Explore

Are you travelling to Melbourne or Geelong for an event or conference, with just a couple of days for ‘down time’?

Being so close to the wonders of the Great Ocean Road, it’s definitely worth planning a quick trip to see the highlights.

If you head straight to Warrnambool, you have easy access to iconic places like Tower Hill, the 12 Apostles, the sites of old shipwrecks and views of the magnificent coastline.

All you have to do is catch the train (just three hours from Melbourne and two hours from Geelong) and relax whilst you pace past farmlands, lakes and ancient volcanoes.

At Warrnambool Tours, we are experienced at taking care of visitors with lots of time on their hands – or very little at all.

Here are five smart ways to see the best of Victoria’s south coast on a limited time schedule:

1. Explore Warrnambool and nearby Tower Hill

If you’d rather not travel too far, but want a taste of the south coast landscape, we can take you to:

– Logan’s Beach whale viewing platform (whale watching seasonal)

– The historic breakwater precinct at the Lady Bay, where you can see Middle Island (from the movie, Oddball)

– Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve where you can learn about the extinct volcano; local aboriginal history and see kangaroos, emus, koalas and birdlife.

– Basalt Winery at Killarney (near Tower Hill).

And, if there’s something else you’d like to see along the way, we’ll get you there!

Tip: there are lots of different accommodation options in and around Warrnambool with beach views, bush surroundings, or right in the CBD.

2. Head straight to the shipwrecks

There were hundreds of shipwrecks along the south coast, notoriously between Warrnambool and the 12 Apostles (which is just 1 hour from Warrnambool).

We have a tour that’s dedicated to taking people to several of these locations to learn the stories of the shipwrecks, their crews and passengers. Being local, we have many stories to share as there is so much history in this region.

You’ll get to see the London Arch (previously London Bridge before its collapse), the town of Port Campbell, and beautiful bays and beaches like The Grotto, Bay of Martyrs, Bay of Islands. We’ll also show you one of the Great Ocean Road’s best kept secrets, Childers Cove.

We also do a trip directly to the 12 Apostles and the Loch Ard Gorge – the site of one of the most famous shipwrecks in history, where you’ll have plenty of time to explore these historic locations.

Tip: walk along Warrnambool’s foreshore promenade to read the stories of local shipwrecks and visit Flagstaff Hill’s night sound and light show.

3. The popular (and secret) coastal spots

From high on the clifftops, to down on the beaches, we know the best views between Warrnambool and the 12 Apostles, as well as some local spots that other buses can’t, or don’t access.

This is a good time to sit back and feel confident that you’re seeing the best of this section of the road, whilst you have the chance.

Tip: if you’re not catching the evening train back to the city, check out Warrnambool’s many fantastic restaurants and wine bars.

4. Get a taste for the Otways

It’s true that you could easily spend several days on active adventure in the Great Otways National Park.

We have a one-day trip that gives you a preview of the Otways, so you’ll be sure to come back for a longer stay.

From Warrnambool, we’ll take you for a drive through the rainforests and hinterland, even stopping at the Otway Fly Tree Top Adventures so you can do the tree canopy walk.

You’ll also see the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge on this tour.

Train information click here. 

Tour information Warrnambool Tours.

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