Although Werribee is not really part of the Geelong region and more a satellite city of Geelong, we thought being only half an hour out of Geelong by ever vehicle or train and has so much to offer for visitors to our region. Werribee makes a great day trip or is ideal for even a longer stay.
Werribee is the midway point between Geelong and Melbourne along the Princes Freeway and Geelong to Melbourne railway. Home to about 130,000 people with numbers growing at an enormous rate with new housing estates popping up everywhere Werribee is a vibrant with great facilities and is home to a huge market garden industry. On the eastern side of the freeway dozens of huge farms grow hectares of cabbages, broccoli, lettuce and other fresh vegetables in the rich red soil. Much of Melbourne’s water treatment is released in the Werribee region giving farmers access to vital water.
The central business district of Werribee is bypassed by the Princess Freeway and is a vibrant shopping strip with many of the big brands and discount stores but the lovely landscaped streetscapes with its murals and sculptures is still home to many small businesses. Being home to generations of Italian and other migrants there are some great cafes and restaurants, including magnificent pasta and some tasty pizza. Some of the cake shops and bakeries put inches on your waistline just by walking past the front door. For people wanting to shop till the drop the huge Werribee Plaza shopping centre in Hoppers Crossing is the biggest mall in the region with all the big brands, and also is home to a tavern, restaurants and multiplex cinema complex.
Werribee is home to three of the states biggest tourist attractions, the magnificent Werribee Mansion. The mansion grounds also hold the State Rose Garden featuring over 5000 roses and the Open Range Zoo where you can explore the African Savanah with close encoutners with rhino, zebra, girrafee lions and other African animals inlcuding the crowd favorite the hippos which have recently given birth to a young hippo.
The mansions grounds are one of the major venues for Werribee’s special events including the annual Harvest Festival. Huge scale concerts have also been held there on amongs the lush plantings and lawn, using the beautiful sandstone mansion as a background, one of the most successful was a two night performance by legendry artist Elton John. At the rear of the mansion is the luxury of the Sofitel Hotel this retreat complete with its spa and beautiful surrounds is a popular venue for weddings and sheer indulgences. The National Equestrian Centre, Polo Academy and Shadowfax Vineyard are also on the expansive grounds of Werribee Park.
No one thinks of bay when travelling through Werribee on the freeway but in fact only a few kilometres to the east of the market gardens is South Werribee and the shores of Port Phillip Bay. The beach does attract swimmers and people seeking some summer sun and is a very popular boating destination not only for motor boats but sailing. There is construction underway to building a huge marina with residential and commercial space. The new developments will add a new dimension to Werribee and expose a lot of people to its wonderful bay frontage for the first time.
Nearby Point Cook another fast growing residential area is more than just a huge urban sprawl, it is also home to the RAAF aviation museum. This free attraction is one of the best aviation museums in the country tracing the history, aircraft and people of the RAAF. There are many interactive displays and some amazing historic aircraft and memorabilia on display. Point Cook is also home to the Point Cook Homestead, this bluestone structure was built between 1850 and 1857 for Thomas Churnside who lived in it while his Werribee Park mansion was being built. The homestead is open for inspections and is not far from the Point Cook Costal Park which is the relatively unspoilt reef ecosystem in the bay and is home to a huge array of birdlife. The park has a swimming beach, bbqs and plenty of amenities for visitors including a lookout tower with views over the park
