We woke to a beautiful sunny day, which was a pleasant surprise. This is about the 8th time we’ve been to Warrnambool, and the weather has not always been kind, so at this time of the year our expectations weren’t high.
No wind, and sunshine, doesn’t get better than that when your camping. So we headed off from Surfside Holiday Park, along the bike/walking path that runs along the top of the sand dunes. This leads you to the main Warrnambool wharf and breakwater. A highlight for the kids was to see the race horses swimming in the bay behind a small row boat. I can’t believe I didn’t get a photo. Warrnambool has quiet a racing fraternity so from sun up to mid-morning there are a number of race horses exercising along the beach. At the wharf is a café serving coffee and meals all day, but not open of a night.
Warrnambool Bay
Directly behind the café carpark is Middle Island, so for all the Oddball fans this is the island featured in the movie. Unfortunately the island is closed until further notice, so it’s not possible to climb for conservation reasons.
A short walk back towards Warrnambool city centre is the kids favourite location, the Warrnambool Skate Park, next to Lady Bay Resort. This skate park caters to all levels of ability, and was a hit on the fine days. This skate park has ample parking nearby, and is approximately a 15 minute walk from the SurfsideHoliday Park, and only 5 minutes from the sister park, Shipwrecked HolidayPark.
Cafe by the wharf
The sun was still belting down in the afternoon so we decided to brave the cold Southern Ocean and head in with our boogie boards. Yes, it was cold but well worth it. I must admit that we threw the boards in as a last resort because we had room, I’m glad we did. The waves were perfect. The waves coming into the bay are excellent for learning to surf. The only drawback was the seaweed, and the drop off in some places.
A warning to those with young children or children that aren’t good swimmers, the sandy bottom can drop off very quickly in spots, so it’s a good idea to go in first to check it out. Read our review on Tripadvisor.com.au