Cockatoo house: local information and things to do
Places to eat and drink
Head to the Walkerville Foreshore campground to find this cute kiosk. Great food and picnic tables with spectacular views of the bay and the Prom. Brekky rolls and coffee in the morning. Lunch and later you'll find local fish & chips, legendary burgers (try the 'Big Walky'), and vegan options. Also sells basic pantry items if you run out of milk or cereal or need some food staples (or a locally made ice cream!). A quick 3 minute drive down at the beach. Hours vary according to season - check insta, or the handwritten sign at the end of Acacia Road.
19 localnici recomandă
Walkerville Kiosk
Loop RoadHead to the Walkerville Foreshore campground to find this cute kiosk. Great food and picnic tables with spectacular views of the bay and the Prom. Brekky rolls and coffee in the morning. Lunch and later you'll find local fish & chips, legendary burgers (try the 'Big Walky'), and vegan options. Also sells basic pantry items if you run out of milk or cereal or need some food staples (or a locally made ice cream!). A quick 3 minute drive down at the beach. Hours vary according to season - check insta, or the handwritten sign at the end of Acacia Road.
Cellar door and restaurant serving locally-made traditional dry cider, accompanied by jaw-dropping views. Even if you think you don't like cider, this place will change your mind with their wild yeast, no added sugar versions. Order a tasting paddle and a grazing plate and gaze out at the unbelievable views across the rolling green Gippsland hills to the Bay and the Prom. Highly recommended! A scenic 20 min drive from our place.
49 localnici recomandă
Gurneys Cider
343 Fish Creek-Foster RdCellar door and restaurant serving locally-made traditional dry cider, accompanied by jaw-dropping views. Even if you think you don't like cider, this place will change your mind with their wild yeast, no added sugar versions. Order a tasting paddle and a grazing plate and gaze out at the unbelievable views across the rolling green Gippsland hills to the Bay and the Prom. Highly recommended! A scenic 20 min drive from our place.
Small, family-run vineyard focussing on cool-climate chardonnay and pinot noir. The cellar door and restaurant are in a former tractor shed, with seasonal, local produce platters, often from their kitchen garden. A perfect place for a long lunch with serene green views across the vines to the rolling green hills.
Tip. The address is confusingly Fish Creek, but it's actually this side of that town, on the road to the Prom - Google will take you there! An easy and scenic 18 min drive from our place.
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Waratah Hills Vineyard
20 Cottmans RdSmall, family-run vineyard focussing on cool-climate chardonnay and pinot noir. The cellar door and restaurant are in a former tractor shed, with seasonal, local produce platters, often from their kitchen garden. A perfect place for a long lunch with serene green views across the vines to the rolling green hills.
Tip. The address is confusingly Fish Creek, but it's actually this side of that town, on the road to the Prom - Google will take you there! An easy and scenic 18 min drive from our place.
Delicious food and drinks at this licensed cafe with gorgeous sunny courtyard and friendly staff. The extensive menu highlights local Gippsland produce, wines and craft beers. Great for a big breakfast or lunch, Thurs-Mon, plus dinner and takeaway meals Fri-Sat. Scenic 27 min drive from our place. Make time to poke around Meniyan while you're there - it's cute!
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Moo's at Meeniyan
89 Whitelaw StDelicious food and drinks at this licensed cafe with gorgeous sunny courtyard and friendly staff. The extensive menu highlights local Gippsland produce, wines and craft beers. Great for a big breakfast or lunch, Thurs-Mon, plus dinner and takeaway meals Fri-Sat. Scenic 27 min drive from our place. Make time to poke around Meniyan while you're there - it's cute!
Coffee, healthy home made food and cakes to takeaway and a small selection of gourmet pantry items, Gippsland wine and beers and local olive oil, honey etc. Their home made preserves and pickles are especially good, and there's a small selection of local artworks in the side room. Just note that opening hours can be a bit erratic!
