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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

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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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8 incredible hikes just outside of Melbourne

    Australian Traveller Australian Traveller
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    Just over an hour from Melbourne, spectacular walking and hiking trails encompass ancient landscapes, forested ridgelines and volcanic peaks.

    Just a short drive from the city, the urban sprawl gives way to rolling hills, mineral springs, and lush forests that will have you feeling like you’re in the bucolic countryside of France. Encompassing Daylesford, the Macedon Ranges, Castlemaine and the Central Goldfields, this pocket of Victoria is a region where nature, art, and wellness intertwine. Heritage towns hum with creativity, good food and wine, and welcoming locals. While Daylesford hikes, and those nearby, offer the chance to take a pause and reconnect with nature.

    1. Hanging Rock Summit Walk

    Hanging Rock Summit Walk
    Take in views across the Macedon Ranges.

    Etched into folklore, few places in Australia carry as much mystique as Hanging Rock. Rising dramatically from the plains near Woodend, this volcanic mamelon offers a beautiful nature walk. The walk begins at a gentle pace, weaving through shaded woodland before it gets a little steeper as the path starts to climb and twist to the summit. From here, you’ll have views that stretch across the Macedon Ranges. The walk is roughly 1.8 kilometres return, but the real reward lies in standing among the weathered boulders, feeling the age and energy of the earth beneath your feet.

    2. Macedon Ranges Walking Trail

    Macedon Ranges Walking Trail camel's hump lookout
    Walk to Camel’s Hump. (Image: Clair Derwort)

    The Macedon Ranges Walking Trail traverses around 19 kilometres of forest and mountain landscapes. The full trail is a six-hour circuit, with most of the walk being a grade three; however, you don’t have to tackle it all at once. There are shorter walks that will take you through the tall mountain ash forests, to tranquil picnic areas, and sweeping views from Camels Hump and the Memorial Cross. The best times of year to head out are autumn, when the mountain turns into a tapestry of crimson and gold, and spring, when wildflowers brighten the trail.

    3. Mount Alexander Traverse

    Mount Alexander Traverse
    Take in the serenity.

    Towering above the goldfields near Castlemaine, Mount Alexander is a granite giant that offers some great bushwalking trails. The Mount Alexander Traverse winds along the mountain’s rocky spine through dry eucalypt forest that opens up in sections to reveal beautiful panoramas across Loddon Valley and all the way to the distant Grampians. Once a site of ancient volcanic activity (and later a gathering place for the Dja Dja Wurrung people), the mountain’s granite tors are now quiet and create a beautiful, serene atmosphere for a moment of reflection while walking.

    4. Murmuring Walk

    Murmuring Walk daylesford hikes
    Circle the picturesque Sanatorium Lake.

    Located an easy drive from Daylesford, Murmuring Walk offers something a little different. Circling Sanatorium Lake, this free audio-guided walk aims to immerse you in the rhythms of Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country by blending the sounds of nature with a multi-layered soundtrack. There are two routes to explore while you listen: a shorter loop around the lake itself and a longer circuit that extends deeper into the woodland.

    5. La Gerche Forest Walk

    La Gerche Forest Walk
    Walk into history on the La Gerche Forest trail.

    Located in Creswick, the La Gerche Forest Walk honours the legacy of John La Gerche, a 19th-century forester who championed the regeneration of the then gold-rush-ravaged land. Today, over 100 years later, his replanting efforts have grown into a living cathedral of towering pines, oaks, and native gums. As you meander along the 2.2-kilometre circuit, you’ll find interpretive panels along the way that help tell the story of La Gerche’s vision, so you can learn as you wander.

    6. Sailors Falls Loop

    Sailors Falls Loop
    See these spectacular falls. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Just outside Daylesford, Sailors Falls tumbles through a fern-lined gorge, fed by mineral springs. Thought to be named after the sailors who jumped ship to seek gold in the area during the 1850s gold rush, the loop walk begins at the car park and descends through a cool, shaded gully to the base of the falls. From here, you’ll make the climb back via the mineral springs. It’s a short but enchanting walk – about 1.5 kilometres in total, so make a day of it by packing a picnic to sit by the springs; you’ll feel worlds away from the city.

    7. Paddys Ranges Loop Walk

    Further north, the Paddys Ranges State Park loop reveals a different side of Victoria’s Heartland – dry forest, golden light and hints of a gold-rush past. This protected reserve is a stronghold of box-ironbark woodland, providing vital refuge for endangered species. In spring, the forest floor is awash with the colour of over 230 species of wildflowers, so a springtime walk is a must-do. As you walk the 4.5-kilometre loop trail, keep an eye out for remnants of old mine shafts and rusted relics from the prospectors who once sought their fortunes here.

    8. Mount Franklin Summit Walk

    Mount Franklin Summit Walk
    Take in forests and waterfalls along the way to the top of Mount Franklin.

    An extinct volcano turned picnic ground, Mount Franklin (known as Lalgambook to the Dja Dja Wurrung people) is one of the region’s quiet marvels. The summit walk follows a narrow, winding path through native forest to the crater’s rim, where you’ll get glimpses of farmland and forest below. It’s a moderate climb – just over an hour return, so it can easily be done if you’re camping in the surrounding reserve for a weekend nature retreat.

    The trails of Victoria’s Heartland offer a chance to reconnect with the landscape, local history and yourself. Start planning your next adventure at daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au.