By Matt Granfield (with help from Tourism Victoria)
From cosmopolitan Melbourne, the Great Southern Touring Route takes in the scenic Great Ocean Road, the Shipwreck Coast, the rugged beauty of the Grampians and the historic Goldfields region. This route discovers Victoria’s awesome coastal cliffs, towering rock stacks, waterfalls, surf beaches, underground gold mines and breathtaking natural scenery. The tour begins and ends in Melbourne.
Drive from Melbourne via the West Gate Bridge and follow the Princes Highway towards Geelong. The historic Werribee Park Mansion and Point Cook National Aviation Museum are both accessible from the highway. The Serendip Sanctuary, a 30 minute detour off the highway is a ‘must’. Over 150 species of birds have been recorded in the sanctuary and visitors can view native wildlife, including kangaroos and emus at close range.
Spend some time in Geelong, Victoria’s second largest city, visiting the National Wool Museum. Housed in a century-old, bluestone woolstore, the museum documents Australia’s wool industry from fleece to completed garment. Other features of this provincial city are the restored art deco Eastern Beach Baths Complex, gardens and waterfront promenade.
Travelling from Geelong detour along the nearby vineyards of the Bellarine Peninsula and visit Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff. This historic town combines 19th century Victorian architecture with early fisherman’s cottages and is home to Australia’s largest and best-preserved military fort.
Breathtaking views of Port Phillip Bay can be seen from the ‘Rip’ lookout at Point Lonsdale and from here it is a short drive to Torquay, where the Surfworld Museum documents surfing history in the region.
From cosmopolitan Melbourne, the Great Southern Touring Route takes in the scenic Great Ocean Road, the Shipwreck Coast, the rugged beauty of the Grampians and the historic Goldfields region. This route discovers Victoria’s awesome coastal cliffs, towering rock stacks, waterfalls, surf beaches, underground gold mines and breathtaking natural scenery. The tour begins and ends in Melbourne.
You can even ride on a surfboard. Along with Bells Beach, this coastal town is recognised among the world’s premier surf locations and marks the beginning of the Great Ocean Road. Continue on through the townships of Anglesea and Aireys Inlet to Lorne, a resort-style town combining restaurants and shops with historic properties and natural attractions such as Teddy’s Lookout, Erskine Falls and the Angahook-Lorne State Park.
Leaving Lorne, continue in the direction of Apollo Bay. Along this stretch of road the contrast between rugged coast and inland forest becomes more dramatic. The small fishing and farming village of Apollo Bay is also an excellent base for exploring the waterfalls and rainforests of the Otway National Park.
• Claerwen Retreat 480 Tuxion Road Apollo Bay VIC 3233 Tel: +61 3 5237 7064 Fax: +61 3 5237 7054 Email: cornelia_elbrecht@claerwen.com.au Web: http://www.claerwen.com.au/
• Captain’s at the Bay 21 Pascoe Street Apollo Bay VIC 3233 Tel: +61 3 5237 6771 Fax: +61 3 5237 7337 Email: captains@vicnet.net.au Web: http://www.captains.net.au/
• Chocolate Gunnets Great Ocean Road Apollo Bay VIC 3233 Tel: +61 3 0500 500 139 Fax: +61 3 5989 6494 Email: info@chocolategannets.com.au Web: http://www.chocolategannets.com.au/
• Stewart’s B&B 2 Tuxion Road Apollo Bay VIC 3233 Tel: +61 3 5237 6447 Fax: +61 3 5237 6447 Email: stewartsbb@hotmail.com Web: http://www.stewartsbedandbreakfast.com.au/
• Choice Hotels & Best Western properties available Web: http://www.choicehotels.com.au/ Web: http://www.bestwestern.com.au/
Continue along the Great Ocean Road and as it moves inland, you may wish to take a short detour and follow the signs to Cape Otway. This 13 kilometre drive winds through thick forest canopies to reveal waterfalls, native Australian animals and spectacular coastal views from the headland.
