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Day 01 Melbourne to Apollo Bay
Depart Melbourne via the West Gate Bridge and follow the Princess Highway towards Weribee. The Mansion at Werribee Park was built in the 1870s and is surrounded by extensive manicured grounds and the Victorian State Rose Gardens. Also part of the Werribee Park precinct is the Open Range Zoo where animals from Africa, Asia, North America and Australia roam in open grasslands. Continue to Geelong, Victoria's second-largest city, and explore its historic waterfront; a lively area filled with restaurants and cafés. The Geelong waterfront with its colourful bollards and yachts is a sight to behold.
Breathtaking views of Port Phillip Bay can be seen from the "Rip" Lookout at Point Lonsdale and from here, a short drive to Torquay - the official start of the spectacular coastal drive along the Great Ocean Road. The Surfworld Museum at Torquay documents surfing history in the region and provides interpretative displays. Along with Bells Beach, Torquay is recognised among the world's premier surf locations. Time permitting, you can learn to surf with the experts. 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 the Angahook-Lorne State Park. Approaching Apollo Bay, the contrast between rugged coast and inland forest becomes more spectacular. The stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay is considered by many to be the most picturesque section of the Great Ocean Road. The highway is carved into sheer cliffs that drop away into the ocean, offering commanding views of the waves swelling and crashing onto the rocks and beaches below. This small fishing and farming village is also an excellent base for exploring the waterfalls and rainforests in the Otway National Park whilst enjoying the fresh seafood and local produce. Not to be missed is dinner at award-wining Chris Beaconpoint Restaurant, which overlooks Apollo Bay.
Overnight: Apollo Bay
Day 02 Apollo Bay to Warrnambool
DISTANCE: 169KM, APPROX. TRAVEL TIME: 2.5HR
Continue your journey west from Apollo Bay and walk through breathtaking wilderness, explore secluded beaches or the forest canopy via the Otway Fly Tree Top Walk in the Otway National Park.
Thereafter, drive to Port Campbell National Park to witness nature's marvellous rock formations. This is the most famous section of the Great Ocean Road featuring an amazing collection of rock formations known as the Twelve Apostles - carved out of the headland by the fierce waves of the southern ocean. Spectacular shapes in the nearby cliffs, including Loch Ard Gorge, the Arch, the Blowhole and London Bridge as well as Wreck Beach are also not to be missed.
Adventurous sightseers can take the boardwalks that lead to lookouts and great views of the coastline, which is dotted with plaques and signs that mark the places where more than 160 ships floundered along the aptly named Shipwreck Coast.
An exhilarating helicopter experience over the coastline and rock formations will mark an unforgettable experience!
This leg of the journey ends at Warrnambool, the only city on the Shipwreck Coast. Set on the edge of Lady Bay, Warrnambool boasts a colourful history, which can be explored at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum. Whales migrate along the part of the coastline and can be spotted from lookouts and on boat trips between May and October. The nightly "Shipwrecked" sound and light show is a definite highllight!
Overnight: Warrnambool
 Day 03 Warrnambool to Halls Gap
DISTANCE: 158KM, APPROX. TRAVEL TIME: 2.5HR
Head to the quaint fishing township of Port Fairy from Warrnambool for morning tea. Discover more about maritime history at Port Fairy, a busy fishing port and one of the state's earliest settled coastal villages. Take the time to explore the town's streets and over 50 nineteenth-century buildings classified by the National Trust. From Port Fairy, the Great Southern Touring Route turns north, away from the coast and towards the natural beauty of the Grampians mountain range.
Dunkeld is a beautiful village on the edge of the Grampians. To survey the beauty of the region follow the trail joining Mount Sturgeon and Mount Abrupt, the highest peak in the southern Grampians. The Grampians National Park is famous for some of the most spectacular scenery in Australia and is the perfect place for both relaxation and adventure. Walk to cascading waterfalls or lookouts overlooking rugged mountain ranges and impressive rock formations, and explore bushland and discover the diverse wildlife of the region and a wide variety of birds.
For the more adventurous, try rock climbing or abseiling on the cliffs, pinnacles and bluffs of the Grampians. Guides and equipment are available, so even a novice can give it a go. Along with its natural beauty, the Grampians are home to the largest collection of Aboriginal rock paintings in Victoria.
The town of Halls Gap is the tourist hub of the region. Surrounded by the Wonderland and Mount William ranges, it is a great place to base yourself as you explore the Grampians. It offers accommodation ranging from 5-star villas to basic camping grounds and is close to many of the Grampians' major attractions, including Boroka and Reed's lookouts, McKenzie Falls, Lake Bellfield and Zumsteins.
