Wonthaggi is located in South Gippsland, several kilometres inland from the coast and west of the seaside and fishing resort of Inverloch.

Between 1909 and 1968, black coal was mined from Wonthaggi's network of underground mines, creating a thriving industrial settlement for miners and their families during those years. While mining operations have long ceased, the history of this period has been preserved at the State Coal Mine Historic Reserve.

Wonthaggi offers a attractive commercial centre which serves the local community and surrounding towns, concentrated around Graham Street and McBride Avenue which is lined with Norfolk pines.

At the corner of McBride Avenue and Murray Street is the Wonthaggi Hotel. Licensed in 1914, the hotel displays at its entrance the giant jawbones of a 23 metre whale that washed up on a local beach in 1923.

Apex Park, located in Murray Street, displays a mine poppet head and is the site of Wonthaggi's former railway station which is now occupied by the Wonthaggi Historical Society and used as a museum.

Located 8 kilometres south of the Wonthaggi town centre is the small seaside community of Cape Paterson. It offers a scenic and tranquil coastal retreat for visitors with a surf beach and rock pool for safe swimming. Cape Paterson marks the start of the 12 km scenic coastal drive to Inverloch passing along the Bunurong Marine Park and offering spectacular coastal views.

	Coalfields Art Gallery A gallery showing painting, sculpture, pottery, ceramics and jewellery from local leading artists
	State Coal Mine A journey back to the difficult working conditions of mining days past with historic buildings, interpretive displays, walking trails, picnic areas and a souvenir shop (note that underground mine tours are temporarily suspended)

	Bunurong Marine & Coastal Park Stretching along some of Victoria's most beautiful coastline, the park features rugged sandstone cliffs, sandy coves, rocky headlands, caves and rock pinnacles
	Bass Coast Rail Trail This is the only coastal rail trail in Victoria and covers 16 kilometres of rugged coastline, farmland and coastal bushland from the junction of the Bass Highway at Phillip Island Road to Kilcunda and Wonthaggi

Bass Coast Summer Agricultural Show Held at the Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve, it features live bands, entertainers, activities for children, exhibitions of livestock and competitions

* All the above links are external and open up in a new window