Melbourne & Victoria 2011

MELBOURNE & VICTORIA 2011

WELCOME TO VICTORIA The cosmopolitan capital of Victoria, Melbourne is well known for its friendly atmosphere, cultural creativity, fine wine and dining and world-class events.

Melbourne prides itself on its art and culture, chic cafés, bars and restaurants, hidden laneways, shopping, fashion and quality accommodation ranging from prestigious five-star hotels, eco-friendly hostels to funky boutique properties and serviced apartments.

Go cool hunting for the hidden bars, music venues and cool galleries tucked away in the city’s myriad laneways or experience the cultural capital at its glittering best with blockbuster exhibitions, arts festivals, sporting spectacles, international

stage shows and luxurious day spas as well as an array of wining and dining possibilities.

Celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay – ably assisted by his right-hand man New Zealand chef Josh Emmett – are among the leading international foodies who have opened restaurants in Melbourne, which has more than 3000 restaurants, cafés and bars, serving around 75 ethnic cuisines.

Once you have sampled what Melbourne has to offer, explore what lies beyond. An

excellent public transport and roads network places the city within an hour’s drive of many regional Victorian destinations, with their spectacular scenery, national parks and native wildlife, numerous vineyards and day spas.

Drive into the mountains or down to the coast, returning to the city in an easy day trip, or stay a while to relax and explore what the regions have to offer.

Take a touring route, follow a scheduled itinerary or follow your own path around the

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breathtaking scenery, historic towns and award-winning local food and wine.

Escape outdoors to experience the natural beauty of the state on foot, wheels, horseback, from the air or on the water. Visit ancient Koori rock paintings in the Grampians or explore the heritage of the Goldfields, home to the gold rush of the 1850s and legendary bushranger Ned Kelly.

Victoria’s compact size belies an amazing variety of landscapes and attractions – a fusion of city and country, beach and outback, with

acclaimed wineries, national parks, native forests, lakes and mountains – so whether you want a romantic weekend away, a few weeks of fun or indulgent solo pampering, the regions have it all.

Melbourne From its hidden laneways to dynamic public spaces, there’s more to Melbourne than meets the eye. Art, architecture, dining and history combine to create a vibrant, stylish metropolis.

It is truly a city with heart.

With its packed events calendar there’s never a dull moment, with highlights ranging from the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, including the prestigious Melbourne Cup, to the annual Melbourne Food and Wine Festival – the biggest of its kind in the world.

It is just one element of Melbourne’s lively food and wine culture, which draws from the city’s rich migrant heritage with restaurants offering cuisines from Italy, Greece, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Whether you’re sipping a caffe latte on Degraves Street, slurping xiao long bao at Hu Tong Dumpling Bar, sampling tapas at MoVida or indulging in a French degustation menu at Shannon Bennett’s acclaimed Vue de monde, the quality and range is second to none.

There is innovation, too, in the city’s award winning buildings and public spaces, ranging from the modern, such as Federation Square, the Melbourne Recital Hall and Southern Cross Station, to the heritage, including Flinders Street railway station and the Gothic majesty of St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral.

Each June, the National Gallery of Victoria hosts the Winter Masterpieces exhibition, bringing international collections to the southern capital.

But you needn’t visit a gallery to see works of art; inspiring design and public art can be found hidden in nooks and crannies all over town. One of the city’s most visible forms of expression – and an increasingly popular attraction – is Melbourne’s laneway street art, particularly in the inner-city pockets of Hosier, AC/DC and Caledonian Lanes. The growing profile of graffiti art has spawned an interesting phenomenon with many street artists crossing into the commercial gallery world.

Firmly established as the musical theatre capital of Australia, Melbourne will soon host the Australian premiere seasons of musicals Rock of Ages and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies and each year the world’s funniest comedians descend on the city for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, while the Melbourne Film Festival, Melbourne Writers’ Festival and the Melbourne International Arts Festival present the best of global theatre, film, dance and music.

Rock of Ages opening 9 April Music fans will rock through 1980s anthems and power ballads with the hit musical Rock of Ages to make its Australian premiere in Melbourne in April. A love story set in Los Angeles in the 1980s, Rock of Ages features almost 30 rock anthems including hits from Journey, Twisted Sister, Joan Jett, Bon Jovi, Foreigner and Pat Benatar. This hilarious feel-good love story is told through hit songs such as “I want to know what love is”, “We built this city” and “The final countdown”. The show will be co-produced by Rodney Rigby, who delighted audiences in Melbourne last year with the hugely successful Australian production of Jersey Boys. www.rockofagesaustralia.com.au

Love Never Dies opening 28 May The continuing story of The Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies, will have its Australian premiere in Melbourne’s Regent Theatre in May 2011. Melbourne is only the second city to host the musical, which premiered in London last year. The new blockbuster musical from legendary composer will be directed by Melbourne’s Simon Phillips. The Phantom of the Opera has been seen in 149 cities around the world and taken more than $5 billion at the box office – more than the combined box office takings of the two top grossing films of all time, Avatar and Titanic.

Melbourne Winter Masterpieces opening 18 June Famous Viennese artworks rarely seen outside of Europe will be on display at the National Gallery of Victoria – Vienna: Art & Design, Klimt, Schiele, Hoffmann, as Melbourne continues its tradition of attracting the world’s best exhibitions. Part of the gallery’s 150th anniversary celebrations, Vienna: Art & Design showcases some 240 works by the greatest Viennese artists, designers and architects of the 19th and 20th Century. It will include furniture, paintings, jewellery, decorative arts and textiles, including masterworks by Gustav Klimt, Josef Hoffmann, Egon Schiele, Koloman Moser, Otto Wagner, Oskar Kokoschka and many others. The exhibition runs from June 18 to October 9, 2011.

In 2012, Melbourne will host Napoléon: Revolution to Empire, featuring more than 200 works from late 18th and early 19th century France, including paintings, watercolours and drawings, engravings, sculpture, furniture, textiles, porcelain, glass, gold and silver, fashion, jewellery and armour. Napoléon will provide an insight into French art and culture from one of the richest and most tumultuous periods in French history: the era of Napoléon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine, two of the world’s most dynamic and influential historical figures. www.ngv.vic.gov.au

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs opening 8 April Visitors will have the chance to see some of ancient Egypt’s finest treasures when Melbourne hosts the blockbuster exhibition Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs as part of Victoria’s 2011 Winter Masterpieces series. The exhibition, which has drawn over seven million visitors in the United States and Europe in the past five years, marks the first visit of King Tutankhamun’s treasures to Australia. It will open at Melbourne Museum on 8 April, its only Australian stop. Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs explores the figures who guided ancient Egypt more than 3,000 years ago (1555–1305 BC), focusing on 18th Dynasty, a 250-year period when Egypt was at the height of its power and the “Golden Age” of Egyptian artistry and Tutankhamun and his ancestors reigned. It includes more than 130 extraordinary artefacts from the tomb of Tutankhamun (more than 50 of Tutankhamun’s burial objects will be on display, including his golden crown) and other ancient Egyptian sites offering a glimpse into an incredible period in history. www.museumvictoria.com.au

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Elke Kramer can be found at Glitzern. And there’s something for the sports fans too.

Recently named the sporting capital of the world, Melbourne hosts some of the biggest sports events in Australia, including the Australian Open Tennis, the AFL Grand Final and the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix. The city boasts state-of-the-art sporting facilities within walking distance of the CBD, with the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground as a centrepiece. And with the recently completed Rectangular Stadium and a multi-million dollar upgrade planned to the city’s tennis facilities, Melbourne can only continue to attract international sporting events.

