Warrnambool

Once a whaling and sealing station, Warrnambool is booming these days as a regional commercial and whale-watching centre. It's an attractive city, with heritage buildings, beaches, gardens and tree-lined streets, but the major housing and commercial development at the city fringes has rendered these areas much like city suburbs anywhere in Australia.

It's the whales that Warrnambool is most famous for, but it also has some great art galleries and historical sights. The sizeable population of uni students gives the town some spark, and you'll find some cool bars and cafes about.

The Gunditjmara people are the traditional owners of the land.

Explore Warrnambool

Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village
The world-class Flagstaff Hill precinct is of equal interest for its shipwreck museum, heritage-listed lighthouses and garrison as for its reproduction of…
W
Warrnambool Art Gallery
One of Australia's oldest art galleries (established 1886), WAG has a stellar collection of works by prominent Australian painters. Its most famous piece…
F
F Project Gallery
Set up in a former funeral home by local art collective the F Project, this contemporary gallery always has something interesting showing at its monthly…
S
Street Art
Over the years Warrnambool has gained a reputation for its public art. One of its most striking pieces is the colossal Ngatanwarr (Welcome) mural, which…
L
Logan's Beach Whale-Watching Platform
Southern right whales come to mate and nurse their young in the waters near Logan's Beach from July to September, breaching and fluking off the platform…
A
Allansford Cheese World
On the outskirts of Warrnambool – 12km east, in the dairy township of Allansford – is the slightly tacky Cheese World. It's run by the Warrnambool Cheese …
O
Outlaw Gallery
Inside the old Fletcher Jones clothing factory is this contemporary art gallery with attached studios and workshops. The space is small, but it's always…
W
Warrnambool Botanic Gardens
These gardens were laid out in 1877 by William Guilfoyle, the same curator who designed Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens. There's a good variety of plant…

Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village
The world-class Flagstaff Hill precinct is of equal interest for its shipwreck museum, heritage-listed lighthouses and garrison as for its reproduction of…
W
Warrnambool Art Gallery
One of Australia's oldest art galleries (established 1886), WAG has a stellar collection of works by prominent Australian painters. Its most famous piece…
F
F Project Gallery
Set up in a former funeral home by local art collective the F Project, this contemporary gallery always has something interesting showing at its monthly…
S
Street Art
Over the years Warrnambool has gained a reputation for its public art. One of its most striking pieces is the colossal Ngatanwarr (Welcome) mural, which…
L
Logan's Beach Whale-Watching Platform
Southern right whales come to mate and nurse their young in the waters near Logan's Beach from July to September, breaching and fluking off the platform…
A
Allansford Cheese World
On the outskirts of Warrnambool – 12km east, in the dairy township of Allansford – is the slightly tacky Cheese World. It's run by the Warrnambool Cheese …
O
Outlaw Gallery
Inside the old Fletcher Jones clothing factory is this contemporary art gallery with attached studios and workshops. The space is small, but it's always…
W
Warrnambool Botanic Gardens
These gardens were laid out in 1877 by William Guilfoyle, the same curator who designed Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens. There's a good variety of plant…

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Warrnambool.

See
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village
The world-class Flagstaff Hill precinct is of equal interest for its shipwreck museum, heritage-listed lighthouses and garrison as for its reproduction of…
See
Warrnambool Art Gallery
One of Australia's oldest art galleries (established 1886), WAG has a stellar collection of works by prominent Australian painters. Its most famous piece…
See
F Project Gallery
Set up in a former funeral home by local art collective the F Project, this contemporary gallery always has something interesting showing at its monthly…
See
Street Art
Over the years Warrnambool has gained a reputation for its public art. One of its most striking pieces is the colossal Ngatanwarr (Welcome) mural, which…
See
Logan's Beach Whale-Watching Platform
Southern right whales come to mate and nurse their young in the waters near Logan's Beach from July to September, breaching and fluking off the platform…
See
Allansford Cheese World
On the outskirts of Warrnambool – 12km east, in the dairy township of Allansford – is the slightly tacky Cheese World. It's run by the Warrnambool Cheese …
See
Outlaw Gallery
Inside the old Fletcher Jones clothing factory is this contemporary art gallery with attached studios and workshops. The space is small, but it's always…
See
Warrnambool Botanic Gardens
These gardens were laid out in 1877 by William Guilfoyle, the same curator who designed Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens. There's a good variety of plant…

Guidebooks

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks

Get to the heart of Warrnambool with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.