16 Best Things To Do in Warrnambool with Kids in 2024

Warrnambool is about a 3-and-a-half hours drive away from Melbourne, so it isn't ideal for a day trip, but that's ok because there's plenty of fun and adventures to fill a whole weekend and longer. It's also a great basecamp for day trips into the regional parks inland and to visit the protected marine sanctuaries along the coast.

The city is at the end of the Great Ocean Road with the Princess Highway running through it and onward to Port Fairy 30-minutes away, so it's often a pitstop on a longer road trip down the coast, as well as a destination in its own right.

Once you're inspired to visit Warrnambool – then lock in the best family-friendly accommodation in Warrnambool for your holiday.

For a family-friendly city break that's closer to Melbourne, consider Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong.

16 best things to do in Warrnambool with kids in 2024

These are some of the best reasons to travel to Warrnambool with your family.

1. Whale watching in winter

Southern Right Whale in the surf at Warrnambool (Image: bfra07/Flickr CCBYND2.0)

During Winter and Spring (June – October), the best thing to do in Warrnambool is to spot the Southern Right Whales making the Lady Bay their home and nursing their young. The whales give birth and raise their calves in the waters along the southern edge of Australia, including along the Great Ocean Road and Warrnambool.

You can spot them from several lookouts, with the Logans Beach Whale Watching Platform offering a popular and accessible viewing perch.

People watching whales from the Logans Beach Whale Watching Platform, Warrnambool, Victoria. (Image: Jessica M. Cross/Wikimedia CCBYSA3.0)

Once the temperatures start to climb in Spring, the whales move back south towards the Antarctic to cooler climes.

2. Swimming and beach play all year round

Logans Beach, Warrnambool, Victoria (Image: The 3B's/Flickr CCBY2.0)

In the summer, the beautiful Warrnambool coastline is the best place to be with your family. Logans Beach is popular with kids for its wide, gently sloping beach. When it's not swimming weather, there are several rock formations with rock pools to explore to keep things interesting and motivating on walks.

Aerial view of the main beach on Lady Bay, Warrnambool, Victoria. (Image: Warrnambool City Council/Flickr CCBY2.0)

Lady Bay has the main beach in Warrnambool, with stretches on the continuous shoreline broken up by name alone into:

• McGennans Beach

• Surfside Beach

• The Flume Beach

• Granny's Grave Beach

3. Adventure playground by the lake

Aerial view of Lake Pertobe behind the beach on Lady Bay. Warrnambool, Victoria. (Image: Warrnambool City Council/Flickr)

Lake Pertobe is an outdoor activity hub in Warrnambool. On its banks is a modern playground at Lake Pertobe Adventure Playground that's suitable for toddlers and older kids. This large playground is the perfect place to let your kids run free and for you to join in or get some rest.

Near the playground, there is a set of bridges that take you across the lake onto small isles in the lake. Older kids will enjoy running and playing on the bridges, including a bouncy suspension bridge.

Lake Pertobe at Dusk (Image: Warrnambool City Council/Flickr CCBY2.0)

4. Hike to the top of a volcano

Kangaroos at Tower Hill, Warrnambool (Image: Warrnambool City Council/Flickr CCBY2.0)

Tower Hill Reserve – 15 mins drive away – is a unique destination near Warrnambool. It is home to wildlife, a lake, and an inactive volcano. There's a walking track around the top of the hill with great views of the crater and the lake surrounding it. The reserve is home to many Aussie animals – including koalas, kangaroos, and echidnas – so you don't need much luck to get your fill of cute creatures.

Koala on a tree at Tower Hill near Warrnambool, Victoria. (Image: Warrnambool City Council/Flickr CCBY2.0)

5. Picnic at the waterfalls

There are two great waterfalls that are just northeast of Warrnambool. Hopkins Falls and Blacks Falls are both on Hopkins River and make for great spots to have a picnic. Both being less than half an hour drive means that they can be quick stop-off points on a bigger road trip or even just a casual lunch picnic stop.

Hopkins Falls, Victoria (Image: russellstreet/Flickr CCBYSA2.0)

6. Visit the maritime village

Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village Museum, Warrnambool, Victoria. (Image: Jorge Láscar/Wikimedia CCBY2.0)

Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village is a museum come full-size 1870s village. The museum sits on Flagstaff Hill and incorporates several buildings dating to the 19th century, including the lighthouse and garrison.

There are several dressed-up characters that wander around the village site and interact with visitors to bring some of the region's history to life.

Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, Warrnambool (Image: denisbin/Flickr CCBY2.0)

There are several areas to discover:

• The path to the lighthouse.

• The dock – a small landlocked body of water with several old ships.

• The Museum – featuring hundreds of artifacts from old ships, including objects from famous shipwrecks.

For older kids, there is a nighttime light and sound show – which includes a projection onto a 9-metre wall of water.

7. Go horse riding on the beach

Rundells Mahogany Trail Rides run pony and horse rides and lessons for all ages. Under 5s have the choice of 30-minute pony rides led by the staff or to take part in lessons.

While kids 6 and older can also do the lessons, or join the group horse rides with adults, including on the Warrnambool beaches.

8. Get everyone on two wheels

Warrnambool City is proud of its BMX Track, being one of the few in Victoria to have bitumen berms (turns). The track has lots of jumps and is free to access.

For a full family bike adventure, you can try the trails in the area. One of the most popular trails runs along the scenic coastline towards Port Fairy.

Bike hire is available at Cafe Cycles Company in town.

For a well-deserved lunch, head to the old Proudfoots Boathouse for some classic pub grub with views of the river – the outdoor seating is just perfect on a clear day.

9. Find the little penguin sanctuary

Aerial view of Middle Island and people on the nearby beach. Warrnambool, Victoria. (Image: Warrnambool City Council/Flickr CCBY2.0)

Just off the coast of Warrnambool is Middle Island. This small island has been made famous by several films and documentaries marking the modern purpose of the island to be a sanctuary to little penguins.

Middle Island, Warrnambool, Victoria. (Image: マサケイ/Wikimedia CCBYSA3.0)

The island's close proximity to the mainland and the ease of access during low tides has meant that the little penguins' predators have been able to threaten the penguins.

Maremma guardian dogs Tula and Eudy who help keep the Little Penguin colony safe on Middle Island, Warrnambool, Victoria. (Image: Warrnambool City Council/Flickr CCBY2.0)

In 2005, the little penguin colony on the island had diminished to about 10 breeding pairs, so a project was started in 2006 to train a set of Maremma Sheepdogs to protect the little penguins. By 2016, the little penguin population had doubled on the island.

Maremma guardian dog Tula preparing to head for Middle Island where she helps protect a colony of Little Penguins. Warrnambool, Victoria. (Image: Warrnambool City Council/Flickr CCBY2.0)

10. Soak in the best views

Warrnambool has many great viewing spots to take in the landscape during the day and the dramatic light as the sun sets behind or rises from the ocean.

View from Pickering Point Lookout, Warrnambool, Victoria. (Image: Crikey3454/Wikimedia CCBYSA3.0)

Walk across the Merri Bridge to the Warrnambool Coastal reserve and find several great lookouts. From the Pickering Point Lookout, you can see the river and bridge you just crossed the sandy inlet. From Thunder Point Lookout, you'll see rough rock faces and the surf meeting the landmass.

Sunrise over Lake Pertobe in Warrnambool, Victoria. (Image: Warrnambool City Council/Flickr CCBY2.0)

Head back to town near the maritime village, here you'll find the Cannon Hill Lookout with views over Lake Pertobe and the ocean in the distance beyond the natural foliage of the reserves.

11. See dolphins and seals from Port Fairy

The nearest port with tour cruises on offer is Port Fairy 30-minute drive away. From there you can head out into the waters south of Australia to see dolphins and seals, as well as whales at the right time of the year.

A pair of Common Dolphins outside Port Fairy, Victoria. (Image: Ed Dunens/Wikimedia CCBY2.0)

A dolphin jumping out of the water near Port Fairy, Victoria. (Image: Ed Dunens/Wikimedia CCBY2.0)

A seal near Port Fairy, Victoria. (Image: Ed Dunens/Wikimedia CCBY2.0)

12. Hire a boat on a lake

If it's not beach weather, but still dry, head to the family-run Lake Pertobe Motor Boats to hire one of their cute motorboats to take out on Lake Pertobe. Each bright-coloured boat seats 2 people, with kids 12 plus being allowed to drive, otherwise, your smallest ones can steer as you drive them around the lake and its small islands.

13. Get inspired by local artists

As you'd expect of a larger Victorian city, Warrnambool has its fair share of great local artists who showcase at several galleries in town, as well as the more contemporary artists who decorate the walls with murals on the Street Art Trail. The highest concentration of the works is in the CBD and its nearby streets and lanes.

