of native wildlife, including koalas, kangaroos, and emus, as well as avian species such as blue wrens, ducks, and swans.

Additionally, there is significant ancient human history present at the site, featuring Aboriginal kitchen middens and excavated artifacts that indicate human occupation prior to a monumental eruption 34,000 years ago.

You can enjoy leisurely strolls along the boardwalks and more challenging hikes around the volcanic cones, as well as scheduled walking tours that showcase the site’s Aboriginal heritage.

7. Warrnambool Botanic Gardens

William Guilfoyle (1840-1912), the architect behind Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens, designed Warrnambool’s Botanic Gardens, which opened in 1879. Guilfoyle’s original design remains largely intact, featuring open lawns and broad, winding pathways.

As you navigate the gardens, you will encounter mature trees, an elegant band rotunda, a fernery, a pond filled with lilies and ducks, and vibrant floral displays.

Approximately 10% of the plants are labeled; 70% of the garden comprises exotic species, and it boasts an essential collection of bamboo.

If you identify a tree you’d like to learn more about, a complete tree map of the garden is accessible on the website.

8. Cheese World

Since the 19th century, dairy farming has been a cornerstone of Warrnambool’s economy.

The Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory (WCB) was established in 1888 and maintains a cellar door for sales and tastings.

Here, visitors can sample award-winning varieties such as Heritage Cheddar, Coon, Mil Lel, and Cracker Barrel, all made and aged across the street.

Factory tours are not currently offered; however, knowledgeable staff are available to provide insights into the cheese-making process.

A cafe is also present on-site, specializing in delightful ploughman’s lunches, cheese platters, and refreshing SunGold milkshakes in the summer.

9. Foreshore Promenade

Warrnambool has received accolades for its oceanfront pathway, extending 5.7 kilometers from the Breakwater to Point Ritchie at the mouth of the Hopkins River.

In addition to beautiful sandy beaches, such as The Flume and Logan’s Beach, there are numerous leisure facilities available along the route, particularly if you venture toward Lake Pertobe.

Along the promenade, you will encounter lookouts, open fields, tennis courts, lakeside walking paths, a boat rental station, picnic areas, memorials, a skate park, a mini-golf course, a lifesaving club, barbecues, and numerous spots to rest and enjoy the sunshine.

10. Lake Pertobe Adventure Playground

A significant feature of the Foreshore Reserve is an expansive playground that would be the envy of any urban park.

Located adjacent to the lake’s shallow waters, this area is designed as year-round free attraction, spanning eight hectares and catering to individuals from toddlers to teenagers.

Notable equipment includes a maze, oversized slides, flying foxes, trampolines, sandboxes, swings, and various wooden climbing obstacles nestled in sand.

Additionally, mini-golf is available nearby, as well as paddle boat rentals, and ample grassy fields for cricket or soccer games.

11. Thunder Point

Among the dramatic ocean vistas near Warrnambool, Thunder Point, located just west of the foreshore, is arguably the finest viewpoint for watching sunsets.

Adjacent to the parking area, a wooden platform extends to the cliff’s edge, allowing you to contemplate the ocean and the rugged cliffs and formations that meet it.

If winter temperatures become too chilly, you still obtain magnificent views from the parking lot.

Should you wish to explore, there is a trail leading from here to Shelly and Levy’s Beaches, both rich in rock pools, outcrops, and sandy beaches.

12. Childers Cove

Approximately halfway to the Bay of Islands lies an area of coastal scenery that deserves more attention than it receives.

Childers Cove features two inlets that extend 200 meters inward, flanked by tall cliffs composed of a mix of limestone and sandstone.

Stacks and formations in various hues dot the coves, continuously battered by the powerful surf.

One reason Childers Cove remains relatively unexplored is the discreetly marked access road, making it likely for you to enjoy the beaches in solitude.

13. Warrnambool Art Gallery (WAG)

Managed by the city council, this institution boasts a history of over 130 years.

Since 1886, Warrnambool Art Gallery has curated thousands of works from diverse origins.

The collection includes salon and colonial landscape paintings from the 1800s, indigenous artifacts, contemporary Australian printmaking, as well as Avant-Garde Modernism from artists associated with the Angry Penguins.

You can view curated collections from this inventory, along with important national and international touring exhibitions and contributions from local artists.

14. Hopkins Falls

Spanning over 90 meters, one of the widest waterfalls in the state is located just 15 minutes by car from Warrnambool.

Here, the Hopkins River cascades 12 meters over angular basalt rocks, offering numerous vantage points for photography and observation.

Visitors can appreciate the falls from two lookout points above and one from below.

Naturally, the discharge is more impressive following rainfall during the winter months.

This time of the year also provides the opportunity to observe young short-finned eels slipping down the falls at the commencement of their remarkable migration toward the southeast coast of New Guinea in the Coral Sea.

15. Griffitts Island

There exists more stunning scenery beyond the Great Ocean Road, located a short drive west at the southern end of Port Fairy Bay.

Now deserted, the low-lying Griffitts Island is connected to the mainland by a walkable causeway and served as a whaling station in the 1830s and 1840s.

In 1859, a lighthouse was constructed at the island’s tip, which remains operational today and boasts a range of 14 nautical miles.

Currently, Griffitts Island is particularly recognized for its avian population, with up to 90 species documented in the area.

The most prevalent are short-tailed shearwaters (muttonbirds), which breed here in their tens of thousands from September to April.