Glyph Gallery and Creative Space are a not-for-profit organisation that provides a space to showcase and support their regional creative practitioners through exhibitions, collaborations, gallery, artist studios and retail art space.
Monthly changing exhibition in the gallery and an ever-evolving display of beautifully hand-crafted art in their shop.
Putting the art back in your heart!
Glyph Galley and Creative Space run an extensive creative making workshop program throughout the year.
Explore two exceptional Victorian Heritage Listed cottages.
Mott's Cottage the original timber cottage was built in 1842 by William Bird, a blacksmith. The two-storied stone building was completed in 1851, when it is understood that the building was used as a boarding house. The cottage has had a number of subsequent owners and was occupied by Sarah Mott in 1918, giving the cottage its title.
Mills' Cottage, built in 1841, the original cottage is Victoria's oldest surviving dwelling. The property was acquired by Charles Mills, a whaling captain, in 1843. Charles' elder brother, Captain John Mills moved into the property and in 1856 added the larger substantial structure at the front of the building.
The cottages are open to the public on the first and third Saturday of the month and every Saturday throughout School Holidays. Closed winter: June, July and August.
Extra opening days for summer: 21 Dec and 28 Dec and every Saturday in January and February,
You are invited to immerse yourself in the rich history of Port Fairy's historic fishing port.
Exhibitions change regularly throughout the year telling fascinating stories of the towns' past and present and the friendly volunteers will make your visit enjoyable.
With an active archival and genealogical service which is available for tracing family, business or general historical information.
Looking for an unforgettable experience on your holiday? Go Surf offers fun, safe surf lessons in both Port Fairy and Warrnambool, tailored for all ages and skill levels. Whether you're a first-timer or looking to improve your technique, Go Surf ensures your time on the water is both exciting and memorable.
Learn To Surf on some of South West Victoria's safest beaches, Stand Up Paddle on their scenic rivers and waterways with their friendly and experienced local instructors.
Jan's Fine Glass Art Gallery and Studio is located on the fringe of Port Fairy, just two minutes from the town village. Presenting beautifully handcrafted, kiln formed glass, paintings and limestone sculpture by artist Jan Hetherington.
This unique collection boasts an extensive range of one off centrepieces, games, outdoor sculptures and fine dining glassware. Her classic games in glass include snakes and ladders, dominos, solitare, scrabble and chinese checkers – the perfect addition to the coffee table. Commissions and workshops are available on request and Jan also makes to order.
Jan’s Fine Glass studio and gallery is open 11:00am to 5:00pm, Thursday to Sunday or anytime the yellow flags are flying.
The perfect place to find the perfect gift.
Discover the charm and challenge of Port Fairy Golf Club, where stunning coastal views and true links golf combine to make an unforgettable golfing experience. Nestled at the end the picturesque Great Ocean Road, we welcome both seasoned players and beginners an exceptional round amidst breathtaking scenery.
With affordable green fees, a welcoming clubhouse, and friendly staff, Port Fairy Golf Club is the perfect destination for a memorable day out. Whether you're a local or visiting the area, book your tee time today and experience golfing at its finest.
Studio 75 is a vibrant art studio and gallery in Killarney, opened by artists Ricky Schembri and Alexandra Davis.
Studio 75 is just a ten minute drive from Warrnambool, Port Fairy, and Koroit, and two minutes from Killarney beach and caravan park. You can see their work spaces where they create their beautiful artwork, Have a coffee and look at their paintings available for sale, and or enjoy their newly established garden out the back.
Located three hours west of Melbourne at the end of the Great Ocean Road, Warrnambool Golf course is one of the region's most spectacular 18-hole courses and home course of the great LIV golf Tour Professional Marc Leishman.
Winding it's way behind a tertiary dune system, this classically designed course features a number of spectacular elevated tees, tree lined fairways and tight driving holes.
With a brand-new state of the art $7.5million club house facility, the Warrnambool Golf Club caters for golfers and guests alike who want to experience great views and top-class customer service in the bar bistro and Pro shop facilities.
