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Our guide to the best Warrnambool caravan parks and camping spots

Jade Raykovski Jade Raykovski
A trip to the beautiful regional city of Warrnambool doesn’t have to break the budget.

This last major stop on the Great Ocean Road is worth a few nights’ stay for its natural beauty, ocean views and rich maritime history. Luckily there are plenty of camping spots and caravan parks to choose from in Warrnambool, offering a range of accommodation from beachside sites to self-contained cabins and villas. It doesn’t matter if you’re travelling solo or with a partner, friends or family; it’s time to pack up the car and hit the road.

In short

If you only stay at one caravan park in Warrnambool, make it NRMA Warrnambool Riverside Holiday Park. You’ll fall in love with its peaceful riverside location, plus it’s got a fantastic range of accommodation and things to do.

Surfside Holiday Park

coastal views at Surfside Holiday Park, Warrnambool
Surfside Holiday Park offers direct beach access.

Nestled between Warrnambool’s foreshore, Surfside Beach and the popular Lake Pertobe Adventure playground, Surfside Holiday Park really is about location, location, location. The family-friendly park provides both unpowered and powered sites (large enough to accommodate motorhomes, fifth wheelers or large vans), plus a range of fully contained cabins. Go with the beach chalets; they’re just 50 metres from the beach and feature full kitchens, linen, reverse-cycle air conditioning and raised decks, ideal for sunny breakfasts to sundowners.

Meanwhile, all the amenities are taken care of, including a camp kitchen, showers and toilets, gas BBQs and coin-operated laundry facilities. If you’re on one of the powered or unpowered sites, you can bring your fur babies along for the holiday – just not during peak summer season.

Address: 120 Pertobe Rd, Warrnambool

Shipwreck Bay Holiday Park

Shipwreck Bay Holiday Park, Warrnambool
The Shipwreck Bay Holiday Park is renowned for its prized waterside location. (Credit: Road Tripping Faucetts)

Part of the Surfside Holiday Park but only open seasonally, Shipwreck Bay is located about 500 metres down the road from Surfside. The roads can be a little more tight, however the pet-friendly site gives campers and caravanners easy access to the beach and walking trails – your own gateway to the natural beauty of the area. Plus kids will love the mini golf across the road (as will competitive adults).

Note that this site has no camp kitchen; there’s an on-site kiosk with the essentials, and you’ll find the usual bathroom and laundry facilities.

Address: 42 Pertobe Rd, Warrnambool

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Discovery Parks – Warrnambool

Also located off Pertobe Road, not far from the hot springs and a ten-minute walk from Lake Pertobe, Discovery Parks ticks all the boxes for families looking for a fun stay by the coast. With pedal karts, a playground, activity room, swimming pool and on-site activities, you’ll be hard-pressed to get the kids to leave (did we mention it’s also dog friendly?).

For those camping or caravanning, powered sites include ensuite options for those who like their creature comforts, while self-contained cabins and motel rooms sleep 1-6 guests (including an accessible option with ramp access). And don’t be put off if you’re a couple; the superior spa cabin features a double spa bath, perfect for soaking in after a long day of exploring. A camp kitchen, kiosk, BBQs, bathroom facilities and laundry round out the on-site amenities.

Address: 25 Pertobe Rd, Warrnambool

BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks – Warrnambool

a cabin at BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks – Warrnambool
Book a two-bedroom cabin stay at BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks – Warrnambool.

This centrally located holiday park is only ten minutes from the town centre, with its pubs, cafes, restaurants and shops. And while the beach is a little further away, it makes up for it with an indoor swimming pool, tennis court and pirate-ship themed playground.

A variety of budgets and holiday styles are catered for here. Pitch a tent or set up the caravan on a tree-hemmed powered or ensuite site (grass or slab), or book into one of the one-, two- or three-bedroom cabins. On-site facilities include a camp kitchen, BBQs, laundry and fire pit. Pets are welcome (apart from select cabins), and make sure to check their website for deals before you book.

Address: 33 Lava St, Warrnambool

NRMA Warrnambool Riverside Holiday Park

NRMA Warrnambool Riverside Holiday Park from above
Set up your caravan or tent by the Hopkins River.

Fun and relaxation go hand in hand at this tranquil holiday park positioned along the Hopkins River, a ten-minute drive out of town. Keep cool in the indoor or outdoor pools, try your hand at tennis or mini golf, or let the kids burn their energy on the playground and water slide (they also offer activities during the school holidays). When you need some quiet time, head down to the river for a stroll or cast a line from the jetty.

There’s plenty of accommodation options to choose from: set up your caravan or tent on a powered or ensuite site, or book into a self-contained studio, family cabin or three-bedroom villa. Many feature private verandahs, where you can relax over brekkie or afternoon drinks. Pets are welcomed in the campsite and select cabins, and the essentials – amenities block, camp kitchen and BBQ area, plus kiosk – are all covered.

