Warrnambool is one of those destinations that at first you might think of just being a place to stop by on your way to or from the Great Ocean Road. Scratch a bit below the surface and this little town is steeped in history and surrounded by nature and a magnificent coastline. With so many things to do for the whole family, come on a trip with me to find out the Top 5 Places to visit in Warrnambool with Kids!
Where is Warrnambool
Warrnambool, is 3 hour (approx. 260 km) drive south-west of Melbourne, in the state of Victoria. It’s the largest town on the Great Ocean Road, and the popular 12 Apostles is just an hour away. The South Australian border is about 2 hours away by car and Adelaide can be reached in about 6 hours drive from Warrnambool.
Why choose Warrnambool for a holiday
There are many fantastic options for holidaying along the Great Ocean Road. There’s Torquay, Lorne, Apollo Bay and there are lots of other little towns in between. So what makes Warrnambool a great place for a holiday in?
- Accommodation to suit all budgets. With a population of 35000, it’s the largest town along the Great Ocean Road – you can call it a country ‘city’. This means many great options for accommodation to stay in to suit all budgets from cabins in well-equipped Holiday Parks, to private Airbnb, Motels, Luxury Hotels, and Serviced Apartments.
- A proper town centre with lots of food options, tourist attractions and all the amenities you need. A thriving dining scene with restaurants, family friendly pubs and great coffee shops. More on this below on the Where to Eat in Warrnambool Section.
- Beautiful spacious pristine beaches. Some of them are also very shallow in low tide as protected by the nearby islands.
- Explore Nature at your doorstep. Lots of well-maintained boardwalks to explore the iconic coastline. Head nearby to Tower Hill Reserve, just 14 km outside of Warrnambool, and venture into this large nature reserve inside an extinct volcano crater. The reserve is now a thriving habitat of native flora and animals. The Winter Whales are also a popular attractions during the winter months (June to September). Logan’s beach in Warrnambool has a great setup to see the whales during calving season!
And of course some great kid-friendly attractions! Read on to find out more on the Top 5 Things to do in Warrnambool with Kids.
These are the Top 5 Things to do in Warrnambool with Kids
Stingray Bay
When to visit: Everyday
Stretching along side Lady Bay, this fabulous beach is just too good to miss. It has a few little islands in front of it, making the beach itself protected from the waves.
In low tide you can be walking for ages on the sands with barely an inch on water! All you can see is your reflection on the glistening sand!
The Merri River also joins up on this beach so you can take a refreshing dip on the river stream.
Tip: There is road parking right along the beach and public toilets are available.
Head to Pavilion Cafe & Bar just a few minutes walk away for a great breakfast or lunch with a view over the water.
Lake Pertobe & Playground
When to visit: Everyday. Motor boats for hire only available Sat & Sun
If it’s up to the kids, you will probably end up spending a LOT of time here.
This park and lake is huge and absolutely gorgeous, not just for kids, but really for anyone. You can kayak and hire motor boats to go on the lake, and do lots of walks across the bridges that connect the islands in the lake.
It’s beautifully landscaped and has lots of play areas, the newest part of the park is towards the huge maze. The maze has also a higher viewing platform in the middle so parents can keep an eye on the kids.
There is a play area for younger kids with a huge sandpit, a splash area set up with spraying ‘whales’, a huge tunnel slide and a giant flying fox (for kids AND adults). Lots of sitting areas and BBQs. Truly one of the best parks I have ever seen to suit all ages!
Tip: Pack bathers for the splash park and a picnic. There is lots of lawns and picnic tables to have some lunch!
Warrnambool Wildlife Encounters
When to visit: Contact directly to find out when tours are running
This was a standout and such a rare treat if you love native animals and really want to get up close to them.
It’s located about 20 minutes drive from Warrnambool and it’s a wildlife park, but they only run scheduled small group tours. You MUST book ahead online and everyone gets a chance to pat and feed animals.
We all really enjoyed this and we got to see some amazing animals up close like koalas, kangaroos, wombats, dingos and so many more!
You can read my full review on Warrnambool Wildlife Encounters HERE.
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village
When to visit: Open 10 am to 5 pm Everyday
This place was a real surprise, it reminded me a bit of the replica town of Sovereign Hill (in Ballarat, also in Victoria) and also has a replica maritime village that you can go and explore.
You start off by visiting the museum where you can learn about what life was like in the 19th century and the history of the Shipwreck Coast. You can see lots of artefacts from the shipwrecks, including the famous Loch Ard Peacock – which is valued at a whopping 4 million AUD (2.5 Million US)!
The kids will enjoy exploring the little seaside village visiting all the little shops and walking along the cobblestone streets.
There is an old school lolly store where you can buy $2 bags of lollies and also a tea room where you can stop for scones and a cup of tea.
It was a bargain of a family activity, as we were only charged for our 2 adults tickets and the kids were free (both under 5).
Upon entry, the kids were given a small bag of duck feed each so they could feed the ducks. That was definitely the highlight of the outing for them!
The day ticket price also includes a 40 minute guided tour, from a fully dressed up guide in a period costume. A night Light and Sound Show is also available that recreates the tale of Loch Ard.
Minigolf by the Sea
When to visit: Open 10 am to 4 pm on Weekends. 12 pm to 4 pm midweek (Mon to Fri)
A great morning or afternoon activity that everyone can enjoy. It’s an all ages, all abilities 18 hole mini golf course right next to Lake Pertobe playground. Great set up and the grounds very well maintained.
It also has an adjoining jumping pillow that you can add entry on with minigolf for an additional $3. This was another very affordable activity for $35 for our family of 4. It was free for my younger toddler but they still kindly gave him a golf ball and clubs so he really enjoyed being part of the fun!
Where to stay in Warrnambool
Warrnambool town centre and surrounds has some great options and a lot of variety of accommodation types to suit all budgets.
There are some large hotels in the Lady Bay area near the beaches, such as the Deep Blue Hotel & Resort with their own hot springs baths and Lady Bay Resort with apartment-style accommodation.
Quest Warrnambool and Warrnambool Gallery apartments are two of my favourites located right in the heart of the city centre. They are a short walk from Liebig Street, which has a great variety of shops, restaurants and coffee shops too.
There are also many other options that include Holiday Parks, Motels and AirBnbs.
To check out some great accommodation deals in Warrnambool check out Expedia and Booking.com!
Where to eat in Warrnambool
There are also lots of fabulous places to eat in Warrnambool, ranging from fine dining to family-friendly pubs. There is a great coffee scene with some fantastic cafes where you can your coffee fix like Bohemia, Piccolo, or the Beach Kiosk.
If you want to read more about where we ate some great meals, check out my post on Where to Eat in Warrnambool with the Family.
Want to read more about Warrnambool?
Hope you enjoyed this post on the Top Things to do in Warrnambool with Kids
Want to discover more about Warrnambool, in Australia?
Check out my other post on the Where to eat in Warrnambool with the family and Warrnambool Wildlife Encounters.
If you are looking at other beach destinations in Victoria, check out my other post on Portarlington with Kids HERE!
This post was first written in February 2023 and updated in October 2023 - I always recommend that you go on the direct websites to check prices & opening times for the most up to date information.
