Highlights of Western Victoria

Welcome to Victoria and it's vibrant, cosmopolitan capital city of Melbourne. A wonderfully diverse state, rich in history and culture and boasting a fascinating mix of rugged coastline, lush green forests and red sandy deserts, a visit to Victoria's west country will leave you wanting more! We'll meet our fellow travellers at the hotel at 2.30pm for a short briefing about what we can expect over the next 13 days. Special Experience: Come prepared with your walking shoes on, as we begin our Victorian adventure with a walking tour of the historic laneways and decadent arcades of Melbourne. Delve into the true essence of the city, learning about its beguiling past via quaint cobblestone lanes, cosy boutique shops and cafes, and intriguing street art.

Later, we get to know our new travelling companions at a group welcome dinner. (D)

Set in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Ballarat is located on the lands of Wadawurrung peoples. Settled in 1837, gold was discovered in the region just over 10 years later which brought thousands of hopeful prospectors to the area. Today, Ballarat is the third largest city in Victoria, but its gold mining past is still evident in the many architecturally beautiful buildings dotting the town. Leaving Melbourne behind us this morning, we head towards the delightful country town of Daylesford, nestled at the foothills of the Great Dividing Ranges. Known for its mineral springs and many relaxing spa centres, Daylesford is a popular spot to unwind and enjoy the local surrounds.

Here, we'll have the opportunity to enjoy a wine tasting at a local winery before some free time for lunch and a wander through this charming town. On our way to Ballarat, we'll stop briefly at the Black Hill Lookout for some panoramic views. Upon our arrival, we enjoy an orientation tour of Ballarat by coach before visiting the Eureka Centre. Located at the Eureka Stockade Memorial Park, the Eureka Centre explores the social history of the region and the cultural impact of the gold rush, including the stories of the men and women who risked their lives to fight for the rights of miners. After checking in to our hotel, enjoy an evening at leisure in Ballarat. (B)

Spend today immersed in Australia's rich gold rush history at Sovereign Hill. The open-air museum depicts life in Ballarat in the 1850's during the first few years after the initial discovery of gold in the area. The park comprises of over sixty historic buildings laid out along dusty streets, as they would have been at the height of the gold rush, and each is filled with antiques, artwork, books, historic machinery, plus transport and carriages. A huge drawcard is the costumed staff and volunteers who help make the museum come alive. They are very happy to answer questions and pose for photos. Gold digging is at the centre of the complex and visitors can pan for their own real gold. The second largest gold nugget was found here at Ballarat in the Red Hill Mine, weighing an enormous 69 kilograms. Today, we get to explore this wonderful example of Australian history at our leisure. (B)

Located on the border of New South Wales, Echuca sits on the banks of the mighty Murray River and is well known for its river trading past. It is also home to the largest paddle steamer fleet in the world. Heading north this morning, we visit the picturesque town of Bendigo. Located roughly in the geographical centre of Victoria, the town rose to prominence during the gold rush boom which can be seen in the opulent architecture of the buildings, public sculptures, fountains and gardens. Special Experience: Take a historic tram tour of Bendigo, learning about its interesting history and seeing the charming landmarks and monuments along the way. We then have some free time for lunch and to explore Bendigo at our own pace.

In the afternoon we'll visit the Golden Dragon Museum, the Chinese cultural centre of Australia and particularly, a wonderful living history of the Chinese people of the Bendigo region, dating from the gold rush era to the present day. Take a wander through the museum, the classical Chinese gardens and Kuan Yin Temple.

Then sit back, relax, and watch the pretty scenery pass by as we make our way to Echuca, where we check in to our hotel and enjoy dinner together. (B/D)

Today is all about exploring the bustling river town of Echuca. The historical wharf and port of Echuca are recognised as one of Australia's finest heritage icons and this morning we have the opportunity to uncover its history at the Port of Echuca Discovery Centre. Special Experience: Take to the water during a lunch cruise on a historic paddle steamer, soaking up the peaceful river atmosphere as the grassy banks of the Murray River glide past us. Later, the afternoon is at leisure for us to enjoy Echuca. (B/L)

Travelling north west along the Murray, we set our sights on Swan Hill, historically one of the region's major inland trading ports. This morning we're in for a treat as we head for the World-Heritage listed Barmah National Park, home to the world's largest river red gum forest. These amazing trees are often over 500 years old and can grow up to 45 metres tall. Here, we continue our exploration of the Murray River and the Barmah Wetlands with an eco-guide aboard the MV Kingfisher, getting the chance to spot many of the 235 bird species and 50 mammals plus a huge variety of plant species as we pass through the impressive standing grove of river red gums.

