Magic Great Ocean Road - Melbourne to Adelaide - 3 Days

Tour Details

Operator

Magic Tours Pty.Ltd

Destination

Adelaide

Departs From

Melbourne

Tour Description

3-Day Tour Melbourne - MT.Gambier - Adelaide
“Magic Great Ocean Road”
Every Monday
Boutique/Hotel Accommodation
Joint product of Magic Tours Pty.Ltd and Parkwood Personalised Tours

Day 1
Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Ballarat

Personal pick up from your City Hotel. We depart Melbourne approx 0800h. Travelling over the Westgate Bridge, you will get an uninterrupted view of the Melbourne City skyline and Port Phillip Bay. We will travel across the plains to Geelong, Victoria's second largest City and port. We start the world famous, Great Ocean Road, built by the returned ANZAC servicemen in 1919. Travel through the seaside towns of Anglesea, Lorne and Apollo Bay. This region is also known as the "Surf Coast". A very good chance to see koalas, kangaroos and echidnas in their natural habitat. Lunch at one of many gourmet cafes. Travel through the Otway National Park (a temperate rainforest) with giant Mountain Ash eucalyptus trees and ferns to the Port Campbell National Park. Stopping at all the spectacular viewing areas,12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge. Many ships were wrecked only hours before reaching Melbourne, hear stories about the heroes and heroines of the "Shipwreck Coast", during the "Gold Rush" and pioneering days. After many photo opportunities, travel via the lakes and crater district to historic Ballarat for overnight stay at Ballarat Lodge or similar. An option in the evening "Blood on the Southern Cross" the sound and light show, telling the story of the EUREKA rebellion in 1854.Australia's only civil uprising over gold mining licenses. Overnight accommodation is the Ballarat Lodge 4 1/2 Star boutique Hotel where a real commitment to quality, comfort, service and wonderful food, ensures an unforgettable stay. There is a comprehensive selection of local wines available.

Accommodation: Ballarat Lodge, Ballarat (or similar)
Meals: Lunch
Entries: National Park entry fees where applicable
Optional: "Blood on Southern Cross" sound and light show. (Own expense)

Day 2
Ballarat - Halls Gap, Grampians National Park

A short City tour of Ballarat's highlights, including Lake Wendouree and the Botanic gardens, “Gold Shop” where you may see gold nuggets found by local prospectors. Local Ballarat gold is 23.5 carat in it’s natural state, some of the purest gold in the world. We will step back in time to the 1850”s and relive the exciting vibrant “Goldrush Era” at Sovereign Hill. You can try your luck panning for gold in the creek, ride the Cobb & Co coach around the township, see the craftsmen at their trades, Candle maker, Undertaker, Blacksmith, Tinsmith, the steam boilers driving the period gold mining machinery, explore the underground mine, see the miners crushing the quartz in search for that elusive fortune, a $50’000 gold nugget being smelted and poured into ingots. Experience the exciting discovery of the “Welcome” nugget, one of the largest gold nugget discoveries in the world, (150 pounds or 2217 troy ounces) in one gold nugget, at the Red Hill diggings. Lunch in Ballarat. A scenic drive heading west for the Grampians National Park, (Gariwerd) through sheep and cattle farming countryside, via Ararat, we meander along the Mount William range to Halls Gap, our overnight destination. We suggest dinner at the Kookaburra Restaurant, where local produce and specialties are served. A comprehensive selection of local wines is again available.

Accommodation: Colonial Motor Inn, Halls Gap (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Entries: Sovereign Hill Historic Park entry fees, National Park entry fees where applicable

Day 3
Grampians - Mt Gambier - Adelaide

Departure around 0830h to explore the Grampians Mountains National Park, (Gariwerd) to Baroka and Reeds, scenic lookouts, Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Aboriginal art sites, wildflowers (over 850 species in spring) and even see a kangaroo, wallaby and emus in the wild. Travel through rolling hills and farm land to Hamilton for lunch. Travel onto Mt.Gambier, with the marvellous "Blue Lake", an extinct Volcano. An option is to visit the Coonawarra wine region. Your domestic flight to Adelaide departs at 1700h with O’Connors Air, Flight Number UQ701. You will arrive in Adelaide at 1800h. Transfer from the Adelaide Airport to your City Hotel by Reliable Passenger Transport.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Entries: National Park entry fees where applicable
Transfer: Flight: Mt.Gambier – Adelaide, Reliable Passenger Transport transfer to City Hotel