2 days in a world away
Timboon has all the ingredients for a fresh family adventure just 17km north of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. How you put your holiday recipe together is up to you. We suggest plenty of tasting, a pinch of salt and if it suits your taste reach for the extra ingredients.
Stop and play on the way
Timboon is located 217 km and 2 hours 40 mins from Melbourne via the Princes Hwy and 291 km and 4 hours 20 mins from Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road. It is also connected via a daily train and bus link (or train and rail trail link) from Southern Cross Station via Camperdown.
Will you meander along the Great Ocean Road or make a bee line along the Princes Highway for a stopover on Victoria’s Volcanic Lakes and Plains? No need to choose, you can always arrive one way and leave the other. Now where will you stop for breakfast?
DAY 1
Morning
While many roads lead to Timboon it is a trail that has become the heart of the town. Your family taste of Timboon begins with a ride (run or stroll) under the tall timber and emerald canopy of the Camperdown-Timboon Rail Trail. Stretch the legs, clear the head, and unwind together on a journey that traverses fern shrouded historic trestle bridges along the course of the Curdies river.
The distance is up to you. Bring your own bikes or hire bikes, e bikes and even a picnic hamper from Ride with Us.
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Trestle Bridge
Camperdown to Timboon Rail Trail
Lunch
Now you’ve worked up an appetite park your bike and step out onto the deck at Timboon Railway Shed Distillery. Book ahead for sittings at 11 am, 12, 1 and 2 pm. The menu encourages sharing and showcases local produce, if in doubt you can always trust the Chef’s plate.
Stay for a sweet treat or forage for dessert choices around town. After all, Timboon Ice Creamery is just across the creek, Berry World a short drive up the Snake Track and we suspect the kids have already eyed off A Little bit O Sweet across the road.
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Timboon Fine Ice Cream
1 Barrett Street, Timboon
Explore Town
The first thing you will notice about Timboon is that smiles are genuine and frequent. Locals love the increasing interest in their little town and can’t wait to share it with you. The main commercial precinct is small and full of surprises with some businesses taking advantage of the village green that runs behind the shops. Sample the wares of Milk and Honey and enjoy the scents, crystals, artwork and sushi of Carramar Sage.
Cross the road to Bouchier’s Timboon Bouchers and continue around the block past the entrance to Power Creek Reserve, Wylde Home Timboon, A’becketts Creek Cooperage and the Railway View Hotel.
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Wylde Home Timboon
27 Timboon-Curdievale Road, Timboon
Afternoon
This afternoon you are heading south to towards Port Campbell via Schulz Organic Creamery and Cafe.
The coastline of Port Campbell is spectacular and demands a closer look. Drop into Port Campbell Visitor Information Centre to pick up binoculars and perhaps a telescope to discover the wonders of the night sky.
Cross the suspension bridge and climb the steps to cliff level for a 4km return walk to remember on the Port Campbell Discovery Walk. Continue west along the Great Ocean Road to explore London Bridge and the Grotto.
Stop if you dare or continue across the bridge to the beautiful estuary township of Peterborough. Check out the golf course, grab a hot drink and continue further west to the Bay of Martyrs, Bay of Islands and the imposing Boat Bay.
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Port Campbell Suspension Bridge
Port Campbell
Evening
Pick up some Berry Good Thai ready to go from Berry World (dine in Thurs — Sun) stroll across to the Railway View Hotel or indulge your inner chef and cook up a storm with locally sourced ingredients.
Time to unwind and stage a celestial intervention……If the skies are clear rug up switch out the lights and get ready to explore the wonders of our southern skies.
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Berry Good Thai
26 Egan Street, Timboon
- Take a leap to remember together with Skydive 12 Apostles.
- Spice it up with Berry Good Thai.
- Download a stargazing app and start getting excited about what you might find in our southern night skies try Starwalk 2, Skyview or Stellarium.
