Colac: Lake, Gardens and Railway Heritage

Colac offers several different points of interest to help you plan your trip: Lake Colac, the Botanic Gardens, a historic railway trail, and cultural and event venues. If you’re looking for a hotel in Colac, your interests can help you choose the right focus for your stay—whether that’s scenery and waterside recreation, getting around on foot or by bike, or attending an event in town.

Lake Colac and Botanic Gardens

At 2,778 hectares in area, with a shoreline of 33 kilometres, Lake Colac is Victoria’s largest natural freshwater lake. It’s a popular spot for fishing, water sports and other recreational activities along the shore. The lake offers both an expansive waterscape and a range of recreational pursuits.

The Colac Botanic Gardens are situated on the lake’s elevated southern shore. Covering about 16 hectares, they are significant to Victoria for their historical, aesthetic and scientific importance, particularly their botanical significance. The lake and gardens offer different experiences: Lake Colac is centred on water and recreational activities, while the gardens offer a different perspective on Colac through their size and botanical, historical and aesthetic significance.

At the eastern end of the lakeshore, below the Botanic Gardens, you’ll find parking, barbecue facilities, picnic tables, a playground and public toilets. These facilities are grouped together along this section of the shore. This is a helpful point of reference if you want to combine activities at the lake with time outdoors.

Old Beechy Rail Trail: on foot or by bike

The Old Beechy Rail Trail is a 50-kilometre walking and cycling trail between Colac and Ferguson. Access is free. The trail is suitable for walking and cycling, including mountain biking. These two ways of getting around give the trail a different character from the recreational activities at the lake: here, the focus is on a route you can explore on foot or by bike.

The route’s history is also part of what makes it distinctive. The trail largely follows the original route of the narrow-gauge railway “The Beechy”, which operated from 1902 to 1962. Today’s use as a walking and cycling trail and the former railway connection thus share the same alignment. This offers a different kind of interest from fishing or water sports at Lake Colac: travelling along a route complements recreation on the shore.

Events and culture in Colac

If a work appointment or event is the main reason for your stay, COPACC is another point of interest in Colac. This large venue for events and business functions offers space for conferences, meetings and workshops, as well as job interviews, mediations and community consultations. Other uses include gala dinners, special occasions, trade shows and further events. Its range spans everything from business meetings to larger social occasions.

For a look at Colac’s history, consider the Colac History Centre and Colac Memorial Square. The History Centre is open to visitors on Thursdays and Fridays from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm and on Sundays from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Opening hours may change, so check visiting times before you arrive.

Colac Memorial Square is dedicated to those who served in the First World War and features a distinctive stone memorial. The square also has a purpose-designed play area for several age groups. This is separate from the playground at the eastern end of the Lake Colac foreshore: the two facilities are at different locations mentioned here and offer different reasons to visit around Colac.

Discover more destinations: Mount Eliza, Strzelecki, Malvern East, Howqua, Flinders, Golden Square, Yellingbo, North Geelong

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.