On our way to Swan Hill we pay a visit to Lake Boga, a beautiful part of the Murray River ecosystem famous for its water activities, walking trails and fishing spots. At its widest point, the lake measures 3km across. After some lunch we visit the Flying Boat Museum on the shores of Lake Boga, home of the Catalina Flying Boat. Lovingly restored by the local Lions Club, the museum serves as a memorial to the service men and women who were stationed at the No 1 Flying Boat Repair Depot at Lake Boga during World War II and showcases over 500 wartime artifacts. Later, we arrive at Swan Hill, check in to our hotel and have some time at leisure before a special night time experience, Heartbeat of the Murray laser light show. (B)

The Grampians cover some 1,600 square kilometres, inside which includes breathtaking sandstone mountain ranges, towering waterfalls, a dazzling variety of fauna and flora, Aboriginal rock art and some of the best walks in Victoria. Today we travel to the town of Halls Gap, located on the edge of this impressive mountain range. Special Experience: Enjoy a day of fun and adventure as we follow the Silo Art Trail from Swan Hill to Halls Gap, viewing the amazingly decorated wheat silos. Stretching over 200 kilometres, the Silo Art Trail is Australia's largest outdoor gallery. The innovative art venture has encouraged renowned street artists from Australia and all over the world to decorate the huge wheat silos into giant works of art and really are something special to see! Our tour takes us through Sea Lake, Lascelles, Rosebery, Brim, a lunch stop in Warracknabeal, Sheep Hills and Rupanyup.

In the late afternoon we arrive at a local vineyard for some wine tasting and platters before checking in at our Halls Gap hotel. (B/L)

Our day is filled with scenic natural beauty as we explore Grampians National Park, starting with the spectacular Boraka Lookout. Take a deep breath of the crisp, clean air here and feel yourself unwind as the peace and tranquillity of the area flows around us. We also visit the famous Balconies Lookout and the Reed Lookout before we walk to the Mackenzie Falls lookout for a stunning view of the Falls. After lunch at a local restaurant, the remainder of our day is at leisure to take some time to relax or to further explore Halls Gap. (B/L)

We say goodbye to the Grampians this morning as we head for Victoria's dramatic coastline. Located on the western end of the Great Ocean Road, the town of Warrnambool is situated amidst vibrant green dairy lands, while overlooking the depths of the Southern Ocean. Our journey to Warrnambool first takes us to Dunkeld where we visit the Arboretum, then to Hamilton to visit the Art Gallery and the Sir Reginald Ansett Transport Museum. Housed in the company's first aircraft hangar, the museum is dedicated to transport and tourism pioneer Sir Reginald Ansett himself.

We continue on to Port Fairy, where we enjoy a historic walking tour of the town. Next we will learn about the important work of the Middle Island Project. Here, we'll meet the gorgeous Maremma dogs which are used to protect the colony of little penguins that call the island home. If this story sounds familiar to you, that might be because it was the plotline of the 2015 film Oddball starring Shane Jacobson. This evening, we can sit back and relax while taking in the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village Sound and Light Show. (B/D)

Time to let loose our inner beach bum today as we spend the day discovering the extraordinary Great Ocean Road. This stretch of Victoria's coastline is world famous for its rugged cliffs, incredible ocean vistas and rocky outcrops. Just outside of Warrnambool, we first stop at Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve for a nature walk. Sitting in a large volcanic crater, Tower Hill is one of Victoria's most fascinating geological formations. Our other stops today include the lovely coastal town of Port Campbell, the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge. Special Experience: Savour dinner at the famous Pippies by the Bay restaurant, known for its exquisite food and views of the ocean. (B/D)

Another day of outstanding natural beauty as we continue along the Great Ocean Road toward the quaint seaside town of Lorne. One of the most famous towns of the region, the relaxed atmosphere of Lorne has been a haven for holidaymakers for more than a century. Along the way we'll visit Timboon, a foodie's paradise, to taste local artisanal products. We also experience the amazing canopy walkway at the Otway Fly Treetop Adventures, walking amongst the treetops for a bird's eye view of the rainforest. It's the longest and tallest walkway of its kind in the world and offers breathtaking views of the natural surrounds. Later, we stop at Apollo Bay, known to locals simply as ‘paradise by the sea', and Kennett River, with its long stretches of pristine beach before arriving at Lorne, where we check in to our hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure. (B)

Excitement this morning as we get to cross bucket list items off our list when we visit world famous Bells Beach and the local town of Torquay. Unfortunately, we won't have time to catch a wave, but this beach is world renowned for being one of Australia's best surf beaches. Made internationally famous by the Point Break movie starring Keanu Reeves, many surfing tournaments are held here annually. We also stop at the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie for a tasting (and some shopping, of course!).

Special Experience: Board the Q Train at Drysdale Railway Station, venturing across the Bellarine Peninsula to Queenscliff. Onboard, we can relax and watch the scenery go by as we enjoy a delicious lunch. Upon our arrival at Queenscliff, we make our way to our final stop in Melbourne and enjoy a group farewell dinner, a great way to reflect on our time in delightful western Victoria.

*April's tour departure will not include the Q Train experience. Instead, we will enjoy lunch en-route to Melbourne and a delicious farewell dinner and cruise aboard the Spirit of Melbourne Cruising Restaurant. (B/L/D)

Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning. We bid farewell to our new friends and to the diverse and wonderful Victoria. (B)