Boroka Downs

GRAMPIANS

by keeweechic

The Grampians National Park is 250 km. west of Melbourne, the most western point of the Great Dividing Range, which runs down the coastline of eastern Australia. Even from a distance you're struck by the way the mountains rise up abruptly from the flat plains below.

Boroka Falls Lookout which offers great views of the sandstone ranges, which were formed millions of years ago, and Lake Bellfield. McKenzie Falls is the largest and most popular waterfall in the Grampians.

Great Ocean Road & More

by pedroswift

"Two Week Road Trip"

So often one reads of posters doing the Great Ocean Road in one day. What a pity to miss so much of the beauty of the region.
You don't have to take two weeks but one day is ridiculous! Modify the outline given here to suit your interests.
As usual we formulate our trips around a couple of our interests. On this trip the physical landscape - geomorphology - will delight the heart of any true rock lover. Wine lovers will be more than happy. Tooth merchants can visit a couple of better than average restaurants and the history of Ballarat Gold and the nautical history along the coast will fascinate...
In preparing for this road trip (as for others ), we used our Royal Automobile Club Queensland membership to arrange cheaper car hire; free touring maps and the essential Hotel/Motel Guide(s). Vic Tourism has superb Regional Guides in booklet format - highly recommend you get them.

Walkers: If you are going to visit National, Regional & other Parks in Victoria & if you intend to do extensive walks, please research their status on the net before setting out and check at the visitor centre for each park to update the latest information. http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/index.cfm
Keep in mind the danger of bushfires in summer. Read up on the spread of diseases by walkers:http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/resources05/05_2089.pdf
Weather .. our trip was done in early November. We experienced a variety of conditions which one expects in this part of the world where the coast is exposed to the wx systems from the Antarctic. On average the weather was cool....a week of maximums around 18º C (mins around 3ºC) where jackets were required all day. A couple of days were max's of high 20's. At Warrnambool a thunderstorm with heavy hail and local flash flooding livened things up for a while. So don't forget to take waterproof gear and jackets for cold no matter what time of year.
Accommodation: We did not pre-book motels/hotels. We used chain motels and spent an average of AUD96 per night. (Going during School Holidays? Book ahead!)

"Ballarat & Environs"

day # -- Depart - over-night Destination {kilometres driven} - Notes-o/nite accom. dining. Hilite in bold type

Day 1 -- Tullamarine - Ballarat {105kms} pickup hire car at Tullamarine drove to Melton for lunch. M79 & M8 to “I” for information Centre in Ballarat for touring info & to book Sovereign Hill + Sound and Light Show. Drove to Best Western Motel at Bakery Hill (suburb of Ballarat). Shopped for b/fast supplies at nearby Coles (open 24 hours). Ate at Agostinos close by. It had the most customers so gave it a try. Italian. Big meals. Good. Drove to Sovereign Hill for the 10pm Light Show: "Blood on the Southern Cross" (enactment of the 1854 storming of the Eureka Stockade). Hit the hay after midnight.
Day 2 -- Ballarat {local} Drove to town centre to checkout the shopping. Coffee at Piccos. To Sovereign Hill to check out the 1850’s Village. Great experience. Gold Museum included in entry price. All you ever wanted to know about gold. To Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Recommended. Top location on west side of Lake Wendourie. Flowers on show in November were beautiful. Must visit in March for Begonia Festival. Walked the Prime Minister’s Avenue. Busts of the 25 Australian Prime Ministers from Edward Barton to John Howard. The collection of mature native and exotic trees in the garden is splendid. Had coffee in the green house.
We were taken with Ballarat City - heritage buildings at every turn and Memorial Drive.
Ate at Game Keepers Secret Safari Inn. Within walking distance a block away. Enjoyed the atmosphere , décor and the $20 pub grub better than most.
Day 3 -- Ballarat - Daylesford {50kms} Departed late morning to have a light lunch at Boat House on Lake Daylesford. Weather was beautiful setting great.. Checked into the Lake Hotel. Dined at Lake House which comes highly recommended (we had pre-booked well in advance). Was not disappointed 9/10.

"Bellarine & The Great Ocean Road"

Day 4 -- Daylesford - Airley’s Inlet {250kms} Drove south to Geelong thence Portarlington around the Bellarine Peninsula including a stop at Scotchman’s Hill Winery for tasting. Thence Queenscliffe, Ocean Beach, Barwon Heads, Torquay, Anglesea & Airey’s Inlet (Golden Chain Motel). Checked out the Lighthouse and Split Rock. Ate at pub across the road.
Day 5 -- Airley's Inlet - Port Campbell {165kms} Drove to Lorne. Walked pier. Coffee stop at Apollo Bay. Port Campbell National Park. Walked under road to view point of 9 Apostles – 2 to north 7 to south. Then to Loch Ard Gorge. Then to Port Campbell checked into Lock Ard Motel. Dined at Waves – good. 7.5.
Day 6 -- Port Campbell - Warrnambool {100kms} Drove west taking time to view the limestone features in the Coastal Park: The Arch, London Bridge which collapsed in 1990, The Grotto, Marty’s Bay. Coffee at Cheese World at Allansford then to Warrnambool (Golden Chain Anchor Belle Motel). Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum. Spent 2 hours walking around the Village & booked light show for next night. Came back to complex to eat dinner at Pippies by the Bay 9/10 - excellent.
Day 7 -- Warrnambool {local area}Drove to Logans Beach Right Whale Viewing platform. come in Winter to see whales.Then back across Hopkind River to view point at Point Richie then to Proudfoot’s Boathouse up the river for coffee and florintine biscuit. Then to Botanical Garden. Thence Breakwater - walked about 400 metres out on same. Ate at Breakers Restaurant for dinner. Seafood – good. 8/10.
To Flagstaff Hill night light show “Shipwrecked”. Film to start then train ride down to lake for the 60 minute illustrated story of Loch Ard Disaster. Good.
you should be aware of South Australian Quarantine regulations re carriage of fruit and vegetable into that state’s fruitfly free zone. Don’t take fruit/vegs in. Heavy fines apply if you are caught!

