Holiday houses in Princetown

Princetown is a small town in a largely rural area of the state of Victoria that runs along the southeastern coast. Most famous for a group of limestone stacks that were formed between 5 and 15 million years ago, the town’s beaches are some of the most dramatic in the entire region.

The great outdoors are the main attraction here, and the few restaurants and shops are clustered around the Great Ocean Road, which follows the southern coast of Victoria and offers some of Australia’s most iconic viewpoints along the way. There are plenty of untamed natural areas to be found, as Princetown is located near Great Otway and Port Campbell national parks. Along Princetown’s headlands and coast, protected native wildlife like kangaroos, kookaburra, mutton birds, and little penguins roam free.

Princetown has mild weather throughout the year, but you can expect plenty of rain between the months of April and October, so it’s best to pack a rain jacket. From May to September, temperatures are chilly during the day and nights are colder. As the town is quite rural and remote, the clear and dark skies are excellent for stargazing, and it’s a great place to watch comets and shooting stars. Between September and April, dark-feathered seabirds known as the short-tailed shearwaters are nesting near the beach, and you can watch them dramatically dive for prey in the deep waters.

Twelve Apostles Marine National Park

No visit to Princetown is complete without a visit to see the Twelve Apostles off the Great Ocean Road route, just a short eight-minute drive from the centre of Princetown. There are quite a few spots that provide excellent views of these enormous, stacked pieces of limestone that have been carved by years of erosion due to the waves and blustery winds. A few of the apostles have collapsed in recent decades, but this is still one of the most picture-perfect sites in all of Australia. The best time to visit is right before sunset when you can see these rock features glow in the pink and orange light.

Mutton Bird Lookout

Take a short 17-minute drive to the Mutton Bird Lookout for a view of the massive, rock-formed archway jutting out from the sea. Depending on the time of year you visit, check which time of day Australia’s native mutton birds take flight over this area. These migratory birds, famous for their long migration patterns, are also known as short-tailed shearwater birds, and they will fly in large flocks around the lookout point either at sunrise or sunset.

Port Campbell National Park

The Twelve Apostles may be the most famous attraction in the area, but this nearby national park is packed with important landmarks, too. Don’t miss the Loch Ard Gorge, the Grotto that’s accessible via a short wooden path, and the limestone feature known as the London Bridge. Swimming and surfing aren’t permitted here as the seas are too rough, giving this stretch of beach the nickname of the “shipwreck coast.” In the spring, the colourful wild orchids and acacia trees bloom throughout the park, making it an especially scenic time to visit.