Portland to Warrnambool drive: Distance, time and road trip attractions
The Portland to Warrnambool drive is 102km in distance, taking 1h15m. Road trip attractions include the Narrawong Coastal Reserve, Port Fairy’s pubs and the Tower Hill wildlife haven.
The drive from Portland to Warrnambool is one you’re most likely to undertake if you’ve extended your road trip along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. Portland is the last town of any real size on the western coast of Victoria. It’s a historic town, with buckets of charm.
You might also tackle the Portland to Warrnambool drive if travelling from Adelaide to Melbourne. Both towns are worth a stop, if you’re taking the South Australia to Victoria road trip slowly.
7 fantastic Great Ocean Road experiences
1. Crowd-beating reverse direction tour. 2. Surfing lessons in Anglesea. 3. Split Point Lighthouse climb. 4. Shockwave Zip-Coaster. 5. Guided wildlife walk. 6. Budj Bim National Park tour. 7. Great Ocean Road by motorbike.
Portland to Warrnambool distance and driving time
The Portland to Warrnambool drive is 102km long, with a driving time of approximately one hour and 15 minutes.
That’s not a long drive, especially by Australian standards. It’s easy enough to do in one hit without stopping. But there are a few stops worth making.
Best Portland accommodation choices
The best places to stay in Portland, Victoria, are:
- For a historic building: Quality Hotel Bentinck.
- For high quality, well-equipped apartments: Quest Portland.
- For a solid, cheap motel: Portland Retro Motel.
- For balconies by the waterfront: Seascape accommodation.
Portland to Warrnambool drive: Narrawong and Yambuk
The art-inclined might choose to stop at the Bay of Whales Gallery in Narrawong. If you’d prefer to visit the bay itself, there’s a bridge over the Surry River near the Narrawong Holiday Park.
The Princes Highway heads inland after Narrawong. But you can dip back to the beach in the Narrawong Coastal Reserve or Yambuk Coastal Reserve if you wish.
The most fun beach is just outside the town of Yambuk, however. Here, the Giant Yambuk Slide whizzes down from the vegetated dunes down onto the sand.
Pick the right Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne
- For wildlife and nature focus: One day tour with koalas and guided forest walk.
- To beat the crowds: Reverse direction Great Ocean Road day tour.
- For adventure: Two day camping and surfing trip.
- For backpackers: One day highlights tour aimed at younger travellers.
- For exclusivity and flexibility: Private tour where you can pick the sights you want to see.
- For an extended trip: Three day Melbourne to Adelaide tour.
Portland to Warrnambool drive: Port Fairy and Tower Hill
The key stop on the Portland to Warrnambool drive, however, is delightful Port Fairy. Australia Travel Questions has a full guide to things to do in Port Fairy.
Port Fairy highlights, however, include East Beach, the stand-up paddleboarding tours and the historic pubs.
Best Port Fairy accommodation picks
The best places to stay in Port Fairy are:
- For a treat: Oscars Waterfront Boutique Hotel.
- For heritage and character: Merrijig Inn.
- For family-friendly cabins and facilities: Big4 Port Fairy Holiday Park.
- For backpackers: Port Fairy YHA.
- For a comparatively affordable motel: Seacombe House Motor Inn.
From Port Fairy to Warrnambool, it’s just 29km. But there are several excellent stops between the two towns. The Belfast Coastal Reserve offers dunes and wetland birdwatching. The Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve in Koroit hosts several iconic Australian animals in the crater of an extinct volcano. And the offshore reefs make Killarney Beach a great spot for relatively safe swimming.
Top things to do in Warrnambool at the end of the drive include whale-watching from Logans Beach, and the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village.
Top Warrnambool experiences to book before arriving
- Take a geologist-led tour of Budj Bim National Park – discover the Aboriginal cultural connections to the ancient volcano.
- Relax in the rockpools – at the geothermally-fed Deep Blue Hot Springs.
- Tandem skydive near the 12 Apostles – jump from a plane over the Shipwreck Coast.
The best Warrnambool accommodation options
The top places to stay in Warrnambool are:
- For a family-friendly holiday park with a kids’ club: Discovery Parks Warrnambool.
- For luxury with a full service spa: Deep Blue Hotel and Hot Springs.
- For waterfront location: Lady Bay Resort.
- For high quality apartments with a pool: Gallery Apartments.
- For a good value motel: Mid City Motel.
The other legs of the Great Ocean Road journey worth knowing about are: Melbourne to Torquay | Torquay to Lorne | Lorne to Apollo Bay | Apollo Bay to Warrnambool.
More Victoria travel
When is the best time to see penguins on Phillip Island?
Spot kangaroos in Gipsy Point, near Mallacoota.
What to see on the drive from Bendigo to Echuca.
How long does the Melbourne to Geelong train take?
Tread the white sands of Squeaky Beach near Tidal River.