SUPPLEMENT: The state of Victoria is quite compact and you can cover much of its length and breath easily in a week. The two most popular driving routes are the Great Southern Touring Route and South East Touring Triangle
Great Southern Touring Route
THE Great Southern Touring Route connects some of Victoria’s most scenic locations featuring dramatic landscapes and native flora and fauna, with the history of white settlements and the Gold Rush. Take it all in a seven-day drive.
Day 1: Melbourne to Apollo Bay
Depart Melbourne via the West Gate Bridge and follow the Princess Highway towards Werribee. Visit the zoo where animals roam in open grasslands.
Continue to Geelong, Victoria’s second-largest city, and explore its historic waterfront. Call into the Bellarine Peninsula and visit Port Phillip Bay the habitat of dolphins, seals, whales, penguins and sea birds.
From here, it is just a short drive to Torquay – the official start of the spectacular coastal drive along the Great Ocean Road.
Along with Bells Beach, Torquay is among the world’s premier surf locations.
The stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay is considered by many to be the most picturesque section of the Great Ocean Road.
This small fishing and farming village is also an excellent base for exploring the waterfalls and rainforests in the Otway National Park. Dine at award-wining restaurants overlooking Apollo Bay.
Overnight: Apollo Bay
Port Campbell National Park is famous for the Twelve Apostles.
Day 2: Apollo Bay to Warrnambool (169km – Two hours and 30 minutes)
West from Apollo Bay enjoy the breathtaking wilderness, explore secluded beaches and the forest canopy via the Otway Fly Tree Top Walk in the Otway National Park.
Drive to Port Campbell National Park to witness nature’s marvellous rock formations. This is the most famous section of the Great Ocean Road featuring the Twelve Apostles.
Adventurous sightseers can take the boardwalks that lead to lookouts and great views of the coastline, dotted with plaques and signs that mark the places where over 160 ships floundered along the aptly named Shipwreck Coast.
An exhilarating helicopter ride over the coastline and rock formations marks an unforgettable experience.
The journey ends at Warrnambool, the only city on the Shipwreck Coast. Set on the edge of Lady Bay, Warrnambool boasts a colourful history, which can be explored at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum. Whales migrate along the part of the coastline and can be spotted between May and October.
Overnight: Warrnambool
Day 3: Warrnambool to Halls Gap (158km – Two hours and 30 minutes)
The quaint fishing township of Port Fairy awaits for morning tea and discover more about its maritime history.
Explore the streets and over 50 19th century buildings classified by the National Trust.
From Port Fairy, the Great Southern Touring Route turns north, away from the coast and towards the natural beauty of the Grampians mountain range. Enjoy Dunkeld a beautiful village on the edge of the Grampians.
The Grampians National Park is famous for some of the most spectacular scenery in Australia. For the more adventurous, try rock climbing or abseiling.
The Grampians are also home to the largest collection of Aboriginal rock paintings in Victoria.
The town of Halls Gap is the tourist hub of the region. Surrounded by the Wonderland and Mount William ranges, it is a great place to set-up base to visit many of the Grampians’ major attractions, including Boroka and Reed’s lookouts, McKenzie Falls, Lake Bellfield and Zumsteins.
Overnight: Halls Gap
Spot wildlife such as baby swamp wallabies at the Grampians.
Day 4: Halls Gap
Halls Gap nestles right in the heart of the majestic Grampians National Park with its wildflowers and waterfalls, alongside local village stores, alluring wineries and colourful galleries.
Brambuk, a National Park and Cultural Centre located 2.5km South of Halls Gap shops, is a good starting point for anyone interested in exploring the park.
Learn about the diverse culture of the indigenous people at Brambuk and join a tour of the many ancient aboriginal rock art sites in the area.
View Australian native animals in the wild throughout the Grampians National Park or visit the Halls Gap Zoo on Halls Gap-Ararat Road
Overnight: Halls Gap
Day 5: Halls Gap to Ballarat (185km – Two hours and 30 minutes)
Leaving the Grampians, the Great Southern Touring Route heads north towards the Goldfields. Call into one of the many wineries in the township of Great Western where wine has been produced for over 150 years. Take a tour of the 3km of underground cellars at Seppelt.
The route then turns east to Ballarat, one of Victoria’s largest cities. Step back to the gold-mining era of the 1850s at Sovereign Hill. See blacksmiths at work, people dressed in Victorian costumes, pan for gold or go down an underground mine. Get up close with Australian wildlife at the wildlife park.
Overnight: Ballarat
Day 6: Ballarat to Daylesford
With Australia’s largest concentration of naturally occurring mineral springs, a visit to the heart of Spa Country refreshes both the body and soul.
You get to discover natural waters straight from the spring. Just look out for signs pointing to townships like Daylesford, Hepburn Springs, Kyneton and Blackwood.
