Not just famous for the stunning landscape.
It’s not just the spectacular limestone formations that draw crowds from all over the world, the local food artisans and producers of the 12 Apostles are also putting the region on the map. The 88km gourmet path will take you on an indulgent road trip to chocolatiers, cheese makers, ice creameries, cellar doors, micro-breweries and friendly farm gates – all just moments from this spectacular landscape.
Enjoy an award-winning whisky tipple in Timboon and sample all 24 flavours of the finest ice cream. Pick your own farm fresh berries, taste Dairy-licious Farm Fudge, feed the Alpacas at Gorge Chocolates then treat yourself to a hand-crafted, artisan block. Finish the trail with a satisfying tasting paddle at Sow and Piglet Micro Brewery and toast all the talented food artisans that made it such a great weekend.
Base yourself at Sea Foam Villa’s in the seaside town of Port Campbell. The 88km gourmet trail through the Corangamite Hinterland is right on your doorstep. Just like the beach is. From your private balcony you can nearly step straight onto the sand of Port Campbell Bay, it’s right across the road.
The area is famous for some much more than the Twelve Apostles. But these magnificent 45m tall limestone structures rising out of the dramatic Southern Ocean, especially at sunrise are undeniably, great! As the first light of the day hits they emerge from the shadows to glow a brilliant sandy yellow. From the viewing platform you can understand how the blasting winds have eroded the soft limestone creating these craggy stacks, caves and cliffs.
A short 1km walk away you can see for yourself how tall these cliffs are. Make your way down to the beach via 86 of the Gibson Steps to visit Gog and Magog, the nicknames for the two limestone pillars rising out of the sea to greet you. You’ll feel tiny as you look up at them and the 70m cliffs towering above you.
All this site-seeing works up an appetite. Make breakfast an adventure and pick your own farm fresh berries at Berry World. Summer will see that the local berry farms are ripe for the picking (Nov – Apr). The whole family will love spending the morning plucking their own strawberries from the rich volcanic soil. This is what makes the luscious berries taste better than any strawberry you’ve ever had before! You can also pick hybrid blackberries which are double the size of your usual blueberry and treat yourself at the newly renovated cafe and farm store.
Next stop, the historic town of Timboon. Your destination, the town railway shed that’s been converted into a vibrant, award-winning whisky distillery and cafe. Inspired by Timboon’s illegal 19th Century whisky trade the two onsite copper pots produce three award winning single malts as well as vodka, schnapps, limoncello and coffee cream liqueur. Enjoy a pre-lunch tipple that’s sure to put a fire in the belly, soon to be satisfied with the restaurants generous lunch menu starring local produce.
Make sure to leave room for dessert, 24 farm fresh all-natural ice cream flavours are just a hop, skip and a jump away at Timboon Fine Ice Cream. Made by a third-generation dairy farmer it’s the local fresh milk and cream that goes in that creates the luxurious, creamy smoothness this boutique ice cream is famous for. Choosing is tough work so sample as much as you like, that’s the ice creameries very generous rule.
Return to Port Campbell and sit back on the deck with a wood fired pizza and a tasting paddle at the Sow and Piglet Micro Brewery. This is beer made from the 12 Apostles and it’s as fresh as the sea breeze you’ll feel on your face. Taste for yourself how every single beer has been lovingly crafted from the best ingredients, processes and conditions – they have been craft brewed right here on the Great Ocean Road, naturally.
Sit pasture-side and sample the Dairy-licious Farm Fresh Fudge. Lynda has been mastering her secret fudge recipes for over 20 years and her mission is simple – to create delicious, local sweets with no preservatives and limited sugars. Made with local butter, cream and milk powder you’ll take one bite and taste for yourself how soft, creamy and smooth this fudge really is. It’s Dairy-licious!
Located just a few minutes from the Great Ocean Road, stop in at the home of the Schulz Organic. They have been at the forefront of organic farming since 1972, producing the highest quality milk and dairy products right here on site. Enjoy the seasonal menu led by pastry chef Hila Perry at the Creamery and Cafe while you relax in the garden of their thousand-acre farm. Farm tours will be coming soon where you can discover the stories of the Schulz Organic Dairy products – from grass to glass.
It’s hard to know what steals the show at Gorge Chocolates, the fine quality chocolatey delights or the resident alpacas – this chocolatier is also an Alpaca Farm. Once you’ve sampled the ever-growing list of artisan chocolates all made on site, make sure to pick up a bag of treats to feed super friendly ‘Precious’ and her furry friends.
Visiting the foodie hub of Timboon
Tasting Dairy-licious Farm Fudge pasture side
Meeting Precious the Alpaca and sampling the wares at Gorge Chocolates
Sipping on a fresh tasting paddle at Sow and Piglet
Staying seaside at Seafoam Villas in Port Campbell
It’s a great weekend visiting the talented producers on the 12 Apostles Food Artisan Trail.
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Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Great Ocean Road region the Wadawurrung, Eastern Maar & Gunditjmara. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their unique cultural heritage and the connection to their traditional lands. We commit to building genuine and lasting partnerships that recognise, embrace and support the spirit of reconciliation, working towards self-determination, equity of outcomes and an equal voice for Australia’s first people.