For those keen to explore the countryside, Melbourne is just a short drive from several picturesque regions, including the Yarra Valley, Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges, Gippsland and the Mornington and Bellarine peninsulas, which offer everything from spa and wellness activities, outdoor adventures, vineyards and wine tasting, to spectacular coastal drives and beaches.

Melbourne also is well known for its fabulous shopping. Stroll down Fitzroy’s Gertrude Street for a selection of local and international designers: Well known Australian labels including Scanlan & Theodore, Collette Dinnigan, Dinosaur Designs and accessories company Mimco can be found in Chapel Street, in South Yarra and Prahran, while a range of high-end international fashion labels, such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada, are clustered at the eastern end of Collins Street.

The city also is home to many jewellery galleries, displaying the work of local artisans.

Gallery Funaki and e.g.etal are two of the most established, while the work of Lucy Folk and

Sorrento A great place to base yourself while you explore the Mornington Peninsula, the sophisticated seaside village of Sorrento offers the chance to indulge in some of life’s luxuries with picturesque coastline in all directions.

Just a 90-minute drive from Melbourne, the village sits at the narrowest point of the Mornington Peninsula – on one side is the pretty front beach on Port Phillip Bay and on the other is the rugged back beach on Bass Strait, where surfers ride the waves that pound

MAP KEY

Mildura

MELBOURNE yarra valley & dandenong ranges DAYLESFORD & THE MACEDON RANGES Swan Hill

phillip island mornington peninsula Yarrawonga Echuca Moama Shepparton Bendigo

Horsham Halls Gap Hamilton

Portland Port Fairy

Ararat

Castlemaine

grampians

Glenrowan

Beechworth Milawa

GOLDFIeLDS MILDURA & THE MURRAY

Bright

Heathcote

Stawell

great ocean road

Albury Wodonga

Wangaratta

HIGH COUNTRY

Mansfield

GIPPSLAND

Daylesford Ballarat MELBOURNE

Geelong Queenscliff Red Hill Sorrento Warrnambool Lorne Rye Port Apollo Bay Campbell

Marysville Healesville Olinda Walhalla Traralgon

Bairnsdale Metung Paynesville Gippsland Sale Lakes

Mallacoota

Leongatha

N Wilsons Promontory

0

50

100 km

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the shore and families explore the networks of rock pools.

Along with its many grand, historic limestone buildings, Sorrento has spectacular surf beaches and a bay populated with dolphins. Another of the highlights of this serene seaside town is the food: Just Fine Foods sells 1400 vanilla slices a day to visitors from around the world, while the main street has an array of cafés and restaurants offering anything from coffee and cake, pizza and pasta, casual beachside seafood or elegant dining options.

Just past the Continental Hotel, built in 1875 and thought to be the highest limestone building in Australia, lie a variety of cosmopolitan boutiques, galleries and restaurants and cafés, which wouldn’t be out of place in one of Melbourne’s glamorous suburbs.

Grab a map of the Sorrento Portsea Artists’ Trail and admire the views that inspired masterpieces by Albert Tucker, Arthur Streeton and John Perceval, or join Polperro Dolphin Swims on a four-hour cruise of Port Phillip Bay to spot dolphins, seals, local birdlife and, in winter, dwarf minke whales.

As the sun sets, settle in and enjoy a sundowner at the Hotel Sorrento, an historic limestone building overlooking Port Phillip Bay. Port Fairy A 290-kilometre drive west of Melbourne is the charming historic fishing village of Port Fairy. Located on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, the village’s wide streets are lined with 19th century cottages, great Norfolk pines, old stone churches, boarding houses and inns.

Follow one of the historic walking trails and discover charming, fully restored white washed cottages built by whalers and seamen beside Georgian-style merchants’ homes and grand public buildings. Many fine examples of the 1800s architecture remain intact, and more than 50 buildings are classified by the National Trust. Check out the region’s treacherous maritime history by following the Shipwreck Trail.

At the local port, one of the busiest fishing ports in Victoria, fishermen unload their catch of crayfish and abalone at the dockside, cruising boats and racing yachts dock and anglers try their luck.

Head out to sea on a guided fishing trip, take a cruise out to the seal colony on Lady Julia Percy Island or visit the nearby Tower Hill State Game Reserve to see Australian wildlife in its native habitat.

Port Fairy offers a range of boutique, antique, art and craft shops to peruse, local artists to see at work and museums to explore.

Or relax and enjoy the fine food and wine at Merrijig Inn or one of the many great pubs, cafés and restaurants.

VICTORIA’S GOLDEN DAYS

IMAGE: SOVEREIGN HILL

The past is always present in Victoria with evidence of the state’s proud and fascinating history found in its elegant Victorian-era buildings and beautifully preserved gold-mining towns, the Murray River paddle steamers and steam trains, bushrangers’ lairs and ancient Aboriginal artefacts.

The discovery of gold in the 1850s and ‘60s was the most significant event in the evolution of the state of Victoria.

Fuelled by extravagant stories of wealth gained during the 1849 Californian gold rush, gold fever hit Victoria following early gold discoveries around Clunes, Warrandyte and Ballarat.

But the real rush began with the discovery of the Mount Alexander goldfield 60 kilometres north east of Ballarat.

Mount Alexander, which takes in the goldfields of Castlemaine and Bendigo, proved to be one of the world’s richest shallow alluvial goldfields, yielding around four million ounces of gold, most of which was found in the first two years of the rush and within five metres of the surface. The Mount Alexander goldfield also delivered the state’s largest nugget – a 1008 ounce whopper – found in 1855 at

Golden Gully by some inexperienced miners on their second day of digging.

By the end of 1852, 90,000 people had flocked to Victoria in search of gold. Provincial cities grew, bringing railways, roads, libraries, theatres, art galleries and stock exchanges.

The gold left a rich legacy with the newfound wealth evident in the magnificent architecture of Ballarat and Bendigo and the fine Victorian-era streetscapes in Maldon, Dunolly or Clunes.

Learn more about the gold rush at one of the region’s landmark historic attractions such as Carmen’s Tunnel near Maldon; Ballarat’s outdoor museum, Sovereign Hill, which recreates life in the 1850s; or the Central Deborah Gold Mine in Bendigo, where you can descend 60 metres to see how the region’s gold was once mined. Or search for your own gold at the Mount Alexander diggings.

More than 26,000 Chinese miners came to Victoria to prospect for gold during the 1850s and you learn about their experience at Bendigo’s Chinese quarter. Explore the Golden Dragon Museum and classical gardens to gain an insight into the region’s Chinese heritage.

The museum includes Sun Loong, the world’s longest Imperial Dragon.

Or visit Beechworth to see a beautifully preserved gold-rush era town with more than 30 historic buildings registered by the National Trust.

Shipwreck ahoy!

The treacherous south-west coast of Victoria between Moonlight Head and Port Fairy has claimed more than 180 ships, earning it the name Shipwreck Coast.

Follow the Shipwreck Discovery Trail to visit the many shipwreck sites along the coast. Highway signs and plaques tell the tales of dozens of wrecks and identify their final

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resting places. Highlights include Loch Ard Gorge, where you can discover the history of the Loch Ard, wrecked in 1878, and Wreck Beach. The name Wreck Beach is derived from the visible anchors of two ships – the Marie Gabrielle in 1880 and the Fiji in 1891 – wrecked along the beach. Much of the region’s maritime history is recounted in detail at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnambool.

