Designed with couples in mind, this itinerary is intended to be taken as an extended long weekend getaway from Friday to Monday.
Just 30 minutes from Melbourne, and en route to Geelong, Werribee is home to heritage attractions, wildlife adventures and a vibrant food and wine scene.
Start your adventure in Werribee Park Precinct and discover major attractions including Werribee Open Range Zoo, the Victoria State Rose Garden, Shadowfax Winery and the historic Werribee Park Mansion.
Then head off the beaten track to explore the region’s beautiful coastline, world-class wetlands and Werribee’s own ‘eat street’ – Watton Street in Werribee City Centre – home to a world of cuisines.
To make the most of your long weekend, enjoy an indulgent three-night stay at Lancemore Mansion Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel located in the grounds of the historic Werribee Park Mansion.
For alternative accommodation options located centrally in Werribee City Centre, try Holiday Inn Werribee or Quest Werribee.
Find out more about Getting to Werribee and plan your visit with local maps and guides.
Day 1 – Friday
Heritage, wine tasting and dinner by the sea
Morning
Werribee Park Mansion
Nestled in the historic Werribee Park Precinct is the Werribee Park Mansion, built in 1877, it is the former home of Scottish pastoralists, the Chirnside family. The 60-room Renaissance Revival style building is truly a step back into a bygone era. Begin by exploring the Mansion (open daily from 10am) where you’ll learn about its rich history and stories of the residence, staff, and surrounding property. Wander through the rooms at your own leisure or follow the audio guide. Entry is $11.90 per adult.
Once you’ve soaked that in, allow an hour to wander around the immaculate manicured Mansion grounds, including the intricately designed grotto and ornamental lake. You’ll also find a heritage orchard with rare fruit trees, originally planted by the Chirnside family in the late 1800s. A group of dedicated volunteers meet every week to continue restoring and preserving the orchard. Entry is free.
Fun Fact: Feel familiar? You may recognise Werribee Park Mansion from the many films and TV series filmed there, including Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears, Neighbours and MasterChef.
Lunch
Shadowfax Winery
After touring Werribee Park Mansion, it’s an easy five-minute walk to Shadowfax Winery where you’ll be struck by the winery’s
unique architecture set against the backdrop of the vines. Begin with a wine tasting at the cellar door (available from 11am to 5pm, Wednesday to Sunday). Taste your way through three distinct styles from the Shadowfax Range, Single Vineyard and the Minnow Range, each with diverse and rich flavours local to Werribee and the surrounding area. Afterwards, enjoy the Mediterranean inspired menu, showcasing regional and seasonal ingredients. Choose from dishes such as the kingfish crudo or the pan-fried gnocchi (hand-made daily) and keep an eye out for local greens on the menu. Due to its popularity, lunch bookings are essential.
Afternoon
K Road Cliffs, Wyndham Harbour, The Elements Coastal Activity Park
After lunch, it’s a short walk back to the Lancemore Mansion Hotel Werribee Park where you can check into a luxurious Heritage Room, (check-in available from 2pm). The Heritage Rooms were once the living quarters for trainee priests in the hotel’s previous life as St Joseph’s Seminary.
After you’ve checked-in, take a drive along the Bay West Driving Trail (Route 11), which takes in multiple attractions. First stop is K Road Cliffs (allow 8-minutes for the 4.4km drive). Embrace the beauty of these breathtaking red clay cliffs, towering over Werribee River, before continuing along the Bay West Driving Trail. Drive past Werribee South’s market gardens to reach Wyndham Harbour, home to The Elements Coastal Activity Park (allow 10-minutes for the 10.5km drive). This park features an 18-hole mini golf course with views of Port Phillip Bay and is equally popular with both adults and kids. Open daily from 7.30am - 3pm, $15 per adult.
Fun Fact: The Elements Coastal Activity Park and its surroundings are inspired by nature, using reclaimed wood from the nearby marina and 120-year-old railway sleepers from the old Geelong rail.
Dinner
3030 Waterfront
For dinner, pop next door to 3030 Waterfront, with exceptional views across the harbour to Melbourne’s city skyline. As the sun goes down, tuck into a menu featuring Mediterranean-inspired dishes designed for sharing, complemented by a selection of local wines and refreshing cocktails. Open Thursday to Sunday, from 12pm to 10pm. Bookings are essential.
Day 2 – Saturday
From African safari to poolside relaxation
Morning
Werribee Open Range Zoo
Start the day with a delicious breakfast at Lancemore Mansion Hotel Werribee Park, which is included in your overnight stay.
Choose from cooked dishes and a range of continental delights.
Then make your way next door to Werribee Open Range Zoo (allow 4-minutes for the 1.4km drive). Allow plenty of time to experience the new world-class Elephant Trail. See roaming elephants like you've never seen them before in this enormous 21-hectare habitat. Then jump on the safari bus and be transported to the African savannah as you cruise past giraffes, zebras and rhinos. You’ll also meet a pride of lions, wild dogs, hippos and monkeys on the African Trail, or if you’re looking for local wildlife, be
sure to check out the Australian Trail where you’ll spot kangaroos, koalas and emus in the grasslands. Open daily from 9am to 5pm (with last entry at 3.30pm). Adult tickets $53.
