Great Ocean Road Tourist Information
Great Ocean Road Tourist Information
Warrnambool
Warrnambool, capital of the Shipwreck Coast, offers visitors a smorgesbord of experiences - natural and man-made. It is famous for the whales that annually visit its waters. They arrive from the cold Antarctic waters around May to give birth at Logans Beach. These gentle giants of the ocean stay until September or October when they return with their offspring to the colder southern waters. A platform overlooking Logans Beach allows excellent views of the whales at play.
Warrnambool's major man-made attraction is the extensive Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum. A recreated seaport, it recaptures the feel of bustling 19th century Warrnambool, with restored ships and streetscapes sparking the imagination. Flagstaff Hill is also the home of the Loch Ard Peacock, a beautiful earthenware statue that miraculously survived the wreck of the Loch Ard. Visitors can take the 22km Mahongany Ship Walking Track and maybe help discover some clues to the mystery of the enigmatic Mahogany Ship.
Warrnambool's beautiful beaches are popular for a range of activities, including swimming, surfing, windsurfing, fishing, yachting and skindiving. Warrnambool has a treat for those interested in things botanic with the Fletcher Jones garden and the Warrnambool botanic garden. Also, the beautifully restored Victorian-era Proudfoot's Boathouse is a must see.
Tower Hill is the result of an enormous volcanic explosion more than 25,000 years ago. The blast created a funnel-shaped crater which later filled with water to form a lake. The Tower Hill Game Reserve's bush and wetlands today are home to a wide range of birds and animals which can easily be viewed on one of the self-guided walks around the reserve.
Five minutes drive from Tower Hill is the charming township of Koroit, historically significant as an early Victorian Irish settlement.