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Gibsons Licensed Cafe & Larder
9 Falls RdCoffee, healthy home made food and cakes to takeaway and a small selection of gourmet pantry items, Gippsland wine and beers and local olive oil, honey etc. Their home made preserves and pickles are especially good, and there's a small selection of local artworks in the side room. Just note that opening hours can be a bit erratic!
Iconic 1930s art deco pub with a huge fish sculpture on the roof. Lunch and dinner in the bistro or at outside tables. Bottle shop with a good selection of Gippsland wine and beers.
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Fish Creek Hotel
1 Old Waratah RdIconic 1930s art deco pub with a huge fish sculpture on the roof. Lunch and dinner in the bistro or at outside tables. Bottle shop with a good selection of Gippsland wine and beers.
Awesome deli goods including a fantastic selection of local cheeses and meats, gourmet pantry items, bottle shop specialising in Gippsland produced wine, cider and beer. Pick up one of their homemade heat at home meals for an easy dinner (lasagne, soups, gnocchi).
13 localnici recomandă
Meeniyan Pantry & Cellar
82 Whitelaw StAwesome deli goods including a fantastic selection of local cheeses and meats, gourmet pantry items, bottle shop specialising in Gippsland produced wine, cider and beer. Pick up one of their homemade heat at home meals for an easy dinner (lasagne, soups, gnocchi).
Well-loved local winery in Inverloch - cellar door sales, wine tastings, cheese & charcuterie platters
58 localnici recomandă
Dirty Three Wines
64 Cashin StWell-loved local winery in Inverloch - cellar door sales, wine tastings, cheese & charcuterie platters
A local gem. Beautiful modern Australia/Asian food made from great local produce. Friendly service and a lovely setting. Our favourite local for a special dinner.
Pearl Inverloch
5 Lindsey CloseA local gem. Beautiful modern Australia/Asian food made from great local produce. Friendly service and a lovely setting. Our favourite local for a special dinner.
Local favourite - sit outside at the outdoor wood-fired pizza place, or dine in at the beautiful Italian restaurant 'Cucina Povera' across the road. Both showcase local Gippsland produce.
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Trulli Woodfire Pizzeria
93 Whitelaw StLocal favourite - sit outside at the outdoor wood-fired pizza place, or dine in at the beautiful Italian restaurant 'Cucina Povera' across the road. Both showcase local Gippsland produce.
Cute cafe with locally roasted coffee and a range of sweets and pastries made by different local bakers. They also have local artworks and ceramics for sale.
Little Oberon
Cute cafe with locally roasted coffee and a range of sweets and pastries made by different local bakers. They also have local artworks and ceramics for sale.
Nearby towns
Cute artistic town - great place to poke around for a couple of hours. If there are kids in your life who love Alison Lester's books, you'll find her shop here, which includes an exhibition of her original drawings and sketches for the books - well worth a look. Bonus info: her book Magic Beach is set in Walkerville!
Next door is the studio of Andrew McPherson, a local artist who makes unique and beautiful sculptures from timber and found metal. Also checkout the Hand Makers store for locally made crafts, local art and hand spun and knitted woollen items. Grab a beer at the iconic Art Deco Fish Creek Hotel, sit on the deck of Long John Pickles cafe for brekky or lunch, or grab healthy takeaway food (and gourmet pantry items) from Gibson's Deli, or coffee and pastries from Little Oberon Cafe.
Recently a small farmers market has started up on Saturdays from 9-11am. It's still small but growing gradually, and the produce at the few stalls there is amazingly good - worth a check.
55 localnici recomandă
Fish Creek
Cute artistic town - great place to poke around for a couple of hours. If there are kids in your life who love Alison Lester's books, you'll find her shop here, which includes an exhibition of her original drawings and sketches for the books - well worth a look. Bonus info: her book Magic Beach is set in Walkerville!
