V I C T O R I A • A U S T R A L I A

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Great Southern Touring RouteGREAT OCEAN ROAD GRAMPIANS BALLARAT GOLDFIELDS

CONSUMER BROCHURE

> Great Ocean Walk

The best of Australia’s natural attractions, coastal scenery, history and herThis magical journey throughsome of the most exciting,enchanting and exquisitelydifferent landscapes in Australiais found in the south-west ofVictoria, the nation’s smallestmainland state.

Marvellous Melbourne, the cosmopolitan

capital with its dramatic towers, art

galleries, restaurants and charming river, is

a natural starting and finishing point.

The romance of the Great Ocean Road,

with its rugged coastline, lush forests and

overpowering sense of freedom, is an

unforgettable experience. The road also

links the major regional cities of Geelong

and Warrnambool, both vibrant destinations

in their own right.

The soaring mountains of The Grampians

National Park have been the spiritual

heartland of the Aboriginal people for tens

of thousands of years. Their ancient rock

art is all part of the enriching experience of

a visit to the Grampians.

Ballarat and its Goldfields are a heady mix

of the romance and majesty of the 1850s

gold rush and a whole range of modern

treasures.

Native Australian wildlife abounds across

the region, including kangaroos, koalas,

platypus, native birds and Australian

wildflowers.

Top 10 Must do experiences

> Great Ocean Road 1. Majestic scenery: Drive the

exhilarating Great Ocean Road, taking in

highlights like the famous Bells Beach,

the seaside towns of Lorne and Apollo

Bay and the dramatic coastline of the

Shipwreck Coast, including the Twelve

Apostles, Port Campbell and Port Fairy.

The regions rich maritime history is re-

created at Flagstaff Hill in Warrnambool.

2. Surf culture: Torquay is the surfing

capital of Australia with its beaches, surf

museum and an all surfing shopping

centre. Also home to Bells Beach.

3. The Twelve Apostles: The icon of

the Great Ocean Road coast, the

majestic limestone stacks rising up out

of the ocean. They can be viewed from

a helicopter or from a boardwalk for

easy walking and great views.

4. Wildlife: Southern Right Whales

come to Warrnambool’s Logans Beach

each year between June and September

to give birth to the calves. Other wildlife

along the road includes koalas at

Kennett River, Cape Otway and Tower

Hill and the friendly mob of kangaroos

on the golf course at Anglesea.

> Grampians 5. MacKenzie Falls: The roar of falling

water, the magic of the rising mists are

just part of the charm of these falls, one

of four in the MacKenzie River Gorge.

6. Soaring peaks: The centrepiece of

Victoria’s Western District, the

Grampians are three mountain ranges

that rise majestically from the plains

with their lakes and valleys. Rock-

climbing, bushwalking and wildlife

spotting are just some of the adventure

activities available. The Grampians

region is also home to some of

Australia’s finest vineyards.

7. Rock art: The Grampians contain

some of the best examples of Aboriginal

rock art in Australia. Visit Brambuk - The

National Park and Heritage Centre to

learn the story of these ancient works.

> Ballarat Goldfields 8. Gold!: The Ballarat Goldfields capture

much of the spirit of colonial Victoria.

When gold was discovered in the region

in the mid 19th Century, it changed the

state forever. The riches quickly turned

Ballarat from a city of tents into a place

of ornate buildings including the

magnificent Fine Art Gallery.

9. Ballarat Wildlife Park: Enjoy close

contact with Australian native animals.

Feed the free-roaming kangaroos.

10. Sovereign Hill: Re-creates the

days of the goldfields, scene of one of

just two civil up-risings in the history of

Australia. Blood on the Southern Cross,

an explosive light and sound show, tells

the story of that battle.

> Surfing, Torquay > Helicopter flight, Twelve Apostles

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heritage - all in a flexible, compact, touring package.

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> Koala > Aboriginal Art > Daylesford

VICTORIAAUSTRALIA

Geelong & Great Ocean RoadBREATHTAKING LANDSCAPES & FASCINATING ATTRACTIONS

A museum telling the story of surfing in

Australia and an all-surfing shopping precinct

welcomes visitors year round.

The Great Ocean Road is many things:

Conde Nast travel magazine says it is one

of the top 20 journeys of a lifetime.

Frommer’s, the American travel bible, puts

it in the top 10 road trips on the planet.

