Tucked peacefully inside a dormant volcano, known as Tower Hill, the Tower Hill State Game Reserve has the distinction of being Victoria's very first National Park, dating all the way back to 1892. As you explore the Reserve you will be joining the likes of koalas, emus, kangaroos, birds, reptiles and other wildlife that have free roam of the land, including its lakes, creeks and wetlands.
You can see the Reserve on five short self-guided walks that snake through the Tower Hill volcanic basin: take the 30-minute Peak Climb for breathtaking 360 degree views, wander through the wetlands or pull up for a picnic at the Lava Tongue Boardwalk, discover the Hat Island Habitat Track, set aside an hour to learn about traditional Indigenous cuisine on the Whurrong Walk, or rock on with a geological Journey to the Last Volcano.
What is so special about the Tower Hill Reserve is that within this small crater lies an entire unique ecosystem, formed some 30,000 years ago following a wild volcanic eruption. Restoration efforts at the Reserve from the mid-20th Century to the present day have worked towards bringing the site back to this original state, alive with endemic animals and diverse native vegetation.
Tower Hill State Game Reserve is a cruisy 15 minutes drive from either Warrnambool or Port Fairy at the western end of the Great Ocean Road. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it's easy to squeeze in a visit to the Reserve if you're looking to add an environmental edge to your Great Ocean Road holidays.
