11 DAYS SELF-DRIVE FAMILY ADVENTURE IN VICTORIA

Upon arrival in Melbourne Airport, pick up your rental car (Intermediate SUV Auto, e.g. Subaru Forester or similar), and make your way to your hotel in central Melbourne. (approx. 30km, 25min).

Melbourne At Leisure

The day is at your leisure to explore the city. Take in the vibrant Arts precinct, Flinders Street Station, Federation Square and the grand Victorian civic buildings of Spring Street then set off on foot to meander through Melbourne’s labyrinth of laneways and arcades. Browse the boutiques of Block and Royal Arcades, admire Hosier Lane’s urban art scene or simply take a moment to soak up the continental atmosphere of Centre Place.

Wake up fresh from a good night’s rest and ready to commence your exploration of Victoria.

Private Deluxe Safari at Werribee Open Range Zoo

Start your adventure with a safari at the Werribee Open Range Zoo south of Melbourne (approx. 35km, 30min). Enjoy an exclusive deluxe safari trip, where you can see rhinoceros, giraffes, zebras and antelopes grazing on the grassy plains or come face-to-face with gorillas, a pride of lions, monkeys and cheetahs.

Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula Self-Drive

Continue onwards the bayside city of Geelong (approx. 50km, 40min), where you can stop for lunch. Explore the nearby Bellarine Peninsula, and wander around the Victorian-era seaside town of Queenscliff, before driving down to Torquay (approx. 40km, 40min).

Torquay Private Surfing Class (2hrs)

Start the day with a splash on thrilling private surfing class with experienced instructors and surfers themselves who can tailor the lesson to your specific skill level. Enjoy pristine beaches and perfect waves along one of the most amazing strips of coast in Australia.

Torquay to Cape Otway Self-drive

Torquay is the official start of the Great Ocean Road, one of the most gorgeous driving landscapes in Australia. Not far from Torquay is the iconic memorial archway at Eastern View (approx. 35km, 30min) and a further 15 minutes takes you to the pretty coastal town of Lorne, where you can stop for lunch. Walk off your hearty meal with a visit of the 30m tall Erskine Falls in the surrounding rainforest.

Continue onwards to Cape Otway for a special stay in an ecolodge in the national park (approx. 70km, 1hr 20min drive), where you can see native animals in the wild and help with rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife.

Cape Otway At Leisure

In the morning, visit to the Cape Otway Light Station, the oldest surviving lighthouse in mainland Australia. Next, at the Otway Fly Treetop Adventures, take a relaxing treetop walk or an exhilarating zip-line adventure in the heart of the rainforest. For lunch, discover local gourmet products on the Otway Harvest Trail.

Cape Otway Platypus Experience (3hrs)

Enjoy a canoe ride on a beautiful mountain lake at dusk with an experienced guide to see this elusive Australian native in its natural habitat, either swimming in the lake, or in a pristine eucalyptus forest.

Depart Cape Otway for the 12 Apostles (approx. 70km, 1hr). 

12 Apostles Helicopter Flight (15min)

Enjoy a private helicopter flight to soak up a spectacular panoramic view of Victoria's famous limestone stacks and other highlights, such as Loch Ard Gorge, Bakers Oven, Sentinel Rock, Port Campbell, Two Mile Bay, The Arch and London Bridge.

Great Ocean Walk At Leisure

If time permits, enjoy the iconic sights from the ground – hiking enthusiasts can walk a part of the Great Ocean Walk which ends at the 12 Apostles.

Warrnambool At Leisure

Continue on to Warrnambool (approx. 70km, 1hr) to visit Flagstaff Hill, a fascinating historical village showcasing life in a 19th century seaport. Between May and October, you can see southern right whales – a private whale watching cruise can be arranged (additional costs apply).

Tower Hill Nature Reserve At Leisure

Visit the Tower Hill Nature Reserve, an enormous volcanic crater to the west of Warrnambool where it's easy to see koalas, kangaroos, emus and native birds.

Drive through the rolling farmland of the Western Districts – we recommend a lunch stop in Dunkeld – before you reach the Grampians.

Grampians National Park & Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre

At Grampians National Park, gain a new perspective from the park’s well-known lookouts – Boroka, Reed and the Balconies – all set with stunning views over the Mount William and Wonderland Ranges. This world-class destination is owned and operated by Australia’s Aboriginal people, be sure to stop at the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre, where you can enjoy didgeridoo workshops, bush food tasting, boomerang painting and throwing lessons. Enjoy a 1hr tour of ancient rock art with an aboriginal guide while learning about the traditions of one of Australian’s oldest people.

Grampians National Park Hike At Leisure

Your final morning in the Grampians should include exploring the area's Aboriginal rock art sites and hiking trails.

Grampians National Park Wineries & Ararat Self-Drive

Depart to Ballarat (approx. 150km, 1hr 45min). En route, explore some of the region's historic wineries with a delightful offering of sparkling wines and old vine shiraz, and then continue on to Ararat to learn about the gold rush from a different perspective, the only town in Australia founded by Chinese miners.

Soveign Hill At Leisure (Full Day)

Spend the day at Sovereign Hill, a living museum goldfields town that re-creates Ballarat's first 10 years after the 1851 discovery of gold, when thousands of international adventurers came in search of fortune. It's set on an original mining site, with costumed characters bringing the shops, hotels, theatre, school, factories, gold diggings and underground mines to life. Take an underground mine tour, pan for real gold, watch a $150,000 gold pour, visit the gold museum, ride in a horse-drawn carriage and use pen and ink in the one-room schoolhouse. In the evening, watch Sovereign Hill's multimillion-dollar sound-and-light show, Blood on the Southern Cross, which tells the dramatic story of the 1854 Eureka Rebellion, in which miners rebelled against unfair government gold taxes and swore allegiance to the Southern Cross flag.

Ballarat At Leisure 

Today, head to the Ballarat Wildlife Park to see native Australian animals and reptiles in the natural bush, and Kryal Castle, Australia's only medieval adventure park – it will be a fun and interactive day for the young ones!

Creswick Woollen Mills

En route to Daylesford (approx. 50km, 45min), make a detour to Creswick Woollen Mills, the last coloured woollen spinning mill in Australia, where you can feed alpacas, see the interactive exhibit and shop for fine natural materials.

Daylesford At Leisure

Daylesford is well known for its gourmet food and mineral springs – spend the day to explore the region on the Daylesford Macedon Produce Trail to find gourmet products and meet producers, or wander through the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens (with an excellent restaurant). Drive out to explore Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm’s historic stone buildings, which overlook the lavender fields that supply the raw materials for the farm-made lotions and creams.

We will be happy to book a table at your hotel’s esteemed restaurant using seasonal, organic and regional produce for a wonderful end to your adventure in Victoria.

After breakfast, transfer to Melbourne airport (approx. 170km, 2hr) for your onward journey.