Guide to Nelson Victoria Australia

Just a few kilometres from Victoria’s border with South Australia is the tiny town of Nelson, set on the estuary of the Glenelg River where it enters Discovery Bay. The town marks the farthest point of the Great Ocean Road and has been settled for over 150 years. Lower Glenelg National Park, wild ocean beaches, the lush green river estuary and a far less crowded experience than in many other Great Ocean Road towns await visitors to this pretty, peaceful location.

For active holidaymakers, there a huge choice of things to do, with river swimming, diving, snorkelling, boating, fishing, canoeing and cruising along the river at the top of the list. Charming, even tinier townships within easy reach by car include Dartmoor and Donovans, and the natural waterhole of the Inkpot boasts black water due to minerals. Bushwalking here involves numerous trails through unspoilt natural beauty, across creeks and past gorges.

Nelson’s perfect beaches are great for walking, and Mount Schank gives stunning 360-degree views over the ocean and the hills. Both in the bush and along the riverside and beaches, you’ll find varied indigenous species of birds and animals, including the endangered hooded plover and the rufus bristle bird. The estuary itself has breeding grounds for a plethora of seabird species, and the waters support dolphins, seals and occasional whale pods. Fishermen will be in their element here, with both river and deep sea game fishing easily arranged.

The tiny town of Nelson offers comfortable lodgings in small hotels, motels, self-catering holiday lets, bed and breakfasts and the ubiquitous well-set up camping grounds with their family cabins. Several eateries, a pub or two and small shops for foodie supplies are found, and transport in the area is best by car although the town is small enough to get around on foot.