Local Information - South West VIC

The South West’s economic strengths include agriculture (wool, cattle), forestry, horticulture, automotive, aluminium smelting and tourism. Stunning places to visit include:

• the Otway Ranges temperate rainforest, with a 25 metre high tree-top walk;
• the Great Ocean Road - the famous road following the coast to the South Australian border.

Major towns include:

• Colac: located on the banks of Lake Colac, Colac is a bustling hub, servicing towns and villages across the region. The area is rich in natural wonders, including one of the largest volcanic plains in the world and the spectacular Otway ranges.
• Drysdale - Clifton Springs: located on the stunning Bellarine Peninsula, these twin towns are located close to the facilities of Geelong and dozens of beautiful local beaches.
• Geelong is Victoria’s second largest city with easy access to Melbourne by car and express trains (45 minutes).Geelong has education facilities among the best of any Australian city, with prestigious schools, TAFE and university campuses.
• Hamilton: often called the ‘wool capital of the world’, Hamilton is a pleasant city located in Victoria’s Western District. The city is notable for its grand buildings, majestic homesteads and fine landscaped gardens.
• Lara: within easy reach of Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat, Lara is notable for its spectacular views of the You Yangs granite peaks. It offers relaxed country living with good access to city facilities.
• Leopold is the gateway to Victoria's historic and scenic Bellarine Peninsula. Built on a hill, Leopold offers magnificent views of Lake Conneware and easy access to local beaches.
• Ocean Grove - Barwon Heads: both are thriving holiday resorts near the mouth of the Barwon river. Ocean Grove is the largest town on the Bellarine Peninsula, enjoying the whole range of river and ocean activities.

• Portland has the only deepwater port between Melbourne and Adelaide and is a major export centre for the region’s produce as well as an important fishing port. Portland was Victoria’s first permanent European settlement.

• Torquay: home to the world famous Bell's Beach, Torquay is a focal point for all things related to surfing. The town offers a relaxed, coastal lifestyle a short distance from all the facilities available in Geelong.

• Warrnambool is one of Victoria’s major dairy farming centres and the largest coastal city outside Port Phillip Bay.Warrnambool’s rugged ‘Shipwreck Coast’ is also a migration path and nursery for giant southern right whales.

Source: http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au