Great Ocean Road & Grampians Walking Holiday, Exit Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Gift Certificate

Guided walking holiday with departures in October 2009

This walking holiday combines two of Victoria’s most stunning regions, the breathtaking coastline along the famous Great Ocean Road and the rugged ranges of the Grampians National Park. Truly the “Best of Victoria”!

The tour starts in Melbourne and heads along the Great Ocean Road traveling via the picturesque seaside villages of Lorne and Apollo Bay. The selection of walks through the temperate rainforests of the Otway Ranges showcases the lush vegetation, ancient fern gullies and delicate cascading waterfalls.

Progressing further along the famous “Road”, you will suddenly emerge from the forests onto the wild beaches and precipitous coastline of the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and Bay of Islands region. Evocatively named places indicate the turmoil that hardy pioneers of the area endured, including the crews of over 150 ships that have been shipwrecked along this rugged coast.

Home for one night is the Heritage Listed seaside village of Port Fairy – an attractive town famous for its fleet of colourful fishing boats and thousands of migrating shearwaters that breed on a nearby island.

Approached from the south, the Grampians National Park is sure to take your breath away as first one jagged mountain then many, many more appear to soar upwards from the surrounding plains. This is a great region for native wildlife including kangaroos, koalas, emus, numerous native birds and masses of colourful wildflowers. The Grampians provided local Aboriginal people with plentiful food, water, shelter and a place for ceremony. You will learn a little of their way of life and visit an Aboriginal cave painting site and shelter.

On the last day return to Melbourne through the Western District, one of Victoria’s renowned wine-producing areas.

This is a fully accommodated guided walking holiday.