A diverse community of artists call this region home. Wearable art and decorative pieces are created in the studios of jewellery makers, silversmiths, glass blowers and ceramists.
For a leisurely afternoon, consider the many antique stores and galleries in the area.
Don’t miss the lavender farms, where you can find premium lavender, oils and grapes.
Italian-speaking Swiss who came to Daylesford in search of gold built the stone farm buildings in the 1850’s.
Overnight: Daylesford
Day 7: Daylesford to Melbourne (170km – One hour 30 minutes)
Spend time taking in the pleasures of the local mineral springs before making the journey back to Melbourne.
Melbourne’s South East Touring Triangle (4 days)
Melbourne’s South East Touring Triangle links three beautiful regions surrounding Melbourne - the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges, Phillip Island and the Mornington Peninsula.
Day 1: Melbourne to Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges (51km – One hour)
Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges are Melbourne’s favourite retreats offering good food, fine wine, welcoming accommodation and unique attractions in natural surroundings.
Take the Burwood Highway to Belgrave where the Puffing Billy Steam Railway winds through the forests and fern gullies of the Dandenong Ranges National Park each day.
Feed the crimson rosellas at Grants Picnic Grounds or visit the sculptures at William Ricketts Sanctuary.
Explore the quaint villages of Olinda and Sassafras for a wide array of local arts and crafts. Lunch at The Cuckoo Restaurant followed by afternoon tea at Miss Marples Tearoom.
During springtime from mid-September to mid-October, you can also join the Tesselaar Tulip Festival in Silvan.
Follow Monbulk Road to Lilydale and then onto Yarra Glen via the Melba Highway – gateway to the Yarra Valley wineries.
There are over 35 wineries to choose from including famous names. For chocolate lovers, call in at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery. During fruit-picking season, there are many “u-pick” orchards you can visit – pick cherries at Cherryhill Orchards (December to January) and enjoy fresh stonefruits at Rayners’ Stonefruit Orchards.
Overnight: Yarra Valley
Spot little penguins emerging from the beach and waddling along a Phillip Island beach at dusk.
Day 2: Yarra Valley to Phillip Island (130km – Two hours)
Enjoy a sunrise hot air balloon experience over the rolling vineyards and round off with a Champagne breakfast. Visit the Yarra Valley Dairy and Yering Produce Store to sample freshly-made gourmet cheeses and a great variety of homemade produce.
Drive through the lush fern tree gullies onto the South Gippsland Highway then onto Bass Highway towards Phillip Island.
Discover the seaside fishing village of San Remo, where pelican feeding is at noon each day.
Cross the bridge to Phillip Island, which boasts of a natural playground, teeming with wildlife and adventure. It is home to the famous Little Penguins that parade up Summerland Beach each night and a hot spot for Australian fur seals.
Watch the seals cavort around the Seal Rocks up close on a two-hour seal watching cruise and view the koalas up close from treetop boardwalks at the Koala Conservation Centre.
Not to be missed is the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory. For the young at heart, a trip to A Maze’N Things will stimulate their minds.
Overnight: Phillip Island
Day 3: Phillip Island to Mornington Peninsula (75km – One hour)
Drive along Bass Highway onto South Gippsland Highway then Baxter Tooradin Road to arrive at the edge of the Mornington Peninsula. Visit Moonlit Sanctuary and see lots of Australian animals up close.
Drive through Tyabb, one of Australia’s best antiques destinations, then head south to Ashcombe Maze and Lavender Gardens, Australia’s oldest and largest hedge maze.
Take the scenic coastal route to Flinders village, the latest epicurean escape on the peninsula. Its cafes, food stores and galleries are shaded by historic verandahs and the golf course is famous for its cliff top location.
In the evening, indulge in the therapeutic hot springs at Peninsula Hot Springs
Overnight: Mornington Peninsula
Day 4: Mornington Peninsula to Melbourne (68km – One hour and 30 minutes)
Swim with the dolphins, snorkel with sea-dragons, go sea kayaking, stand up paddling or dive on famous shipwrecks on Port Phillip Bay.
Explore the old Quarantine station, forts and military tunnels at Point Nepean National Park. Drive the scenic route to the Arthurs Seat summit for panoramic views across the Bay.
Try tree surfing at The Enchanted Maze garden or take a horseback winery tour around the Red Hill wineries.
View historic bathing boxes in the coastal villages of Mt Martha and Mornington then head towards Melbourne city via the new Peninsula Link freeway.
Overnight: Melbourne
Searoad Ferries
Connecting the Mornington Peninsula to Bellarine Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road, the 40-minute ferry crossing is a stress free alternative. The ferry departs daily 7am to 6pm from Sorrento Pier and Queenscliff Harbour on the hour and every hour.
For details on Melbourne and Surrounds, log on to visitmelbourne.com
Go to www.australia.com for more info.
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