The best things to do in Warrnambool

While Warrnambool may be considered the last stop on the Great Ocean Road, the adventure is just beginning.

Leave some energy (and petrol) in the tank, because there are plenty of things to do and see in Warrnambool. Immerse yourself in its maritime history, explore its spectacular natural beauty, or dip into its lively arts and culture. There’s something here for every traveller, so pick your favourites from our list and start planning. And if you’re looking for somewhere to stay, we’ve rounded up the best accommodations options in the area.

In Short

If you only do one thing in Warrnambool, make it visiting the Thunder Point lookout. You’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of the ocean and rugged coastline, and it’s a prime spot to watch the sun go down.

Spend the afternoon at Lake Pertobe

motor boats moored at Lake Pertobe — Hire colourful motor boats on Lake Pertobe. (Credit: Lake Pertobe Motor Boats Hire)

There’s honestly something for everyone at the picturesque Lake Pertobe. Whether you’re here for the epic adventure playground (complete with maze, flying fox and water play area), a paddle on the lake or a BBQ picnic, you can easily while away an entire day. Our suggestion? Hiring one of the charmingly colourful motor boats from the family-owned business on the lake’s edge (check their Facebook for opening times). On-site facilities include toilets, seating areas, BBQs and free parking.

Best for: Everyone

Relax at the hot springs

the sensory cave at Deep Blue Hot Springs, Warrnambool — Chill out in a sensory cave. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

Set amongst a lush, natural environment with the scent of jasmine in the air, Deep Blue Hot Springs is home to a network of natural geothermal springs. Leave your worries behind as you pool-hop your way through sensory caves and rockpools, where the mineral-rich waters soothe both the mind and tight muscles, then break for lunch at the on-site Tides Café, Bar and Restaurant. You do need to pay extra for a locker, towel and robe, so consider bringing your own towel if you want to save a little cash.

Best for: Wellness lovers
Opening hours: 7am–9.30pm daily

Cycle the Warrnambool Foreshore Promenade

a surfer at the Warrnambool Foreshore Promenade — Warrnambool Foreshore Promenade is located near popular surfing spots. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

The Warrnambool Foreshore Promenade runs from the Breakwater to Point Ritchie, following the curve of Lady Bay. If you’re not much of a cyclist, that’s perfectly fine – you can walk, run, or even rollerblade along the sealed path while taking in the sweeping coastal views.

Best for: Cyclists and active holiday goers  

Enjoy stunning views from Thunder Point

Named for the sound of waves crashing against the rocks, Thunder Point offers an incredible vantage point to admire the forces of nature and watch the sun set over the Southern Ocean. It’s a short, easy walk to the lookouts from the car park, but it can get very windy; if you’re coming here for sunset, make sure to bring an extra layer.

Best for: Photographers and nature lovers

Explore the Shipwreck Coast by boat

Mako Ocean Adventures' boat at sea — Traverse 45 kilometres of coastline with Mako Ocean Adventures.

Join a tour with Mako Ocean Adventures to explore the Shipwreck Coast, named for the hundreds of vessels wrecked along the dangerous stretch of coastline over the centuries. Tours range from the family-friendly 45min Discovery Tour, to the popular Antares, Bay of Islands tour, where over 2.5 hours you’ll traverse 45 kilometres of coastline, including the Bay of Islands coastal reserve, Gauls Caves, and Bertrams Bay Magic Rock. With parts of the coast only accessible by boat, this is worth booking in.

Best for: History buffs

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

Go to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village

the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village lighthouse — Climb to the top of the lighthouse for lovely ocean views. (Credit: Tourism Australia)

Step back in time to the 19th-century as you explore the cobbled streets of this historic maritime village, climb an original lighthouse and get a taste of life as it was for the first European settlers in the area. There’s a museum on site too, home to Australia’s most significant shipwreck artefact collection; stop by at 11.30am for a tour with a guide in full period costume.

Purchase a combined day and night ticket so you can return for the evening sound and light show, which covers Indigenous, whaling and shipwreck stories. Note that only the museum is wheelchair accessible; contact staff if you need mobility assistance for the evening show.

Best for: Families and history buffs
Opening hours: 9.30am–4.30pm daily (maritime village); evening show nightly at dusk

Visit the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens

the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens from above — This peaceful oasis is home to beautiful mature trees.

