Peterborough activities
Things to do in Peterborough
London Arch and The Grotto 5 km east, Bay of Islands and Bay of Martyrs 5 km west, plus a protected swimming cove and a working fishing pier — the western Shipwreck Coast in concentrated form.
The shortlist
What you should not skip
Peterborough's activity list is dominated by what's nearby — four major Shipwreck Coast attractions all within 5-10 minutes of the village.
- London Arch (5 km east) — formerly London Bridge. London Arch guide.
- The Grotto (3 km east) — sea-arch viewing platform near sea level. The Grotto guide.
- Bay of Islands (5 km west) — wider quieter sea-stack panorama. Bay of Islands guide.
- Bay of Martyrs (3 km west) — secondary stack cluster, often empty.
- Peterborough cove swim — sheltered harbour swimming.
- Pier fishing — local working pier.
In and around town
Within walking or short drive
- Peterborough cove swim — sheltered harbour beach.
- Pier fishing — bream, salmon, snapper.
- Foreshore walks — village clifftop circuits.
- Schomberg historical signs — 1855 shipwreck story.
- Bay of Martyrs (3 km west) — short clifftop walk.
Day-trip
Within 30 minutes' drive
- London Arch + The Grotto — east, 5-10 min.
- Bay of Islands — west, 5 min.
- Port Campbell — 15 min east, restaurants and amenities.
- Twelve Apostles + Loch Ard Gorge — 30 min east.
- Warrnambool — 30 min west, whales in season.
Frequently asked
Peterborough things-to-do FAQs
- What are the top things to do in Peterborough?
- Visit London Arch (5 km east), The Grotto (3 km east), Bay of Islands (5 km west), and Bay of Martyrs (3 km west) — all within 5-10 minutes of the village. Swim in the sheltered harbour cove. Fish from the local pier and rocks. Walk the foreshore. The strongest concentration of Shipwreck Coast viewpoints anywhere on the road.
- Can you swim at Peterborough?
- Yes — Peterborough has one of the few sheltered swimming coves on the Shipwreck Coast. The harbour beach is protected by sandstone cliffs and offers calm-water swimming on most days. Not patrolled, but the geometry makes it the safest swim option west of Port Campbell. Stay near the beach; currents at the cove mouth.
- What's the difference between Bay of Islands and Bay of Martyrs?
- Both are stretches of offshore limestone sea stacks west of Peterborough. Bay of Islands (5 km west) is the wider, more famous formation. Bay of Martyrs (3 km west) is closer to Peterborough and has a smaller cluster of stacks. Both have free clifftop viewpoints with paved access.
- Can you fish at Peterborough?
- Yes — the local pier and the rocky headlands around the protected cove are popular fishing spots. Bream, salmon, and snapper are common. Some boat charter operators run from Peterborough. The harbour-side cleaning station is a working facility for both locals and visitors.
- Are there walking trails in Peterborough?
- Yes — short cliff-top trails connect viewpoints around the village and link to the Bay of Martyrs lookout. Sections of the Surf Coast walking network pass through. Most trails are short (30-60 minutes); for longer hikes, the Great Ocean Walk's western terminus is 30 minutes east at Princetown.
- Can you take helicopter tours from Peterborough?
- Helicopter scenic flights operate from the Twelve Apostles helipad (30 km east). 25-minute flights extend west to London Arch and Bay of Islands and could be timed from a Peterborough base. Cost ~AU$280/person for the longer flights.
- What's the Schomberg connection?
- The Schomberg was a clipper ship that wrecked off Peterborough in 1855 with 600 emigrants on board (all rescued). The local pub is named after the wreck. The Schomberg cannon is preserved at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnambool. Multiple historical signs around Peterborough tell the wreck story.