Just 30 minutes from Melbourne, and en route to Geelong, Werribee is home to heritage attractions, wildlife adventures and a vibrant and bustling food and wine scene. Central to what’s on offer is the Werribee Park Precinct, home to Werribee Open Range Zoo, the Victoria State Rose Garden, Shadowfax Winery and the historic Werribee Park Mansion.
There’s more to see beyond the Park - nearby is our pristine bayside coastline and the Werribee River, home to an expanse of wildlife and biodiversity that is world-class. Watton Street in the Werribee City Centre is a hive of activity and a foodie’s paradise, where you’ll find a range of cuisines. A new edition to the Werribee skyline is Mooroop Yarkeen, which overlooks the City Centre and is one of the largest First Nation’s mural in Australia.
This itinerary is designed to be taken as an extended long weekend break from Friday to Monday, with some activities available only on particular days. Accommodation for the three nights is at Lancemore Mansion Hotel. The luxury boutique hotel is located next to the historic Werribee Park Mansion, making it an ideal location for exploring Werribee Park’s attractions.
Day 1 – Friday
Heritage, wine tasting and dinner by the sea
Morning
Nestled in the historic Werribee Park Precinct is the Werribee Park Mansion, built in 1877 and 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 from 10am where you’ll learn about its rich history and elaborate stories of the residence, staff, and surrounding property, with an audio guide or you can wander through the rooms at your own leisure. Feel Familiar? You may recognise Werribee Park Mansion from the many films and TV series filmed there, such as Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears, Neighbours and Master Chef. Entry costs $11.50 per adult.
Once you’ve soaked that in, walk 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.
Lunch
After touring Werribee Park Mansion, take a five-minute stroll through the grounds to Shadowfax Winery where you’ll be struck by the winery’s unique architecture with its rusted sheet metal exterior against the backdrop of the vines. Begin with wine tasting at the Cellar door from 11am, where you can 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. Make sure to taste the new kid on the block the Grand Tawny NV with an average age of plus 10 years+. Relish in your Mediterranean inspired menu, showcasing the finest quality regional and seasonal ingredients. From Portarlington mussels to Rangers Valley wagyu scotch fillets. There's something to entice your appetite. Due to its popularity, lunch bookings at Shadowfax Winery are essential.
Afternoon
After lunch, it’s a short walk back to the Lancemore Mansion Hotel Werribee Park where you'll check into your luxurious Heritage Room, from 2pm, which will be your home away from home for the next three nights. The Heritage Rooms were once the living quarters for trainee priests in the hotel’s previous life as St Joseph’s Seminary. Once you’re done checking-in, take a 15-minute drive past the K Road Cliffs and embrace the beauty of the red by day and even more impressive by night, red clay cliffs followed by Werribee South’s market gardens and then you’ll discover a picturesque marina at Wyndham Harbour. Here you’ll find the region’s latest attraction, The Elements Coastal Activity Park featuring an 18-hole mini golf course with views overlooking Port Phillip Bay. It’s not just for kids, so pick up a club and challenge your partner to a round! Mini golf is $15 per adult. The mini golf course and surrounding landscape is inspired by nature and the sustainable design features reclaimed wood from the nearby marina and 120-year-old railway sleepers from the old Geelong rail.
Dinner
Enjoy one of Wyndham Harbour’s hidden gems, 3030 Boulevard Restaurant, with exceptional views across the harbour to Melbourne’s city skyline. As the sun goes down, tuck into seasonal produce, cocktails, craft beer, and paired wines, before heading outdoors to relax by the fire pit. Bookings are essential.
Day 2 – Saturday
From African safari to poolside relaxation
Morning
Breakfast is included for all guests staying at Lancemore Mansion Hotel Werribee Park, so make the most of their delicious spread, including cooked dishes and a range of continental delights before heading off on your intimate, two hour Early Morning Savannah Experience at 8:20am at the Werribee Open Range Zoo. Experience the Savannah in the hush of early morning before the Zoo opens, where you’ll also spend time with the Zookeepers behind the scenes. This premium experience is $171.00 (excluding zoo entry $46.00 per person). After your tour, grab morning tea, included in your experience package from the Meerkat Bistro and then enjoy Werribee Open Range Zoo’s walking tours. Explore the African trail where you’ll meet a pride of lions, wild dogs, hippo and monkeys or if you’re looking for Australian wildlife, be sure to check out the Australian Trail where you’ll spot kangaroos, koalas and emus in the grasslands. Bookings for the Early Morning Savannah Experience are essential.
Lunch
Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, grab a bite to eat at the Meerkat Bistro while you 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. After you depart the Zoo, stop by the Werribee Visitor Information Centre, conveniently located next to the entrance to the Zoo. 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 with you.
Afternoon
After your busy morning, head back to Lancemore Mansion Hotel Werribee Park for an afternoon of relaxation and pampering. The boutique hotel is home to one of Melbourne’s most exclusive day spas, L.M. Spa. There are a range of treatments and spa packages to choose from, such as 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, followed by a full body relaxation massage in the tranquility suite. The cost is $490 per couple. L.M. Spa also features a heated indoor pool and sauna, so why not relax poolside with a cup of herbal tea to unwind after your treatment. Bookings are essential for these services.
Dinner
Finish your night off with dinner and a show. Lancemore Mansion Hotel’s signature restaurant Joseph’s Dining is undoubtedly one of the dining drawcards of the region. This fine dining restaurant offers an unforgettable experience where impeccable service, modern European cuisine and fine Australian wine combine. Their menu focuses on seasonal local produce, some of which is from Werribee Park’s very own farm. 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. Beginning at 8pm, the performance combines history, drama and comedy, concluding with a glass of sparkling wine or soft drink. Tickets are $45 per adult. After the play, it’s only a short walk back to your hotel next door. Bookings are essential to secure your spot.