Take a lazy stroll on the Peterborough — Bay of Martyrs trail and prepare to explore secluded beaches only accessible from the trail. Check tide and ocean conditions with Port Campbell Visitor Information Centre and get ready to explore rock pools, secluded coves and idyllic beaches.
Fish and Chips on the beach or in a car overlooking the beach in Port Campbell.
Stay for sunset you won’t regret it!
Pack the runners take all the steps and get the heart racing together on one of our favourite trail runs check out our Peterborough Bay of Martyrs return video.
Alternate lunch option at Carramar Sage for Sushi for chia bowls, dumplings or a yummy smoothie.
If you’re here on a Saturday morning join with locals for a bit of puff and a chat along the rail trail as part of Timboon parkrun.
Sweet smell of eucalyptus, dappled light shifting across ghostly smooth trunks of Mountain ash. So many shades of green and textures, feel the drop in temperature and tune in to bird song and water bubbling along the course of Power Creek.
DAY 2
Morning
With your eyes and Instagram accounts abuzz from last night’s golden hour, sunset and lunar crater shots you could be forgiven for thinking yesterday would be impossible to top.
Throw open the windows and listen! The birdsong of every destination is unique. Timboon’s is a sweet reminder of the tall forest and rural valley surrounds amplified by the lack of traffic and background noise. Listen for Magpie, Kookaburra, Rosella, Currawong, Grey shrike thrush and Corella.
We are going to get the blood flowing early this morning and suggest a walk or run before breakfast? Our pick is the Timboon Tall timber trail run that begins at the Timboon pool.
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Wylde Home Timboon
27 Timboon-Curdievale Road, Timboon
Lunch
No matter what you choose for lunch no visit to Timboon is complete without taking a look at Berry World Timboon pick fresh sweet strawberries from November till April and treat yourself to delicious Thai Meals all year round from Tuesday till Sunday at Berry Good Thai.
Other options include Fat Cow Food Co., Timboon Provedore, Railway View Hotel, Carramar Sage or keep it simple and quick with Timboon Take Away or a bite at the Bakery in the main street or you could skip straight north to Keayang Maar vineyard for Pizza Wed – Sun with a view over vines and volcanic hills.
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Fat Cow Food Co.
10 Main St, Timboon
Afternoon
With lunch in the belly it is time to browse and finalise a purchase to remember your adventure with. Something for the house? To wear, to taste, to smell or even something to listen to?
Don’t despair as you wave goodbye to Timboon we saved a couple of volcanic blasts for last. Enjoy the drive north towards Terang for a real taste of terroir at the perfectly perched Keayang Maar winery.
Continue north across the Princes Hwy at Terang en route to a Volcanic ramble to atop Mount Noorat. Look from the crater rim down into one of Australia’s best preserved dry craters and enjoy expansive views across our Volcanic Lakes and Plains past nearby peaks to the distant bulk of the Grampians and Mt Buninyong near Ballarat. Check out our Mount Noorat morning trail run video.
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Mount Noorat
Noorat
- See the coast from the air with 12 Apostles Helicopters and gain an aerial perspective of one of the world’s most spectacular coastlines.
- Enjoy an amazing close encounter with the Australian Dingo at the Great Ocean Road Wildlife Park and Dingo Awareness Centre.
- Leave your car at the 12 Apostles and organize a transfer to the Gables lookout with Ride With Us for an epic 19km walk to remember on the Great Ocean Walk.
- Don’t miss the opportunity to take a morning stroll you will never forget (tide and ocean swell permitting) on the mighty Gibson Steps beach and stand beneath the hulking limestone giants Gog and Magog.
- Pack the runners for an unforgettable run or walk on the edge of wild nature Loch Ard Gorge morning trails.
- Brought the bikes? jump on your roadies and cut a couple of laps of the picturesque Timboon shorty circuit.
- Head in the clouds, wind in your hair, salt on your tongue. Embrace a moment together at the sculptural interface of a seascape carved from ancient limestone. Feel the sand between your toes and tune in to the soothing rumble of sea on sand and stone.