Back on the Great Ocean Road, pass through the Otway National Park. Stop off at Maits Rest and take the self-guided rainforest walking trail through the park. Here, the tall Mountain Ash trees tower over the lush tree ferns and the moss covered vegetation.
The stretch of road from Lavers Hill onward is a highlight. It traces limestone cliffs along the Shipwreck Coast, where more than 50 ships have run aground or struck reefs and sunk. The limestone formations have been carved away from the mainland over thousands of years. These natural monuments form a stunning panorama and are a part of the Port Campbell National Park. Some of the highlights include the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge. View points are signposted with information boards, boardwalks and parking for easy access. Nearing Port Campbell, the road passes by wetlands and estuaries which are inhabited by various species of birdlife and at Peterborough, you will find other natural features, such as the Bay of Martyrs, Massacre Bay and the Bay of Islands.
Continue on to the city of Warrnambool, a one-time whaling centre which now attracts visitors to observe the large mammals. The Southern Right Whale appears each year between May and September and can be viewed at Logans Beach.
It is then a short drive to Port Fairy, one of Victoria’s earliest fishing ports and host of the annual Port Fairy Folk Festival. Many of the limestone and bluestone buildings in the town date from the 1840s and have been classified by the National Trust.
• Hearns Cottage Suites / Victoria Hotel 42 Bank Street Port Fairy VIC 3284 Tel: +61 3 5568 2891 Fax: +61 3 5568 2871 Email: info@vichotel.com Web: http://www.vichotel.com/
• Myndarra Shepherds Cottage RMB 6435 Port Fairy VIC 3284 Tel: +61 3 5568 9201 Fax: +61 3 5568 9201 Email: myndarra@bigpond.com
• Oscars Waterfront Boutique Hotel 41B Gipps Street Port Fairy VIC 3284 Tel: +61 3 5568 3022 Fax: +61 3 5568 3042 Email: info@oscarswaterfront.com Web: http://www.oscarswaterfront.com/
• The Douglas 85 Gipps Street Port Fairy VIC 3284 Tel: +61 3 5568 1016 Fax: +61 3 5568 1888 Email: bed@portfairybed.com Web: http://www.portfairyabed.com/
• Choice Hotels & Best Western properties available Web: http://www.choicehotels.com.au/ Web: http://www.bestwestern.com.au/
Head back towards Warrnambool and take the turnoff for Penshurst before Warrnambool. From Dunkeld, a scenic drive will take you through the Grampians National Park along the Serra Ranges to Halls Gap, an ideal base for bushwalking and discovering native animals in their natural habitat. Highlights include Mt Victoria Lookout, McKenzie Falls and Brambuk The National Park and Cultural Centre, which features Aboriginal art and culture.
The Balconies and Reids Lookout are also popular viewpoints. More information can be found at the National Park Visitor Centre located south of Halls Gap.
• D’Altons Resort Glen Street Halls Gap VIC 3381 Tel: +61 3 5356 4666 Fax: +61 3 5356 4611 Email: dalres@netconnect.com.au Web: http://www.daltonsresort.com.au/
• Glenisla Homestead Henty Highway Glen Isla via Cavendish VIC 3314 Tel: +61 3 5380 1532 Fax: +61 3 5380 1566 Email: glenisla@grampians.net.au
• Marwood 31 Mt Zero Road Halls Gap VIC 3381 Tel: +61 3 5356 4231 Fax: +61 3 5356 4513 Email marwood@netconnect.com.au Web: http://www.marwood.net.au/
• Meringa Springs 2974 Northern Grampians Road Wartook Valley VIC 3401 Tel: +61 3 5383 6363 Fox: +61 3 5383 6300 Email: info@meringasprings.com.au Web: http://www.meringasprings.com.au/
• Boroka Downs Birdswing Road Halls Gap VIC 3381 Tel: +61 3 5356 6243 Fax: +61 3 5356 6343 Email: escape@borokadowns.com.au Web: http://www.borokadowns.com.au/
• Royal Mail Hotel Parker Street (Glenelg Hwy) Dunkeld VIC 3294 Tel: +61 3 5577 2241 Fax: +61 3 5577 2577 Email: info@royalmail.com.au Web: http://www.royalmail.com.au/
• Best Western and Golden Chain properties available Web: http://www.bestwestern.com.au/ Web: http://www.goldenchain.com.au/
Depart Halls Gap for Pomonal, a small village on the edge of the Grampians National Park which provides access to the Lake Fyans Tourist Route and continue on to Ararat. From here it is a direct drive along the Western Highway to Ballarat – a living memorial to the Victorian gold rush of the 1850s. Discover the city’s gardens, well preserved buildings and statues or step back in time and experience the setting and atmosphere of the goldfields at Sovereign Hill – an outdoor living museum. Other attractions include Ballarat Wildlife/Reptile Park and Lake Wendouree.