"South Australia"

Day 8 -- Warrnambool - Mt Gambier {200kms} Drove to Tower Hill Reserve - Lake in extinct volcano.. Visitor Centre affords an opportunity to learn about Indigenous Culture. Did about an hour walk. Drove past Codrington Wind Farm. Port Fairey for coffee.. Portland. Cross into South Australia. Nelson. Observed the quarantine rules and disposed of veggies and fruit. (see tip). To “I’ for info Mt Gambier. $10 visit covering tourist package plus interpretive history, geology of area – good. Replica of ship, “Lady Nelson” outside.To Crater Lakes – Blue Lake, Valley Lake, Browne’s Lake & Leg of Mutton Lake. Centenary Tower- very steep walk. Umpherston Sinkhole. Cave Gardens. Booked into Arkana Motor Inn. Drove about 10kms to The Barn for diner. Very good 8 - worth the drive.
Day 9 -- Mt Gambier - Penola {210kms}Drove to Englbrecht Cave (only open for guided groups) 50kms north to Penola. Coffee at Coonawarra 10kms north of Penola. Thence to Naracoorte visited Jumbuck (woolen goods) Store. Thence east into Victoria to Aspley. Then to Naracoorte Caves National Park for guided cave tour. Wine tasting at Russet Ridge Winery (Orlando) & Wynns Winery. Checked into Coonawarra Motor Lodge, Penola. Dined at Pipers Restaurant. Very good fine dining 8.5.
Day 10 -- Penola - Robe {100kms}coffee in Robe. Checked out the locale and chose to book into Lake View Motel. Lunch in unit and light duties afternoon. Self catered Lobster dinner at unit.

"Western Victoria, HallsGap,Macedon, Hanging Rock"

Day 11 -- Robe - Dunkeld {333kms} Drove to Cape Jaffa (Light House now in KingstonSE). Stopped at Cape Jaffa wines for tasting - good. (See limestone coast wineries). To Kingston featuring the"Big Lobster". Had lunch in town - lobster split, salad & chips. Good. Drove to Penola for mid afternoon coffee thence Hamilton & Dunkeld in Victoria. Booked into Royal Mail Hotel. Plenty of action at the pub (day of the annual picnic Races in Dunkeld) Dined in Restaurant. Top class 8.5. Wine list as good as we’ve seen anywhere in Australia. pedro's Royal Mail Page
Day 12 -- Dunkeld - Hall’s Gap {80 kms} Drove north to Halls Gap National Park “I” for info. Good display. Grampians National Park – sandstone with some granite intrusions. Drove up the Mt Victory Rd. to Boroka Lookout past Elephant Hide. View of Lake Bellfield. Thence to Reid Lookout for walk to Balconies Lookout 2kms. Drive to Mackenzie Falls 2 kms walk to top of falls. Drove to Mountain View Motel just outside of Halls Gap. Dined at Halls G. Hotel – ok..
Day 13 -- Hall's Gap - Avoca {150kms} to Stanwell thence Best’s Winery at Great Western. Old log cabin circa 1867 used as cellar door tasting place since 1974. Loved the wines & purchased some straight Pinot Muenier ( rarely seen). Next stop Seppelts Great Western Winery. Much more palatial than Best’s. Excellent wines. Coffee at Ararat thence to Avoca and NW to Taltarni Winery at Moonambel. Then Blue Pyrenees Winery to taste range of sparklings. Curvee Riche tres bon! Back to Avoca to book into County Haven Motel. Dined at Avoca Hotel. Ok pub grub.
Day 14 -- Avoca - Macedon {160kms} drove the A79 to Castlemaine for coffee. Then Granite Hills Winery. South to Lancefield for lunch. Then Hanging Rock Vineyard (excellent). Stopped by cops & breathalised at Woodend - it pays to spit when wine tasting & driving. Black Forest Motel Macedon. Dined at Holgate Brewhouse, Woodend. Good.
Day 15 -- Macedon - Gisborne {50kms}drove north to Camels Hump.1011metres high feature with views over Hanging Rock. Stopped at the Cross at Mt Macedon - War Memorial. down to Mt Macedon Winery. Tried most of the wines on tasting all good. To Hanging Rock Park for walk (famous for mystery of three female students and teacher who went missing here in 1900). Packaged up wines purchased during the trip and posted boxes home at Woodend Post Office. All wine arrived ok. Motel in Gisborne. To Telegraph Hotel in Gisborne for dinner better than normal pub
Day 16/17/18 Melbourne x 3 {local} fleshpots of big smoke Melbourne including show at Regent before flying home.

"Note on Winery Visits"

Please read some notes on Winery Visiting Etiquette. South Australia Intro Page.