Stretching from Torquay to Princetown, Great Otway National Park is a wonderland of towering trees and fern forests. If the Australian platypus is on your wish list, head to Lake Elizabeth to spot the elusive egg-laying mammal.
Things to do in Colac
Colac is anchored by a lively town centre where you'll find a cluster of cafes, gift shops and antique emporiums. If you want to lunch like a local, head to the iconic Hulm's Bakery. It's been whipping up pies, sausage rolls and other baked goods for over half a century. Don't leave without a slice of the bakery's famous fruitcake.
On a sunny day, there's no better place to cool off than Lake Colac. The grassy foreshore is perfect for picnics, with a playground and pier to keep the little ones entertained. While you're there, why not visit the Colac Botanic Garden and admire the 100-year-old bunya pine trees?
From wineries and breweries to chocolate factories and dairy farms, the Otways Harvest Trail showcases the region's finest produce. The hinterland is famously fertile, which makes it a hotspot for wineries. Otway Estate is just 10 minutes from Colac and serves craft beer, fruit ciders and a wide selection of wines.
Getting around Colac
Colac is two hours' drive from Melbourne in Victoria's Western District Lakes. Local trains also run from Southern Cross station in about two hours. While it's easy to get around town on foot, you'll need a car to explore the rest of the Otway region.