Warrnambool is a city with plenty of heritage charm on Victoria’s southwest coast. Stroll around the historic city center or make your way down to the main beach for a swim. Check out the platform that presents sweeping views of the coast and spot whales during the calving season. Learn about the city’s rich maritime heritage at a recreated 19th-century port and relax amid the greenery of the city’s parks and gardens.
A short walking tour around Warrnambool’s city center will reveal the city’s collection of preserved 19th-century buildings. Check out the Post Office and the Courthouse or stroll along the grand promenade beneath the shade of tall Norfolk pines.
If the sun is shining, make your way to the patrolled waters of Bathing Beach at the top of Lady Bay. Play in the shallows or relax on the sands. Behind the beach is the Lake Pertobe Adventure Park, which has plenty of activities for a day of fun, with playgrounds, gym equipment and a lake crisscrossed by footbridges. Take out a paddleboat or grill some lunch at the park’s barbecues. The western side of Lady Bay is popular for fishing and the breakwater beside the mouth of the Merri River provides more sheltered swimming areas.
Nearby Logans Beach is situated at the mouth of the Hopkins River and a whale-watching hot spot. Visit the observation deck between June and November for the best chance of seeing southern right whales and their calves. Pack a picnic and head to the pretty Botanic Gardens, featuring a large lily pond, a fernery and a heritage rotunda.
Find out about the vessels that met their fate on the famed Shipwreck Coast when you visit Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. Ask staff at the village about viewing times for the Shipwrecked! sound and laser show that tells of the Loch Ard shipwreck of 1878.
Venture out to Tower Hill to see kangaroos, emus and koalas, as well as learn about the local indigenous cultural heritage of the region.
Warrnambool is a 3-hour drive west from Melbourne. The city is also accessible via the city’s regional train network. Summer beach fun and winter wildlife spotting make Warrnambool a year-round attraction.
