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.
Overnight Apollo Bay
Arcady Homestead
Claerwen Retreat

Sample Property on the $250 listing level Old Parliament House is a museum of social and political history, located in a nationally listed heritage building. It is managed as part of the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. The National Portrait Gallery is located within the building.

Acacia Grove Acacia Grove is a traditional B&B where Margaret and Alan welcome you to share their home.

Table Top Mountain Retreat Table Top Mountain Retreat is a 500 hectare wooded property reserved exclusively for visitors to enjoy nature and the open spaces.

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.
Overnight Port Fairy
Shearwater House

Day three brings you into South Australia with a 110-kilometre stretch to Mount Gambier. You’ll pass through the small village of Nelson, situated at the mouth of the Glenelg River. Mount Gambier, built on the slopes of an extinct volcano, is the major centre of the South East and is 486 kilometres from Adelaide. From Mount Gambier, continue to Robe situated on Guichen Bay. As well as being a beautiful fishing port, Robe is also a popular holiday centre. The Princes Highway takes you north to Meningie, and for much of the drive you’ll skirt the Coorong Peninsula.
Overnight Meningie
Poltalloch Station

Approximately 40 kilometres past Wellington is the start of the Fleurieu Way touring route. Continue on to Langhorne Creek, one of Australia’s fastest growing wine regions. It’s gaining a name for excellent reds. From Langhorne Creek head for Goolwa, situated on the last big bend of the River Murray before it meets the sea. Once a bustling nineteenth century river port, Goolwa has a fascinating history which you can find out about at the Signal Point Visitor Information Centre. From Goolwa it’s just a brief drive around the coast via Port Elliot and Middleton to Victor Harbor, a beautiful coastal town on Encounter Bay. It’s been a popular holiday spot for South Australians for generations. Drive from Victor Harbor to Cape Jervis via Range Road. At Cape Jervis is the car-ferry terminal for the crossing to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island. In a full day you can see many of Kangaroo Island’s highlights. Top spots include Seal Bay, Remarkable Rocks and Flinders Chase National Park.
Overnight Kangaroo Island
Stranraer Homestead
Cape Cassini

Backtrack via the car ferry to Cape Jervis, then set course north up the Fleurieu Peninsula to McLaren Vale via Normanville, Yankalilla and Myponga. At McLaren Vale, hub of the southern vales wine region, you can drop in on a selection of fabulous cellar doors before continuing on to Adelaide.