Wonthaggi
Wonthaggi is a town of about 8,400 people (2021) in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. It is on the Bass Highway, a few kilometres from the Bass Strait coast and east of Phillip Island.
Understand
[edit]The town developed because of the coal mines around and below the town, and in the 1920s, it was one of the biggest towns in Victoria.
- 1 Wonthaggi Visitor Information Centre, 1 Bent St, ☏ +61 3 5672 5767, wonthaggiinformation@gmail.com. Open every day except Good Friday and Christmas Day, 9AM-5PM.
Get in
[edit]Wonthaghi is 128 km from Melbourne.
By car
[edit]From Melbourne it can be reached in less than 2 hours via the Bass Highway which turns off the South Gippsland Highway. It is 20 km past the Phillip Island turnoff. From the east it can be approached on the Bass Highway via Inverloch. It can also be reached on route C437 from Korumburra, another coal mining centre.
By coach
[edit]Coach services depart from Melbourne's Southern Cross station, changing services at either Dandenong or Koo Wee Rup to arrive at Wonthaggi. Paper tickets must be booked online at the V-Line website. A full list of services is available here. Coaches arrive at the 1 Wonthaggi Bus Interchange.
Get around
[edit]
By car
[edit]Car rental is available in Wonthaggi, and if you want to travel to Wonthaggi and around, a car is a good way to do that.
- 2 Hertz Wonthaggi Downtown, 305 White Rd, ☏ +61 3 5925 7888. M-F 8:30AM-noon & 1-5PM, Sa 9AM-noon.
- 3 Wonthaggi Car Rentals, 346 Bass Hwy, ☏ +61 3 5672 1722, bookings@wonthaggicarrentals.com.au. M-F 8:15AM-5:30PM, Sa 9AM-1PM. Car from $65-$70 a day.
By bus
[edit]There are three bus services connecting areas and suburbs of Wonthaggi. All of these services begin at the Wonthaggi Bus Interchange. There are services for North Wonthaggi, South Wonthaggi and Dudley. A map of all services in Wonthaggi and the greater Bass Coast area is available here.
See
[edit]- 1 State Coal Mine, 19-37 Garden St (off Billson St, the street that leads to Cape Patterson), ☏ +61 3 5672 3053, statecoalmine@parks.vic.gov.au. 10AM-4:30PM. Despite its prosaic, Soviet-sounding name, this is actually an interesting historical attraction because of the guided tour 60 meters underground in the coal mine in addition to the above-ground exhibits. The site is part of an historic reserve managed by Parks Victoria. Mining ceased here many years ago and the site reopened as a tourist attraction in the 1980s. Restoration of mining infrastructure is on-going. On entry to the site you are free to wander around the above-ground exhibits which include the main museum room, a powder magazine, lamp room and a locomotive. One-hour underground tours commence at 10:30AM, 11:30AM, 1PM, 2PM and 3PM. Extra tours are offered during holidays. An introductory film screens in the entrance building 30 minutes prior to tours. For the tours, wear footwear suitable for uneven, damp ground and on warm days take extra clothing as the underground temperature is 16 °C. A hard hat is provided. The attraction is enlivened by the presence of a pit pony. Snacks are available from the gift shop and barbecue facilities are available. In addition to the mine on Garden St, there are 6 other sites in the reserve. Pick up a copy of the Parks Victoria visitor guide to the reserve. It shows walking trails around the remnants of mining activities just to the west of the town. The trails also go into Baxter’s Wetland Reserve. Adult $21, child $10.70, family $52.40.
- 2 ArtSpace Gallery, 1 Bent St, ☏ +61 3 5672 5767. 10AM-4PM. Located in the Centennial Centre alongside the tourist information centre. Not-for-profit art gallery.
- 3 Wonthaggi Union Community Arts Centre, 96 Graham St, ☏ +61 3 5671 2470. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. This centre contains a cinema, live theatre, music, and other community arts events. Check the website for current events.
- 4 Railway Station Museum, Railway Precinct (next to the Woolworths on Murray Street). Sa 10AM-2PM (winter 11AM-1PM). This museum is on the site of the former Wonthaggi railway station, and it is operated by the Wonthaggi Historical Society.
Do
[edit]Buy
[edit]- 1 Paws Galore Thrift Shop, 74A Watt Street. M-W 10AM-3PM, Th F 9AM-4PM, Sa 10AM-2PM. This thrift shop is operated by South Gippsland Animal Aid, who uses the profits to help care for animals in their aegis. Apart from regular thrift shop stock, it also sells animal bedding.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Jeronimos Pizza, 84 Graham St, ☏ +61 3 5672 5050. Pizza restaurant.
- 2 Youki's, 46 McBride Ave, ☏ +61 3 5672 4070. M-Sa 10AM-3PM or until when sold out. Japanese restaurant serving fresh sushi. Only 5 customers in the store at once. $2.50-$14.50.
- 3 Connells Bakery, 33-35 Murray St, ☏ +61 3 5672 1050. M-F 6AM-4:30PM, Sa 7AM-2PM. Bakery that serves coffee, pies, pasties and other treats.
- 4 Nyojo's Pizza, 163 Graham St. W-Su 4:30-8:30PM. Pizza restaurant. $11-$20.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Wonthaggi Workmen's Club, 75 Graham St, ☏ +61 3 5672 1083, enquiries@wonthaggiworkmens.com.au. Su-W 9AM-11PM, Th-Sa 9AM-midnight. Bar and bistro. Contains a children's play area and gambling machines. As of March 2021, a 26-suite motel is to be built at the site.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Wonthaggi Motel, 40-44 McKenzie St, ☏ +61 3 5672 2922, info@wonthaggimotel.com.au. Check-in: 2-8PM, check-out: Before 10AM. 20-unit motel with free wifi.
- 2 Wonthaggi Park Lane (Coalfields Caravan Park), 245 Graham St, ☏ +61 3 5672 1798. Caravan park with cabins, BBQ and laundry facilities, and an indoor pool. Pets welcome.
Connect
[edit]4G coverage is available across Wonthaggi on the 3 major telephone coverage networks, however it may be spotty out of town (unless you're with Telstra).
Go next
[edit]- Cape Paterson is a beachside town about 10 minutes away from Wonthaggi and accessible by car or bus.
- Phillip Island is a popular coastal destination featuring motorsports and fairy penguins, as well as a variety of attractions.
- Wilsons Promontory is a great place for hiking and camping.
| Routes through Wonthaggi |
| Kilcunda ← | W  E |
→ Leongatha → Morwell |