Highlights
- Return Airfare
- Awesome drive along Great Ocean Road
- Admission to Sovereign Hill and Gold Museum
- Admission to Werribee Open Range Zoo
- Wildlife Wonder Guided Tour
- 6 nights accommodation
- 6 days Hertz car rental (1.8-litre)
Depart Singapore Changi Airport for your flight to Melbourne.
(Drive Time: 1.5 hrs)
Upon arrival,
collect your car rental at the airport and travel to the living museum of
Sovereign Hill. Step back into 1851 as you ride a horse and carriage, dress up
for a sepia portrait and pan for gold, immersing yourself in local history.
There is also a short stroll of the historic local streets will lead you to the
Art Gallery of Ballarat, with an eclectic mix of classic, Indigenous and modern
artworks. Explore the ground floor for ever-evolving exhibitions, and upstairs
for the permanent collection.
Accommodation: Craigs Royal Hotel or similar
(Drive Time: 2 hrs)
This
morning, you may visit the Ballarat Wildlife Park. You’ll see kangaroos,
meerkats, penguins, tigers and even the most enormous saltwater crocodiles! But
the highlight is getting to cuddle a koala! The greatest of the great wildlife
experiences right there! make a wine tasting stop or two along the way, as the
region is home to some of the world’s oldest vines. Blue Pyrenees, Fallen
Giants, Grampians Estate and Mount Langi Ghiran, and Seppelt Great Western all
have excellent shiraz and sparkling – the varietals the region is famous for. Time
to get out into the natural beauty The Grampians is famous for. Head out for a
guided walk along the Grampians Peaks Trail with the guys from Absolute
Outdoors, or go chasing waterfalls – MacKenzie Falls, to be precise. One of the
largest waterfalls in Victoria, It’s also the only one in the Grampians that
flows all year ‘round. If you’ve been blessed with good weather, there’s one
thing you don’t want to miss, a Grampians sunset. Head up to Reed Lookout and
walk the 1km to reach The Balconies. There you’ll enjoy epic, panoramic views
of Victoria Valley and the surrounding ranges in beautiful, golden hour light.
Later, check in at Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park. Here you can stay in a cosy
cabin, or glamp under the stars. Just remember to take the time to say hello to
your friendly neighbours… the hundreds of kangaroos who are permanent residents
of the park!
Accommodation: Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park or similar
(Drive Time: 2 hrs)
It’s
time to wave goodbye to your kangaroo friends and head for the coast! Do keep
an eye out for more wildlife as leaving Halls Gap, especially curious koalas
and emus. In just over an hour, you’ll reach Tower Hill Reserve. Tower Hill is
an inactive volcano and major natural landmark just outside Warrnambool. You
may join their 90-minute interactive tour with an experienced local guide. Lose
yourself in the incredible landscape as you learn about traditional Aboriginal
lifestyles and meet even more furry and feathered friends like emus, kangaroos,
wallabies, echidnas and black swans. Next, check into your accommodation in the
lovely seaside town of Warrnambool.
Accommodation: Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs or similar
(Drive Time: 3 hrs)
Get
ready for great heights when you arrive at Port Campbell to visit the 12
Apostles. Don’t miss these storeys-high, limestone rock stacks rising
majestically from the Southern Ocean at sunset – quite simply, epic. There’s a
viewing platform to see them and take photos from, and you can also wander down
Gibson Steps to the beach to see them from a different angle. Although wherever
you’re snapping from, they really don’t have a bad side as one of the most
incredible natural wonders of the route! From sea to tree, stop at Wildlife
Wonders for a 75-minute, guided walk through The Otways. Your conservationist
guide will share the secrets of the plants and animals that call this bushland
home. And it’s wonderful to know that this is a sustainable wildlife
experience, with all profits going directly to conserving the unique flora and
fauna of the area.
Accommodation: Great Ocean Road Resort or similar
(Drive Time: 3 hrs)
The Sea
All Dolphin Swims experience is waiting for you in Queenscliff. The friendly
and experienced crew will take you out onto Port Phillip Bay for 3.5 hours,
where you’ll swim with baby fur seals and look out for playful dolphins along
the way. When you can bear to tear yourself away from the view, head into
Geelong for a stroll along the sparkling waterfront. If the sun’s still out,
take a dip at Eastern Beach or a ride on the Giant Sky Wheel. Then, pop into
the Café Narana for a coffee. It’s a café that incorporates indigenous and
non-indigenous ingredients and the painted ceiling speaks the stories of the
Dreamtime. Werribee Open Range Zoo is a fitting way to finish your five days by
going on an African Safari, just 30 minutes from Melbourne. With over 200
hectares of beautiful natural surrounds that are home to giraffes, zebras,
rhinos and much more, a fun way to end your Great Southern Touring Route nature
and wildlife adventure.
Accommodation: Oaks Premier Melbourne or similar
Spend
the day at leisure.
- Queen Victoria Market is more than just Melbourne’s shopping mecca – it’s an historic landmark, a tourist attraction and an institution for Malburnians. This vast and vibrant centre of trade and commerce was officially opened on 20 March 1878. Spread over 7 hectares, it is the largest open air Market in the southern hemisphere. Almost one thousand traders sell everything from exotic Australian fruit and vegetables and local and imported gourmet foods, meat, fish and poultry to hardware, manchester, clothing and authentic Australian artifacts and souvenirs.
- South Melbourne Market opened in 1867, making it Melbourne's longest continually running market.With almost 150 stalls operated by small business owners, the market features a huge range of products including; fresh fruit and vegetables, butchers, poultry, seafood and delis, groceries and specialty foods, pet food and supplies, men's and women's fashion, footwear, accessories and children's wear, manchester and fabric, homewares and kitchenware, books and stationery, giftware and cards, restaurants, cafes, speciality coffee stores and take-away food, cakes and confectioneries, plans and flowers and much more.
- Melbourne’s laneways and arcades - There’s always an exhilarating thrill to be had when entering Melbourne’s hive of bustling, creative laneways with their covert boutiques, famed restaurants, hole-in-the-wall cafes and astonishing bars. Never forget those tried and true laneways, favoured for their reliability.
If time permits, you can do some last-minute shopping at Harbour Town Melbourne before you return your car at the airport and catch your flight home.
The above itinerary is a suggested self-drive programme only. Refer to inclusion list on top for actual inclusions.
NOTE: Prices exclude airport taxes & surcharges. All hotel & seats reservations are subject to availability. Any increase in room rates arising from the events and conventions shall be borne by customers.