Summary
Warragul, an agricultural town located in West Gippsland, is situated on a plain between the Great Dividing Range to the north and the Strzelecki Ranges to the south. This town serves as the economic, service, and cultural nucleus of West Gippsland, aligned along a corridor of settlements linked by the Princes Highway. Each March, Warragul hosts one of Victoria’s leading farming exhibitions, in addition to maintaining beautiful parks and walking trails, complemented by a significant regional performing arts center. Visitors will find numerous museums, retail opportunities, and recreational activities nearby, while the adjacent upland regions offer rainforests, lakes, and spectacular lookouts—all just minutes from the central business district.
1. Civic Park
Civic Park, the main park in Warragul, is located in the Civic Precinct at the northern end of the central business district. This picturesque area features gently sloping land, a series of ponds nourished by a man-made waterfall, and a multitude of mature trees, including an Aleppo pine. Additionally, the park offers a Chinese Friendship Garden, an elegant rotunda, a comprehensive children’s playground, as well as barbecue and picnic facilities. Civic Park also hosts events such as the Warragul Farmers’ Market and the Arts Market, both occurring on the third Saturday of each month.
2. West Gippsland Arts Centre (WGAC)
The West Gippsland Arts Centre, located in the Civic Precinct at the southern end of Civic Park, serves as the region’s performing arts hub. Since its opening in 1982, the center has been pivotal in hosting a variety of touring productions, including plays, musicals, live music, comedy performances, and dance showcases from renowned groups such as the Victoria State Ballet. Additionally, the WGAC facilitates community and school productions as well as exhibitions showcasing the work of artists from national, regional, and local backgrounds across various mediums, which include fine arts and textiles.
3. Linear Park Arts Discovery Trail
The 3.65-kilometer Linear Park Arts Discovery Trail meanders along the banks of Hazel Creek and traverses several parks throughout Warragul. A community arts initiative has adorned the trail with murals, mosaics, and artistically painted bollards, with some pieces honoring the Brayakoloong People, the traditional custodians of the land. The trail is equipped with seating areas and recreational amenities, including outdoor gym stations, and is divided into three distinct segments, with the initial loop illuminated at night.
4. Lardner Park
Lardner Park, situated a few kilometers south of Warragul, is the venue for significant events in West Gippsland. This expansive venue boasts 5,000 square meters of adaptable indoor and outdoor space, providing panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. The event calendar features a diverse range of activities, including 4WD exhibitions, international music festivals, markets, sports events, outdoor ballet, jousting competitions, and business gatherings, alongside Warragul’s Farm World, discussed in further detail below.
5. Farm World
To emphasize Warragul’s agricultural legacy, one of the largest agricultural exhibitions in the state is organized at Lardner Park at the end of March. This four-day event has spanned over six decades, primarily highlighting the latest agribusiness innovations and techniques while offering opportunities to connect with experts in the field. Furthermore, there are numerous attractions for casual attendees, including a variety of livestock breeds and demonstrations featuring working kelpie dogs. Activities at Farmer Darryl’s Animal Farm invite visitors to interact with friendly animals, and there is also an opportunity to walk alongside an alpaca. A notable highlight of the event is Farm World’s Fittest Farmer competition, where contestants undertake physical challenges for the esteemed title.
6. Two Towns Trail
The Two Towns Trail is an eight-kilometer paved path connecting the Linear Park Arts Discovery Trail in Warragul to the center of Drouin. While predominantly utilized by cycling commuters, the trail also offers visitors a glimpse into local history and culture, as well as stunning views of the West Gippsland countryside. Along the route, interpretive signage provides insights into the stories of the indigenous Gunaikurnai Nation, and plenty of resting points are available. Scenic views of Mount Worth, Mount Baw Baw, and the Strzelecki Ranges await adventurers, while a section of the trail near Buln Buln Road features a boardwalk that traverses a creek.
7. Mount Worth State Park
For those seeking a retreat into the captivating upland landscape near Warragul, Mount Worth State Park in the western Strzelecki Ranges is an ideal destination. The park features lush stands of wet mountain rainforest, with species such as blackwood, tree ferns in the gullies, mountain grey gum, and towering mountain ash, which can reach heights of up to 90 meters. The 1.8-kilometer Giant’s Circuit trail follows an old timber tramway, leading to an ancient specimen believed to be over 300 years old, with a trunk circumference of 14 meters. Hikers may encounter a variety of wildlife, including crimson rosella parrots, wombats, common brushtail possums, and the stunning ground-dwelling lyrebird along the park’s trails.