Next door is the studio of Andrew McPherson, a local artist who makes unique and beautiful sculptures from timber and found metal. Also checkout the Hand Makers store for locally made crafts, local art and hand spun and knitted woollen items. Grab a beer at the iconic Art Deco Fish Creek Hotel, sit on the deck of Long John Pickles cafe for brekky or lunch, or grab healthy takeaway food (and gourmet pantry items) from Gibson's Deli, or coffee and pastries from Little Oberon Cafe.
Recently a small farmers market has started up on Saturdays from 9-11am. It's still small but growing gradually, and the produce at the few stalls there is amazingly good - worth a check.
15 mins drive from our place, this is the nearest town to get supplies. There's an IGA supermarket, bottle shop, ATM and Post Office, and a service station for fuel. Also a small gallery with local art and timber work that's worth a look. There's a boardwalk along the river for a pleasant stroll, and picnic tables.
23 localnici recomandă
Tarwin Lower
15 mins drive from our place, this is the nearest town to get supplies. There's an IGA supermarket, bottle shop, ATM and Post Office, and a service station for fuel. Also a small gallery with local art and timber work that's worth a look. There's a boardwalk along the river for a pleasant stroll, and picnic tables.
Cute town 25 mins from our place. Has a delicious deli (Meniyan Pantry) fantastic cafe (Moo's), and great woodfired pizzeria (Trulli). Various other small shops, galleries and op shops make this a good place to poke around for a couple of hours. Don't miss Outer Space at the end of the high street - an outdoor gallery with locally made sculptures and artworks. Also an IGA supermarket and bottle shop, a chemist and service station for fuel.
A great thing to do here is to hire an e-bike and ride part of the fantastic Great Southern Rail Trail, which passes through Meeniyan. The Great Southern Ride hire shop has half day and full day options; book online.
Meniyan Town Hall hosts regular gigs, including some big name artists - check the website of Lyrebird Arts Council for what's on.
47 localnici recomandă
Meeniyan
Cute town 25 mins from our place. Has a delicious deli (Meniyan Pantry) fantastic cafe (Moo's), and great woodfired pizzeria (Trulli). Various other small shops, galleries and op shops make this a good place to poke around for a couple of hours. Don't miss Outer Space at the end of the high street - an outdoor gallery with locally made sculptures and artworks. Also an IGA supermarket and bottle shop, a chemist and service station for fuel.
A great thing to do here is to hire an e-bike and ride part of the fantastic Great Southern Rail Trail, which passes through Meeniyan. The Great Southern Ride hire shop has half day and full day options; book online.
Meniyan Town Hall hosts regular gigs, including some big name artists - check the website of Lyrebird Arts Council for what's on.
Exactly an hour from our place, this is our favourite place to stop on the way to or from Melbourne.
The Loch Grocer is fabulous for coffee and lunch (their daily home made tarts and spanokopita especially), and to stock up on local produce, bread, beers and wines. Tell Mindy and Carol that Emma and Ann in Walkerville sent you :-)
Just across the road, check out Loch Brewery and Distillery for a range of locally made small batch gins, whiskies and ales. Tasting paddles are a good way to try them all.
Also at Loch (just on the other side of the highway from the town) is Gippsland Wine Company - a beautiful spot to do a wine tasting and have lunch at a table set right amid the vines. Tell Mark the owner we sent you - he's full of wine and local knowledge.
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Loch
Exactly an hour from our place, this is our favourite place to stop on the way to or from Melbourne.
The Loch Grocer is fabulous for coffee and lunch (their daily home made tarts and spanokopita especially), and to stock up on local produce, bread, beers and wines. Tell Mindy and Carol that Emma and Ann in Walkerville sent you :-)
Just across the road, check out Loch Brewery and Distillery for a range of locally made small batch gins, whiskies and ales. Tasting paddles are a good way to try them all.
Also at Loch (just on the other side of the highway from the town) is Gippsland Wine Company - a beautiful spot to do a wine tasting and have lunch at a table set right amid the vines. Tell Mark the owner we sent you - he's full of wine and local knowledge.