Built around the original heritage-listed Lady Bay Lighthouse, the village houses an extensive collection of shipwreck artefacts, including the famous Loch Ard Peacock.

History in the High Country For at least 20,000 years, Aboriginal tribes have been living and travelling around Victoria’s High Country, making the annual trek in summer to feast on bogong moths.

Explorers Hamilton Hume and William Hovell were the first Europeans to discover the region

A NIGHT IN THE MUSEUM Sovereign Hill is an outdoor museum that recreates Victorian life in the 1850s. A Night in the Museum at Sovereign Hill is hosted by a costumed character and allows guests to experience the romance and charm of life as it was on the goldfields for the gentry of the day. The package includes full period costume, Victorian afternoon tea, a tour of the township and mine, a “Taste of Empire” dinner plus time to enjoy all of Sovereign Hill’s trademark activities, including “Blood on the Southern Cross”. The spectacular multi-million sound and light show tells the story of the Eureka Rebellion, a dramatic battle between gold miners and government forces in Ballarat in December 1854. Experience the miners’ disgust at unfair gold taxes and witness the dramatic burning of the Eureka Hotel, then listen to Governor Hotham’s reasoning for a dawn attack on the men, who became the first to swear an oath of loyalty on Australian soil to a flag that was not British – the flag of the Southern Cross.

in 1824, followed by gold prospectors seeking their fortunes.

Bushrangers were prolific in north-east Victoria during the gold rush, with Ned Kelly, Harry Power and “Mad Dog” Morgan among the most infamous. The bloody siege and capture of the Kelly Gang in Glenrowan is arguably the most famous chapter in Australian bushranger history.

The districts surrounding the High Country also were home to the legendary cattlemen who drove their herds to the alpine grasses, building rustic huts as shelter. Their lives were immortalised by poet Banjo Paterson in The Man from Snowy River.

You’ll still find their rustic huts on the Bogong High Plains and Mount Buller, built by the cattlemen to use as shelter when driving their cattle up to the plains in summer.

Although they are not generally accessible by car, you can visit the huts on foot, horseback or bicycle.

See beautifully preserved living history of the gold rush era in Beechworth, which has more than 30 buildings classified by the National Trust. Stop by the Courthouse, the site of some of the most dramatic events of gold-era Australia including the trial that sealed the fate of Ned Kelly.

Throw your own pot at Bendigo Pottery For more than 150 years Bendigo Pottery has created high quality ceramics for domestic and commercial use. Try your hand on the pottery wheel by booking a lesson with skilful potter – you can take your pots home or leave them behind for glazing and firing. Fired pots can be sent anywhere in the world two to three weeks after your visit. Bendigo Pottery has a Clay Play area in the potters’ workshop so kids can have a go as well.

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Beechworth’s historic and cultural precinct includes the Robert O’Hara Burke Memorial Museum, with its fascinating and historically significant collection of more than 30,000 items, many dating back more than 150 years; the 1858 Telegraph Station, which once linked the town to the outside world through Morse code; and the fully restored granite Powder Magazine, built in 1859 to store the gunpowder used in mining and quarrying.

You can see the classical granite arches of the Goldfields Hospital façade, traditional Chinese burning towers, the former Regency Theatre and visit the sites of bushranger gang hideouts.

Outside the town, a number of significant goldmining sites are incorporated into the 1080 hectare Beechworth Historic Park.

Steam into the past on the mighty Murray River The Murray region has a rich riverboat heritage. Once the only trading routes for inland farmers and merchants to transport their wares to Melbourne, paddle steamers would ply the Murray and Goulburn rivers packed with produce and cargo bringing it to Echuca-Moama.

Once Australia’s largest inland port, the Port of Echuca remains a working port and its wharf and riverfront buildings have been faithfully restored to service the fleet of paddle steamers that still navigate the river.

Spend a day exploring the wharf or a night drifting down the river aboard Echuca’s magnificently restored paddle steamer PS Emmylou, relaxing to the sound of water birds and the swish of the paddlewheels. Reserve your cabin for a one or two-night passage or a shorter excursion of an hour.

Built in Echuca, PS Adelaide is the oldest wooden-hulled paddle steamer still operational. In 1964 she was lifted from the water and took up residence in Echuca’s Hopwood Gardens, where she lay for 20 years.

She was lovingly restored and refloated in 1984. Or enjoy the captain’s commentary as you journey on the historic steam-driven PS Canberra, built in 1912.

Other heritage steamers still carrying passengers around Echuca-Moama include the PS Alexander Arbuthnot, the last steamer built on the Murray during the

riverboat trade, and the Pevensey, once a floating museum.

Paddle steamers also operate out of Mildura, Swan Hill and Albury. At Swan Hill visit the Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement, a re-created riverside town of the paddle-steamer era, to gain an insight into the life of the early settlers.

Indigenous Victoria Discover the rich history of the Grampians, from the ancient, rugged landscape and Aboriginal rock art through to European exploration and gold mining.

The history and culture of the five Aboriginal communities in Victoria is brought to life at the Brambuk National Park and Cultural Centre in

Be captivated in beautiful Bendigo While the city shines with historic beauty, cosmopolitan Bendigo is firmly set in the now.

Halls Gap. This centre highlights the history of the region through impressive experiences and displays based upon the Aboriginal cultural heritage and the natural environment of the Grampians National Park. Join a guided tour and visit some of the 60 rock art sites containing more than 4000 motifs that have been identified in the Grampians National Park.

THE WHITE WEDDING DRESS Bendigo Art Gallery 1 August – 6 November 2011 Visit the world premier of The White Wedding Dress: 200 years of wedding fashions from the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. The exhibition encompasses historical bridal dresses and other accessories as well as gowns and accessories by world famous couturiers and designers including Charles Frederick Worth, Norman Hartnell, Charles James, Zandra Rhodes, John Galliano, Vivienne Westwood, Vera Wang, Christian Lacroix, Lanvin, Philip Treacy and Stephen Jones.

BENDIGO EXPLORER PASS $109 (AUD pp) Visit Bendigo’s treasured tourist attractions at a discounted price.

• Gear up in overalls, boots, a miner’s hat and lamp to travel 85 metres underground in a real gold mine.

• Explore Bendigo’s golden heritage streetscapes by vintage tram.

• Gain entry to a world-class Chinese collection, featuring the world’s oldest Imperial Chinese Dragon, Loong.

• Create your own clay masterpiece in Australia’s oldest working pottery.

ECHUCA

BENDIGO GREAT OCEAN ROAD

SASI 200437-25

MELBOURNE

Convenient location: 90 minutes from the Melbourne CBD, Victoria, Australia.

For more information on event ticketing and accommodation packages, call +61 3 5434 6060 or visit: www.bendigotourism.com

Eat and drink your way around Victoria

Photographed by: Ben King

With its internationally acclaimed chefs, fresh produce and excellent venues – from casual cafés through to top-end restaurants – Victoria’s food and wine caters to all tastes.

One of the best times to visit is during the Melbourne International Food and Wine Festival held in March each year, when the city comes alive to showcase the best produce, talent and lifestyle and – with more than 300 events attracting around 300,000 people – the largest of its kind in the world.

Popular Melbourne dining options include wagyu beef at Nobu, contemporary French cuisine at Vue de monde, stylish Greek fare at The Press Club, quality Cantonese at the Flower Drum and Spanish-style tapas at MoVida.

