Great Southern Touring Route: Nature & Wildlife

Just under an hour and a half out of the busy city of Melbourne is Daylesford. The drive to the spa capital of Australia will take you through winding roads dotted with picturesque towns as you leave the hustle and bustle behind. To dive straight into the local natural beauty of Daylesford, enjoy a 1.5-hour walk to Bryce's Flat from Tipperary Springs.

After working up an appetite from your walk, check out Wombat Hill House for locally sourced, seasonal food before exploring the botanic gardens of Wombat Hill. Regarded as one of Victoria's finest regional destination gardens, this activity is a must-do on a sunny day.

For the afternoon, head to Ballarat Wildlife Park to see kangaroos, meerkats, penguins, tigers, and saltwater crocodiles. Get up close with koalas and see their keepers feeding them gum leaves. To end your day, go panning for gold with Gold Prospecting Adventures.

Head to the BIG4 Ballarat Goldfields Holiday Park for the evening.

It's time to leave this heritage town and continue to the rugged beauty of The Grampians. It would be rude not to stop in for a wine tasting or two on your way, this region is home to some of the world's oldest vines after all. Check into your campsite at Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park and say hello to the hundreds of kangaroos that will be your neighbours for the evening.

Go for a guided walk along the Grampians Peaks Trails or visit Mackenzie Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in Victoria, as well as the only one in the Grampians that flows all year round.

Don't skip on seeing an epic Grampians sunset at Reed Lookout. Take in the panoramic views of Victoria Valley and the surrounding ranges in the sunset light before heading back to your campervan for the night for a night of sleep under a blanket of stars.

Spend the morning taking in the glorious views of your campsite, before heading off to Dunkeld. Visit the Royal Mail Hotel and stop off at their bistro, the Parker Street Project for an epic lunch.

Continue to Tower Hill Reserve. An inactive volcano and major natural landmark where you can join a 90-minute interactive tour, taken by a local guide. Enjoy the incredible landscape whilst learning about Aboriginal lifestyles and meeting more Australian wildlife.

Head to BIG4 Warrnambool Figtree Holiday Park to unwind for the night.

If you are visiting between June and September, the wild coast of Warrnambool is well known for whale watching. If not, head to Middle Island to watch the colony of Little Penguins being protected by the well-trained Maremma dogs.

The glorious natural beauty of the Great Southern Touring Route continues as you drive towards the incredible 12 Apostles in Port Campbell. These limestone stacks will leave you in awe as you view them from the viewing platform, or head down the Gibson Steps to view them from the beach.

Before continuing to Apollo Bay, explore the Loch Ard Gorge, and make a stop at Wildlife Wonders for a guided walk through the spectacular Otways. Discover secrets of the plants and animals that are homed by this bushland.

After a day of activities to work up an appetite, try the iconic Apollo Bay Fish Co-Op for lunch to enjoy fresh fish and chips with a view and try the iconic Rock Lobster from their menu. Get back onto the Great Ocean Road – be sure to take in all the amazing scenery on the way and keep an eye out for whales.

Spend your final evening of the trip at the Royal Park Caravan Park.

Spend your morning at Queenscliff, with the Sea All Dolphins swim experience, where you will go out to Port Phillip Bay to swim with baby seals and playful dolphins.

For your final meal, try Jack Rabbit Vineyard for some amazing local food and wine, with incredible views across the bay to Geelong. After an amazing meal, head to Geelong to take in the waterfront before grabbing a coffee and getting back on the road to Melbourne.