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Embark on the ultimate Australian journey along the famous Great Southern Touring Route. This premium four-day small group tour seamlessly blends dramatic coastlines, majestic mountain ranges, and rich gold rush history into an unforgettable escape. 🌊
Spectacular Coastlines and Native Wildlife
Departing Melbourne, we wind along the scenic, cliff-hugging Great Ocean Road. Stroll the beautifully transformed Geelong waterfront, watch surfers at the legendary Bells Beach, and spot wild Eastern Grey Kangaroos in their native habitat. After a delicious lunch in the seaside village of Lorne, we continue past the historic Memorial Arch to Kennett River, where wild koalas and colourful native birds thrive. 🐨 End your day relaxing in your private self-contained villa overlooking the Southern Ocean before enjoying a superb dinner featuring local produce at the popular Apollo Bay Hotel.
The Shipwreck Coast and Ancient Wonders
Begin your morning with a hearty breakfast at a local favourite, the Bay Leaf Cafe. We then journey through the Otway ranges to the rugged Shipwreck Coast. Stand in awe before the iconic 12 Apostles as they are bathed in the morning sun—perfect for crowd-free photos. Explore the dramatic Loch Ard Gorge, where you will hear the gripping tale of survival and hold genuine shipwreck artefacts. Discover hidden gems like London Bridge and the Bay of Islands, then spot native wildlife at the Tower Hill extinct volcanic crater. Your day concludes at the foot of Mt Sturgeon with an award-winning dining experience at the renowned Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld.
Grampians Peaks and Rich Indigenous Heritage
Travel through the breathtaking Serra and Mt William Ranges into the heart of the Grampians National Park (Gariwerd). Take in spectacular vistas from Boroka and Reid’s Lookouts, feel the mist of MacKenzie Falls, and immerse yourself in ancient culture at the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Bunjil’s Shelter. 🦘 Later, journey to the historic gold mining city of Ballarat. After checking into your accommodation at Sovereign Hill, experience the spectacular ‘Blood on the Southern Cross’ sound and light show, bringing the dramatic 1854 Eureka Rebellion to life.
Ballarat Gold Rush and Sovereign Hill
Step back in time to 1854 at the award-winning Sovereign Hill outdoor museum. Explore working shops, meet costumed characters, pan for real gold in the creek, and descend underground on a guided mine tour. Before returning to Melbourne, get up close with unique Australian fauna—including Tasmanian Devils and crocodiles—at the Ballarat Wildlife Park. ✨
What is Included in Your Journey
- Premium Accommodation: 3 nights in handpicked 3.5 to 4-star accommodation, including a private ocean-view villa and the historic Royal Mail Hotel.
- Gourmet Dining: 3 delicious two-course dinners and 3 cooked breakfasts at local favourite cafes and award-winning restaurants.
- All National Park & Attraction Fees: Full entry to Sovereign Hill, the Gold Museum, a guided mine tour, and the Ballarat Wildlife Park.
- Exclusive Experiences: The spectacular ‘Blood on the Southern Cross’ sound and laser show.
- Convenient Transfers: Round-trip transport from Melbourne with personalised city hotel pick-up and drop-off.
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Glen picked us up at our hotel and we were lucky enough to be the only couple booked that day so got a private tour! Unfortunately there was torrential rain and fog on day one, which disrupted our views, however Glen still managed to time our stops/adjust around the weather to make it an enjoyable day nonetheless. We tried to have a sense of humour about it and he even took us to a craft beer tasting as an alternative activity.
Spectacular dinner at Chris' and simple but decent cottage accommodation.
Did our rain forest walk in the morning and Day 2 was much better weather Glen made sure we had lots of time wherever we wanted to spend it; and we had spectacular views of the 12 apostles and coastline.
We highly recommend this tour to those looking for a more personal experience and a relaxed pace. Glen was an extremely knowledgeable and easy-going guide, and a very safe driver. (Someone in another review mentioned long silences but we appreciated having some quiet time vs having someone talking non-stop for 8-9 hours. ) The choices for meal stops were excellent and the mini-van was comfortable for the long days in the car. Thanks again for a great experience!
Pros: Hotel pickup; great communication; reasonable pricing; well planned itinerary; some hidden, special treats; wildlife, amazing views, fantastic dinner; lovely rest stops; small group; personal guide who is respectful and caring.
Cons: Uncomfortable van seats; long periods of silence (To explain further, I'm loquacious and I like tidbits of information as part of my tours. Glen, our guide is reserved, he offered interesting info at stops, but seldom spoke unless a specific question was asked, and no music or background noise to break the silence, this made day one very long and somewhat boring) We rode back with Eddie who was much more jovial and talkative, a better fit for our personalities; terrible accommodation selection - yes, great views but tired, old, dusty and unkept).