Come and enjoy a spectacular golf experience you'll be sure to tell your friends about.
Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club brings you all of the racing action.
The club is centrally located in town with ample free parking available. The Club races on Thursday nights and Monday afternoons each week. The club has a family friendly environment and offers both bistro and bar facilities, free Wi-Fi, and makes the perfect place to get a group together and enjoy a night at the races.
The Club hosts many special events across the year including the Warrnambool Greyhound Cup and Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club Seaside Festival.
The Club also has two function spaces offering large and newly renovated space for conferences, seminars, trade and retail exhibitions, weddings, fundraisers and parties. The Wannon Function Centre offers room for small or large gatherings with high quality AV facilities, free WIFI, floor to ceiling windows offering natural light and outdoor views.
The Wannon Room can cater for up to 180 guests for a seated event or 300 for a cocktail function. The Stan Lake Room can cater for up to 200 guests seated or 500 for a cocktail function. These rooms can also be divided into areas for intimate gatherings
Bring your family and friends to the races and enjoy the modern facilities and relaxed atmosphere. Free entry to every race meet.
Step into naturally heated geothermal waters and explore a thoughtfully designed space featuring rock pools, sensory caves and flowing waterfalls. Each area has been created to offer a calming and restorative experience.
Drawn from 850 metres below the surface, the mineral-rich water at the Deep Blue Hot Springs carries a distinctive mix of elements known to support both physical recovery and emotional balance. The warmth comes from deep within the earth, with water temperatures ranging from 35 to 42 degrees Celsius.
Multiple sessions are available each day. Daytime entry is open to guests aged five and up, while evening sessions are set aside for adults aged 16 and over. All tickets include access to the full range of bathing areas within the Sanctuary.
Discover the magic of live performance at the Lighthouse Theatre, southwest Victoria's premier destination for arts and culture.
Located in the heart of Warrnambool's city centre, the theatre presents a vibrant year-round program of theatre, music, dance, comedy, cabaret and community events. The Lighthouse Theatre blends heritage charm with contemporary design, featuring a stunning 584-seat auditorium, flexible studio and welcoming glass-fronted foyer.
Just steps from the Civic Green, cafés and accommodation, it's the perfect place to experience, create and celebrate in Warrnambool.
Established in 1886, the Warrnambool Art Gallery is Australia's fifth oldest public collecting institution.
Today, the Warnambool Art Gallery centres artists in the transformation of society by presenting new ideas exploring the important social, cultural, political and artistic questions of our time. By nurturing an environment of safety, experimentation and risk-taking, the gallery propels art to advance community cohesion, shared understanding and inspire celebration.
Experience the fascinating history of the Shipwreck Coast with a visit to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village.
Containing over 10,000 artefacts, the Flagstaff Hill maritime collection is the largest of its kind in Victoria. Central to this is the stunning Minton Peacock sculpture which remarkably survived the wreck of the Loch Ard, a sailing ship which met its demise at Loch Ard Gorge, a highlight when visiting the Great Ocean Road.
Discover the many historical treasures and stories of the Shipwreck Coast within our museum, village and heritage precinct.
As night falls, step inside the village to experience the dramatic stories of Australia's rich maritime history, told vividly through the multimillion-dollar Sound and Light experience. Tales of the Shipwreck Coast takes you on a journey through the ages. From local creation stories to their colourful whaling past then to events that gave their coastline a reputation that inspired fear and trepidation among mariners. See the village come to life and experience the stories through projections onto a nine-metre water wall.
Warrnambool is a city that loves to swim, and AquaZone is the premier aquatic and recreation centre in the area.
It's a perfect place for you, whether you want to swim a few laps or take your toddler for a paddle. AquaZone caters for all levels of activity and social engagements.
AquaZone operates a heated 25 metre pool, as well as two smaller pools with one featuring fun water fountains and a 'beach style' entry. Over the warmer months, Aquazone's 50m outdoor pool opens which is an essential part of the classic Aussie summer experience.
