Princetown (Victoria)

Introduction

The Twelve Apostles at Dawn

© Sander

On many maps of the area, Princetown appears to be quite a major town. In reality, it is only the town's proximity to the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge that makes it register as a place of note. From Princetown, the main sights are about a ten minute drive.

Princetown is very small, with little more than a pub (which doubles as a general store and fish & chippery), a post office and some accommodation options. But it has a great location for exploring the surrounding region.

Sights and Activities

There's not much within Princetown itself, although it is possible to walk down to the mouth of the Gellibrand River. Further afield, these are some attractions to check out:

• The Twelve Apostles, obviously enough. One of Australia's most iconic sights, and certainly the highlight of the Great Ocean Road.
• Loch Ard Gorge is located a little further along from the 12 Apostles. The site of a famous shipwreck, there are a few excellent viewpoints to admire the coast. Also check out the Blowhole.
• G.O.R.G.E. Chocolates (1231 Melrose Road, Princetown) is a small chocolate maker north of the Great Ocean Road. If you feel like indulging your sweet tooth, check this out. Open Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm.
• Apostle Whey Cheese (9 Gallum Road, Cooriemungle) is a dairy farm north of Princetown. You can sample their cheese, watch a DVD about the process, or buy a platter and a bottle of wine.
• Heytesbury Ridge (1170 Cooriemungle Road, Timboon) is a winery and bed & breakfast north of Princetown. Stop by for a sample of their produce.

Getting There and Around

By Car

Princetown is located along the Great Ocean Road. Keep an eye out for the signs. The main town is on the left.

By Bus

V/Line has buses running between Warrnambool and Geelong, and from there onto Melbourne. These run once a day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and the bus stops in Princetown.

By Foot

Princetown itself is small enough to walk around, but if you want to visit any of the sights, you need to drive.

Eat

The pub is pretty much it. They also sell takeaway food (pizza and fish&chips), but their meals are quite good. If you want more option, drive down the road to Port Campbell.

Drink

As above, the pub is your only option in Princetown. Port Campbell has more cafés and restaurants.

Sleep

Budget

• The 13th Apostle, 5 Post Office Road, Princetown. A simple, clean hostel.
• Apostles Camping Park & Cabins/Princetown General Store, Post Office Road, Princetown. Phone: 03 5598 8119.

Mid-Range

• Twelve Apostles Motel & Country Retreat, RMB 1435 Booringa Rd, Princetown. Phone: 03 5598 8277.
• Macka's Farm, 2310 Princetown Road, Princetown. Phone: 03 5598 8261.
• Clifton Lodge, Great Ocean Road, Princetown. Phone: 03 5598 8128.
• Glenample Farmstay Self-Contained Cottage, Simpsons Road, Princetown. Phone: 03 5598 8237.
• Arabella Country House Princetown, 7219 Great Ocean Road, Princetown. Phone: 03 5598 8169.

office and some accommodation options. But it has a great location for exploring the surrounding region.

Sights and Activities

There's not much within Princetown itself, although it is possible to walk down to the mouth of the Gellibrand River. Further afield, these are some attractions to check out:

• The Twelve Apostles, obviously enough. One of Australia's most iconic sights, and certainly the highlight of the Great Ocean Road.
• Loch Ard Gorge is located a little further along from the 12 Apostles. The site of a famous shipwreck, there are a few excellent viewpoints to admire the coast. Also check out the Blowhole.
• G.O.R.G.E. Chocolates (1231 Melrose Road, Princetown) is a small chocolate maker north of the Great Ocean Road. If you feel like indulging your sweet tooth, check this out. Open Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm.
• Apostle Whey Cheese (9 Gallum Road, Cooriemungle) is a dairy farm north of Princetown. You can sample their cheese, watch a DVD about the process, or buy a platter and a bottle of wine.
• Heytesbury Ridge (1170 Cooriemungle Road, Timboon) is a winery and bed & breakfast north of Princetown. Stop by for a sample of their produce.

Getting There and Around

By Car

Princetown is located along the Great Ocean Road. Keep an eye out for the signs. The main town is on the left.

By Bus

V/Line has buses running between Warrnambool and Geelong, and from there onto Melbourne. These run once a day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and the bus stops in Princetown.

By Foot

Princetown itself is small enough to walk around, but if you want to visit any of the sights, you need to drive.

Eat

The pub is pretty much it. They also sell takeaway food (pizza and fish&chips), but their meals are quite good. If you want more option, drive down the road to Port Campbell.

Drink

As above, the pub is your only option in Princetown. Port Campbell has more cafés and restaurants.

Sleep

Budget

• The 13th Apostle, 5 Post Office Road, Princetown. A simple, clean hostel.
• Apostles Camping Park & Cabins/Princetown General Store, Post Office Road, Princetown. Phone: 03 5598 8119.

Mid-Range

• Twelve Apostles Motel & Country Retreat, RMB 1435 Booringa Rd, Princetown. Phone: 03 5598 8277.
• Macka's Farm, 2310 Princetown Road, Princetown. Phone: 03 5598 8261.
• Clifton Lodge, Great Ocean Road, Princetown. Phone: 03 5598 8128.
• Glenample Farmstay Self-Contained Cottage, Simpsons Road, Princetown. Phone: 03 5598 8237.
• Arabella Country House Princetown, 7219 Great Ocean Road, Princetown. Phone: 03 5598 8169.

Keep Connected

Internet

Internet cafés are very common in the larger Australian cities and popular tourist destinations. However, once you leave the major population centres, you might have trouble finding somewhere to log on. Free wifi is getting more and more common (either with or without a code) in places like restaurants, some bars and coffee places and hotels. Sometimes a fee is required.

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

Australia is on a GSM 900/1800 network, so if you have an unlocked phone that works on those frequencies, you will be able to buy a prepaid SIM-card and stick into your phone when you're in Australia. You will receive a new Australian phone number with the SIM-card.

To dial out of Australia use the prefix 0011, followed by the calling code of the country you are trying to reach, followed by the area code of the city/town (without the 0!) and finally the phone number.

Within Australia, it is necessary to add an area code to the phone numbers if you are calling from outside the area. Below are Australia's area codes:

• 02 - New South Wales & Australian Capital Territory (Sydney, Canberra)
• 03 - Victoria & Tasmania (Melbourne, Hobart)
• 07 - Queensland (Brisbane)
• 08 - Western Australia, South Australia & Northern Territory (Perth, Adelaide, Darwin)

000 is the emergency telephone number in Australia, but the international GSM mobile emergency telephone number 112 also works on mobile phones.

Post

Australia Post is the government's postal service. Most suburbs will have at least one post office. Opening times are mostly from around 8:00 or 9:00am to 5:00pm though larger ones keep longer hours sometimes. A standard letter or postcard sent within Australia will cost $0.60. Internationally, it costs $1.70 to send postcards anywhere in the world. Letters cost $1.85 to send within the Asia Pacific region and $2.60 to anywhere else in the world.^[1]. It is also possible to send things as parcels or by express mail. You can also use use private courier companies like TNT, UPS or DHL as they are competitive and reliable.