The road is also the world’s biggest war

memorial, built by soldiers returned from

fighting in Europe and the Middle East in

the First World War in honour of their fallen

comrades. One of many ‘must dos’ along

the road is a stop over at Eastern View for

a photograph under the Great Ocean Road

Arch, or alongside the newly sculptured,

life-sized, bronzed monument ‘The Diggers’.

Clinging to the coastline, the road is at its

most spectacular between Lorne and

Apollo Bay.

There’s the chance to see koalas,

kangaroos and other Australian wildlife

at Kennett River.

Waterfalls also abound. Some, like Erskine

Falls, are a short walk from the road, others

like the famous Triplet Falls, take a little

longer to reach but well worth the effort.

Beyond Apollo Bay, the road goes inland

temporarily, running through the Great

Otway National Park. A short detour to the

Cape Otway Lightstation is another ‘must

do’’. Views of the rugged coastline from

the lightstation are magnificent.

There’s also the chance to take a few steps

on the Great Ocean Walk, the seven-day

trek from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles.

The Otway Fly Treetop Walk is a great way

to see native fauna, including specimens of

the Mountain Ash, the tallest flowering

trees in Australia, at their finest.

Geelong, an easy hour’s drivealong the Princes Freeway fromMelbourne, is the eastern gatewayto the dramatic coastline of theGreat Ocean Road.

It is also Victoria’s second largest city. One

of the ‘must dos’ for any visitor to Geelong

is to take a boat ride on, or a flight over,

sparkling Corio Bay. The venue for major

sailing regattas, the bay is also a fine working

port. The Geelong Waterfront has excellent

restaurants and cafés with tables looking

out over the water and the impressive

display of colourful bollards telling the

history of the city. There are also museums

and a magnificent Botanic Gardens featuring

both local and international flora.

Another ‘must do’ is a trip to the pretty

seaside villages of the Bellarine Peninsula.

It is home to some of the region’s best

wineries and beaches.

No visit to the Great Ocean Road is complete

without a stop over in Torquay. Torquay is

Australia’s surfing capital as well as being the

official start of the road, The Rip Curl Pro,

the world’s longest running professional

surfing tournament, is held at Bells Beach

each Easter.

HIGHLIGHTS> Geelong Waterfront

> ‘The Diggers’ Statue at Eastern View

> Great Ocean Road

> Great Otway National Park

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Great Ocean Road - Twelve Apostles & BeyondONE OF THE WORLD’S GREAT COASTAL DRIVES

The Twelve Apostles, the gigantic limestone

rock stacks that rise majestically from the

Southern Ocean are a ‘must do’.

Boardwalks, viewing platforms and an

interpretive centre make it easy to see and

understand this truly awe-inspiring scenery.

For the best view a helicopter ride over the

coastline to see all the magnificent

limestone stacks is highly recommended.

The scores of ships that have been wrecked

in the treacherous coastal waters have given

this section of the Great Ocean Road the

well-earned name of the Shipwreck Coast.

More of nature’s beauty is revealed in the

Bay of Islands Coastal Park on the drive to

Warrnambool.

This picturesque city overlooks the deep

blue of the Southern Ocean and has a long,

maritime history. These remarkable times

are recaptured at the city’s major attraction,

Flagstaff Hill, a state heritage listed

precinct and the maritime interpretive

attraction of the Great Ocean Road.

Flagstaff Hill also features a spectacular

sound and laser light show ‘Shipwrecked’

recreating the tragic story of the Loch Ard

disaster more than 125 years ago.

The city is also famous for the female

Southern Right Whales that visit between

June - September each to give birth to

their calves.

Remnants of ancient volcanic activity can

be seen at nearby Tower Hill. The

expansive reserve brims with birdlife,

kangaroos, koalas and emus.

Just 20 minutes further along the road is

the intimate historic harbour village of Port

Fairy. One of Victoria’s earliest ports, Port

Fairy has dozens of beautiful buildings to

remind visitors of its colourful past.

The Great Ocean Road is one ofthe world’s great coastal drives.Hugging the seaside on thesouth-west coast of Victoria,it passes through some of themost dramatic scenery inAustralia, including the worldfamous Twelve Apostles.

The Great Ocean Road connects Cape

Otway to Port Fairy, with the city of

Warrnambool in between.

The Great Ocean Road briefly leaves the

coast as it heads through Lavers Hill.

One of the most impressive and beautiful

rainforest walks is easily accessed at nearby

Melba Gully, just off the Great Ocean Road.

