Full to the brim with seaside charm, Warrnambool is a friendly town that knows how to show visitors a good time. The stunning scenery and the relaxed approach to life that the locals prefer here will enchant you.
Step back in time at Flagstaff Hill
The Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village overlooks stunning Lady Bay and invites visitors to explore history in a new and exciting way. As the holder of Victoria’s largest maritime shipwreck collection, there are lots of stories to hear, from merchant seamen, luxury passenger ships and tales of pirates to excite and entrance you. The kids will enjoy the Sea Chest Challenge Trail, where they can uncover hidden treasure and hand feed some friendly animals along the way too. Each evening they put on a spectacular “Tales of the Shipwreck Coast” sound and light show, which shares a variety of dramatic tales from the misadventures of whalers to local Aboriginal stories.
Tower Hill Adventures
The Worn Gundidj Aboriginal Cooperative run the Tower Hill nature reserve – a place where you can see Australian animals in recreations of their natural habitat and learn all about local Indigenous history and culture as well. They have bush tucker tours where you can sample some local delicacies, and they also have a gorgeous gallery showing off some amazing artworks. It’s a great place to take the kids for an unforgettable day out.
Watch the Whales
This whole area is known for it’s excellent whale-watching opportunities, and there’s much debate as to the best place to do it, but a very strong contender is Warrnambool’s Logan Beach. The Southern Right Whales migrate here every year and have done so for centuries, and whilst whaling almost drove them to extinction, since this practice was outlawed in the 1930s the population is now at much healthier levels. It’s the female whales that come closest to shore to have their calves, so you have a good chance to see mothers with their babies here. The beach has a purpose built viewing platform, or you can just settle in on the beach – either way this is a fantastic place to get an unforgettable glimpse of these gentle giants.
Gastronomy Explorer
Most seaside towns boast at least one or two excellent fish and chip shops, and Warrnambool is no exception – but where this village really shines is in its pubs. Staying in a country town pub and getting some of the local’s culinary creations into you is always a warm and cosy experience, but Warrnambool has taken it to the next level with several of the local establishments in fierce competition to become the favoured “gastro pub” in town. “The Cally” is one of the ones to watch. It combines a heritage exterior with a modern interior, which makes the accommodation more comfortable, and their seasonal menu is consistently delicious. The Hotel Warrnambool is an institution with a reputation they’re keen to uphold, with a stately façade and roaring fireplace on colder days it is a great place to enjoy some classic pub food favourites.
