Day 01 (BLD) WAGGA WAGGA to TORQUAY: Monday, 18^th November 2024

Welcome to our 5-day tour along the Great Ocean Road. Getting underway we head south, through Albury to Seymour for our lunch stop. We continue on, arriving at the Werribee Park Mansion, long regarded as Victoria’s finest rural colonial homestead.  The mansion, built in the Classical Revival style boasts 60 rooms, a central tower and single-storey arcade. Built of bluestone faced with local freestone, it can be considered an Australian analogue of the English country house and garden and a symbol of Australia’s pastoral elite in the colonial era. We will also spend some time in the adjacent State Rose Garden. It features 4500 plants from 100 species in the shape of a giant Tudor rose. After a glorious afternoon, we drive into Torquay and check into our hotel.

Lunch on journey | Dinner in hotel

The Sands Resort Torquay| 1 night

Day 02 (BLD): GREAT OCEAN ROAD: Tuesday, 19^th November 2024        

Australia’s Great Ocean Road is known as one of the most dramatic coastal drives in the world. The coastline here is absolutely spectacular. Leaving our hotel, we pass through Winky Pop and see the famous Bells Beach before arriving at the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery. Our touring moves away from the coast, as we pass through The Great Otway National Park. After lunch at Lavers Hill we rejoin the coast and travel the full length of the Port Campbell National Park. Amongst the spectacular sites along this section of the coast will be the Twelve Apostles. These huge pillars loom out of the surf, carved out over time by the furious ocean. Continuing on through Port Campbell and Peterborough we arrive at Warrnambool, a beautiful seaside city on the shores of Lady Bay. More than 100 ships and boats were wrecked within 80 kilometres from Warrnambool.

Breakfast and dinner in hotel | lunch the Perch Lavers Hill

Best Western Olde Time Maritime Warrnambool | 2 nights

Day 03 (BLD) PORT FAIRY & WARRNAMBOOL: Wednesday, 20^th November 2024        

This morning, we depart Warrnambool. We take a sightseeing drive through the Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve on our way to Port Fairy. Here we meet a local guide who will enlighten us to the inside stories of Port Fairy before we return to Warrnambool in time for lunch at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. Our focus is then on the maritime history of the region as we enjoy a wander through the State Heritage listed Lady Bay Lighthouse precinct, overlooking Lady Bay. Flagstaff Hill holds the richest collection of Shipwreck artefacts in Australia. Scattered throughout the Village are a range of trades that supported the rich maritime heritage of the late 1800s. This afternoon we visit the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens. The gardens were planned by William Guilfoyle who later became a director of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne. In 1877 he designed an appropriate layout of sweeping lawns, long curving paths where the viewer can gaze into the distance. We head back to our hotel for dinner, then tonight we return to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village to enjoy the wonderful sound and light show called “Tales of the Shipwreck Coast”. This is a spectacular sound and laser show that takes us on a journey through a raging ocean, flanked by an unforgiving coastline.  It is the true story of a Melbourne bound clipper with a priceless statue on board.

Breakfast and dinner in hotel | lunch at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village

Day 04 (BLD) BALLARAT & BENDIGO: Thursday, 21^st November 2024

Farewelling Warrnambool, we leave the sea-breezes behind and head to Ballarat where we spend the morning at Sovereign Hill. It’s just like stepping back in time – from the hustle and bustle of Main Street where costumed ladies and gents parade their new-found wealth, to the excitement of the Red Hill Gully Diggings where you can pan for real gold. We have lunch at Sovereign Hill then mid-afternoon travel to Bendigo. Here we board the Bendigo Talking Tram for an interesting ride through the main areas of Bendigo. On our one-hour tram ride we learn a little about the history of the Goldfields, as well as see some of the stunning historical buildings such as the Shamrock Hotel and the magnificent Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Breakfast and dinner in hotel | lunch at Sovereign Hill

Quality Colonial Bendigo| | 1 nights

 Day 05 (B) BENDIGO TO WAGGA WAGGA: Friday 22^nd November 2024

Our morning is spent exploring the port town of Echuca. This precinct became Australia’s largest inland port in the late 1800’s and is home to Australia’s largest fleet of authentic Paddlesteamers. After a look through the Port of Echuca Discovery Centre we meet up with our local guide and see the docks and old wharf precinct. Late morning, we board the PS Pevensey for a one-hour cruise on the Murray River.  Back on dry land we have some free time to purchase lunch and then depart Echuca for Wagga Wagga.

Breakfast in hotel | lunch at own expense

Total Tour Cost:

$2150 inc. GST per person twin share

$  455 inc. GST single supplement

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All itineraries are subject to change due to occasional restrictions on the opening times/days of some attractions, e.g. churches, wineries etc.  We cannot be held responsible for any changes due to closures, inclement weather etc. Please see inclusions and conditions for further information.