New Zealand chef Ben Shewry, of Ripponlea restaurant Attica, was recently named Victorian Chef of the Year by the 2011 Age Good Food Guide.

Alternatively, head for the bustling Vietnamese precinct for a bowl of pho in Richmond, find a table in Melbourne’s Chinatown district or pick up some humble fresh fish and chips to enjoy on the St Kilda pier.

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The state’s regions provide a rich food bowl and a steady stream of produce for the regular local farmers markets, as well as supplying the top quality restaurants in Victoria’s regions, including the internationally acclaimed Royal Mail Hotel at Dunkeld in the Grampians, Simone’s at Bright in the High Country, and Stefano’s in Mildura.

And with more vineyards and wine regions than any other state in Australia, Victoria is one of the world’s great wine destinations.

There are 2900 vineyards and more than 850 wineries, many of the regions – Yarra Valley, Macedon Ranges, Mornington Peninsula, Geelong and Sunbury – within 90 minutes drive of Melbourne.

Visit the cellar doors to chat with the winemaker, enjoy a tasting or dine on local produce at winery restaurants and cafés.

Local cellar-door experiences range from sophisticated tasting rooms to barrel-side tastings in underground tunnels.

match your gourmet meal with locally produced cool-climate wines.

From innovative winemaking stalwarts such as De Bortoli, Fergusson and Yering Station, to boutique wineries Punt Road and Mandala Wines, the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges have it all.

Photographer: Rob BlackburN

Drop by one of the many cellar doors – some of them rustic tin sheds tucked among the vines – to taste their wines and pick up a bottle.

From the cool-climate varieties of the Yarra Valley to the big reds of Rutherglen, you can create your own personal Victorian experience or join an organised tour.

Alternatively, take the Great Grape Road touring route, a scenic circuit through the Pyrenees, Grampians and Ballarat wine regions of western Victoria, which produce some of Australia’s finest cool-climate wines, including internationally acclaimed shiraz.

Yarra Valley Imbibe within the hallowed walls of viticultural institutions at the birthplace of Victorian wine – the Yarra Valley – or discover the boutique wineries that sommeliers would love to keep to themselves.

Taste the grapes in the place where diverse soils, temperate weather and generations of dedicated winemakers combined to kick start Victoria’s wine industry in 1838.

A great way to explore this picturesque pocket of Victoria is to follow the Yarra Valley Food Trail, stopping at the sign-posted gastronomic hotspots. The trail takes visitors to orchards, farm gates and roadside stalls to source local produce directly from the grower.

Wander among the stalls laden with fresh produce and homemade delicacies at the Yarra Valley Regional Farmers’ Market (3rd Sunday every month) or the Hurstbridge Farmers’ Market (1st Sunday every month), chatting with the growers to learn about the provenance of the food.

Tuck in to specialty seasonal produce introduced to the region by generations of immigrant settlers, tasting pasta, cheese, chilli, capsicum, persimmons, smoked fish, salmon and fine wine.

Gather regional produce for a picnic lunch or settle into a local café or restaurant and www.visitmelbourne.com/nz

Tens of thousands of visitors enjoy live music in the verdant hills of Rochford Estate as part of the estate’s renowned “A Day on the Green” concert series, or mix fine art with a wine-tasting at TarraWarra, where the not-forprofit TarraWarra Museum of Art exhibits an ever-changing array of contemporary Australian art.

Established by French champagne house Moët & Chandon in 1986, Domaine Chandon is dedicated to the production of méthode traditionnelle sparkling wine and premium quality, cool-climate still Victorian wines.

Or learn how to match cheese with your wine at the De Bortoli cellar door cheese room. Established in 1928 by Italian migrant Vittorio De Bortoli and his wife Gieseppina, De Bortoli Wines is now run by Leanne De Bortoli and her head winemaker husband Steve Webber and is one of Australia’s largest family owned wine companies.

Home to some of the oldest grape vines in the valley, the winery is also winning acclaim for its Cheese Maturation and Tasting Room.

Taste delicious cheese from around Australia and overseas, matured to perfection in its custom-made maturation cellar under the guidance of respected cheese maker Richard Thomas, whose 30-year career includes stints at Milawa Cheese Company, Meredith Dairy and Yarra Valley Dairy.

The folks at Healesville’s Giant Steps/ Innocent Bystander also believe great wine needs great food and have opened a bistro serving wood-fired pizza, along with an artisan bakery and cheese room and provedore. The bistro also roasts its own coffee beans and offers a range of excellent beers, along with a wine list filled with other favourite local (and international) producers.

A great way to experience the Yarra Valley and avoid the hassle of driving yourself is to go on a day tour. Established in 1998 by Matthew Noble, Australian Wine Tour Company offers public and private tours guided by wine experts who show all the region has to offer from how to taste wine to how it’s made. The Yarra Valley Wine Experience includes transport to and from the city in a deluxe vehicle, all wine tastings and lunch at a winery restaurant

served with matching glass of wine, a tour of Domaine Chandon followed by a glass of sparkling wine and tasty light shared platters.

If you’ve ever wanted to blend your own wine, book an experience with Melbourne Private Tours. The tour takes guests to a Yarra Valley vineyard and winery where they meet the winemaker and learn the secrets of making the perfect wine.

Pick up interesting winemaking facts before taking up a beaker and test tube to assume the role of cellar master. At the end of the tour, you present your wine for judging and taste other guests’ blends before celebrating with a lunch in the barrel room.

High Country Stretching from the flat plains around the Murray River to the steep, timbered foothills of the Victorian Alps, north-eastern Victoria boasts five distinct wine regions – Rutherglen, Beechworth, Alpine Valley, King Valley and Glenrowan.

Each region reflects its own distinct climatic, topographic and historic differences in the quality and complexity of wines, ranging from luscious muscat, vibrant Italian varieties to the rich ales of its many craft breweries.

In the north lies Rutherglen, with a rich history of fortified winemaking and a great diversity of table wines. To the south is Glenrowan, which has been producing

traditional wines of heroic proportions since the 1870s. To the east is the pristine mountain environment of the Alpine Valleys, King Valley and Beechworth, which offer some of the state’s most innovative winemaking, diverse vineyards and elegant wines.

Wine grapes have been grown on the Oxley Plains for more than 100 years, with the Brown family operating the Brown Brothers winery at Milawa since 1889.

Step into Little Italy in the King Valley, where dynamic Italian migrant families established wineries that continue to innovate through the generations.

The valley’s fantastic growing conditions allow winemakers to produce all wine styles from sparkling to fortified wines and King Valley’s winegrowing region represents a third of Victoria’s premium wine production.

Among them are well-known Italian wines – representing the heritage of the early winemakers – including prosecco, nebbiolo, sangiovese, pinot grigio, dolcetto, arneis and barbera.

Knock on the cellar door of a family-run winery or gorge yourself in Milawa, home to the Brown Brothers Epicurean Centre and the Milawa Cheese Factory. Fresh cheeses, meat, fish and olives are plentiful in Milawa, and you can pick up locally made mustards and herb vinegars at Milawa Mustards in the Old Emu Inn. Eat up in Beechworth, with its renowned Beechworth Honey, top restaurants, and cheeses from Larder, or sample handmade beers at Bright’s boutique brewery.