Top Tip: Experience the savannah in the hush of early morning before the Zoo opens, where you’ll also spend time with the zoo keepers behind the scenes by joining an Early Morning Savannah Experience. This two-hour, premium experience departs at 8:20am on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, $171 per person (excluding zoo entry). Bookings are essential.
Lunch
Meerkat Bistro
Before leaving Werribee Open Range Zoo, grab a bite to eat at the Meerkat Bistro, where you can watch the cheeky meerkats come right up to the window beside your table. There is also a large deck for alfresco dining overlooking the Gorilla exhibit. As you depart the Zoo, stop by the Werribee Visitor Information Centre, conveniently located next to the main entrance. You can pick up an official visitor guide and map, and chat to the friendly team of dedicated staff and volunteers who will happily share their local knowledge and tips with you.
Afternoon
L.M. Spa
After your busy morning, head back to Lancemore Mansion Hotel Werribee Park for an afternoon of relaxation and pampering. The hotel is home to one of Melbourne’s most exclusive day spas, L.M. Spa. Choose from a wide range of treatments and spa
packages, then relax and unwind afterwards beside the indoor
heated pool. Bookings are essential.
Top Tip: An excellent option at L.M. Spa is the Couples Recovery package. Designed to be enjoyed together, this 90-minute experience includes a soothing spa soak, sweet treat with a glass of sparkling wine and a full body relaxation massage in the tranquillity suite. The cost is $470 - $500 per couple.
Dinner
Joseph's Dining, What Was That?
Lancemore Mansion Hotel’s signature restaurant Joseph’s Dining offers an unforgettable fine-dining experience where impeccable service, modern European cuisine and fine Australian wine combine. The menu focuses on seasonal local produce, much of which is sourced from Werribee Park’s very own farm and the surrounding Werribee South market gardens. Choose from a two or three-course menu option. We suggest making a reservation for 6pm to allow time for your after-dinner entertainment.
After dinner, it’s time to experience a different side of Werribee Park Mansion with What Was That?, an immersive play performed by Essence Theatre Productions. Based on true stories, 'Maggie' (the head maid) and 'Mr Duncan' (the head butler) will guide you through the Mansion with the play unfolding as you move from room to room. Running for 90-minutes, What Was That? takes place on Friday and Saturday evenings, from 8pm. Tickets are $47 per adult. Bookings are essential.
After the play, it’s a short walk back to your hotel next door (approximately a two-minute walk).
Day 3 - Sunday
High tea, gardens and wetland wanders
Morning
Wyndham Cache, Victoria State Rose Garden
Enjoy a leisurely start to the day, before tucking into the delicious breakfast at Lancemore Mansion Hotel Werribee Park. Alternatively, drive to Wyndham Cache (allow 6 minutes for the 3km drive). Wyndham Cache is part café, part delicatessen, known for their excellent breakfast options like the Farmer's Big Breakfast with eggs your way, the Cache Breaky Burger, Smashed Avo and more.
Once you’ve had your fill, wander back to the Werribee Park and explore the internationally acclaimed Victoria State Rose Garden. Spend at least 30 minutes meandering your way through the six acres of garden, with over 5000 roses on display laid out in the style of a Tudor Rose. The garden is cared for by a passionate team of volunteers. Entry is free but donations are gratefully accepted.
Top Tip: The best time to see the roses in full bloom is between October and April, however it’s still a gorgeous garden to visit all year-round.
Lunch
High Tea at The Refectory Parlour or Joseph’s Dining
Fluffy scones, picture-perfect pastries and Mansion views – high tea in Werribee Park is a must!
In the west wing of Werribee Park Mansion you’ll find The Refectory Parlour – a garden-style café with alfresco dining under the Mansion eaves (open Wednesday to Sunday, from 11.30am to 4pm – September to April). For a truly decadent experience pre-book a Heritage High Tea experience with delicate finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and house-made jams for $85 per person.
Next door, Lancemore Mansion Hotel’s High Tea has become an institution! High Tea is served in Joseph's Dining overlooking the gardens every Saturday (12.30pm) and Sunday (12.30pm and 3pm). Bookings are essential with sittings at $99 per person including free flowing Prosecco.
Afternoon
Campbells Cove Boathouses, RAAF Museum, Point Cook Marine Sanctuary, Cheetham Wetlands
Hop back in the car and explore more of the Bay West Driving Trail (Route 11) Stop at Campbells Cove Boathouses (allow 15 minutes for the 11km drive) where heritage listed, and relatively untouched colourful and quirky boatsheds dot the coastline and have been brightening up the foreshore since the 1920s. Entry is free, allow 30 minutes to fully appreciate this colourful site.