Evening
If you’re up for a late-night dance party, take a short taxi or ride share service to Werribee City Centre where you can head to Studio 185 and party the night away till the early hours to electronica music at its best. Cover charges may apply.
Day 3 - Sunday
High tea, gardens and wetland wanders
Morning
Sleep in and enjoy the scrumptious breakfast at Lancemore Mansion Hotel Werribee Park or if you feel like trying something different, discover a local gem and take a short walk across the road from Werribee Park to Wyndham Cache. Wyndham Cache is part café, part delicatessen, known for their excellent breakfast options like the Breaky Buster with eggs your way, Burg la Crois, Smashed Avo and more. Yum! Once you’ve had your fill, wander back to the Werribee Park and explore the internationally acclaimed Victoria State Rose Garden. Meander your way through the six acres of garden, with over 5000 roses on display. The best time to see the roses in full bloom is between November and April, however it’s still a gorgeous garden to visit all year round and is laid out in the style of a Tudor Rose. The garden is cared for by a passionate team of volunteers who meticulously care for the garden year-round. Entry is free but donations are gratefully accepted.
Lunch
In the west wing of Werribee Park Mansion you’ll find The Refectory, a heritage venue filled with classic charm. During warmer months, their garden-style café The Refectory Parlour is perfect for dining alfresco under the Mansion eaves. From 11am you can pick up your pre-ordered Heritage High Tea hamper, from $130 per couple, to enjoy anywhere in the sprawling grounds and gardens of Werribee Park. Or take it with you while you journey on to your next destination. Enjoy a menu ranging from chicken, celery and almond finger sandwiches, to smoked salmon and dill blinis with caper remoulade. And of course, High Tea wouldn’t be complete without fresh scones with raspberry jam and double cream; with the option of adding Pimm's or Aperol Spritz cocktail carafes. Be sure to try their famous homemade lemonade, made fresh daily on-site. Or indulge in High Tea with free-flowing Prosecco at Joseph’s Dining. Enjoy a lavish spread of delicious treats overlooking the gardens from 12:30pm. Hampers must be pre-ordered and bookings at Joesph’s are essential.
Afternoon
Continue on your self-drive weekend via Bay West Trail - Route 11 along the coast and Aviation drive. Stop in at Campbell’s Cove Boathouses where heritage listed, and relatively untouched colourful and quirky boatsheds dot the coastline and have been brightening up the foreshore since the 1920’s. Next stop is the RAAF Museum an interactive experience exploring over 100 years of Aviation and if the skies are just right, you might get a chance to see an arial show from 1pm onwards. Entry is free with bookings essential to access the RAAF Base.
After you’ve come back down to earth, head over to the Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary or down to the Cheetham Wetlands & Observation Tower where lagoons and saltwater marshes provide idea habitats for birds and insects, larvae and other small animals both in the water and on the pond floor. These areas are home to over 200 bird and migratory species. These are protected wetlands through international agreements and are a great place to take in the fresh air and sounds of nature. Alternatively, you can, 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. More than 300 bird species have been recorded there, making it one of Australia’s best places for birdwatching. The Western Treatment Plant has two licensed tour operators for birdwatching tours: Firetail Birdwatching Tours and Melbourne Birding Tours. Bookings are required in advance and your guide will be able to arrange an experience that is tailored just for you. The cost will vary depending on the length of the tour (from approximately $350 per couple for a half day tour).
Dinner
After spending time discovering our natural wonders, head back to the Lancemore Mansion Hotel Werribee Park to freshen up then head into the Werribee City Centre for a wine tasting at Corked Wine Bar. Find the secret door and taste your way through vintages from around Australia and worldwide. Tocca is your next stop, where authentic traditional Italian hospitality awaits. Indulge in an a la carte menu of Gnocchi, Pappardelle Ragu, Duck Agnolotti, Calamari and more. Tocca is a ‘touch’ of home and plays homage to the Italian heritage of Werribee and Werribee South Market Gardens which are still run by many third and fourth generation Italian families. Bookings at Corked and Tocca are essential.
Evening
After dinner you can continue your night with DJ vinyl beats at The Park Hotel Werribee.
Day 4 – Monday
Street art and street eats
Morning
Grab some breakfast on the go from Manoushi, a hip Lebanese bakery bursting with flavour while taking in the local street art including one of the largest First Nations artworks in Australia, Mooroop Yarkeen, which translates to ‘Spirit Dreaming’. This awe-inspiring 41-metre-tall mural is located on the facade of the Holiday Inn Werribee and references Wirribi Yaluk (Werribee River), sandhills and Basalt plains of the local region. While you are here, head up to the eighth floor of the Holiday Inn Werribee and take in the 180-degree views of Werribee and Surrounds and catch a glimpse of Melbourne’s city skyline. Grab a cold drink or coffee to go at Rosanna Bistro & Bar.
Lunch
Head back down to Werribee City Centre and pick up some fresh homemade cannoli from The Little Deli & Panini Bar and then join Melbourne’s gourmet sandwich craze with lunch at Tuckers. ‘Simple fare done well’ is their motto and you won’t be disappointed.
Afternoon
Before you go, walk off your lunch around the centrally located Wyndham Park, an ideal way to take in the Werribee River and River Whispers a self-guided audio tour bringing together the voices of Werribee’s ancient past and future. 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.
Thank you for visiting. See you again soon!