Cobden

Cobden is in the heart of Australia's richest dairying area, 210 km South West of Melbourne. Today Cobden and its surrounding district claim to be the "Dairy Capital" of the world. Cobden is close to the southern rim of the Lakes and Craters Country, a region of cones and crater lakes that are spread over the third largest volcanic plain in the world. It was the violent eruptions of the past that helped to enrich the soil that supports the numerous dairy farms.

With a Population of 1500 and known as the 'township of caring people'. The towns’ main industry is the Fonterra Dairy Processing Factory and all services catering for agricultural properties in the area.

Cobden has excellent preschool, primary school and technical school facilities, an Aged care hospital, sporting facilities and recreational parks and gardens.

Cobden is also a Fisherman's paradise; it has many lakes and rivers that offer a good variety to all anglers. Waterways such as Lake Purrumbete, Lake Elingamite and the Curdies River have good sized Chinook salmon, Rainbow trout, Brown trout and Redfin. Many quality boat ramps exist in the area giving the angler easy accessibility.

With an 1100 metre all weather airstrip with sealed turntables and pilot automatic lighting, Cobden is the only town in the area catering for the flying ambulance service.

Cobden has a moderate climate and average rainfall of 890mm.

Timboon

Timboon is a small town located 152km south west of Geelong, 235km from Melbourne and 27km south of Cobden.  It is a typical rural centre characterised by being located in a rich dairy area where the production of milk, cheese and butter is still central to the local economy. The other major industries in the area are timber cutting and lime production. There are still substantial quarrying and lime kilns in the district which provide work for the local community.  The region is now widely regarded as a gourmet’s delight where such local produce as ostrich, cheese, ice-cream, strawberries, prime lamb, beef, deer and emu can be enjoyed.

It has excellent schools and one of the best rural hospitals in the area. The town also has a strong growth with its close proximity to Port Campbell.

Camperdown

The historic town of Camperdown is nestled at the foot of Mount Leura.  A medium sized rural centre with a population of 3500 is located 193km south west of Melbourne and 12km from Cobden.

Camperdown is distinguished by an avenue of century old Elms and a stunning 30 metre red brick clock tower in the centre of town. Situated in the middle of the third largest volcanic plain in the world, Camperdown is surrounded by spectacular crater lakes, including Lakes Bullen Merri, Purrumbete, Bookaar and Corangamite. The largest permanent salt water lake in the southern hemisphere is centred in the heart of the Lakes and Craters Country. 

Camperdown is central to one of Australia's agricultural rich farming districts. This pleasant rural town services a wide area of Dairy, Sheep and Beef farming communities. Camperdown's history has been forged by the early pioneers and their families who settled in this district after finding rich green pastures. 

Camperdown offers a moderate climate, which is often influenced by winds coming in from the coastal regions. Temperatures in the town range from 4 to16 degrees in winter and 7 to 27 degrees in summer and the rainfall in the district averages 650mm a year.  Camperdown has a P12 college, a regional catholic college, two pre-schools and adult education as well as an excellent rural hospital, cafes, shops and places to eat.  Camperdown is a very attractive town surrounded by all the lakes and creators and an 18 hole golf course. It also has access to rail transport to Melbourne or Warrnambool. 

Terang

Terang is situated on the Princess Highway, 141 km west of Geelong and 45 km North East of Warrnambool in the corner of the rich dairying district.  Terang has many lovely avenues of trees, including Oaks, Cottonwood Poplars and Plane trees. The oldest avenue of English Oaks was planted in High Street in the 1890s. Terang is part of the triangle between Cobden and Camperdown where the best dairy farms are found. It also has a centre for harness racing which is a modern complex that offers excellent dining and racing facilities, as well as panoramic views of the track for South West Victorian’s.

Terang has a 27 hole golf course with lush fairways, manicured greens and club house. It has also developed an Industrial Estate which has attracted a very healthy new industry to the town to help employ local workers and form a good base for the future.  The Warrnambool side of Terang on the Princess Hwy you will find Western Victoria's only research and demonstration farm known as Demo Dairy.

