Werribee’s a pretty exciting town – from catching a movie to a nice hot meal, there is a wide range of activities, suitable for the whole family. Sometimes, they can be tough to discover – with hundreds of events going on at any one time in Werribee, finding just a few that stand out can be a very tricky experience.
No matter whether you’re into food, sports, entertainment, or more, there’s something here for everyone. From running around Werribee’s restaurant district to becoming a discerning shopper at Pacific Werribee, jumping onto safari at Werribee’s Open Range Zoo, or even discovering the fun and joy of Inflatable World, let’s dive into some of the things that you should consider trying on your next adventure around town.
A Range of Food Options, From Cafes to Restaurants
In recent years, the foodies of the west have rejoiced, as there’s been an explosion in the number of fine dining experiences available throughout Werribee. There’s a wide range of Werribee restaurants to pique your individual tastes – no matter whether you love a good pizza, or something more creative, there’s something yummy available for even the pickiest of family members.
There’s a really great list of just a few of the restaurants and cafes on offer at the Visit Werribee guide page – with a range of Werribee cafes and restaurants to choose from, there’ll be no excuse to try out a new and exciting dining experience. Some personal favourites include Jock & Mack – one of the best cafes in town, they offer a range of breakfast, lunch, and brunch options (all worth it), as well as Tucker’s Sandwiches, located opposite the Werribee Cultural Centre on Watton Street.
For dessert, I wouldn’t go past a good serving from Augustus Gelatery. Their gelato is pure bliss after a really hot spring day! Alternatively, you may wish to visit the original home of Daniel’s Donuts, recently reacquired – which offers a mix of bakery treats, just next door in Hoppers Crossing.
Shopping out West at Pacific Werribee
Did you know that Werribee is home to one of the largest shopping centres in the western suburbs? First opened in 1985 as Werribee Plaza, and rebranded as Pacific Werribee in 2016, this regional shopping centre has more than 270 stores across nearly 110,000 square metres of available floor space.
Over the years, it’s been home to a range of different tenants – anchored by major supermarkets Coles and Woolworths, it’s also home to a wide range of food, fashion, and entertainment brands. The western side of the shopping centre is home to the Fresh Food Precinct, offering a range of different offerings including a fishmonger, butcher, several bazaars, a greengrocer, and two supermarkets.
From there, a short walk south takes you through to the first food court – where you’ll often see a trampoline installation as kids play during the school holidays. There are a number of jewellery and clothing stores here, so you can look at some of the newest fashions while enjoying a treat from the food court.
Heading south, and then east, you’ll pass a number of smoothie bars, as well as a car dealership, and a fitness store. Many people don’t realise this, but Subaru operates a car dealership (near the western food court) as well as a vehicle service centre (near Myer). It’s quite possibly the only one of its kind in Melbourne.
As you go further east, you’ll notice that the shopping centre gets quite a bit wider near the florist. In the early 2000s, there was a large amount of redevelopment work that went on at Pacific Werribee – connecting a new shopping centre to the older layout occurred in 2004.
After a while, you’ll hit a second food court. You’ll see all your favourites out there, including a McDonalds and KFC – with a second KFC and a Hungry Jacks located in the car park. Looking outside, there are more restaurants – these form a part of the Pacific Werribee Open Diner, which opened as part of redevelopment works completed in 2015.
Catch the Latest Movies at Village Cinemas Werribee
Only a short walk past the Urban Diner, and you’ll find Werribee Cinemas, also known as Village Cinemas Werribee. First opened as Werribee 10 Cinemas, Village Cinemas Werribee is a ten-cinema multiplex, offering the latest in cinema releases.
From time to time, these cinemas also host special events, such as advanced screenings, and limited-time re-releases of popular films from years gone by. The movies are great if you want to go in and see the latest release, or catch up on a movie from the past.
While it’s a very straightforward cinema with a few arcade games at the front if you want the traditional cinema experience, if you’re looking to spend a little more and enjoy the nicer side of cinema, there are also two luxury cinemas, known as Village Gold Class. Here, you can have a glass of wine and pre-order meals, and they’ll be delivered to you during the screening. It’s quite an exciting experience, and great for treating yourself or friends to a night out on the town.
Enjoy the Sights of Werribee’s Open Range Zoo
If you’re interested in animals, Werribee is also home to a zoo – known as the Werribee Open Range Zoo, located in the wider Werribee Park – which is also home to the State Rose Garden, and Werribee Mansion. Serviced by local buses, the Werribee Zoo is a great place to go on a day trip to immerse yourself in African and Australian animal culture.
The Werribee Open Range Zoo has been in operation since 1983 and is home to a wide range of animal species, including a range of animals native to Africa, including gorillas, giraffes, lions, and meerkats. Additionally, there’s also an Australian species tour, including animals such as the Tammar wallaby, emus, and koalas. In fact, the photos in this article were taken at the Open Range Zoo.
One of the really exciting things that’s unique to the Open Range Zoo is the ability to take a tour on the free Safari Bus – an experience not available at other zoos in Victoria. Departing roughly hourly, the safari bus travels across the zoo, allowing visitors to get a view of animal species like bison, rhino, and zebra – while also being provided live commentary by a Safari Guide. It’s an exciting 40-minute bus ride that’s fun for the whole family – there are very few places outside of Africa where you get to see giraffes up close, and without a pane of glass between you!
If you’re looking to have a picnic outdoors, why not take the family to the Open Range Zoo, see the sights and sounds of the Safari Bus, and then hit the walking trails? There’s a great picnic spot not far from the Hippo Beach Cafe, and if you’ve got the time, you should definitely put some time aside and make this a stopping point on your next visit.
A Few More Entertainment Options, For Kids and Adults
If you or your loved ones love jumping castles, Werribee is also home to Inflatable World Werribee. It’s home to some of the largest indoor inflatable playgrounds in Australia, and it’s a great place if you’ve got a few hours to bounce around. The best part about it is that it’s also available for event bookings – if it’s time to celebrate a birthday, you can book the whole venue out for a few hours and jump to your heart’s content.
For the adults who prefer a game of golf, there’s also the Werribee Park Golf Course. Initially opened in 1976, the Werribee Golf Course offers a full, 18-hole championship-level course. The course was designed by Kevin Hartley, an engineer by day, and also one of twelve golf players identified as part of Victoria’s Golfing Team of the Century in 2002. His passion and reverence for golf course design can be seen in the course, which offers spectacular views of the Werribee River as well as the nearby Red Cliffs.
Finally, for those who love the outdoors, there’s also President’s Park. Located just next door in Wyndham Vale, President’s Park offers all the playground equipment a kid could throw a stick at – as well as pavilions for hosting small family events and barbecues.
No matter your individual interests, there’s a range of activities available for even the pickiest of travelers in Werribee. There’s a range of restaurants and dining experiences available that are sure to get even the most discerning of eaters excited – and with one of the largest shopping centres in the West at Pacific Werribee, you’re sure to find something you like, or even a movie to watch next door at Village Cinemas Werribee.
Why not treat yourself to a day trip at the Werribee Open Range Zoo, enjoying a picnic after a wonderful Safari Bus tour. Alternatively, you could always jump into the fun at Inflatable World Werribee, or complete a round at the Werribee Park Golf Course. No matter what you’re interested in, there’s something for everyone as you travel through Werribee.
