West of Melbourne Victoria Visitor Information

Great Ocean Road

(262km west of Melbourne)

Trip duration: Two days or longer.

On the road Leave Melbourne via the Princess Highway, stopping at Werribee to visit Werribee Park, a 19th century Italianate mansion surrounded by magnificent gardens and an adjoining zoo. Continue on to Geelong, the Gateway to the Great Ocean Road. In Geelong make time to visit the fascinating National Wool Museum.

GEELONG

Geelong, on Corio Bay, is the largest provincial city in Victoria. A major manufacturing and processing centre, Geelong also has a large petroleum refinery, as well as a traditional wool-selling centre. Of interest is the National Wool Centre, corner of Moorabool and Brougham St which houses three galleries.

Must see

From Geelong, drive to Torquay, renowned for its surfing beaches, including Bells and Jan Juc which attract surfers from all over the world. At Lorne, Victoria’s most popular seaside holiday resort, link up with the Great Ocean Road through to Warrnambool, a town which features the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and home to Australia’s Southern Right Whale Nursery (May to October). The journey takes you through Otway National Park, with its rainforest bushwalks and wide variety of flora and fauna, onwards to coastal highlights such as the famous Twelve Apostles, off-coast rock formations, and part of the Port Campbell National Park. This area is also known as the shipwreck Coast and stretches past the historic fishing village of Port Fairy and through to Portlands, site of Victoria’s first permanent settlement. From here, continue on to Adelaide along coastal roads or travel inland through the winegrowing area of Coonawarra.

For further information, contact: Go Tourism
National Wool Museum
Cnr Moorabool & Brougham Streets
GEELONG VIC 3220
Phone: (052) 22 2900

Goldfields- Ballarat Bendigo

(Ballarat 113km west of Melbourne, Bendigo 150km north west of Melbourne)

Trip duration: Two days

On the road
Depart Melbourne via Western Highway for Ballarat and relive the goldrush days at Sovereign Hill.

A trip to the Goldfields region can be done in either direction starting with Ballarat via the Calder Highway. These towns can also be visited separately in one day.

BALLARAT

Ballarat is Victoria’s country largest city, situated in the Central Highlands. Its inner areas retain much of the charm of its gold-boom era, with many splendid original buildings still standing and parks and gardens adding to its attractive appearance.

Must see

Sovereign Hill is an outdoor museum which tells the story of life in Ballarat in its first ten years, following the discovery of gold in 1851. The streets are bustling with people dressed in the costume of the period. You can pan for real gold or take a ride through the streets in a horse-drawn carriage. Guided tours are run below in the mine and tell the story of reef gold mining. At night visitors can see the sound and light show "Blood on the Southern Cross", the story of the Eureka Rebellion.

Visit the Ballarat Wildlife Park featuring koalas, wombats, Tasmanian devils, free roaming kangaroos and other native wildlife.

Travel via the pretty towns of Daylesford and Hepburn and browse through the many arts and crafts shops and delightful cafes. Visit the Hepburn Springs Spa Complex and the Convent Gallery, if you would like to try the restorative spring baths and spas.

For further information, contact:

Ballarat Visitor Information Centre
Phone: (053) 32 2694

Acknowledgement

Images courtesy of Tourism Victoria

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