5 DAYS - 4 NIGHTS

Get ready for five magnificent days of awe-inspiring natural beauty and adorable local wildlife. Waterfalls, walks and wallabies await as you journey into diverse landscapes from picturesque gardens to rocky mountain ranges and rugged coastline.

DAY 1

Melbourne to Ballarat

Depart: Melbourne 

O/night: Ballarat

Distance: 159 kilometres 

Morning

It seems unbelievable that less than an hour and a half from the hustle and bustle of Melbourne, you can get to Daylesford. As you wind through the picturesque towns of Lyonville and Trentham on the journey, you can feel the city stress melting away. Daylesford, at the foothills of the Great Dividing Range of Victoria, is known as the Australian spa capital. This is because it has the highest concentration of natural mineral waters in the country. To immerse yourself in local natural beauty, take a 1.5 hour walk from Tipperary Springs to Bryce’s Flat.

If you’re hungry as well as thirsty, Wombat Hill House is just the place. Enjoy locally sourced, seasonal food - then walk it off and explore the lush greenery of 10.4 hectares of Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens. Established in the 1860s, it’s regarded as one of Victoria’s finest regional destination gardens, a must-visit on a sunny day.

Afternoon / evening

You’ve had flora, but what about fauna? Sit back, relax and put Ballarat Wildlife Park into the GPS. You’ll see kangaroos, meerkats, penguins, tigers and even the most enormous saltwater crocodiles! But the highlight is getting up close and personal with the cuddly koalas… they actually clamber up to their keepers for a cuddle when it’s time for gum leaves… quite simply the cutest thing ever!

Looking for accommodation? Take your pick from The Provincial Hotel, an amazing boutique experience or the luxury of Hotel Vera, both in the heart of Ballarat. But before you hit the hay, there’s plenty of delicious wine and craft beer to try at Mitchell Harris Wine Bar or Hop Temple.

DAY 2

Ballarat to Halls Gap

Depart: Ballarat

O/night: Halls Gap

Distance: 141 kilometres 

Morning

Time to leave this heritage town for the rugged splendour of The Grampians. But do make a wine tasting stop or two along the way, as the region is home to some of the world’s oldest vines. Best's Wines, Grampians Estate, and Pomonal Estate all have excellent shiraz and sparkling – the varietals the region is famous for.

Now head to Halls Gap and check in to your accommodation. Grampians Getaway Resort is a great base. Eco-accommodation with a view of the Grampians, and best of all, make friends with your neighbours… hundreds of kangaroos! Or you may enjoy DULC which offers funky designer cabins nestled amid the beauty of the Grampians National Park.

Other Choices: D’Altons Studios, Meringa Springs Luxury Lodge

Afternoon / evening

Time to get out into the natural beauty The Grampians is famous for. Head out for a guided walk along the Grampians Peaks Trail with the guys from Absolute Outdoors, or go chasing waterfalls – MacKenzie Falls, to be precise. One of the largest waterfalls in Victoria, It’s also the only one in the Grampians that flows all year ‘round.

If you’ve been blessed with good weather, there’s one thing you don’t want to miss, a Grampians sunset. Head up to Reed Lookout and walk the 1km to reach The Balconies. There you’ll enjoy epic, panoramic views of Victoria Valley and the surrounding ranges in beautiful, golden hour light.

DAY 3

Halls Gap to Warrnambool

Depart: Halls Gap

O/night: Warrnambool

Distance: 161 kilometres 

Morning

It’s time to wave goodbye to your kangaroo friends and head for the coast! Do keep an eye out for more wildlife as leaving Halls Gap, especially curious koalas and emus.

If you’d like some incredible food to go with that fur, travel to the adorable town of Dunkeld, where you’ll find the Royal Mail Hotel. This two hatted, icon of regional dining has a bistro, Parker Street Project, and a fine dining restaurant, Wickens at Royal Mail Hotel. If you haven’t tasted enough wine, Royal Mail Hotel also has an award-winning, 25,000 bottle wine cellar, so cheers to that.

Afternoon / evening

Visit a state of the art Aquaculture Centre & Café on the shores of Tae Rak (Lake Condah) which offers Aboriginal cultural experiences throughout the World Heritage listed Budj Bim Cultural Landscape in southwest Victoria. Gunditjmara guided cultural tours of the landscape show visitors how Gunditjmara people worked with the natural resources and environment of the region to establish a permanent place of human society dating back 30,000 years. Visitors see first hand age old lava flows, evidence of stone huts and fish traps and ancient aquaculture systems.

Next, check into your accommodation in the lovely seaside town of Warrnambool, and the Lady Bay Resort is a great choice. The first Hot Springs Hotel in Victoria is next door the Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs, it’s the perfect place to relax, rejuvenate and replenish. There are 15 hot spring bathing experiences as well as massage Day Spa services, so you’ll come out feeling like new.

DAY 4

Warrnambool to Point Lonsdale

Depart: Warrnambool

O/night: Queenscliff

Distance: 290 kilometres

Morning

If you’re lucky enough to be here between June and September, Warrnambool’s wild coast is famous for whale watching. Every year, magnificent female Southern Right Whales return to the waters of Logans Beach to calve. Otherwise, why not head to Middle Island to see the colony of Little Penguins. And don’t be alarmed by the Maremma dogs, in a world-first, these amazing animals have been trained to protect the penguins during breeding season!

The amazing natural beauty continues as you drive from Warrnambool to the epic 12 Apostles in Port Campbell. The 12 Apostles are epic limestone rock stacks that rise majestically from the Southern Ocean. There’s a viewing platform to see them and take amazing photos from, and you can also wander down Gibson Steps to the beach to see them from a different angle.

Explore the gorgeous and historic Loch Ard Gorge, before you go on to Apollo Bay. On the way make a stop at Wildlife Wonders for a 75-minute, guided walk through the magical Otways. Or walk through the treetops of the Otways at Otway Fly Treetop Adventures.

Afternoon / evening

If you’ve walked up an appetite, head to the Apollo Bay Fish Co-Op for lunch, where you can enjoy fish and chips with a view, and even try the Southern Rock Lobster the Co-Op is famous for. Then hit the drive to rival any other, the Great Ocean Road. Make sure you drive carefully, and stop frequently at the amazing lookouts along the way, like Teddy’s Lookout and Mount Defiance Lookout. If you’re travelling between June and October, you might even see whales!

 Stay in the beautiful village of Queenscliff at BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Queenscliff Beacon.

DAY 5

Point Lonsdale to Melbourne

Depart: Queenscliff

O/night: Melbourne

Distance: 106 kilometres 

Morning

Explore the lovely Bellarine Peninsula, visit some wineries and buy some local produce.

Afternoon / evening

 Head into Geelong for a stroll along the sparkling waterfront. If the sun’s still out, take a dip at Eastern Beach or a ride on the Giant Sky Wheel. 

Werribee Open Range Zoo is a fitting way to finish your five days by going on an African Safari, just 30 minutes from Melbourne. With over 200 hectares of beautiful natural surrounds that are home to giraffes, zebras, rhinos and much more, a fun way to end your Great Southern Touring Route nature and wildlife adventure.