Nelson

Nelson is a fishing town nestled by the mouth of the Glenelg River and Discovery Bay in Victoria.

Located near the South Australian border, the town was named after Lady Nelson, which was Lieutenant James Grant’s ship as he explored this area of the country back in the 19^th century.

Small developments started being built in town by the late 1840s, and in 1848 a summerhouse was put up. The summerhouse was converted into a hotel, which is actually still in use today – it’s one of the historic local attractions worth checking out.

The towns may be small, but it’s abundant with natural attractions, which are ideal if you’d like to get away from the hustle and bustle of the larger towns. Tourist amenities include a visitor information centre, a roadhouse, and a general store.

The Glenelg River flows through the town, but the best way to experience the river is to take a river cruise. You’ll get to see the majestic limestone cliffs; some of which are up to 50 meters high.

The southern area of Nelson is where the river eventually clears into Oxbow Lake, which connects to the Southern Ocean. Warm days are the perfect opportunity to cool down by the sandy beaches along the lake, as well as the river mouth. For safety, avoid swimming at the ocean beach because it’s notorious for its treacherous undertows.

Nelson makes an excellent base for seeing other nearby attractions; these include the Lower Glenelg National Park, Port MacDonnell, Mount Gambier, and the Discovery Bay Coastal Park.