8. Gumbuya World
Located just beyond Drouin in Tynong, Gumbuya World is Melbourne’s largest theme park. This expansive attraction is divided into four sections, featuring roller coasters, a wave simulator, fairground rides, and animal exhibits. However, the highlight remains the water slides in the Oasis Springs water park, including the thrilling Boomerango with a near-vertical drop and the 180-meter dark slide, Taipan. Families will appreciate the Wildlife Trail, where they can observe crocodiles, wallabies, kangaroos, dingoes, koalas, and vibrant bird species in aviaries, while younger children can enjoy the petting zoo featuring friendly domestic animals. Additionally, the Outback Explorer area offers rides and attractions intended for younger visitors, such as bumper cars and a pirate ship.
9. Town & Country Gallery
In Yarragon, the Town & Country Gallery showcases the exceptional work of local artists and artisans. The gallery collaborates with numerous talented painters, sculptors, glass artists, ceramicists, jewelry-makers, printmakers, furniture creators, illustrators, and textile artists, providing abundant inspiration for gifts and souvenirs. The gallery is free to enter, and the area around it is lined with delightful cafes and dining options, making it the perfect outing during your visit to the Princes Highway.
10. Trafalgar Holden Museum
The Trafalgar Holden Museum highlights Australia’s iconic muscle car within a vast butter factory building dating back to the 1930s. This impressive private collection, curated by Neil Joiner, features significant models including a 1965 Holden HD Premier with a mere 13,000 miles, a scarcely driven 1963 EJ Holden (only 7,500 miles), and a 1967 Holden HK. The museum chronicles the extensive history of the Holden brand, from saddle-making to aviation engines, and includes interactive displays along with a theater showcasing rarely-seen footage.
11. Mount Cannibal
Located only a couple of kilometers from Gumbuya World, Mount Cannibal offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in stunning natural scenery. The sharp 2.5-kilometer loop trail ascends to the summit and returns, featuring a spectacular northern lookout that showcases an imposing granite spur emerging from the mountainside, akin to a giant pulpit. This vantage point is perfect for capturing picturesque photographs while taking in the panoramic views of Gippsland’s renowned undulating hills.
12. Laurie Collins Sculpture Garden
The small town of Jindivick is home to the studio of Victorian regional artist Laurie Collins, who creatively utilizes recycled materials and sheet metal to fashion captivating sculptures. Visitors exploring the Warragul region can drop by his one-acre property, transformed into a remarkable sculpture garden showcasing his inspired works. With prior arrangement, Laurie is available to provide guided tours, explaining his creations and inviting viewers into his studio for an insight into his artistic process. The garden is visually stunning, featuring breathtaking views of the surrounding Gippsland countryside.
13. Old Gippstown
Located a bit further in Moe, Old Gippstown functions as an open-air museum that transports visitors back to the origins of European settlement in Gippsland while offering an engaging events schedule. Featuring over forty historical buildings relocated from various parts of the region, dating from the 1850s to the 1950s, notable sites include an 1889 general store, a 1905 library/Masonic lodge, a 1900 bank building, a homestead established in 1848, a school from 1889, and Moe’s Holy Trinity Anglican Church, built in the mid-1890s. Within the museum’s coach house lies Australia’s largest publicly-owned collection of horse-drawn vehicles. The other buildings are filled with historical artifacts, including machinery, furniture, documents, and various antique decorative arts.
14. Warragul Country Club
Warragul Country Club features one of the premier golf courses within the Gippsland Region and plays a pivotal role in the town’s social dynamic, regularly hosting events such as raffles, bingo nights, and stage shows. As a community-focused not-for-profit establishment, it warmly welcomes non-members. A round of 18 holes costs $18, with a $3 reduction for online reservations. After a round, visitors can dine at the Fairways Bistro, which offers a diverse menu that includes dishes ranging from Thai pork belly salad to lighter options such as pumpkin and spinach risotto.
15. Blue Rock Dam
Blue Rock Dam, an 873-hectare reservoir situated on the Tanjil River, is a favored destination among families and is conveniently accessed via the Old Sale Road from Warragul. Constructed in the 1970s to provide water for the cooling systems of Latrobe Valley’s power stations and to supplement drinking water supplies, the dam rises to a height of 72 meters and stretches 600 meters in length, featuring a spillway capable of handling 1,200 cubic meters of water per second. The reservoir attracts numerous day-trippers and provides two recreational areas along its wooded and grassy boundaries, suitable for swimming, picnicking, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. For those seeking a leisurely experience, a track circumnavigates most of the reservoir, inviting visitors to enjoy the lush surrounding nature.