Pack a picnic for a lazy afternoon at the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens. These peaceful, classic-style gardens are over 150 years old; designed by William Guilfoyle in 1879, who also completed the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, they’re home to beautiful mature trees (including a 1934 lone pine), a lily pond, lush lawns, a rotunda and nature play area. Keep an eye out for bats in the treetops, and if you’re lucky you might spot a turtle in the pond.

Best for: Families and garden enthusiasts

See a show at the Lighthouse Theatre

the Lighthouse Theatre exterior view — Catch a musical when you’re in Warrnambool.

With a diverse, year-round lineup of live theatre, concerts, comedy and community events, it’s worth checking out the program at the Lighthouse Theatre when you’re in town. It’s located in Warrnambool’s centre, close to restaurants and pubs: perfect for a dinner and show. Enjoy a drink in the glass-fronted foyer (which contrasts against the original town hall façade), before finding your spot in the 584-seat auditorium. Visit the event pages on their website for specific accessibility options.

Best for: Culture enthusiasts
Opening hours: Check website for shows and times

Visit Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve

Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve from above — Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve sits in a huge dormant volcano. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

Less than a 20-minute drive from Warrnambool, Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve sits inside a large – and thankfully dormant – volcano. Choose from an assortment of walking trails for all levels, and look out for koalas, emus, kangaroos, swans and other birdlife as you explore this incredible geological formation.

Best for: Hikers and nature lovers

Shop for fresh food and treasures at the markets

What says “holiday" more than a market? And Warrnambool has several to choose from. Don’t miss the Summer Night Markets during the warmer months, bustling with food trucks, local artisan and produce stalls, and live entertainment. The daily Fletcher Jones Market is perfect for those who like to hunt for unique or vintage treasures, while the twice-monthly Fresh Market at Lake Pertobe is a hub of local growers, artisans, creators and designers (and it’s on every Sunday in January).

Best for: Foodies and shoppers

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Spot whales from Logans Beach

the Logan's Beach whale watching platform — Go whale watching at Logan’s Beach. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

If you’re visiting Warrnambool between June and October, you might be lucky enough to spot a whale from the viewing platform at Logans Beach. Southern Right Whales travel from Antarctic waters to this sheltered stretch of coastline every year to give birth. The accessible viewing platform is open at all times; just be patient and prepared to make multiple visits for the best chances of a sighting. Our tip? Pack binoculars and a thermos of hot coffee.

Best for: Wildlife lovers

Visit local art galleries

the entrance to the Warrnambool Art Gallery — Warrnambool Art Gallery houses an impressive collection of paintings. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

Warrnambool has a robust arts scene anchored by the Warrnambool Art Gallery, which houses a significant Australian art collection including Indigenous artefacts, colonial paintings and contemporary works, alongside temporary exhibitions (entry is free but some exhibitions may need a ticket).

The volunteer-run F Project Precinct is also worth a visit; pop into the art gallery (they have rotating exhibitions throughout the year) and browse the gift shop with original works from local creatives.

Best for: Art lovers
Opening hours: Warrnambool Art Gallery 10am–5pm Monday to Friday, 10am–3pm weekends / The F Project 10am–4pm Wednesday to Sunday

Explore the coastline’s beautiful beaches

Lady Bay is Warrnambool’s most popular beach, and as it’s sheltered and patrolled in summer, it’s a no-brainer for both swimmers and families. For those who want a quieter spot, Stingray Bay is a hidden gem with shallow pools located near the mouth of the Merri River; and while Logans Beach is known for whale watching in winter, experienced surfers also flock there year-round for its consistent waves.

Best for: Surfers, water and nature lovers

Hike the Mahogany Trail

This 22-kilometre return beach walk – for those who are up for it – is said to pass the last known resting place of the Mahogany Ship, a Portuguese ship wrecked in the 1500s (later disappearing under the sand in the late 19th century). The trail starts at Thunder Point car park and finishes at Griffiths Island car park in Port Fairy; along the way, you might spot echidnas and rare hooded plovers. If you’re attempting this hike, pack water and snacks and allow enough time – there are also access points along the way if you decide to start or stop earlier.

