VICTORIA SELF-DRIVE TOUR
8 night self-drive tour from £ 782pp
GREAT SOUTHERN TOURING ROUTE
8 NIGHT SELF-DRIVE TOUR
Great Ocean Road • stunning Grampians National Park • discover gold rush history
DAY 1 Melbourne
Widely regarded as Australia ’ s culture capital , this is a place where fashion , music and food come together . It ’ s also a great sporting city plus its suburbs could keep any shopaholic busy for weeks . What better way to start your explorations than to venture along its laneways to check out the riotous colour of street art , cutting edge boutiques , chic restaurants and bars .
DAY 2 Melbourne
Highlights to tick off your must-see list include Federation Square , which is lined with galleries and restaurants , the Melbourne Skydeck for amazing views , the iconic MCG ( Melbourne Cricket Ground ), and the National Gallery of Victoria . As dusk descends , choose from five star dining or casual options tucked down side streets , before a nightcap at one of the city ’ s great drinking spots .
DAY 3 Melbourne / Apollo Bay
Collect your hire car and ease into your road trip with a leisurely drive to Torquay , which marks the official start of the Great Ocean Road . Here , you can explore some of Australia ’ s best-known surf beaches or , if you prefer , stop at Anglesea for a detour to the golf course , famous for the kangaroos lounging under the trees surrounding the greens . Continue to Lorne , which is a perfect lunch spot before following the Great Ocean Road into the lush Otway National Park where , if you wish , you could take a tour of the Cape Otway lighthouse . The final leg of today ’ s journey brings you to the beautiful village of Apollo Bay which has a host of welcoming eateries , with seafood always on the menu ( 123 miles ).
DAY 4 Apollo Bay / Port Campbell
Back on the Great Ocean Road , ensure your camera is to hand for the spectacular coastline leading to Port Campbell and its famous Twelve Apostles . Stop and descend the Gibson Steps for a walk on the wild beach for a ground-level view of these magnificent rock stacks that rise up from the Southern Ocean ( 60 miles ).
DAY 5 Port Campbell / Dunkeld
Veer away from the coast and drive inland for the Grampians , a majestic mountain range and forest rising out of flat farmland ( 93 miles ).
DAY 6 Dunkeld
Spend the day getting acquainted with Grampians National Park . Discover grand and rugged mountain ranges , spectacular wildflower displays , a wide range of outdoor recreational opportunities , and a wealth of Aboriginal rock art sites . Set out on one of the numerous walking tracks , stopping here and there to absorb the stunning panoramic views . Make sure you see the iconic MacKenzie Falls , one of the largest and most spectacular waterfalls in Victoria .
DAY 7 Dunkeld / Ballarat
Travel eastwards today for the rich cultural hub of Ballarat . Explore the city ’ s gold rush heritage with a visit to Sovereign Hill , Ballarat ’ s open-air museum which depicts life in the region during the 1850s . If food is your thing , you ’ ll be delighted to learn that Ballarat is an established foodie destination so , recharge and refuel at one of the town ’ s popular eateries , breweries or cafés ( 90 miles ).
DAY 8 Ballarat / Melbourne
Linger a little longer by taking a stroll around Ballarat Botanical Gardens or while away some time at the Art Gallery of Ballarat , one of the oldest in Australia . During the drive back to Melbourne , perhaps stop for a leisurely lunch in Daylesford whilst taking in the lake views . Another possible detour is to Hepburn Springs where you can taste the waters or even soak them up with a pampering spa at Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa . Fully rejuvenated , make the short drive back to Melbourne where you return your hire car and your tour concludes ( 77 miles ).
Dunkeld
Port Cambell
VICTORIA
Ballarat
Apollo Bay
Melbourne
Melbourne 2 nights | Apollo Bay 1 night Port Campbell 1 night | Dunkeld 2 nights Ballarat 1 night | Melbourne 1 night
Apollo Bay
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Departures : Daily .
Accommodation : 3★Plus Batman ’ s Hill on Collins , Melbourne ; 4★ Captain ’ s at the Bay , Apollo Bay ; 4★ Waves Port Campbell ; 4★ Royal Mail Hotel , Dunkeld & 4★ Craig ’ s Royal Hotel , Ballarat .
Meals : Room only .
Tour price : The price shown for this self-drive tour includes 6 days compact all inclusive car hire and accommodation as shown . International flights are not included .
Note : The Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld does not allow check-ins Sunday-Tuesday . See page 82 for more details .
MacKenzie Falls , Grampians National Park
76 AUSTRALIA visit your local travel agent or call 08444 937 900