The Shipwreck Coast, the bustling seaside city of
Warrnambool and the pretty little village of Port
Fairy all offer rich experiences. The stacks that tower from the ocean in the Bay of Islands create a
haunting natural landscape and with the sun setting in the west, they are a photographer’s delight.
Warrnambool is the ideal place to enjoy the sea
with its promenade that’s just made for walking or
cycling and what better way to enjoy the stunning
views of the ocean than with a coffee from one of
the many seaside café’s.
The Grampians is famous for its mountainous and
rugged scenery and spectacular scenic lookouts
and the Chataqua Peak or the more challenging
Boronia Peak walks, both overlooking Halls Gap offer unbeatable views of the Grampians National
Park.
Ballarat is the gateway to the Goldfields region and
this grand old city’s colonial architecture stretches
out along broad, tree-lined streets and reflects the
riches taken from the ground after the discovery of
gold in the 19th Century. The uprising at the Eureka
Take a step back in time and visit Flagstaff Hill Mari- Stockade is regarded as a pivotal moment in the
time Village. By day it’s an interactive 1870s mari- development of Australian democracy.
time village and museum, offering a glimpse of the
time when the seas were the super highway and Experience the hustle and bustle of life on the Balthe coast became known as the Shipwreck Coast. larat goldfields in the 1850s at Sovereign Hill, one of
By night, everything changes and you get to ex- Victoria’s most popular tourist attractions. Pan for
perience ‘Shipwrecked’, a world-class sound and real gold, ride in horse-drawn carriages, or travel
laser show which relives the tragedy and triumph of underground on a tour of the Red Hill Mine. Balthe ill-fated clipper ‘Loch Ard’.
larat is also home to the country’s oldest and largest regional gallery and Ballarat Wildlife Park, with
Griffiths Island is an explorer’s delight with its colo- its 16 hectares of natural bushland.
ny of shearwaters, and spectacular lighthouse. At
dusk birdwatchers are in for a treat as the colony The towns of Daylesford and Hepburn Springs are
of shearwaters, or mutton-birds, return in swarms surrounded by more than 60 mineral springs, with
to their nests after a day fishing. At the end of the the water long renowned for its beneficial qualiGreat Ocean Road, you will uncover another place ties. The Great Southern Touring Route has much to
and time in history from every vista when you visit offer. You just have to see it for yourself.
the charming fishing village of Port Fairy. Its wide
streets are edged by nineteenth century cottages,
Norfolk pines, old stone churches and inns.
The majestic Grampians rise up from the plains of
the Western District with an abundance of waterfalls, wildflowers and native animals - just some of
the reasons to take the time to explore the national
and state parks. MacKenzie Falls offers you the most
spectacular view as torrential water cascades over
cliffs that send a spray of rainbow mist high into the
air above a magnificent gorge.