Next stop is the RAAF Museum (allow 7 minutes for the 5km drive), an interactive experience exploring over 100 years of aviation history, located within the working RAAF Base. If the skies are right, you might get a chance to see an aerial show (which take place at 1pm on set days). Open Thursday and Sunday, from 10am to 3pm. Entry is free, however bookings are essential.
After you’ve come back down to earth, get a nature fix at Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary (allow 10 minutes for the 10.5km drive), which is home to a huge diversity of marine and coastal life.
Then continue on to Cheetham Wetlands & Observation Tower (allow 20-minutes for the 5.8km drive). Home to over 200 bird species, these wetlands are protected through international agreements and are a great place to take in the fresh air and sounds of nature. A popular spot for photographers, you can take in spectacular views of the wetlands from the observation tower, with Melbourne’s city skyline as a dramatic backdrop. Entry is free, allow 30 minutes to fully enjoy the site.
Alternatively, arrange a private birdwatching tour of the incredible Western Treatment Plant. Located 20 minutes west of central Werribee, the Western Treatment Plant is roughly the size of Phillip Island. The site includes two licensed tour operators for birdwatching tours: Firetail Birdwatching Tours and Melbourne Birding Tours. Bookings are required, with tours tailored for you. The cost varies depending on the length of the tour (from approximately $350 per couple for a half day tour).
Fun Fact: Thanks to its abundance of wetland habitats, Werribee is a haven for birdlife and birdwatchers. Hundreds of species call this region home, with migratory shorebirds flying from as far as Siberia, Japan and Alaska. The Western Treatment Plant is among Australia’s top bird-watching sites and internationally recognised bird habitats under the Ramsar Convention. The diversity of birdlife is considered second only to Kakadu in Australia, with over 300 recorded species.
Dinner
Tocca
After freshening up back at Lancemore Mansion Hotel, head into the Werribee City Centre for dinner and drinks (allow 10 minutes for the 6km drive). Traditional Italian hospitality awaits at Tocca, where you can indulge in an a la carte menu of gnocchi, pappardelle ragu, duck agnolotti, calamari and more. Open Tuesday to Sunday, from 5pm until late. Bookings are essential.
Evening
Corked Wine Bar
After dinner, make your way to the cosy Corked Wine Bar (allow 2 minutes for the 700-metre walk). Find the secret door and taste your way through both local and international vintages. Open Thursday from 5pm to 9pm, Friday from 4pm until late, Saturday from 1pm until late and on Sunday from 1pm until 7pm.
Day 4 – Monday
Street art and street eats
Morning
Wolf on Watton, Werribee Public Art Walking Tour, Holiday Inn Werribee
Check out of Lancemore Mansion Hotel and make your way back to Watton Street in Werribee’s city centre. Enjoy brunch classics
and amazing coffee on the banks of the Werribee River at Wolf on Watton, or for breakfast on the go, drop into Manoushi – a hip
Lebanese bakery bursting with flavour.
After breakfast, take in the local street art scene by following the Werribee Public Art Walking Tour – a self-guided audio tour that will take you behind each work with artist interviews (allow 60 minutes for this 1km tour). Take time to admire Mooroop Yarkeen by
Tommy Day / Jirri Jirri. Located on the facade of the Holiday Inn Werribee, this awe-inspiring 41-metre-tall mural is one of the largest First Nations murals in Australia. While you are here, head up to the eighth floor of the Holiday Inn Werribee, grab a coffee or a drink and take in the 180-degree views of Werribee and catch a glimpse of Melbourne’s city skyline.
Fun Fact: The striking Mooroop Yarkeen mural, which translates to ‘Spirit Dreaming’ includes references to Wirribi Yaluk (Werribee River) and the sandhills and Basalt plains of the local region. It is even more spectacular in the late afternoon, as the sun dips lower in the west and casts it in a warm glow.
Lunch
The Little Deli & Panini Bar, Tuckers
Hungry? As you make your way back along Watton Street pick up some fresh homemade cannoli from The Little Deli & Panini Bar (open Monday to Saturday, from 8am to 4pm) to take with you on your return home and then join Melbourne’s gourmet sandwich craze with lunch at Tuckers (open Monday to Friday, from 7am to 3pm, and on Saturday and Sunday, from 7.30am to 4pm).
Afternoon
Wyndham Park
Before heading home, walk off your lunch by following River Whispers in Wyndham Park. This free, 25-minute self-guided audio
tour along Werribee River brings together the voices of Werribee’s ancient past and future. As you walk over the pedestrian bridge from Wedge Street Piazza (next to Tuckers) into Wyndham Park, off Watton Street you’ll find a sign-posted River Whispers QR Code on the bridge pillars.
Top Tip: If you have a long journey home, remember to plan ahead, pull over, and recharge. Consider visiting TAC PauseStop for an interactive map of Victoria showing Driver Reviver rest stop locations, VicRoads rest areas and Visitor Information Centres to help you take a break from the road.
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