Less than 2 hours drive from Melbourne, Colac is built alongside the majestic Lake Colac and Botanic Gardens. Lake Colac is the largest natural freshwater lake in Victoria. Teaming with bird life and surrounded by walking and bike paths, viewing platforms – even a beach.
The Colac Botanic Gardens, designed by Wiliam Guilfoyle (Melbourne Botanic Gardens), occupy about 16 hectares in an elevated position along the southern banks of Lake Colac.
Colac serves as a hub for the region, packed with high-quality shopping ranging from quaint country gift shops to antique dealers and specialty stores. Colac has a fantastic array of cafes and restaurants and it’s a great place to source produce from the foodies of the Otway Harvest Trail.
The Old Beechy Rail Trail is also a highlight, a 50km walking/cycling trail, located between Colac and Ferguson. The trail follows much of the original path of the narrow gauge railway “The Beechy” which ran from 1902 until 1962.
Colac is a friendly township and is the perfect place to base yourself while exploring the Otways and the Volcanic Plains.
On the Lake Colac foreshore, the Botanic Gardens were redesigned by William Guilfoyle in 1910. The slope facing the lake was terraced to provide viewing for events such as rowing regattas, while the original caretakers cottage now houses a cafe. This is only one of two drive-through botanic gardens in Victoria.
Situated on the Lake Colac foreshore, next to the Colac Botanic Gardens and Barongarook Creek, this location serves as the ideal base for exploring the attractions of Colac and the Otways.
Colac and surrounding areas have a vibrant arts precinct, explore one of the many heritage trails, expand yourself in an artist lead workshop or experience internationally acclaimed music and exhibitions in Colac Otway Performing Arts & Cultural Centre or the Red Rock Regional Theatre & Gallery at Cororooke.
Looking for something to do in Colac? Why not try…
The Barongarook Creek to Lake Colac trail. Starting at the Colac Visitor Information Centre the trail is just under 7km and will take about 1.5 hours to complete. This trail is great for bird watching, hiking, or riding. The trail is fully paved and suitable for wheelchairs and prams.
Bluewater Fitness Centre — Colac’s premier aquatic and recreation centre including a 25 meter swimming pool gymnasium, two indoor sports courts, group fitness program room, spa and steam room.
Beeac is a township approximately 20 km northeast of Colac and the aboriginal name for ‘salt water’ or salt lake, referring to the high salt levels in nearby Lake Beeac.
The town was first settled in the 1860’s. In 1884 a railway line connected Beeac to Colac and Ballarat, this line is no longer but you can see some remnants. Beeac has created a windmill museum with windmill parts scavenged from farms, to showcase the varying designs of windmills once built locally. Be sure to explore more along the Beeac History Trail.
The Red Rock lookout, 12 km from Colac, is one of Australia’s youngest volcanoes. Forty separate eruption points have been found, and many of the craters are now full of water.
The area is the third largest volcanic plain in the world and estimated to be 8,000 years old. The volcanic complex consists of overlapping maars, scoria cones and small lava flows. From the lookout, the magnificent 360 degree views include the topography of the volcanic plain and the 25,000 hectare Lake Corangamite.
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Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Great Ocean Road region the Wadawurrung, Eastern Maar & Gunditjmara. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their unique cultural heritage and the connection to their traditional lands. We commit to building genuine and lasting partnerships that recognise, embrace and support the spirit of reconciliation, working towards self-determination, equity of outcomes and an equal voice for Australia’s first people.