Let well-known chefs find groundbreaking ways to deliver local produce to your plate. Simone’s of Bright and Beechworth’s Provenance and Wardens Food and Wine lead the fine-dining charge, and atmospheric cafés and convivial country pubs thrive in every village.

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A “Pedal to Produce” tour is a popular way to explore the King Valley; a self-guided bicycle ride to nine local wineries and farm gates in the Milawa gourmet region, including the chance to sample berries, cheese, chocolates, lavender, mustards and olives. The trip includes a detailed map, a bicycle with a produce basket attached to the front and optional overnight accommodation at the chic Lindenwarrah Country House Hotel.

Meet the characters of King Valley at places such as Pizzini Wines, where you can sample – or learn how to cook – rustic Italian cuisine while enjoying a display showing the region’s immigrant origins.

Chat with Otto Dal Zotto about his family’s wines over bocce at Dal Zotto Estate or encounter the Brown brothers during a visit to the gourmet Epicurean Centre.

One of the best time’s to visit King Valley – and experience “La Dolce Vita” – is in November each year when the wineries throw open their doors to celebrate the arrival of spring. Or warm your soul with a full-bodied glass of red during the Queen’s Birthday celebration “Weekend Fit for a King”, June 11-12, 2011.

Rutherglen also is filled with fourth and fifth-generation winemakers who draw on family tradition and modern techniques to produce a huge variety of wines including signature muscats, tokays and rich reds.

Follow Rutherglen’s Muscat Trail, a journey along quiet back roads and tracks used by cyclists to explore the historic wine region, and sample the renowned Rutherglen muscats. Ten wineries are included on the route and you can taste or buy robust reds, fresh whites and a large selection of fortified wines.

Take the time to enjoy the charming rural landscape; forming a natural boundary, the

ROYAL MAIL hotel

Australian chef Dan Hunter introduced international standard fine dining to Victoria’s southern Grampians region after taking over as executive chef at Dunkeld’s Royal Mail Hotel in 2007. Hunter, who began his career in Melbourne restaurants before working at some of the world’s leading restaurants, has created one of Australia’s great dining destinations with the Royal Mail recently named Restaurant of the Year by the 2011 Age Good Food Guide. In Dunkeld – a sheep shearing town of around 400 people – Hunter has established 1500-square metres of kitchen gardens for the restaurant, complete with free-range chickens, fruit orchards and a greenhouse for herb production. He works closely with his dedicated garden and kitchen teams to produce food – 150 varieties of organic and heirloom vegetables – that reflects the natural surrounds and the seasons.

The restaurant is also home to the award-winning Royal Mail Cellar, which has one of the most comprehensive and varied wine collections in Australia, including Australia’s leading collection of burgundy and bordeaux. www.royalmail.com.au

LAKE HOUSE

Murray River meanders past stands of river red gums and secluded billabongs, providing shady natural picnic spots for resting along the way.

The Rutherglen Wine Experience & Visitor Information Centre provides maps and bikes for hire.

Well known for its adventure activities in the High Country, Adventure Victoria also offers food and wine experiences such as the guided King Valley Winery Walk though the vineyards.

Meet the winemakers and enjoy behind-thescenes access as a guide brings history to life with tales of bushrangers, gold mining and the Italian immigrants who brought with them great wine-making traditions and a love of fine food.

For a truly adventurous experience, the five-day Man from Snowy River and Heritage Ride combines exhilarating horse riding in the mountains with authentic Australian gourmet experiences, including a degustation dinner at a remote pioneer homestead.

Mildura and the Murray The wide, slow glide of the Murray River is the lifeblood of this warm, dry region, tempering its Mediterranean climate and irrigating a wide variety of produce, including the grapes that produce the area’s well-priced, easy drinking wines.

The warmest of Victoria’s wine regions, the north-west features an eclectic natural landscape of red gum forest, desert, river, outback and lagoons beside lush irrigated farmland.

The Murray River wineries are mostly clustered around Mildura and Swan Hill and specialise in Australian favourites – smooth-drinking shiraz and flavoursome chardonnay.

The Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show, held in Mildura each November, highlights unusual wines that are becoming popular worldwide.

This region has a lifestyle well-suited to its easy climate, with excellent restaurants, festivals, wine shows, boating and golf courses.

Its rich soils, sunshine and steady water supply ensure a huge range of fruits (the area is the centre of Australia’s dried fruit industry), grapes, vegetables, olives and nuts. The river also provides abundant freshwater fish, including yabbies, Murray crays and the famed Murray cod.

Famous for its slow food and quality produce, Mildura is a great place to start a Murray River food and wine journey. Visit the food store run by celebrity chef Stefano de Pieri to order a picnic hamper filled with quality regional produce.

Mildura has fantastic local markets such as the Sunraysia Farmers market, which runs on the first and third Saturday of the month and offers the best in farm-fresh local produce.

The Langtree Mall Market, held on the second and fourth Sunday of the month, also sells local produce, along with gourmet food, homemade pickles and jams, crafts and clothing.

Swan Hill is the centre of Australia’s stone fruit industry and signs hung on farm gates along the Murray Valley Highway guide you to homesteads selling freshly picked nectarines, peaches, pistachios, almonds and olives.

Stop off at a roadside stall around Yarrawonga-Mulwala for stone fruits, berries, nuts and honey or pick up a brochure for the farm-gate trail at the local visitor information centre.

The Great Grape Road Touring Route Take a scenic circuit through the Pyrenees, Grampians and Ballarat wine regions of western Victoria on the Great Grape Road touring route to sample some of Australia’s finest cool-climate wines, including internationally recognised shiraz.

Located in Daylesford and with magnificent views, the Lake House restaurant dining room offers “fine dining with its top button undone” and the path to its door is regularly travelled by savvy travellers from around the world.

The Lake House menu reflects the hinterland’s rich rolling farmland, with local lamb, beef, cheese, freshwater fish, fruit and vegetables complemented by the best Australian and imported wine. As executive chef, Alla Wolf-Tasker works from the ground up producing virtually everything served in the restaurant, from house-baked breads to an extensive charcuterie range, on the premises. Seasonal produce drives the menus, with regional suppliers providing goods such as chestnuts, wild mushrooms, morello cherries, wild berries, rabbits, venison, duck, eel, trout, yabbies, lamb, beef and organically grown and produced foods. The wine list boasts 700 labels, including flagship bottles and boutique gems from the surrounding local wine-producing regions of Heathcote and Bendigo, Macedon and Sunbury, Ballarat and the Pyrenees. www.lakehouse.com.au

SIMONE’S RESTAURANT

Run by George and Patrizia Simone for more than 20 years, Simone’s Restaurant in Bright at the foot of Victoria’s alpine resorts has long been a beacon for lovers of quality seasonal Victorian fare. The Italian family restaurant is located in a warmly converted Victorian cottage in the heart of the township, which reminds chef Patrizia of her native town, Perugia, in Umbria. The restaurant serves up flavour-packed dishes that owe as much to chef Patrizia’s heritage as they do to the fresh produce of north-east Victoria. Simone’s has helped put the picturesque alpine town of Bright on the map, and Patrizia is personally credited with putting the region on the gastronomic radar. The seasonal menu changes frequently and may feature local rabbit, chestnuts, Rutherglen lamb or carefully stuffed zucchini flowers. It is Italian comfort food but beautifully finessed and with real, authentic flavours. www.simonesrestaurant.com.au

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Visit local cellar doors and meet with winemakers keen to share their experiences and introduce you to their wines as you compare the flavours of the regions.

