Victoria · Attraction
Thunder Point Coastal Reserve
Rugged cliffs and sunset rockpools
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Thunder Point Coastal Reserve hugs the southern edge of Warrnambool, where sandstone headlands drop into the Southern Ocean and the Merri River meets the sea. A car park faces directly over the water, making it one of the most accessible coastal lookouts in the region, with a viewing platform and an easy trail that winds along the cliffs to sandy beaches below.
The 4.2-kilometre Thunder Point Walk is a return trail graded easy and taking one to two hours. It follows a mix of sealed path, boardwalk and sand past the Merri River estuary, Stingray Bay, exposed sandstone cliffs, and rock pools accessible at low tide. The trail ends at Shelly Beach via Pickering Point, where views open across Lady Bay and back toward the lighthouse precinct.
Thunder Point is known among locals and visitors as one of the finest sunset spots on the Great Ocean Road. The headland faces west across open ocean, and the changing light on the sandstone and sea can be spectacular, particularly in winter when swells build from the Southern Ocean.
The reserve is entirely free to access and open at all times. Rock pools at the base of the cliffs support sea stars, anemones, crabs and small fish at low tide. There are no formal facilities at the reserve itself, but Warrnambool's cafe strip is a short drive away.
Scenic views
