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Nelson, VIC

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.
nelson

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.

Where to stay?

About Nelson

  • Locality: Rural locality
  • Nelson Postcode: 3292
  • State: Victoria
  • Region: Great Ocean Road
  • Latitude: -38.04659
  • Longitude: 141.00694
  • Elevation: 14m
  • Population: 190
  • Median Income: $25740
  • Area (Sq/km): 225.22
  • Timezone: Australia/Melbourne

Accommodation In Nelson

Discover some of the accommodation in and around Nelson

Explore The Outback

Australia has a vast remote interior, much of it largely untouched. By night, the outback is deathly quiet, with the only light provided by the stars and the moon - a perfect oportunity for stargazing. Explore the isolated heart of the country, meet and connect with Aboriginal people and experience one of the oldest living cultures in the world. Go ‘walk-about’ and immerse yourself with Australia’s endless outback horizons.

Outback Experiences

Luxe Accommodation

Enjoy a distinctly Australian luxury experience, such as the unforgettable reefs, islands, beaches and coast; rugged mountain ranges, rainforests and vast national parks; and the many vibrant food and wine regions. Take a once in a lifetime adventure and discover the sheer indulgence of experiencing the wonders of Australia in style and stay in total luxury.

Australia has wide variety of accommodation options to suit most budgets and travelling preferences. Choose from luxury lodges, boutique hotels, serviced apartments, motels, bed and breakfasts, caravan parks as well as youth and backpacker hostels.

Accommodation

Glasshouse Mountains

The Glasshouse Mountains in the hinterland of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast are actually the cores of 20 million year old volcanoes. The sides of the volcanoes have eroded away leaving only the hardened rock spiremountain cores we see today. Learn more about this awe-inspiring landscape.

Glasshouse Mountains