Beachfront residential settlement 15 mins drive from our place. Surf lessons and surfboard/paddle board hire, wind and kite surfing, and some beautiful coastal walks. There's a small general store which stocks a small range of groceries and fruit and veg, and a bottle shop. Also home to Waratah Beach Surf Life Saving Club, which is a good spot for a sunset drink with ocean views (there's also basic food - average pizza/chips). Check opening times as they vary seasonally.
42 localnici recomandă
Sandy Point
Beachfront residential settlement 15 mins drive from our place. Surf lessons and surfboard/paddle board hire, wind and kite surfing, and some beautiful coastal walks. There's a small general store which stocks a small range of groceries and fruit and veg, and a bottle shop. Also home to Waratah Beach Surf Life Saving Club, which is a good spot for a sunset drink with ocean views (there's also basic food - average pizza/chips). Check opening times as they vary seasonally.
Small residential settlement 12 mins drive from us. Beautiful long surf beach, plus some lovely coastal walks. No shops here, just houses and a nice little kids' playground and BBQ area.
38 localnici recomandă
Waratah Bay
Small residential settlement 12 mins drive from us. Beautiful long surf beach, plus some lovely coastal walks. No shops here, just houses and a nice little kids' playground and BBQ area.
Sightseeing
Without a doubt one of the most spectacular national parks in the country. Heaps of great walks in the park - or just drive to a pristine beach (Whisky Bay is stunning; 45 mins from our place) and have a picnic on white sand surrounded by granite boulders overlooking Bass Strait. Extensive visitor info on the Parks Vic website: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/wilsons-promontory-national-park
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Wilsons Promontory
Without a doubt one of the most spectacular national parks in the country. Heaps of great walks in the park - or just drive to a pristine beach (Whisky Bay is stunning; 45 mins from our place) and have a picnic on white sand surrounded by granite boulders overlooking Bass Strait. Extensive visitor info on the Parks Vic website: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/wilsons-promontory-national-park
There are spectacular sights to see right here in Walkerville, and you don't even need a car. Here are two options:
Walk #1) Walk to the right out of the driveway and up to Roscrea Crescent. Look to your left and you'll see a small sign for a walking track. This is a beautiful 10 minute stroll through the bush, that leads you to a stunning lookout on the edge of the cliff with views right over Waratah Bay and over to the Prom. There's a little seat there where you can rest and enjoy the view. If you're a morning person, this one is spectacular for sunrise.
Walk #2) Walk to the right out of the driveway and keep going past Roscrea Cres, turning right at Walkerville Road. Immediately on your left you'll see a sign for a walking track into the forest. Five minutes into this walk you'll come to a fork in the track - take the right 'Overlook' track to a spectacular lookout over the ocean - you can see Bird Rock to the right and the Prom on the horizon.
Or if you go left at the fork, the track winds downhill through the forest to the beach (it crosses the road at one point - just look for the sign to rejoin the forest track). You'll come out at the caravan park right on the foreshore.
29 localnici recomandă
Walkerville
There are spectacular sights to see right here in Walkerville, and you don't even need a car. Here are two options:
Walk #1) Walk to the right out of the driveway and up to Roscrea Crescent. Look to your left and you'll see a small sign for a walking track. This is a beautiful 10 minute stroll through the bush, that leads you to a stunning lookout on the edge of the cliff with views right over Waratah Bay and over to the Prom. There's a little seat there where you can rest and enjoy the view. If you're a morning person, this one is spectacular for sunrise.
Walk #2) Walk to the right out of the driveway and keep going past Roscrea Cres, turning right at Walkerville Road. Immediately on your left you'll see a sign for a walking track into the forest. Five minutes into this walk you'll come to a fork in the track - take the right 'Overlook' track to a spectacular lookout over the ocean - you can see Bird Rock to the right and the Prom on the horizon.
Or if you go left at the fork, the track winds downhill through the forest to the beach (it crosses the road at one point - just look for the sign to rejoin the forest track). You'll come out at the caravan park right on the foreshore.