Address: 125 Jubilee Park Rd, Warrnambool

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Warrnambool Holiday Village

If you’re looking for a quieter place to stay close to the town’s shops and restaurants, the well-maintained Warrnambool Holiday Village is for you. This smaller, recently redeveloped park offers a range of accommodation, from one-bedroom deluxe cabins to two-bedroom villas, complete with modern fittings and fixtures.

Camper and caravans will have their choice of unpowered or powered sites, with access to a camp kitchen and BBQ area, amenities block and laundry. Dogs are allowed in the campsite too, just not the cabins. Kids will adore the sandy playground area, featuring a new jumping pillow, but there’s plenty of adventures awaiting just outside, including the botanic gardens and aquatic centre just a few blocks away.

Address: 81 Henna St, Warrnambool

Warrnambool Holiday Park and Motel

Warrnambool Holiday Park and Motel interior
The superior ensuite cabin can fit up to six guests.

Just a short stroll to the Hopkins River – and less than a minute’s drive to a boat launch – this friendly holiday park is the perfect base for those coming down to fish for the weekend. The park offers free boat storage, fish fillet storage, and bait and ice is available from reception.

Not into fishing? No problem. From a solar-heated swimming pool to a playground, jumping pillow and games room, there’s plenty more to entertain. All types of holiday goers are catered for here, including couples, big groups, campers and those who prefer modern comforts. Choose from powered grass sites, ensuite sites, or studio cabins all the way through to family apartments. Communal facilities include electric BBQs, camp kitchen, coin-operated laundry and amenities block.

Address: 83 Simpson St, Warrnambool

Jade Raykovski
Jade Raykovski is a freelance travel writer from Melbourne, Australia whose wanderlust began from immersing herself in the fantasy worlds of her favourite books as a kid. She started off her career as a graphic designer, before making the switch to copywriter, and now – in what you could say is the role she was always destined for – travel writer. Along with Australian Traveller, her bylines include National Geographic, BBC Travel, Escape and NZ Herald. And while she loves writing about home, she'll never pass up the chance to sip a spritz in Italy.
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Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs from above
Warrnambool

The best accommodation in Warrnambool

While holiday parks abound in Warrnambool, there are also plenty of options for those seeking a little more comfort and style.

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Heathcote has evolved into the ultimate eco-escape for foodies

    Margaret Barca Margaret Barca
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    From cabins to canvas, craft distillers to destination dining, Heathcote locals reveal their eco-savvy passions in ways that resonate with those seeking to travel lightly. 

    Heathcote, on traditional Taungurung Country in Central Victoria, is synonymous with its garnet-hued shiraz, but wine isn’t the only string to its bow. The town itself is sprinkled with heritage buildings from the gold rush era, and beyond that a growing collection of sustainable gastronomy and eco-friendly escapes. Nearby Bendigo, one of only 65 cities in the world recognised as a UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy, plates up an astonishing calibre of produce, wine and food for its size. Increasingly the entire region is taking up the challenge, though Heathcote in particular shines with its focus on sustainability. 

    Pink Cliffs GeologicalReserve
    The dramatic landscape of Heathcote’s Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Goodfrey)

    The eco-stays bringing sustainability to Heathcote 

    Yellow BoxWood’s safari-style tents
    Yellow Box Wood’s safari-style tents are nestled on 40 hectares of bushland. (Image: Emily Goodfrey)

    Andee and Lisa Davidson spent years working in southern Africa before settling in Heathcote. “We had a vision of how this could be,” explains Andee. “We wanted a retreat, but one that was off-grid and environmentally sustainable.” Now, at Yellow Box Wood, two luxury safari-style tents are at the heart of 40 hectares of rolling hills and native bush, with kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, goanna and birdlife aplenty. It’s all solar-powered, wood for the fire is mainly fallen timber, and water is collected on the carport roof.  No lack of creature comforts though – en suite with rain shower, espresso coffee maker, comfy seating, wood-burning fire all set to go. There’s also a solar-heated, mineral salt pool in a bush setting, walking tracks, and even a mini bush golf course.  On my visit, I put the vision to the test. Cocooned in the plush four-poster bed I can glimpse the stars, while the heater casts a golden glow on the canvas. In the morning, I wake to a blush-pink sunrise, kangaroos feeding and a soundtrack of magpies.

    Mt Ida Eco Cabin
    Mt Ida Eco Cabin is rustic and simple but oozes comfort. (Image: Graham Hosking)

    If a tent is not your style, Stephen and Cally Trompp’s carbon-neutral Mt Ida Eco Cabin might entice with its generous deck and farmland views.   Inside the cabin, corrugated iron walls as rusty as a shearing shed, gleaming (recycled) floorboards, timber truss ceiling (crafted by Stephen), wood-fired heater and an old-school turntable with a pile of vinyls to spin. It’s fun, and a little boho. “Everything is recycled. The cabin takes maximum advantage of the sun in winter. It’s all solar-powered. Don’t panic, though,” says Stephen, “you can still charge your phone and get 4G reception!” Settle into an Adirondack chair on the deck or pedal off on a mountain bike to suss out the wineries.  

