Goldfields & the Grampians

Why Go?History, nature and culture combine spectacularly in Victo-ria’s regional heart. For a brief time in the mid-19th century, more than a third of the world’s gold came out of Victoria and, today, the spoils of all that precious metal can be seen in the grand regional cities of Bendigo and Ballarat, and the charming towns of Castlemaine, Kyneton and Maldon. This is a fantastic region for touring, with a range of contrast-ing landscapes, from pretty countryside and green forests, red earth and granite country, to farmland, orchards and wineries.

Further west, there’s a different type of history to experi-ence at the Grampians National Park, one of Victoria’s great natural wonders. Some 80% of Victoria’s Aboriginal rock-art sites are found here, and the majestic ranges are an adven-turer’s paradise, lording it over the idyllic Wartook Valley and the towns of Halls Gap and Dunkeld.Best Places

to Eat¨¨ Royal Mail Hotel (p212)

¨¨ GPO Bar & Grill (p200)

¨¨ Dispensary Enoteca (p200)

¨¨ Empyre Hotel (p204)

¨¨ Flouch’s (p201)

Best Places to Stay¨¨ Shamrock Hotel (p199)

¨¨ Theatre Royal Back Stage (p203)

¨¨ D’Altons Resort (p211)

¨¨ Little Desert Nature Lodge (p214)

¨¨ Comfort Inn Sovereign Hill (p193)

When to Go

Easter Join the dragon proces-sion at the Bendigo Easter Festival.

Mar–May Autumn colours, hiking and wine touring without the crowds.

Sep–Nov When the wildflowers bloom in Grampians National Park.

F DNOSAJJMAMJ

Ballarat°C/°F Temp Rainfall inches/mm

0

12/300

4/100

8/200

10/50

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-10/14

30/86

40/104

20/68

Ballarat ...................... 190Bendigo . . . . . . . . . . . .196Castlemaine . . . . . . . 202Grampians National Park (Gariwerd) . . . . .207Halls Gap . . . . . . . . . . .210Dunkeld & the Southern Grampians . . 212Mt Arapiles State Park . . . . . . . . . . 213Little Desert National Park . . . . . . . 213

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Rupanyup

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Horsham

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Hamilton

Coleraine

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Casterton

Merino

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State ParkBlack Range

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(1167m)Mt William

(Mt Murdadjoog)Mt Abrupt

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1 Discover the traditional stories of Gariwerd at Brambuk Cultural Centre (p210) in Halls Gap

2 Descend deep into a gold mine then ride the talking tram in Bendigo (p196)

3 ride the restored steam train (p202) from Maldon to Castlemaine

4 Camp under the stars in Little Desert National Park (p213)

5 Scale the granite heights at Mt Arapiles (p213), Victoria’s best rock-climbing destination

Goldfields & the Grampians Highlights