WARRNAMBOOL - COONAWARRA - GRAMPIANS - BALLARAT
If you've got a week to spare and you want a great driving holiday,
this is the drive to do. Follow the Great Ocean Road (as in Great
Drive 1). Once you get to Port Fairy (there's a great historic walk
around the village) follow the coast road to Portand, Nelson and
Port Macdonnell and you soon get to know why this region is called
the "Shipwreck Coast". After Port Macdonnell turn inland
and head for Mt Gambier.
At Mt Gambier, be sure to see the famous
"Blue Lake" before heading north to the Coonawarra winegrowing
region. After Coonawarra, head east to Casterton and Hamilton before
turning off the highway at Dunkeld. Head north to Halls Gap and
you travel the length of one of the great and unusual rock formations
in Australia, The Grampians. After that, you can make your way back
to Ballarat, which is worth a lengthy stop-over. Highlights of Ballarat
are its lake and botanic gardens, old buildings, Sovereign Hill
gold mining town and impressive art gallery.
You can do this
round trip in four days but allow at least five to really enjoy
it. This is a great drive and you can make a wonderful holiday out
of it with the interesting stops along the way.
Suggested time
to spend at main points of interest:
Port Fairy - morning or an afternoon
Mt Gambier - 2 hours
Coonawarra - day
Halls Gap/Grampians - morning or afternoon
Ballarat - day
See also:
Great South West Walk
Shipwrecks
Cape
Nelson Lighthouse
Glenample
Homestead
Warrnambool Racing Carnival
Warrnambool
Tourist Attractions
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