At night the glow worms can be seen

sparkling in the deep forest. Guided tours

are available.

As the road returns to the coast at

Princetown, the majesty of the Port

Campbell National Park quickly begins to

unfold. A procession of huge natural features

loom large. Blowholes roar with spouting

water and the sea boils around the towering

rock stacks and cliff bases.

HIGHLIGHTS> Twelve Apostles

> Flagstaff Hill

> Tower Hill

> Port Fairy

Grampians National Park & SurroundsSPACE TO BREATHE

Other natural features in the region include

the Kanawinka Geopark. Highlights include

Mt Rouse, Mt Eccles and Nigretta Falls.

Visitors have little trouble finding great food

and wine to go with the brilliant scenery of

the Grampians. Vines were first planted in

the region in the 19th Century. Today they

produce sparkling wines, crisp whites and

classic reds. A ‘must do’ is a wander

through the kilometres of underground

cellars at Seppelts - Great Western. Wines

can be purchased at the cellar door.

The Grampians National Park has many

excellent walks, some easy, some demanding

like climbs to the top of Mt Sturgeon, the

Pinnacle, Mt Abrupt and Mt William – the

highest peak in the National Park.

Many of the walks are designed to take in

the views and also the Aboriginal rock art

sites found in the area. There are a number

of strategically placed lookout platforms on

the Mt Victory Road, the main road leading

to the most accessible viewing areas of

the National Park.

A walk at twilight, or even at night offers

the chance to see some of the nocturnal

native animals including owls, possums

and koalas.

More than 200 bird species live in the

Grampians and kangaroos abound

throughout.

There are a number of towns and villages

within the Grampians region offering

travellers excellent accommodation and

fine dining opportunities including Dunkeld,

Hamilton, Ararat, Stawell and Halls Gap which

is located in the heart of the National Park.

There are more than 400 millionyears of history in the Grampians,the verdant mountains risingfrom the vast landscapesof the Western District plains.They are the setting for thelargest collection of Aboriginalrock art in Australia.

The Aboriginal history of the region dates

back more than 10,000 years. Brambuk,

the National Park and Cultural Centre in the

Grampians National Park, is a ‘must do’ for

visitors keen to learn about local Aboriginal

culture and pick up the best information

and interpretation of the national park.

The Grampians offer many adventure

activities including rock-climbing, bushwalking,

or just enjoying the view from the many

lookouts perched on craggy mountain tops.

There are a number of waterfalls, the best-

known MacKenzie Falls, one of four in the

MacKenzie River Gorge. Spring, when it is

framed by wildflowers, is the best time to

visit Beehive Falls, an easy walk from

Roses Gap.

HIGHLIGHTS> Waterfalls and wildlife

> Wineries

> Aboriginal and pastoral heritage

> Grampians mountain ranges

Ballarat GoldfieldsCITIES AND TOWNS OF GOLD

experience for visitors, allowing them

to pan for gold or ride on a stagecoach.

There’s also a working bakery, blacksmith,

lolly shop and theatre with live shows.

Another ‘must do’ of the Eureka story is the

Eureka Centre that stands on the site of the

uprising and has a number of interactive and

static displays, including a complete list of

those involved in the rebellion.

Ballarat has many other attractions. These

include botanic gardens featuring fabulous

displays of begonias, Lake Wendouree,

wildlife parks and a 23-kilometre long

Avenue of Honour.

The regions around Ballarat contain many

fascinating villages and towns, some with

their own stories of the gold rush to tell,

others famous as Spa Retreats.

Daylesford and Hepburn Springs combine

under the title of Australia’s Spa Capital -

places to really stay in the lap of luxury.

The mineral waters rising up from beneath

the ground have been attracting visitors for

more than 150 years.

Visitors can bottle their own at a number

of places in the region. Accommodation,

restaurants and spa centres in both towns

are of the highest standard.

Wine is regarded as the new gold in the

Ballarat region. Some of Australia’s best

wineries can be found within a short drive

of the city. Most wineries have cellar door

sales, some also have restaurants.

Fresh produce which can be purchased

at the farm gate is another reason to strike

out into the countryside around Ballarat.

Ballarat is the gateway to theGoldfields region. The city’sclassic colonial architecturestretched out along broad,tree-lined streets reflects theriches taken from the groundafter gold was discovered inthe 19th Century.

The city is also regarded as the birthplace

of Australian democracy. Ballarat was the

setting for one of just two civil uprisings

in Australia’s modern history, the Eureka

Rebellion. This battle between troopers and

miners has left a stirring legacy in Ballarat.

