Drives To Regional Victoria

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