Fully qualified lifeguards are on duty providing a high level of safety at all times.
And if you need to scratch your fitness itch while you're in Warrnambool, check out the gym or join in on one of the numerous fitness classes.
The gym is equipped with modern Technogym equipment and AquaZone offers an extensive range of Les Mills exercise classes.
Visiting the Fletcher Jones Market is a unique experience. Located in the iconic former Fletcher Jones factory, and fronted by a heritage-listed garden, the market is a must do visit either for a day trip, weekend away or passing along Great Ocean Road. Driving down the highway into Warrnambool lookout for the iconic silver ball towering over the gardens.
The market specialises in antiques and collectables, furniture, bric-a-brac, old books, giftware, memorabilia, retro clothing, collectable records for the 60s and 70s, antique and retro furniture, original artwork, coins and much more. With over 2,000 square metres and 60 plus experienced stallholders, there is always something interesting and new to discover.
They have two floors to choose from; the Market has something for everyone and is heaven for collectors. Whether you are looking for something rare or unique, or for something familiar, they are likely to have it. This market is the largest antique and collectable market in Southwest Victoria and is where dealers come to find unique items.
The market has two entrances, so if you find it difficult to walk for any distance, the rear entrance via Lava Street provides ready access with ample free street parking. Alternatively, enter through the garden.
The market has rest room facilities and dog friendly so bring your best friend.
Budj Bim is a long dormant volcano. Budj Bim is the source of the Tyrendarra lava flow which extends over 50 kilometres to the southwest. It is central to the history of the Gunditjmara people.
Budj Bim National Park is Victoria's first co-managed national park. The park is managed by Gunditjmara Traditional Owners and Parks Victoria.
The park's tranquil crater lake and pleasant bushland surrounds make it a pleasant place for picnicking, camping and bushwalking. Nature trails follow the old crater rim.
The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape has formally been recognised on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is the only Australian World Heritage property listed exclusively for its Aboriginal cultural values. The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape features the earliest living example of aquaculture in the world, with a history of eel farming dating back over 6,000 years.
Before you go
Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website.
Looking for a family-friendly adventure? Mount Clay, four hours drive west of Melbourne, offers a 13 kilometre network of easy looped mountain bike trails set within a beautiful stringybark forest.
Perfect for riders of all ages and abilities, the purpose-built singletrack trails feature small jumps. Or pick up the speed for a more challenging ride.
The trails start and end at the Sawpit Picnic Area where you'll find toilets, picnic tables, wood-fired BBQs, and bush camping.
While you're in the area visit the spectacular Whalers Lookout Walk nearby.
On the shores of Tae Rak (Lake Condah) in south western Victoria you will find one of the oldest and most extensive aquaculture sites in the world.
The Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre & Café houses a kooyang (eel) holding tank as well as a retail space and a bush tucker café. The signature dish is the Kooyang Tasting Plate which can be bought on site.
The centre is a tourism hub where Gunditjmara people share knowledge and stories in a sustainable way, allowing them to continue caring for their Country and culture. It was built to strengthen and maintain the Gunditjmara community’s connections to the traditional practice of kooyang (eel) farming and smoking for future generations.
Here, visitors can join Gunditjmara guided cultural tours of the World Heritage listed Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, and learn how Gunditjmara people worked with the natural resources and environment of the Victorian southwest region to establish a permanent place of human society over the past 30,000 years and beyond.
Commercial activities such as guided cultural tours of the landscape and the sale of smoked kooyang on tasting boards to visitors will help keep Gunditjmara people working on country sustainably, and consistent with the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape values.
The Portland Botanic Gardens are a hidden tranquil beauty, established in the 1850s by William Allitt, it is one of the earliest botanic gardens in Australia. The gardens hold treasure to 300 varieties of roses and 130 varieties of dahlias.
Stroll through the gardens all year round and capture the beauty hidden within. Showcasing some rare and important species, the Portland Botanic Gardens is home to outstanding species such as the Cordyline Australis, Wigandia Caracasana and Rhus Viminalis.