Best for: Hikers

Make a splash in Hopkins River

Whether you’re a keen angler, paddler, or boater, make a beeline for the Hopkins River. Flowing from the Grampians into the Southern Ocean, the calm waters in Warrnambool are lined with jetties and boat ramps, offering easy access. Cast a line for bream, estuary perch, or mullet, hire a canoe for a morning paddle, or picnic at one of the riverside reserves. How’s the serenity.

Best for: Anglers and kayakers

Makers, bakers, artists, chefs, crafters – Ballarat and its surrounds are overflowing with creative spirits. All dedicated to keeping traditional skills alive for a city that is humming with artful energy.

Modern makers: a new generation of artists and artisans

“Keeping craft alive is a noble cause,” says Jess Cameron-Wootten, a charming and passionate master leathercrafter and cordwainer, who handmakes traditional leather boots and shoes in Ballarat’s old Gun Cotton Goods Store.

Ballarat was recognised in 2019 as a UNESCO Creative City of Craft and Folk Art, and today it’s a place where craft traditions converge with contemporary needs. Nothing quite captures this convergence as a visit to Wootten, the workshop and store of Jess Cameron-Wootten and his partner Krystina Menegazzo.

heritage buildings in Ballarat — Ballarat’s streets are lined with heritage buildings. (Image: Matt Dunne)

Jess’s father was an artisan bootmaker, or cordwainer. Now Jess and Krys and their small team of artisans continue the tradition, but with a modern spin. The company’s boots and shoes, made completely from scratch, are renowned for their quality and longevity. Wootten also craft shoes, bags, belts, leather aprons, wallets and more.

Cosy beanies, gloves, alpaca socks, “unbreakable” shoelaces and various other goods – many from local craftspeople and small-scale makers – fill the shop’s shelves. “We’re always happy to support a mate,” says Jess. “People love to see the workshop and where things are made. Our clients care about quality and sustainability,” Krys comments. The company slogan ‘Made for generations’ says it all.

Ruby Pilven’s ceramics at Ross Creek Gallery. (Image: Tara Moore)

For Ruby Pilven, craft is also in the DNA – both her parents were potters and with her latest porcelain ceramics, Ruby’s young daughter has been helping add colour to the glazes. “I grew up watching my parents in the workshop – I’ve always been doing ceramics,” she says, although her Visual Arts degree was in printmaking. That printmaking training comes through particularly in the rich layering of pattern. Her audacious colour, unexpected shapes and sudden pops of 12-carat gold are contemporary, quirky – and joyful.

You can see Ruby’s handcrafted ceramics, and work by other local and regional artists, at Ross Creek Gallery, a light-filled space surrounded by serene bushland, across from the mudbrick house her parents built in the 1980s. A 10-minute drive from Ballarat, it’s a tangible link to the region’s well-established craft traditions.

How Ballarat is preserving the past

artisans making crafts at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — The Centre for Rare Arts & Forgotten Trades holds workshops to preserve crafts and skills.

While tradition is ongoing, there’s a danger that many of these specific type of skills and knowledge are fading as an older generation passes on. Step forward the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades.

The seven purpose-built studios occupy a fabulous modern building adjacent to Sovereign Hill, with state-of-the-art facilities, enormous windows and landscape views across to Warrenheip and Wadawurrung Country.

artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — Check out artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades.

Practising artisans run hands-on workshops. Fancy making your own medieval armour? Or trying your hand at blacksmithing, spinning wool, plaiting leather, weaving cane or craft a knife? Book a class and learn how. “It’s about creating awareness and also sharing knowledge and skills before they are lost,” explains Deborah Klein, the centre manager.

A city steeped in food and flavours

Chef José Fernandez preparing American streetfood at Pancho — Chef José Fernandez creates vibrant South American street food at Pancho. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

One skill that hasn’t been lost is that of cooking. Ballarat’s burgeoning gastronomy scene runs the gamut from an artisan bakery (the atmospheric 1816 Bakehouse) to cool coffee shops, speakeasy cocktail bars and distilleries to fine-dining venues. But I’m still surprised to find Pancho, José Fernandez’s South American street food restaurant, serving fried cheese tequeños, fiery fish tacos, Argentinian grilled chicken.

