Parks, Gardens & Rivers

Lake Pertobe Adventure Playground
Warrnambool’s fantastic Lake Pertobe Adventure Playground is a year-round family attraction. This 20 hectare adventure playground is paradise for kids with giant slides, flying foxes, a maze and boat rides. There are lovely walking tracks around the lakes, and the park features delightful picnic areas and sheltered BBQ facilities.
The Lake Pertobe precinct is also h ome to other sporting facilities such as lawn tennis courts, mini golf, an athletics track and nearby skateboard park.
 
Botanic Gardens
Warrnambool’s Botanic Gardens were designed by William Guilfoyle in 1879, shortly after he completed the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens. Designed in the classic style, these elegant sheltered gardens feature wide curving paths, ancient trees, a lily pond with ducks, fernery and a band rotunda.
LOCATION: Cnr Queens Road & Cockman Street.

Cannon Hill
Cannon Hill offers panoramic views of Lady Bay and Lake Pertobe. A Portuguese Padrao commemorates early Portuguese exploration of the Warrnambool area. BBQs, a rotunda and car parking available.
LOCATION: Adjacent to the War Memorial, off Artillery Cres.

Fletcher Jones Gardens
The gardens surround the former clothing factory of the same name, founded in Warrnambool in 1948. The colourful gardens, once the site of a quarry, also feature Sir Fletcher Jones’ hawker wagon, a waterfall and wishing well.
LOCATION: Cnr Flaxman Street & Raglan Parade.

Hopkins Falls
Hopkins Falls are set against lush dairy country. They make an ideal picnic, fishing and walking spot, with gas BBQs and toilets provided. For a few days in early summer each year, the baby eels migrate upstream over the falls.
LOCATION: 13km north east of Warrnambool.

Hopkins River
The Hopkins River mouth (Blue Hole) with its beautiful cliffs, rock formations and rock pools is a popular fishing spot. Just up from the river mouth, boating, water-skiing and swimming are possible. Nearby is the National Trust-classified Proudfoots Boat-house.
LOCATION: Off Otway Road.

Merri River
The Merri River lies to the west of the city, meandering through wetlands before emerging at Stingray Bay, in the Thunder Point Coastal Reserve. The Merri is regarded as one of Victoria’s finest brown trout streams.