The first vines in the Grampians region were planted in 1863 and are among the oldest shiraz vines in the world. Today the scenic

countryside around Ararat, Buangor, Great Western and Hall Gaps is home to outstanding wineries such as historic Seppelt’s and Best’s Great Western and newer vineyards such as Mount Langi Ghiran and Montara. Grampians wines are known for their strong berry flavours and soft tannins.

eucalyptus. And its chardonnay sauvignon blanc show soft stone fruit flavours and a refreshing acidity.

The Great Grape Road then heads south to the nine wineries of the Ballarat region, where the climate is ideal for chardonnay and pinot noir.

After leaving the mountainous terrain of the Grampians, the Great Grape Road swings east toward the Pyrenees, which offer a splendid backdrop for a tasting at the region’s 12 excellent wineries. The rich purple berry fruit flavours of the region’s cabernet sauvignon and shiraz offer hints of mint and

HigH Country VillageS 2 day tour

HigH Country VillageS & King Valley 3 day tour

A recipe for Adventure

Cycle the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail and experience the best of the High Country’s rich diversity. Explore the villages of Milawa, Bright and Beechworth and immerse yourself in this scenic 2-day cycling and culinary adventure.

Cycle and savour Victoria’s High Country on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail

– – – –

Discover gourmet delights and rich history on this 3-day culinary and cycling tour. Enjoy the crisp, sub-alpine village of Bright. Journey to Gapsted and the gold and legends of Beechworth, before savouring exciting Italian varietals from the many family-owned King Valley wineries.

3 nights accommodation Bike and helmet Delicious meals on all days Cycle transfers

$680 AUD pp

– – – –

4 nights accommodation Bike and helmet Delicious meals on all days Cycle transfers

$995 AUD pp

HigH Country Culinary explorer 4 day tour

HigH Country ultimate 5 day tour

Explore historic goldmining villages and sample the delights of Italian varietals from family-owned King Valley wineries. Indulge in fresh, award winning gourmet produce from farm gate purveyors. Enjoy a free day discovering villages, wineries and gourmet producers or visit the Alpine National Park.

Enjoy the ultimate High Country package; 3 wine regions, 4 villages, 5 days. Explore the village of Bright, the tranquil King Valley and the goldrush towns Beechworth and Rutherglen. Savour the High Country’s gourmet delights on this 4 day cycling and 1 day culinary adventure tour.

– 5 nights accommodation – Bike and helmet – Delicious meals on 4 days, breakfast each day – Cycle transfers

– – – – –

$1100 AUD pp

6 nights accommodation Bike and helmet Delicious meals on 4 days Transfers Culinary adventure day

For more information go to www.adventurevictoria.com.au sales@adventurevictoria.com.au or tel +61 407 841 736

$1400

AUD pp

SADDLE UP FOR AN ADVENTURE IN VICTORIA’S GREAT OUTDOORS Victoria has more than 100 parks and reserves scattered throughout the state, which cover more than four million hectares.

Victoria’s parks provide an ideal setting for any outdoor pursuit, from adventure activities to bird watching, bush walking and photography.

Explore alpine, desert, forest, coastal, outback, bushland and urban landscapes.

High Country Saddle up and gallop through stunning alpine scenery on the tracks and trails traversed

by Victoria’s pioneering mountain cattlemen, whose lives were immortalised by poet Banjo Paterson in The Man from Snowy River.

Whether you’re a novice or an experienced rider, there’s a trail to suit everyone in the heart of Australia’s biggest recreational horse-riding

area. Join legendary mountain horsemen during a summer muster and visit the rustic huts built by their predecessors on the Bogong High Plains and Mount Buller. For detailed directions to Wallaces Hut and Cope Hut, near Falls Creek, Fry’s Hut in the Howqua Hills Historic Area and Craig’s Hut on Mount Stirling, visit a local tourist information centre.

Experience it first hand on a guided tour, from short rides along quiet bushland trails to multi-day packhorse tours with eventful days and evenings spent yarning around a campfire.

Some of the best include Bogong Horseback Adventures, which offers a true Man from

Snowy River experience with packhorse adventures into the Alpine National Park, or the family run Lovick’s High Country Adventure tours, which explore the region’s historic huts and remote campsites.

Visit Dead Wood Forest, Craigs Hut, Mount Stirling and other Man from Snowy River places of interest with a tour run by High Country Horses and Merrijig Lodge or join a safari across the Bogong High Plains with Packers High Country Horseriding. Those keen to combine the best of the region’s scenery with its excellent cool-climate wines can consider a private ride or a tour of High

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Country wineries with Watsons Mountain Country Trail Rides.

Swap four legs for two wheels to cycle around the High Country. Take on the challenge of climbing the highest peaks as part of a dedicated cycling trip or arm yourself with a map and bike and track down Victoria’s best fresh produce.

Many areas have bike tracks or trails where you can spend a few hours pedalling between wineries and gourmet producers, filling your basket with cheese, fruit, wine and olives along the way.

The historical railway lines of the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail provides 94 kilometres of bitumen track suited to cycling and walking for all ages and all levels of fitness.

A perfect introduction to the diverse countryside of north-eastern Victoria, the trail winds through pine forests and natural bushland, through valleys nestled among some of the most beautiful mountain ranges in Australia.

The trail links the towns of Wangaratta, Beechworth, Myrtleford, Porepunkah and Bright, which each offer a pleasant place to stop and refresh. Sample the region’s food and wine, absorb living history as you pass by old tobacco kilns, witness the historic prosperity of the gold rush era or learn about Ned Kelly and his legendary gang of bushrangers, who made this region their home. Start the cycling journey from Bright, Myrtleford, Beechworth, Wangaratta or from many of the old stations; bicycles can be hired at each of these towns.

Call it hiking, bushwalking or just admiring the scenery, the extensive network of tracks and trails around Victoria’s highest peaks offer numerous delights for those setting out on foot.

For breathtaking views over the stunning alpine landscape, walk the iconic Razorback across an exposed ridge linking a classic alpine peak and Mount Hotham ski resort or trek from Hotham to Falls Creek on the Alpine Wild Walk, crossing the Bogong High Plains. The route takes you through a carpet of summer wildflowers, past snow gum woodlands and the historic cattlemen’s huts.

The region is criss-crossed with walking tracks which allow you to explore the region’s stunning environment, including the wild Southern Ocean, lush forests and stunning waterfalls or walk along the rim of a lake-filled volcanic crater.

The Great Ocean Walk, on Victoria’s spectacular west coast, stretches 104 kilometres from the idyllic resort town of Apollo Bay, to within sight of the magnificent Twelve Apostles. Weave through beautiful national parks, deserted beaches and gaze over pristine marine sanctuaries. Step off the trail to enjoy comfortable accommodation and local meals along the route.

There are plenty of places to stay along the Great Ocean Road, with bed and breakfast accommodation, motels and guesthouses in Apollo Bay, Port Campbell, Cape Otway, Lorne and Glenaire.

Or join a tour with local company Bothfeet, which combines tranquil lodge luxury with world-class hiking. Whether it’s for an afternoon or for several days, Bothfeet guides lead small groups along the trail with overnight stays in their sustainable eco-lodge set in a rainforest amphitheatre – complete with a live-in chef.

