10 of the best things to do in Warrnambool

Jo StewartBy Jo Stewart
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If steering your own mini motorboat around a lake, pedalling along a beach promenade or blissing out in geothermal hot springs sounds like heaven, then read on to learn about the top things to do in Warrnambool.

While it may not get as much attention as some of the more touristy stops along the way, this coastal city at the end of the Great Ocean Road is well worth checking out. No matter if you’re into nature, sports, arts, history, food and wine—or all of the above—you won’t run out of things to do in Warrnambool. Here are ten of the best to add to your trip list.

1. Slip into some hot springs

The westernmost stop on the Great Victorian Bathing Trail, Deep Blue Hot Springs  is the ideal spot to wind down after a long drive along the Great Ocean Road.

an old lady dipping in Deep Blue Hot Springs, Warrnambool
Wind down after a long drive at Deep Blue Hot Springs. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Slip into a mineral bath and let the geothermal waters relieve your tired muscles, chill out in a sensory cave enhanced with trippy colour therapy lights and find bliss under the waterfall in the rainforest pool – this place warrants a repeat visit!

a couple in a sensory cave at Deep Blue Hot Springs, Warrnambool
Chill out in a sensory cave. (Image: Visit Victoria)

2. Pick up a paintbrush at the Warrnambool School of Art

Unleash your inner Frida Kahlo by booking in to attend a workshop at the Warrnambool School of Art.  From contemporary watercolour painting to hard-edge acrylics and mosaics, there are classes and workshops covering a wide range of artistic styles here, all taught by passionate, experienced artists with plenty of insights to share.

3. Kick back in the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens

On a warm summer’s day, the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens  is a peaceful spot to beat the heat. Set up a picnic rug under one of the massive Moreton Bay Figs to enjoy a shady, alfresco lunch or sit by the peaceful pond to watch the ducks. Designed by renowned landscape architect William Guilfoyle (designer of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens) this lovely spot has been a fixture in Warrnambool since the 1800s and still delights people of all ages, centuries later.

an aerial view of the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens
Warrnambool Botanic Gardens is a peaceful spot to beat the heat.

4. Get on your bike

If you love getting out and about on two wheels, then you’ll be pleased to know that Warrnambool has some ripper cycling trails to explore. Hire a bike from Café Cycles Company,  then ride your day away on some of the city’s trails. If you’ve got plenty of time and energy to burn, then complete a return journey on the scenic Warrnambool to Port Fairy Rail Trail (it will take you most of the day, so start early).

a little girl biking on the scenic Warrnambool
Explore the scenic trails on a bike from Café Cycles Company.

Prefer an easier, quicker ride? The 7.5km Foreshore Promenade stretching from Breakwater to Logans Beach has showstopping ocean views, which you’ll have to share with walkers, joggers and other cyclists on this popular route.

a woman soaking up the ocean breeze at Logan's Beach, Warrnambool
Stop by Logan’s Beach for a quick rest. (Image: Visit Victoria)

5. Hunt for antiques at Fletcher Jones Market

If you love nothing more than digging through crates of vinyl records and coveting Australian pottery from the 70s, be sure to visit Fletcher Jones Market  when you’re in town. Home to thousands of vintage and retro items, this huge indoor antiques and collectables market covers 3,000 square metres of floor space so be prepared to spend some time fossicking through many stalls jam-packed with memorabilia from years gone by. The gardens here are impressive too.

6. Step back in time at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village

If you have ever wanted to learn more about the history of the Shipwreck Coast, this is the place for you. A maritime museum and village which arguably holds Australia’s most significant shipwreck artefact collection, Flagstaff Hill is a sprawling outdoor monument to the hardy people who made a living here more than a century ago.

boats docked at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village
Learn more about the history of the Shipwreck Coast at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Visit the Blacksmith’s forge, climb the spiral staircase of the lighthouse, check out the 80-pound cannon and marvel at a super rare, highly valued Minton peacock statue salvaged from a shipwreck many years ago.

two people standing outside the the lighthouse at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village lighthouse
Climb the lighthouse’s spiral staircase. (Image: Tourism Australia)

7. Let loose on the Lake Pertobe Adventure Playground

Fun for all the family can be found at this large, council-run outdoor adventure park . The ideal spot to spend a fun day in the outdoors without breaking the bank, there are plenty of things for kids to get stuck into here including a huge slide, flying fox and a maze. You can even hire mini motorboats  to take out on the lake. Plenty of picnic tables, shady areas and barbecues means you can bring your own lunch and snacks to enjoy throughout the day too.

8. Catch a show at the Lighthouse Theatre

If you’re looking for something to do at night, check out the Lighthouse Theatre’s  program. Throughout the year you’ll find everything from plays to musicals, stand-up comedy performances, tribute acts and more at this heritage theatre that has been revamped in recent years but has lost none of its charm.

the Lighthouse Theatre in Warrnambool
Pop by the Lighthouse Theatre to catch a musical.

