Just south of Melbourne, 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. Some of the nation’s best-known surf beaches are located at the start of the famous Great Ocean Road, including the legendary Bells Beach – host to the Rip Curl Pro and Sunsmart Surfing Classic each April.

Beyond Bells Beach is Lorne, an ideal place to stop on your journey and take a well-earned lunch break.

The road winds along the coastline towards Apollo Bay, a town on the edge of the Otway Ranges. Walk through breathtaking wilderness, explore secluded beaches or the forest canopy via the Otway Fly Tree Top Walk in the Otway National Park.

Stay Overnight at Apollo Bay
Arcady Homestead
Claerwen Retreat

Continue your journey west from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles, ancient limestone stacks that rise from the ocean. Erosion has created spectacular shapes in the nearby cliffs, including Loch Ard Gorge, the Arch, the Blowhole and London Bridge.

Boardwalks lead to lookouts and great views of the coastline. The coastline is dotted with plaques and signs that mark the places where more than 160 ships foundered along the aptly named Shipwreck Coast. Wreck Beach, just beyond the Twelve Apostles, marks the start of a trail where the anchors of two ships, the Marie Gabrielle (1869) and the Fiji (1891), are embedded in the beach.

Continue to 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. 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.

Stay Overnight at Port Fairy
Shearwater House

From Port Fairy, the Great Southern Touring Route turns north, away from the coast and towards the natural beauty of 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.

Stay Overnight at Halls Gap
Glenisla Homestead
Wartook Gardens

Travel via Horsham and the Wimmera Highway to Naracoorte. Venture into a subterranean world of stalactites, stalagmites and ancient fossils at the Naracoorte Caves, one of only 14 World Heritage-listed sites in Australia.

You can also watch rare southern bent-wing bats at the high-tech Bat Centre, and explore the world of ancient mega fauna at the Wonambi Fossil Centre.

Stay Overnight at Naracoorte
Dartmoor Homestead

Depart Naracoorte for South Australia’s capital - Adelaide