• Sovereign Hill Lodge Magpie Street Ballarat VIC 3350 Tel: +61 3 5337 1100 Fax: +61 3 5331 1528 Email: enquiries@sovereignhill.com.au Web: http://www.sovereignhill.com.au/
TOURISM VICTORIA
GREAT SOUTHERN TOURING ROUTE
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• Craigs Royal Hotel 10 Lydiard Street South Ballarat VIC 3350 Tel: +61 3 5331 1377 Fax: +61 3 5331 7103 Email: info@craigsroyal.com Web: http://www.craigsroyal.com/
• Sovereign Park Motor Inn 223 Main Road Ballarat VIC 3955 Tel: +61 3 5331 3955 Fax: +61 3 5333 4066 Email: sovpark@netconnect.com.au Web: http://www.ballarat.com/sovpark
• The Ansonia Boutique Hotel 32 Lydiard Street South Ballarat VIC 3350 Tel: +61 3 5332 4678 Fax: +61 3 5332 4698 Email: ansonia@ansonia.ballarat.net.au Web: http://www.ballarat.com/ansonia.htm
• Choice Hotels and Best Western properties available. Web: http://www.bestwestern.com.au/ Web: http://www.choicehotels.com.au/
A direct drive along the Western Freeway will then take you in the direction of Melbourne. Points of interest along the way include The Lerderderg Gorge State Park, which features a popular walking track taking in panoramic views of the dramatic gorge formation. The Brisbane Ranges National Park is also close to the freeway and has many excellent walks. Perhaps tour the Great Grape Road, a scenic circuit through this wine region, which produces some of Australia’s cool-climate wines.
Halls Gap to Daylesford Alternative Approach
Depart Halls Gap for Ararat and then continue along the Pyrenees Highway towards Avoca. There are over 20 vineyards in the Grampians and Pyrenees regions with many centred around these towns. Continue along the Pyrenees Highway to Castlemaine – another typical goldfields town – known for its elegant parks and gardens.
Visit the Art Gallery and Museum and the Old Castlemaine Gaol before continuing along the Midland Highway to Daylesford, located in the heart of ‘spa country’. Spend some time in Daylesford discovering its historic main street and Convent Gallery, a restored Victorian building which houses seven art galleries. A short distance from here is Hepburn Springs, also known for its healing mineral spas and Italian heritage. Early Swiss-Italian settlers built Victoria’s first macaroni factory here, a building now classified by the National Trust. Further on is Shepherds Flat, where you will find Lavandula Lavender Farm.
• Lake House King Street Daylesford VIC 3460 Tel: +61 3 5348 3329 Fax: +61 3 5348 3995 Email: enquiries@lakehouse.com.au Web: http://www.lakehouse.com.au/
• Daylesford Getaways Shop 2, 123 Vincent Street Daylesford VIC 3460 Tel: +61 3 5348 4422 Fax: +61 3 5348 4333 Email: bookings@dayget.com.au Web: http://www.dayget.com.au/ Self contained luxury apartments, hotel, cottage and bed and breakfast accommodation.
• Springs Retreat 124 Main Road Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 Tel: +61 3 5348 2202 Fax: +61 3 5348 2506 Email: stay@thesprings.com.au Web: http://www.thesprings.com.au/
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