9. Get to know the local art scene

There’s much more to Warrnambool than beaches and maritime history; there’s a thriving arts scene too. If you love art, then be sure to hit the galleries while you’re visiting.

a couple standing outside Warrnambool Art Gallery
Step into Warrnambool Art Gallery to immerse in its thriving art scene. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Warrnambool Art Gallery (or ‘the WAG’) is open seven days a week and houses an impressive collection of paintings and works on paper by influential Australian artists like Cressida Campbell, Clarice Beckett and Joy Hester.

Meanwhile, the F Project  is a volunteer-run arts organisation that runs exhibitions throughout the year and does great work fostering local creative talent to flourish.  Staffed by volunteers, the gallery and shop are open to visitors Wednesday to Sunday.

a couple at the entrance of Warrnambool Art Gallery
Warrnambool Art Gallery houses an impressive collection of paintings. (Image: Visit Victoria)

10. Explore the Shipwreck Coast aboard a boat

Keen to get out on the water? Book a tour with Mako Ocean Adventures  to explore the local marine parks along the coast. Many parts of the Shipwreck Coast are only visible by boat, so a trip with Mako Ocean Adventures will enable you to see some of the spectacular rock formations and caves you can’t see from land. Time your visit right and you might spot some dolphins or migrating humpback whales too!

11. Spend the morning at the markets

Held on the first and third Sunday of the month, the Fresh Market  is a lovely spot to grab a morning coffee. Wandering around the stalls you’ll find everything from just-baked sourdough to locally-made jams and preserves for sale, as well as candles, flowers, paintings, seafood and more. Local markets like these really support regional artisans, producers and makers to stay in business, so why not grab some treats to gift to friends or enjoy once you’re home?

Discover the best things to do on the Great Ocean Road.

Jo Stewart
Jo Stewart is a freelance features writer who pens stories about nature, pop culture, music, art, design and more from her home in the Macedon Ranges of Victoria. When not writing, you can find her trawling through vinyl records and vintage fashion at op shops, antique stores and garage sales.
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How a $1 deal saved Bendigo’s historic tramways

    Megan ArkinstallBy Megan Arkinstall
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    The passionate community that saved Bendigo Tramways has kept the story of this city alive for generations.

    It was an absolute steal: a fleet of 23 trams for just $1. But such a fortunate purchase didn’t happen easily. It was 1972 when the Bendigo Trust handed over a single buck for the city’s historic collection of battery, steam and electric trams, which had transported locals since 1890.

    inside the historic Bendigo Tram
    Bendigo Tramways is a historic transport line turned tourist service. (Image: Bendigo Heritage)

    The city’s tram network had been declared defunct since 1970 due to post-war shortages in materials to upkeep the trams and declining passenger numbers as motor vehicles were increasing. However, determined locals would not hear of their beloved trams being sold off around the world.

    The Bendigo Trust was enlisted to preserve this heritage, by converting the trams into a tourist service. The Victorian government approved a trial, however news spread that the Australian Electric Tramways Museum in Adelaide had acquired one of the streetcars for its collection.

    a tram heading to Quarry Hill in 1957
    A tram on its way to Quarry Hill in 1957. (Image: Bendigo Heritage)

    An impassioned group rallied together to make this physically impossible. Breaking into the tram sheds, they welded iron pipes to the rails, removed carbon brushes from the motors, and formed a blockade at the depot. The community response was extraordinary, and a $1 deal was sealed.

    A new chapter for the city’s fleet

    the old Tramways Depot and Workshop
    The old Tramways Depot and Workshop is one of the stops on the hop-on, hop-off service. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Today, Bendigo Tramways welcomes some 40,000 passengers annually, operating as a hop-on, hop-off touring service aboard the restored trams. Fifteen of the now 45-strong fleet are dubbed ‘Talking Trams’ because of the taped commentary that is played along the route. The trams loop between Central Deborah Gold Mine and the Bendigo Joss House Temple, which has been a place of Chinese worship since 1871, via other sites including the old Tramways Depot and Workshop.

    a Gold Mine Bendigo Tram
    The fleet comprises 45 trams that have been restored. (Image: Visit Victoria/Robert Blackburn)

    Keeping things interesting, throughout the year visitors can step aboard different themed trams. Tram No. 302 becomes the Yarn Bomb Tram, decorated both inside and out with colourful crochet by an anonymous group of locals.

    During the festive season, Tram No. 15 operates as a tinsel-festooned Santa Tram, and the big man himself hides out somewhere along the route for excited children to find. And on selected dates, the adults-only Groove Tram runs nighttime tours of the city, accompanied by local musicians playing live tunes and a pop-up bar.

    the historic post office turned visitor centre in Bendigo
    Visitors can hop on and off to see the city’s sites such as the historic post office turned visitor centre. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    As well as preserving the city’s history, however, the continuation of the tram service has kept the skills of tram building and craftsmanship alive in a practical sense. Bendigo’s Heritage Rail Workshop is world-renowned for restoring heritage trams and repurposing vehicles in creative ways.

    Locally, for example, Tram No. 918 was transformed into the Dja Dja Wurrung Tram with original Aboriginal artworks by emerging artist Natasha Carter, with special commentary and music that shares the stories and traditions of Bendigo’s first people. You can’t put a price on preserving history. Nonetheless, it was a dollar very well spent.