Overnight: Halls Gap
 Day 04 Halls Gap
From the local village stores, the taste tempting wineries and the colourful galleries to the majesty of the Grampians National Park with its wildflowers and waterfalls, Halls Gap is the heart of this region.
Explore the scenic drives, lookouts, and waterfalls in the beautiful Grampians National Park. Brambuk - The National Park & Cultural Centre located 2.5 kilometres South of Halls Gap shops is a good starting point for anyone intending to explore the park.
Learn about the diverse culture of the local indigenous people at Brambuk - The National Park & Cultural Centre and join a tour of the many ancient aboriginal rock art sites in the area.
Explore the park on foot by choosing from an extensive network of trails criss-crossing the area. Walks such as Venus Baths, Boronia Peak and Chatauqua start from Halls Gap or you can drive to walks such as MacKenzie Falls, Hollow Mountain and Piccaninny which offer a wonderful variety of vegetation and landscapes.
View Australian native animals in the wild throughout the Grampians National Park or visit the Wildlife Park and Zoo on Pomonal Road to see kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats, emus, possums and dingoes as well as deer, waterfowl, ponies and other domestic farm animals in a bushland setting.
Take the Grampians scenic road through the ranges, past towering Mount Abrupt to the quiet little town of Dunkeld. The ranges are 95 kilometres long and 55 kilometres wide and the road follows a beautiful stretch of the Southern Grampians called the Serra Range.
Overnight: Halls Gap
 Day 05 Halls Gap to Daylesford via Ballarat
DISTANCE: 185KM, APPROX. TRAVEL TIME: 2.5HR
Step back to the gold-mining era of the 1850s at Sovereign Hill. See blacksmiths at work, people dressed in Victorian costumes, pan for gold or go down an underground mine. Get up close with Australian wildlife at Ballarat Wildlife Park before heading to Victoria's Spa Country make up of the twin townships of Daylesford and Hepburn Springs. Daylesford is the country town of choice when looking for a bit of peace and quiet with tranquil rural atmosphere, massages, facials and spas, which are all the order of the day. Nearby Hepburn Springs has the largest concentration of mineral springs in Australia and has long been noted for its healing and therapeutic qualities.
Overnight: Daylesford
Day 06 Daylesford
With Australia's largest concentration of naturally occurring mineral springs, a visit to the heart of Spa Country refreshes both body and soul. You can discover the natural waters straight from the spring in and around many of the townships including Daylesford, Hepburn Springs, Kyneton and Blackwood by keeping an eye out for the roadside signs. Make time for some soothing and pampering treatments at one of the many day spas. The twin towns of Daylesford and Hepburn Springs offer a myriad of options, but it is a good idea to book ahead.
A stroll along the main street of Daylesford reveals a good choice of café, restaurant, pub, and takeway fare. The restaurants and local produce in the area are so good that the area has become a favourite weekend retreat for Melburnians. For lovers of the arts, you will be delighted to know that a diverse community of artists call this region home and it is easy to discover unique locally made arts and crafts. Wearable art and decorative pieces are created in the studios of jewellery makers, silversmiths, glass blowers and ceramists. And glass artists, painters, printmakers, Koori artists, mural painters, textile artists and potters add to the colour and texture of this vibrant artistic region.
For a leisurely afternoon consider a browse through the many antique stores and galleries in the area, such as the stylish Convent Gallery at Daylesford. Set in an historic building that was a convent and boarding school for nearly 100 years, the gallery houses sculpture, fine art, pottery, antiques, local fare and jewellery all under the one roof. Visit Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm grows premium lavender, oils and grapes. Italian-speaking Swiss, who came to Daylesford in search of gold, built the stone farm buildings in the 1850s. Wander through neatly patterned lavender fields, and herb and cottage gardens, browse through a large range of home grown lavender products in the Lavandula shop, or eat at the licensed La Trattoria cafe, serving light lunches and delicious teas, utilising their own and other local produce.
Overnight: Daylesford
Day 07 Daylesford to Melbourne
DISTANCE: 170KM, APPROX. TRAVEL TIME: 1.5HR
Spend time taking in the pleasures of Daylesford and Hepburn Springs before making the journey back to Melbourne, then spend the night enjoying the myriad of delights that romantic Melbourne has to offer.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
http://www.greatsoutherntouring.com.au OR
http://www.visitmelbourne.com
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