Escape city life take a few days off in Warrnambool Victoria

Article by Sidney Morgan

The Great Ocean Road is one of the world’s greatest touring roads. This isn’t just the boast of the Victorian government’s tourism department – it’s a fact supported by dozens of travel organizations and the many lucky travelers who have had the pleasure of experiencing it. By the time you have made your way from Melbourne, through Cape Otway and past the Twelve Apostles, you’re ready for a few days break in Warrnambool, the “capitol city” of the Great Ocean Road.

Warrnambool is the largest city on the Great Ocean Road. With a growing population of over thirty thousand, it gives drivers the welcome chance to get out of the car and explore the Shipwreck Coast part of the Great Ocean Road and relax for a few days before continuing on their journey. Usually, those who plan on making Warrnambool an overnight stopover end of spending more time there than they expected to.

Take a lesson from others and don’t plan on just taking a “quick look” around Warrnambool before moving on. You will find that after you have seen one attraction, like whale watching for instance, it will make you want to see “just one more” and then another, and another and – well, you get the idea. A one or two night stay in Warrnambool just never seems like enough.

Whale watching sites aren’t that unusual on the Great Ocean Road, so what singles out Warrnambool as better than the others? It’s the fact that southern right whales have chosen the waters just off the coast of Warrnambool as their home. From the Logans Beach lookout, you can see these magnificent mammals of the sea in their natural habitat. They are so close to shore (less than 100 yards sometimes), you have the unique opportunity to see them in action without distracting them with your presence.

After spending the morning whale watching, you will want to do something equally exciting in the afternoon and may decide to check out the Flagstaff Hill Maritime village. Once you get to this beautiful 10 acre recreation of an 1870s port town, you will realize that you want to take more than a “quick look” as you discover the fascinating history of the Shipwreck Coast.

The Shipwreck Coast got its name from the 180 documented shipwrecks that have occurred along the beautiful but treacherous coast near Warrnambool. In the Great Circle Gallery within the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, you will have the opportunity to view some of the relics that have been recovered from these wrecks. The most impressive of these is the perfectly preserved Loch Ard Peacock, which washed ashore still in its packing case after the Loch Ard sank.

You have only spent a single day in Warrnambool, but it has already been a highlight of your Great Ocean Road tour. If you can spare the time, you will definitely want to stay longer. Now that you know what’s in store for you there (and there’s much more, as well), contact a Warrnambool accommodation and plan on staying for as long as you can. In Warrnambool, there’s no such thing as “too long.”