Self-guided travellers can stop off along the Great Ocean Road to explore the Great Otway National Park, a 60 kilometre stretch from Apollo Bay to Princetown. The 12,876 hectare

For a less challenging experience, wander along the banks of the Murray River to wineries on Rutherglen’s Muscat Trail, stopping at family-run boutique wineries and gourmet food producers. Stroll the panoramic alpine plains around Falls Creek, or weave along Mount Buffalo’s excellent walking tracks, spotting kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, possums, gliders and falcons.

Hedonistic Hiking provides guided walking holidays and gourmet experiences in Victoria’s north east, including Falls Creek, the Australian Alpine Walking Track, the Razorback, Mount Feathertop and Mount Buffalo, as well as along the Great Ocean Walk. The tours include tailored adventure and indulgence packages with fabulous accommodation, guided hiking, al fresco lunches and dinner in the region’s best restaurants. Join a small group adventure or book your own private tour.

Alternatively take a winery walk in the Alpine Valley for a rare insight into the history and culture of the region and the opportunity to meet with the winemakers and enjoy a private gourmet lunch on their estates.

The Great Ocean Walk

Great Ocean Road From rainforests, rivers and old volcanoes, to deserted coastlines with towering limestone stacks and sand dunes, the national parks of the Great Ocean Road show Victoria’s natural diversity at its best.

park is perfect for recreational and naturebased activities and features some of the most rugged and remote coastline in Victoria.

Buffeted by wild seas and fierce winds, the coastline around Port Campbell has been sculpted over millions of years to form a series of striking rock stacks that rise out of the Southern Ocean. Known as the Twelve Apostles, they are one of the most spectacular natural attractions in Victoria. Famous for the Twelve Apostles and numerous historic shipwrecks, Port Campbell National Park also

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contains the most significant areas of vegetation and fauna native to south-western Victoria including coastal woodlands, dunes, wetlands, cliffs, limestone stacks and arches.

Further west of Port Campbell National Park, the Bay of Islands Coastal Park stretches for 32 kilometres from Peterborough to near Warrnambool. With spectacular ocean views, the park protects a variety of rare and threatened flora and fauna species in coastal heath land. The park includes the stunning Bay of Martyrs.

2005 VicRoads Great Victorian Bike Ride

GREAT VICTORIAN BIKE RIDE First held in 1984, the Great Victorian Bike Ride is one of the world’s great cycling experiences, allowing cyclists to see the real Australia and meet the real Australians.

Run by Bicycle Victoria, the ride takes cyclists on a nine-day journey through some of Victoria’s most beautiful countryside.

In 2010, 5000 participants explored the lakes, rivers and ranges of central Victoria on a 590-kilometre journey from Yarrawonga on the Murray River through the Goulburn Valley to the ranges of Marysville. The ride featured some well known and hidden secrets of the region including the Strathbogie Ranges, Nagambie, and Eildon, top Victorian wineries, thoroughbred studs and orchards.

“Australians are known for being friendly but put them on two wheels for a week and you have the recipe for an amazing Aussie holiday experience,” says Leah Chesney, Bicycle Victoria’s event manager.

“This is a great bike ride with a diverse combination of lakes, rivers, scenic roads and stunning mountain ranges. It provides a chance to slow down, discover some of Victoria’s best kept secrets as well as having a holiday with a sense of adventure.”

The ride is a fully catered, tent-based holiday and with an average day’s cycling of 70 kilometres, it is perfect for first-time cycling tourists. A three-day 185 kilometre option is available for those who would rather have a shorter ride.

There is extensive back up including luggage transport, a licensed café under canvas, massage, full medical team and bicycle repair facilities. The 2011 Great Victorian Bike Ride will run late November to early December.

See www.bv.com.au for more information.

The Grampians Walking is the best way to experience the Grampians and there are a myriad of walking trails throughout the Grampians National Park which take walkers through some of the most outstanding wilderness in the state.

Stay a few days and get out and about for a hike through the park. Kangaroos and other wildlife abound and it’s easy to unwind as you wander through some of the most beautiful bushland in Victoria.

From sedate strolls to challenging hikes, the trails offer spectacular scenery, dramatic lookouts and an array of native fauna and flora.

Visit one of the tallest peaks in the southern Grampians and take in spectacular views over rugged ranges and an historic township along the Mount Abrupt (Mount Murdadjoog) Trail or climb to the summit of Mount Sturgeon (Mount Wurgarri) along the Mount Sturgeon Trail for panoramic views of Dunkeld and the surrounding ranges and volcanic plains.

The Mount William (Mount Duwil) Trail takes you to the highest peak in western Victoria and offers outstanding views across rows of serrated ranges and expansive plains, while the Piccaninny Walk gives excellent views of Mount Abrupt (Mount Murdadjoog) and the nearby town of Dunkeld with its surrounding pastoral landscape.

In the northern Grampians region, the MacKenzie Falls Trail takes walkers to the cascading waters of Victoria’s largest and most majestic waterfall.

There are trails to suit every mood and level of fitness – the Mount Stapylton Loop Walk is one for the fit and adventurous and leads to a spectacular summit while the Fyans Creek Loop Walk is an easy walk offering a chance to view kangaroos and other Grampians wildlife in their natural habitat.

For views of Mount Stapylton and the surrounding Wimmera Plains climb up the rocky hillside on the Mount Zero Walk.

The Mount Wudjub-Guyan (Hollow Mountain) Trail takes you through the wind-scoured caverns of Mount Wudjub-Guyan

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(Hollow Mountain) to emerge high on the rugged cliffs overlooking a vast natural amphitheatre or visit beautiful rock pools and rock formations on the Venus Baths Walk.

Beehive Falls Trail and Chatauqua Peak Loop Walk both offer tranquil walks with waterfalls while the Boronia Peak Walk takes you to a rocky peak in the Mount William range and also offers spectacular views.

The Goldfields Dry Diggings Track is part of the Goldfields Track, a superb 210 kilometre walking and cycling trail that connects the towns of Ballarat and Bendigo via scenic villages such as Castlemaine, Hepburn, Daylesford and Creswick.

Walk through a diverse series of historic mining landscapes where gold was first discovered in the 1850s, and the noted spa areas of Vaughan, Glenluce, Hepburn and Daylesford.

Explore ruins and artefacts from the gold rush days and Australia’s first national heritage park, the Castlemaine Diggings National Park, or drink from the naturally occurring mineral springs which flow freely from the ground or can be accessed via hand pumps.

The region includes stands of ironbark, box and stringybark along with higher altitude candlebark and messmate forests closer to Daylesford. Golden wattle blooms in late winter and the area is ablaze with wildflowers in spring. The walk also is great for spotting wildlife, including grey kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas and birds of many varieties.

The Goldfields Track is part of the Great Dividing Trail, 300 kilometres of trails that provide a pathway to the hidden treasures of central Victoria. The other legs of the Goldfields Track are the Leanganook Track linking Castlemaine and Bendigo and the Wallaby Track from Mount Buninyong to Daylesford.

Wilsons Promontory Escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life and get off the beaten track in Victoria’s largest coastal wilderness area, Wilsons Promontory National Park, the southernmost point of the Australian mainland.

GREAT OCEAN WALK – ART OF WALKING

Known by locals as “The Prom”, Wilsons Promontory is one of the state’s best loved parks, a 50,000 hectare reserve threaded with walking tracks and home to abundant wildlife including kangaroos, emus, wombats, echidnas and vividly plumed rosellas. The promontory’s 130 kilometre coastline is framed by granite headlands, mountains, forests and fern gullies.

