Wonderful Williamstown

This bayside suburb is just a stone’s throw from the city and has plenty going on during summer.

Getting There

Make your way to Flinders Street Station and hop on a train on the Williamstown line. For a day by the sea, hop off at Williamstown Beach Station and take a short stroll down Forster Street to the sand. Or continue on the train to Williamstown Station to get to the main strips, Nelson Place and Ferguson Street.

See+Do

Williamstown Beach is the perfect place to get a dose of vitamin sea. Bring a beach towel, some sunscreen and a good book then set yourself up for a couple of hours relaxing in the sun. Or get those limbs moving by taking a walk along the Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail and enjoy the waterside views with the CBD in the background. Be sure to make a pitstop at the perfectly manicured Williamstown Botanic Gardens [corner Giffard and Osborne Streets, Williamstown].

If shopping is more your style, head to Nelson Place where you’ll find art and craft store Pick Up Stitches [141 Nelson Place] and homewares store Memez [153 Nelson Place]. Turn the corner onto Ferguson Street and you’ll find gift store Poppi Williams [21 Ferguson Street], shoe emporium Cinori [13/11–19 Ferguson Street] and more.

Eat+Drink

The choices are endless in Williamstown, with many eateries offering top-notch tucker, some with views over the water. If you’re after brunch, you can find dishes like apple crumble French toast and potato croquettes with eggs, bacon and spinach at General Food Co [117 Nelson Place]. For a lunch you can enjoy sitting on the beach, order fish and chips or a burger from Kiosk by d’Asporto [94–98 Esplanade]. Staying for dinner? Enjoy excellent Greek fare just like yia yia would make at George Calombaris’ Hellenic Hotel [28 Ferguson Street]. Anyone with a sweet tooth should take a seat at Chocolate Dip [177 Nelson Place], where desserts from cake to churros are the specialty.