Enjoy a barbecue or picnic amongst the rose gardens or the native garden beds that include many species that are indigenous to the Glenelg Shire.
The paths are wheelchair friendly and dogs on a leash are welcome. Continue your stroll through to the Lagoon or jump on the Portland Cable Tram stop located at the front entrance.
The Portland Botanic Gardens are open to the public Monday to Sunday from sunrise to sunset.
Located along the main stretch of Byaduk, pop in and see Robyn at the Byaduk General Store during your exploration of the town. Full to the brim with antiques, clothing, homewares, accessories and other delightful finds, the store is a hidden gem. Take your time browsing and be pleasantly surprised – with a mixture of both new and old, you will be sure to find something you love.
Robyn is constantly updating what she has in her shop so every time you come you'll find something different. In the restored old General Store building, Robyn has done a great job retaining the building's historical elements.
Once you've found a treasure inside, don't forget to have a look at the blue door of the adjoining bluestone building. It provides the perfect photo opportunity and a little keepsake of the gorgeous little store and town.
The core display of History House looks chronologically at the history of the region from the Indigenous community to the arrival of Europeans and subsequent establishment of a settlement in Portland Bay.
Other themed displays include the centenary celebrations of 1934, the various volunteer militia groups of the mid to late 19th century, and the public baths that once graced Portland's foreshore.
Content in the display is drawn from Glenelg Shire Council's Cultural Collection, and supplemented with significant objects and images on loan from the Portland Family History Group and Portland Historical Society.
Core displays in the museum are permanent, with other exhibits changing periodically.
History House is also home to the Portland Family History Group who is custodians of the most extensive collection of genealogical research material in the western region of Victoria.
The Narrawong Human Sundial designed to celebrate whales which are viewed through their migration from areas around Portland.
To use the analemmatic (human) sundial, stand on the body of the Koontabul Ngeerrang (whale mother) at the correct month. Turn to face your shadow. The line of your shadow points to the time on the arc of shells. Add one hour during Daylight Savings Time in Summer.
At the Portland Maritime Discovery Centre, you'll experience a diverse range of activities that bring our coastline's history to life. Explore the newly opened Nyamat Mirring Gallery, a dedicated space that celebrates the deep cultural heritage and stories of the Gunditjmara people, the traditional owners of this land.
Step inside the rib cage of a 14-metre Sperm Whale skeleton and unfold the history of Victoria's birthplace through Portland's images of the past. Explore treasures from the shipwreck trail and discover your own links with the sea, all while accessing a wealth of local knowledge at the regional visitor information centre.
Key Highlights of the Centre include permanent displays documenting the region's rich history, including whaling, navigation, and the local fishing industry.
See the 1858 Portland Lifeboat, the museum's centrepiece, famous for the 'Admella' rescue of 1859. It is one of the oldest remaining unrestored, intact vessels in the world.
View material from the Port of Portland Collection, including historic photographs, technical instruments, diving equipment, and maritime tools.
Nyamat Mirring Gallery: Immerse yourself in the local Aboriginal culture and art that defines this region's identity.
Experience the majesty of the annual whale migration at the Whale Viewing Platform on Wade Street in Portland. This easily accessible spot offers a fantastic vantage point for observing the giants of the sea.
The prime whale season for the Southern Right and Humpback migration runs from May through to October. Portland is an exceptional location to spot several species, though sightings vary by time of year.
Humpback Whales also pass through, typically heading north from May to July and returning south with their calves from September to November. Look out for their famous acrobatic displays like breaching and fin-slapping.
Pygmy Blue Whales are the most commonly sighted of the Blue Whale subspecies in this area. These giants are sometimes seen feeding further offshore during the summer and autumn months (November to May), drawn by the krill-rich Bonney Upwelling.
Orcas (Killer Whales), while rare, are also occasionally spotted in the area.
To ensure you don't miss any action, you can use the complimentary binoculars provided at the purpose-built platform to get a better view of these fascinating creatures.
