Water’s edge

Along Victoria’s South-West Coast, the majesty of the landscape and its tragic history is a drawcard for conference groups.
The Great Ocean Road winds along the cliff on Victoria’s wild south-west coastline, starting at Torquay and continuing on through Anglesea, Lorne and Warrnambool to the South Australian border. The scenery is spectacular, the wild southern ocean smashing dramatically against the cliffs, creating a landscape that defies description. Coastal towns and sleepy villages have been holiday attractions for generations of Australians, and the conference industry, although relatively new, now offers big-city facilities at country prices.



The Port Campbell National Park is a must-see in the area, and along its numerous paths and boardwalks visitors can see such natural attractions as the Twelve Apostles, Bay of Islands and Loch Ard Gorge. The latter recalls one of the most tragic incidents in the area’s history, when in 1878, an iron clipper slammed into the sheer cliffs. The Loch Ard sank almost immediately, killing 52 passengers and crew. Only two survivors managed to reach shore.

Interestingly, a large Minton statue in the form of a peacock was washed ashore from the ship and is on display in the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village at Warrnambool. The Loch Ard was just one of more than 180 shipwrecks to occur along this coast.

>> Conference & meeting venues in South-West Coast, VIC

Facilities for all
Geelong, on the western side of Port Phillip Bay, is Victoria’s second-largest city and home to the Deakin Management Centre, a residential conference facility considered one of the best of its kind in Australia.

Such venues as the Surfcoast Spa Resort at Anglesea and the Cumberland Lorne Resort are award-winning venues with a laid-back ambience that makes the most of their spectacular locations.

Outdoor activities for conference groups include swimming, surfing (Torquay is considered the surf capital of Australia), sampling the wines of the Geelong and Portland regions, and tasting the local produce – including cheese and seafood. The landscape may be wild along the South-West Coast, but delegates will find comfortable surroundings and an emphasis on the good life.