Port Campbell

Port Campbell is a small seaside village set in amongst some of Victoria's most impressive coastline.  Located 245km south west of Melbourne via the Princes Highway and 281km from Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road, Port Campbell is an attractive little fishing village which is set on a natural gorge at the mouth of Campbells Creek. The population of about 200 regulars is inflated with visitors because of its proximity to some of the finest coastal scenery in the state.  To stay in Port Campbell it is only half an hour away from London Bridge, Loch Ard Gorge and the Twelve Apostles. The limestone formations and sheer cliffs around Port Campbell are some of the best-known landmarks in Australia.

The national park was established in 1964 and covers 1,750 hectares of coastal strip between Princetown and Peterborough. The Park has a string of spectacular attractions including the world renowned 12 Apostles, London Bridge, the Razorback, Island Archway, Blowhole, Thunder Cave, Bakers Oven Rock, Sentinel Rock, the Grotto and Loch Ard Gorge. They can easily be explored via the Park’s many strategically placed lookouts, boardwalks, staircases and defined walks. At Gibson Steps, just east of the Apostles, visitors can get a sense of the sheer scale of the Park when they descend to the beach via steps that hug the cliff-face. The Twelve Apostles tower 65 metres from the ocean below and date from 20 million years ago, with the cliffs being formed from a build up of deposits on the sea floor. Over time nature attacked the soft limestone of the Port Campbell cliffs, forming caves, then eventually rock arches and finally the spectacular stacks of the 12 Apostles, isolated from the shore. The soft stone of the cliffs continues to erode today. 

There are a good number of restaurants in Port Campbell, an excellent caravan park by the beach in the centre of town, a youth hostel, and a complete range of motel and B&B accommodation.  Other attractions are The Loch Ard Shipwreck museum and inland and the Timboon farmhouse cheeses.

Peterborough

Peterborough is a small, tranquil, low-key fishing and holiday resort of about 200 people situated on the western side of the Curdies River estuary which forms a broad inlet behind the town. Peterborough is 13km west of Port Campbell and 305km south west of Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road and is 263 kms from Melbourne via Camperdown.

The Great Ocean road bypasses the town centre and the river mouth at Peterborough but both are worth an exploration. The lower reaches of Curdies Creek widen into a broad estuary ideal for fishing, bird watching or just strolling. The sea front frames views of islets and rocks along the beach.  Rough seas appropriately create some of the most spectacular scenes around Peterborough, with huge waves sending clouds of spray hundred of feet into the air and creating a mist over the entire landscape.

Throughout its history, Peterborough has served the inland pastoral communities as a holiday resort and in recent decades has become more popular again with the ever increasing demand for real estate on the coast.  Thus Peterborough, with its small beaches and sandhills, presents an atypical, family-friendly aspect of the south west coast.  Peterborough is home to the famous London Bridge rock feature which collapsed on January 10, 1990, The Arch, Peterborough Coastal Reserve, Bay of Islands and Bay of Martyrs.

Warrnambool

Warrnambool is the major port on the coast of Western Victoria. It is a coastal city located on Lady Bay 260 km south west of Melbourne via the Princes Highway and 21 metres above sea-level. It is bound by two rivers: the Merri to the west and the Hopkins to the east.  Both reach the ocean on opposite sides of the city.  Warrnambool is a comprehensive regional service centre. Major industries and services include retail, tourism, education, health, dairy, meat processing, clothing manufacture and construction. Warrnambool has managed to retain a relaxed seaside feel and its natural advantages render it a popular family destination in summer, with the tourism certainly a major aid to the local economy. The current population is 32 000.

Warrnambool is noted for its safe, sheltered beaches, moderate climate, parks and gardens and one of the finest racecourses in the state. Another attraction is Logans Beach where the southern right whales come within view of the shoreline to give birth each year between June and October. Surf, rock, sea and river fishing are popular, particularly at Levys Beach, Killarney Beach and the Hopkins and Merri rivers. The City's main education centres include Deakin University (Warrnambool Campus), the South West Institute of TAFE, Government and private primary and secondary schools, and pre-school centres.  Warrnambool is in the top five fastest growing regional cities in Victoria with air and train services to Melbourne daily.

Warrnambool has affordable house prices, excellant recreational and sporting facilities, diverse dining and relaxed living.  These are balanced by booming retail businesses, a diverse cultural scene and robust industry sectors.

Warrnambool has a moderate climate with an average maximum summer temperature of 22°C, while the average winter maximum is 14°C.