Walky South is the best local swimming beach - a wide gentle arc of flat sand at low tide, and (most days) completely calm water make this a favourite with everyone - swimmers, stand-up paddle boarders, kayakers and families. Kids love exploring the caves, rockpools and secret beaches round to the right - if you know children's author Alison Lester, this little cove is the setting of her best-selling 'Magic Beach'. The beach has a fantastic view - the rocky outposts of Bird Rock to the right and Wilson's Prom on the horizon. There's also the remains of a historic lime kiln on this beach, with some explanatory signage if you take the path from the beach up into the bush behind it.
To get to the beach, drive down to North Walkerville boat ramp (the end of the road, just past the Walkerville hall) and then, if it's low tide, just walk along the sand to South Walkerville beach (10 mins). Or, if it's high tide, look for the walking path 'Limeburners Track' into the bush near the boat ramp and walk up through the trees over the hill (20 mins) until you come out at South Walky.
You can also drive direct to South Walkerville - take the road towards Tarwin Lower, and after about 5 mins you'll see the sign to the left for Walkerville South - follow this road to the beach (the last part is a gravel road).
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Walkerville South
Walky South is the best local swimming beach - a wide gentle arc of flat sand at low tide, and (most days) completely calm water make this a favourite with everyone - swimmers, stand-up paddle boarders, kayakers and families. Kids love exploring the caves, rockpools and secret beaches round to the right - if you know children's author Alison Lester, this little cove is the setting of her best-selling 'Magic Beach'. The beach has a fantastic view - the rocky outposts of Bird Rock to the right and Wilson's Prom on the horizon. There's also the remains of a historic lime kiln on this beach, with some explanatory signage if you take the path from the beach up into the bush behind it.
To get to the beach, drive down to North Walkerville boat ramp (the end of the road, just past the Walkerville hall) and then, if it's low tide, just walk along the sand to South Walkerville beach (10 mins). Or, if it's high tide, look for the walking path 'Limeburners Track' into the bush near the boat ramp and walk up through the trees over the hill (20 mins) until you come out at South Walky.
You can also drive direct to South Walkerville - take the road towards Tarwin Lower, and after about 5 mins you'll see the sign to the left for Walkerville South - follow this road to the beach (the last part is a gravel road).
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Local farmers' markets
This area has many fabulous local farmers' markets - we'll leave a list in the house of which markets are on different weekends of the month. They're all great for a slow wander with a coffee in hand and the best place to pick up local produce. Some also sell arts, crafts and second hand items, and some have live music.
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Local organic eggs straight from the chooks
From Walkerville, take the road towards Tarwin Lower, and once you pass the sign to Walkerville South, look out on the right hand side for Ruby Hills Organic Egg farm - you'll notice the large A-frame mobile chook sheds in the paddock, and lots of brown chooks running around. Take the driveway into the farm and you'll find an old fridge with eggs for sale and an honesty box inside. Breakfast sorted!
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Massage
Two great options for a massage locally are:
1) Elizabeth at Studio RE, in Sandy Point. Relaxation, remedial and pregnancy massage. Look up 'Studio RE Sandy Point' for contact details or to book online.
2) Robyn who operates some days from home and some from Tarwin Lower Community Health Centre. Shiatsu, massage, sound healing, energy work, Feng Shui. Call the Centre to book or look up Robyn's business: 'Elemental Pathways'.
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Hire an e-bike and ride the rail trail
The full Great Southern Rail Trail runs for 100km through the region on a disused rail trail. It's a great way to see the countryside. But there are also shorter options!
In Meniyan you can hire an e-bike from the Great Southern Ride shop, which has half day and full day hire options; book online. An easy ride is from Meniyan to Koonwarra, where you can stop for coffee or lunch in one of the cafes there and then ride back. Won't take more than half an hour each way - totally doable with kids too. Of course there are lots of longer options too if you want to go further.