The room is as lively as the food – a whirl of colour filled with gifted and thrifted paintings, photos, tchotchkes (trinkets), plants. There’s a Mexican abuela aesthetic going on here. Even before the music and mezcal kick in, it’s fun. Heads up on the drinks menu – an authentic selection of mezcal, tequila, South American wines and Mexican cerveza.

a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits, Ballarat — Enjoy a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

The spirit is willing, so after lunch we head towards the gold rush-era Ballarat train station and across the line to the old 1860s Goods Shed for Itinerant Spirits. At one end, a massive German copper still looms behind a wall of glass. The fit-out embraces deep olive-green tones, original bluestone walls, steamer trunks as coffee tables, heritage timber floors, oversized lamp shades and cognac-hued modernist leather seating.

the Itinerant Spirits Distillery & Cocktail Bar, Ballarat — The distillery operates from an old goods shed. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Gallivanter Gin, Vansetter Vodka and Wayfarer Whiskey – the key spirits distilled – star at the bar. The spirits are crafted using grains from the Wimmera Mallee region, and native botanicals foraged in the Grampians. Seasonal cocktails are inspired by local people and places (I loved The Headland, inspired by Sovereign Hill and flavoured with old-fashioned raspberry drops). Sample the spirits, and join a cocktail masterclass or a distillery tour. It’s a seductive setting – you’ll likely find yourself ordering a charcuterie platter or pizza as the evening progresses.

The Ballarat stay combining history and luxury

one of the rooms at Hotel Vera, Ballarat — The rooms at Hotel Vera have a contemporary style. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

New lives for old buildings keeps history alive. Vera, Ballarat’s boutique five-star hotel, has taken it to the next level: it’s a palimpsest, a subtle layering of early 1900s and 1930s Art Deco architecture with a sleek new wing. There are seven spacious suites, each a dramatically different colour, with designer chairs, blissful bathrooms. High-end pottery and hand-picked artworks imbue the spaces with personality.

Vera’s intimate, award-winning restaurant, Babae, is subtly theatrical with sheer drapes and gallery lighting, its bespoke timber furniture and brass-edged marble bench setting the stage for food with a sharp regional focus. “We have goat’s cheese from a local supplier, handmade granola from local Vegas & Rose, truffles from nearby Black Cat Truffles, fresh food from our garden, and regional wines,” says joint owner David Cook-Doulton.

Celebrating the local makers, bakers, growers and producers, and the master chefs who work their magic is all part of the rich tapestry that links Ballarat’s history to its vibrant present.

A traveller’s checklist

Getting there

It’s 90 minutes from Melbourne, either on the Western Freeway, or hop on a V/Line train from Southern Cross Station.

Staying there

Hotel Vera is a centrally located Art Deco boutique hotel. Consider Hotel Provincial, which feels like a sleek country house, but with its own restaurant, Lola.

a contemporary room at Hotel Provincial, Ballarat — Hotel Provincial has country house vibes.

Eating there

dining at Mr Jones, Ballarat — The table is set at Mr Jones. (Image: Tony Evans/ Visit Victoria)

Culinary whiz Damien Jones helms Chef’s Hat winner Mr Jones Dining with quiet assurance. His modern Asian food is deceptively simple with deep, intense flavours. Low-key, laid-back ambience, lovely staff, thoughtful wine list.

Cocktails are definitely a thing in Ballarat. Reynard (fox in French) is foxy indeed, a clubby space with top-notch cocktails and small bites. Grainery Lane is extravagantly OTT with its massive 1880s bar, myriad chandeliers, brass gin still, Asian-inspired food and lavish cocktails.

dining at Grainery Lane, Ballarat — Dining at Grainery Lane.

Playing there

a laneway filled with artworks in Ballarat — An artful laneway in the city. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Check out local design legend Travis Price’s wall murals in Hop Lane with its colourful canopy of brollies, or in Main Street. The Art Gallery of Ballarat’s off-site Backspace Gallery showcases early-career artists in a stylish, contemporary space. First Nations-owned and run Perridak Arts connects people to place, bringing together art and crafts in this gallery/shop.

a woman admiring artworks at Perridak Arts Gallery — Perridak Arts is a First Nations-run gallery. (Image: Tony Evans)

The wineries of the Pyrenees are close at hand with their welcoming cellar doors and robust reds. Join a behind-the-scenes tour at the Centre for Gold Rush Collections.

Don’t forget the giant bluestone Kryal Castle, ‘the land of adventure’, for a little medieval magic, and not just for the kids: get ready for Highland-style feasting, jousting, even overnight stays.

This underrated coastal city has hot springs, shipwrecks and vintage shopping