    A taste of Spain in Central Victoria 

    Three Dams Estate
    Three Dams Estate make Spanish-style wine.

    Another person with a vision is Evan Pritchard at his Three Dams Estate where the wines reflect his deep love of Spain and of Spanish-style grapes, such as tempranillo. Afternoons in the ‘wine shed’ or cantina are matched with music (flamenco is a favourite), Spanish bites from tapas to paella (with Evan on the pans!) and views to Mount Alexander. Sustainability is also a passion. “You don’t need to buy anything. We decided to be off-grid from the start, but it is a lifestyle change,” he says. “You need to think about it and be careful.” Everything here is recycled, reassembled, refurbished. Evan has an electric car (with solar-powered charger), solar-power for the winery, and even a jaunty little electric tractor/forklift. “I love the idea of all the things you can do using the sun.” Sipping a crisp rosado (a Spanish rosé) with Evan in the sunshine, I couldn’t agree more. 

    The vineyard redefining sustainable winemaking 

    Silver Spoon winery
    The Silverspoon Estate winery is completely off-grid. (Image: Graham Hosking)

    On the other side of Heathcote, Silver Spoon Estate demonstrates sustainability on a more extensive scale. Tracie and Peter Young’s winery, cellar door, award-winning restaurant and their own house are all solar-powered and off the grid. Sustainability is intrinsic to everything they do.  The property sprawls across 100 hectares, with 20 hectares under vine – shiraz, viognier, grenache, tempranillo. As the climate has changed, so too has the approach. These are dry-grown vineyards. “We prune for drought. That means lower yields but more intense flavours,” says Peter.  The fine-dining restaurant offers sweeping views, a wood-burning fire and a deck for languid lunches. Head chef Ben Hong sources regional, sustainable ingredients and weaves estate wines into the menu – think crispy wild mushroom arancini, viognier-infused chicken breast.   

    Silver Spoon’s award-winning restaurant
    Silver Spoon’s award-winning restaurant.

    Heathcote’s other hidden gems 

    Heathcote Wine Hub
    Heathcote Wine Hub is housed in a 1855-built timber church.

    Not all local wineries have a cellar door, but I find local treasures at the Heathcote Wine Hub, a petite 1855 timber church in the main street, lovingly returned to life by Karen Robertson and Carey Moncrieff.  “Carey is a scrounger,” says Karen. “He doesn’t throw a single thing away.” He does, however, craft things into something quite special. Heritage floors, light-filtering lancet windows and shelves of regional wines create the perfect ambience for wine tasting. Or order a glass and linger over a cheese platter.  

    Heathcote is not all wine, of course. Nathan Wheat and partner Vanessa Curtis run Envy Distilling with a committed sustainable ethic – and a serious love of gin. Their small-batch distillery produces grape-based gin, and soon brandy. Distilled water is reused in an ingenious cooling system. All waste is treated on site. They buy excess wine from winemakers to distil and buy recycled barrels. “Distilling with the sun,” as Nathan says. Each Envy gin has its own story. Spicy, award-winning The Dry, is designed to capture the region’s dry, rugged nature. Pull up a stool at the bar (reclaimed timbers and tiles, of course), order a Gin Flight, or kick back with a cocktail and let Nathan share his eco journey.   

    Envy gins
    Sample gins at small-batch distillery Envy.

    A traveller’s checklist 

    Getting there

    It’s less than two hours’ drive from Melbourne. The scenic route we take goes past Sunbury, then along a splendid country road through Romsey and the magic, boulder-strewn landscape of Lancefield. Watch for kangaroos on the road! 

    Staying there

    Go off-grid in style at Yellow Box Wood for glamping or try Mt Ida Eco Cabin for a couple’s weekend hideaway. 

    Eating there

    French dishes at Chauncy
    Award-winning French restaurant Chauncy.

    At award-winning Chauncy, French chef Louis Naepels and sommelier wife Tess Murray have created a tiny, elegant pocket of rural France. Meticulously restored 1850s sandstone building, sun-drenched dining room, impeccable service, a menu suffused with local flavours and thoughtful wine pairings.  

    Fodder is both cafe and social hub. Chef Mo Pun and sister Lalita serve classic Aussie breakfast-to-lunch fare, though their Nepalese heritage sneaks through. 

    Playing there

    Sanguine Estate
    Sip on wines among the vines at Sanguine Estate. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Godfrey)

    Sanguine Estate’s cellar door and terrace overlook bucolic vineyards. Its award-winning, dry-grown wines include the distinctive D’Orsa Blanc dessert wine, reflecting the family’s Swiss-Italian heritage. Order a charcuterie board and stay a while. Keep it carbon neutral by cycling some (or all) of the 50-kilometre O’Keefe Rail Trail to Bendigo.  

    At Bridgeward Grove, learn about the property’s Old Mission Grove heritage olive trees, do a sommelier olive oil tasting, and stock up on sustainably grown olives and oil. Explore the unique landscape, wildflowers and wildlife of pink cliffs geological reserve.