Among a major collection of Australian art,

The Ballarat Fine Art Gallery also houses

the original Eureka flag under which the

miners fought and 22 of them died. Four

troopers were also killed in the brief battle.

Blood on the Southern Cross, a dramatic

and fiery sound and light show, retells the

story of the bloody uprising each night at

Sovereign Hill, one of the finest tourist

attractions in Australia.

Constantly upgraded as a finely detailed

recreation of a gold mining town,

Sovereign Hill provides an interactive

HIGHLIGHTS> Historic buildings & beautiful

streetscapes

> History of Australia’s political& social culture

> Food & Wine

> Spa Capital

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Touring> 6 days/5 nights Melbourne – Great Ocean Road – Grampians – Ballarat

Day 3Great Ocean Road to Grampians

> Depart: Warrnambool/Port Fairy

> Overnight: Halls Gap/Dunkeld

> Distance: Approx 160 kilometres.

> Route summary: Drive through the

fertile Western District farmland to

Dunkeld, southern gateway to the magic

and mystery of the Grampians National

Park. Discover the Aboriginal history of

the region at Brambuk – The National

Park and Cultural Centre in Halls Gap.

Take a short bushwalk to meet Australian

native animals.

> Highlights: Brambuk – the National Park

and Cultural Centre, MacKenzie Falls,

bushwalking, wildlife, Aboriginal rock art.

Day 4Grampians to Ballarat

> Depart: Halls Gap/Dunkeld

> Overnight: Ballarat

> Distance: 135 kilometres

> Route summary: Visit Ararat, the only

town in Australia founded by Chinese

settlers. Drive through some of

Australia’s finest wine-making country,

stopping to buy at cellar doors along the

way. Learn all about Ballarat and it’s

stories of the gold rush days.

> Highlights: Gum San Chinese Heritage

Centre, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, The

Eureka Centre, Sovereign Hill and Blood

on the Southern Cross.

Day 5Ballarat to Spa Country

> Depart: Ballarat

> Overnight: Daylesford/Hepburn Springs

> Distance: Approx 50 kilometres

> Route summary: A real chance to

indulge in Australia’s famous spa country.

Drink the mineral waters bubbling up

from the earth, enjoy a massage and

other lavish beauty treatments then stay

in luxury replete with fine wining and

dining.

> Highlights: Salus Spa at Lake House,

Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, The Eureka

Centre, Sovereign Hill and Blood on the

Southern Cross.

Day 6Spa Country to Melbourne

> Depart: Daylesford/Hepburn Springs

> Overnight: Melbourne

> Distance: Approx 170 kilometres

> Route summary: Spend time taking in

the pleasures of both Daylesford and

Hepburn Springs before making the

journey back to Melbourne, then spend

the night enjoying the myriad delights of

marvellous Melbourne.

> Highlights: Salus Spa at Lake House,

minerals springs, restaurants, fresh

regional produce.

Day 1Melbourne to Great Ocean Road

> Depart: Melbourne

> Overnight: Torquay

> Distance: 98 kilometres

> Route summary: Leave Melbourne,

heading west over the West Gate Bridge

and the Yarra River towards the open

plains of Werribee. Have coffee or lunch

in Geelong on Corio Bay before heading

along the Surf Coast Highway, or via the

beautiful Bellarine Peninsula, to Torquay,

official start of the Great Ocean Road and

Australia’s surfing capital.

> Highlights: Werribee Zoo, Werribee

Park, Geelong Waterfront, Geelong

Botanic Gardens, National Wool

Museum, Narana Creations,

Pettavel Winery & Restaurant.

Day 2Great Ocean Road

> Depart: Torquay

> Overnight: Warrnambool/Port Fairy

> Distance: Approx 240 kilometres.

> Route summary: Drive the Great Ocean

Road past sandy beaches, rugged cliffs,

the mighty Twelve Apostles (best seen

from a helicopter), the Bay of Islands (try

seeing them at sunset) and on to

Warrnambool or the pretty fishing village

of Port Fairy.

> Highlights: Cape Otway Lightstation,

Otway Fly, Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard

Gorge, Port Campbell, Bay of Islands,

Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and

Shipwrecked sound and laser show,

Logans Beach, Tower Hill, Moyne River.

> For more information and itineraries: www.greatsoutherntouring.com.au/holiday or contact your travel agent