Local galleries to checkout:

• Warrnambool Art Gallery

• SCOPE Galleries

• Merri View Gallery

14. See a rare collection of motorbikes

For motorbike fans and those with curious and intrigued kids, it's worth driving to a local hardware store the – quite unusual – home of a very large and rare collection of motorbikes.

The George Taylor’s Vintage and Rare Motorcycle Collection has more than 100 motorcycles on show from brands like BMW, Ducati, Moto Guzzi, Honda, DKW, Peugeot, and others. Access is free, but I'm sure you'll end up picking something up from the hardware store.

15. Relax in the gardens

Sundial at Warrnambool Botanic Gardens, Warrnambool, Victoria. (Image: Warrnambool City Council/Flickr)

Warrnambool Botanic Gardens are just north of the CBD and are a great place to spend a morning or an afternoon. The large pond provides calm and entertainment with the birds on the lawns around it and splashing in the water. Conveniently, there's also a playground nestled in the east end of the gardens.

Pond and bridge with a flock of birds in flight. Warrnambool Botanic Gardens, Warrnambool, Victoria. (Image: Warrnambool City Council/Flickr)

Across the road from the playground is the Aquazone swimming centre. The centre has indoor and outdoor pools. There are swimming and water familiarisation classes for kids from 6 months and up.

16. Big screen and theatre entertainment

The local cinema – Capitol Cinema – screens the latest releases, while the Lighthouse Theatre puts on classic and modern family-friendly productions that are worth the ticket price.

Best beaches in Warrnambool for kids

Logans Beach is great during winter for walks and whale-watching activities, and during low tide, makes the riverside of it kid-friendly. While McGennans Beach in the main bay gets shelter from the Warrnambool pier and is often a calmer beach.

Surfside Beach close to the Life Saving Club is in the less protected part of the bay and so can be more fun for bigger kids seeking surf.

At low tide, areas in Stingray Bay and around the Merri Bridge can also be fun places to play in the sand and water.

11 free things to do in Warrnambool with kids

Most of the best things to do in Warrnambool and nearby are free! Here's our pick:

1. In winter, watch the Southern Right Whales in all their majesty.

2. Swim in one of the many beaches along Lady's Bay or at Logan's Beach.

3. Play at the adventure playground by Lake Pertobe.

4. Find an inactive volcano, koalas, emus and kangaroos at Tower Hill.

5. Adventure up along Hopkins River to find Hopkins Falls and Blacks Falls.

6. Go bike riding on the trails or on the BMX track.

7. Find the now-famous Middle Island with the Maremma Sheepdogs protecting the threatened little penguin colony.

8. Traverse the footpaths to find the best scenic lookouts like the Pickering Point Lookout.

9. Admire the local art in galleries and on street murals.

10. Find a rare collection of motorbikes at George Taylor's Grassmere store.

11. Chill out at the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens.

8 best things to do in Warrnambool with kids when it's raining

When the weather isn't great, don't dismay! There are many great indoor and mostly sheltered activities around Warrnambool.

1. The Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village Museum will capture your and your kids' attention come rain or shine.

2. Experience the dramatic views of the coast with a little bit of weather from Thunder Point Lookout and other viewing points along the coast or on the hills in the city.

3. George Taylor's Grassmere store is open irrespective of the weather, so you can admire the more than 100 motorbikes all year round.

4. Hide away from the worst of the undesirable weather at Capitol Cinema with the latest releases.

5. Stop into the galleries featuring local artist work: Warrnambool Art Gallery, SCOPE Galleries and Merri View Gallery.

6. Go for a few games of ten-pin bowling at The Bowl.

7. Go bargain hunting at the Fletcher Jones Market.

8. Have a pub lunch right by the river at Proudfoots and watch the river flow out into the sea.

Frequently asked about Warrnambool

Where can I take my kids out to be closer to nature in and around Warrnambool?

Logans Beach is one of Warrnambool's best-known beaches, for swimming and walks in the summer and whale watching in winter.

Warrnambool is a short drive away from Hopkins Falls and Blacks Falls, and the notable volcanic wildlife nature reserve at Tower Hill Reserve.

Where to go shopping with kids in Warrnambool?

The main shopping strip in-town is on Liebig St, with a few shops crossing onto Koroit St. The larger stores – Woolies, Kmart and Bunnings – are east of the city on the Princess Highway. If you're after some fresh food – then time your shop to make it to The Fresh Market Warrnambool next to Lake Pertobe.

So Little Tiny on Liebig St is a great shop for cute things and quality clothing for kids from baby to primary school.

Things to see and do in Warrnambool