Tidal River, 30 kilometres inside the park boundary, is the focus for tourism and recreation. But whether you just visit for the day, stay under canvas or in contemporary cabins, there is much to do and see.

The Prom offers an array of tranquil rivers, intimate coves, granite mountaintops and lush, forested valleys, secluded beaches, fern gullies and spectacular rock formations.

The drive from the entrance at Yanakie to Tidal River settlement is scenic and well-signposted, with car parks, beaches and bush accessible through side roads, but the best way to enjoy the scenery is on one of the many walking trails.

Stroll to Squeaky Beach with its pure white quartz sand or climb Mount Oberon for one of Victoria’s best panoramas, and to see how vegetation changes with aspect and altitude.

Swim at the beautiful sandy beach along Tidal River at Norman Bay or explore the underwater world surrounding the headland with a mask and snorkel. Those who prefer to stay above the water can see the intertidal life in the many rock pools formed by granite boulders on the Prom’s beaches.

The Lilly Pilly Gully Nature Walk takes you through heath land, eucalypt forest and rainforest or make an overnight visit to one of the 11 outstation campsites, accessible only by foot. The northern part of the Prom is an officially designated wilderness area.

drive northeast of Melbourne you can find breathtaking scenery while enjoying some of Australia’s most famous wines.

The Dandenong Ranges National Park is famous for its tall Mountain Ash Forests, wildlife and scenic views.

Walkers and cyclists can explore the many tracks that wind through the park, which is home to more than 130 native bird species, 31 species of native mammals, 21 reptiles and nine amphibians. Most of the mammals are active only at night but cyclists are advised to travel slowly to avoid unexpected encounters with walkers and wildlife, which also share the tracks.

Dandenongs

Another great place to exercise and enjoy the outdoors is the 38 kilometre Warburton Rail Trail.

Perfect for a day trip or a long weekend escape, the beauty of heading to the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges is the short journey it takes to get there. Just an hour’s

Built in 1901, the railway line from Warburton once carried produce to Melbourne and delivered tourists to the area on the return trip. Today it is an exciting trail

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Win one of 200 copies of the Art of Walking DVD. The 48-minute film follows the footsteps of three extraordinary people – environmentalist and “Planetwalker” John Francis, legendary German ice skater Katarina Witt and Michael Milton, Australia’s most successful Paralympian and fastest-ever downhill skier – as they embark on the 104 kilometre journey along Australia’s most spectacular coastline, the Great Ocean Walk. For your chance to win, simply email your name and address to tourvic.auckland@tourism.vic.gov.au The first 200 entries will receive a copy of the DVD.

ride or series of short walks. Look out for kangaroos, bird life and spring wildflowers between Lilydale and Mount Evelyn, and butterflies and tree ferns on the way to Wandin.

Stop off at the old railway station at Yarra Junction, now a pioneer museum, before taking in the magnificent views of the Central Highlands and Yarra Ranges National Park along the section to Wesburn. Relax at the historic Sam Knott Hotel (licensed 1863) at Wesburn before setting off on the final five-kilometre stretch to Warburton, a popular retreat and the end of the trail.

The trail passes through lush fern-filled gullies, past grazing properties that sweep across the fertile Yarra River flood plains, past wineries, flower farms, the Yarra River and the Yarra Ranges National Park and state forest.

Take time to enjoy the spectacular views of the Dandenong and Yarra Ranges, the beauty of the Yarra River and the surrounding bush.

experience the wonderful Victorian destinations along the way including the character-filled towns, quality restaurants, boutique wineries and golf courses that line the river’s banks.

RIVER ROMANCE ON THE MIGHTY MURRAY One of the world’s great rivers, the mighty Murray River forms the border between Victoria and its northern neighbour, New South Wales, and was once a highway for paddle steamers.

With its ever-changing landscape, stunning riverscapes and abundance of native wildlife, the Murray has long been a favourite holiday destination for those keen to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

Hire a houseboat and meander along the Murray River, exploring sandy beaches, bushland and red gum forests while you unwind and enjoy the region’s temperate climate, renowned slow food, acclaimed wines and golf courses.

Houseboating on the Murray New Zealanders love the freedom of a houseboating holiday. On the Murray, it’s easy to hire a houseboat equipped with everything you need for a fun and relaxing holiday to allow you to explore the great Australian river at your own leisurely pace.

Ideal for families or groups of friends, a

houseboat can accommodate up to 12 people – some even come with a spa!

Two of the best places to hire a houseboat are the riverside towns of Mildura and Echuca-Moama. All you need is a current drivers’ licence and instruction is given on how to operate and moor it.

Houseboat companies can arrange optional extras such as fishing gear, ice and canoe hire.

Stock up on supplies at one of the region’s farmers markets where you can find fresh produce grown and made by local suppliers, including fruit and vegetables, cheeses, olives, boutique meats and wines. The Mildura Sunraysia Farmers’ Market and the Echuca Farmers Market are held at least twice a month, with dates available on their websites.

And as you relax and cruise along Australia’s great waterway, don’t forget to stop to www.visitmelbourne.com/nz

Mildura Located in Victoria’s north-western corner on the banks of the Murray River, Mildura offers much to see and do.

Book ahead to dine at Stefano’s, the most celebrated restaurant in Victoria’s north east, cruise down the river for a meal or a tasting at Trentham Estate winery or stretch your legs by playing a few holes on the lush fairways at Wentworth Services Golf Club.

Before you depart Mildura, stock up on supplies at a farmers’ market then cruise along the river to find your own peaceful mooring spot to escape and sip on a glass of local wine from one of the region’s 34 wineries.

Enjoy water sports, bird watching, bushwalking, an evening yarn around the campfire or make the most of the warm, sunny climate with a dip off the side of the boat.

From the comfort of your houseboat, take day tours to check out the scenic wonders of the region including Mungo National Park, part of the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area.

The only fully indigenous owned and operated business in the Mildura/Wentworth region, Harry Nanya Tours has won numerous awards. Guide Graham Clarke, from the Paakantyi tribe, offer specialist tours of the World Heritage-listed national park, which is known for its strong indigenous heritage and has the longest continuous record of Aboriginal life in Australia, dating back over 40,000 years.

Echuca-Moama Launch your houseboat at Echuca-Moama, a two-and-a-half-hour drive north of Melbourne, and explore a 120 kilometre stretch of the Murray River.

Cruise upstream past the Old Echuca Port, then on to the Barmah Forest before stopping to turn back at the Barmah Bridge.

Downstream, the Murray widens near Torrumbarry Weir where long straight stretches of river offer a perfect place for waterskiing.

The low grassy banks and willow trees around the weir provide a perfect place to picnic, with abundant birdlife and fishing spots along with barbecues and playground equipment.

Those in search of land-based alternatives can visit the local clubs. Rich River Golf Club, Moama Bowling Club or the Echuca-Moama RSL Club all provide a courtesy pick-up service so you can tee off for a round of golf, play a game of bowls or settle in for a long lunch or dinner.

Alternatively, visit the cellar doors of the region’s many wineries and pick up a case of quality Victorian wine to take home.

Paddle steamers on the Murray Those who prefer to let someone else drive their boat can opt for a more traditional form of Murray River transport and book a spot on a paddle steamer.

Echuca-Moama has the world’s largest fleet of authentic cruising paddle steamers built in the late 1800s. Many are still working and run short cruises down the Murray, while a few offer longer journeys.

Board the MV Mary Ann or the PS Emmylou for a cruise over lunch, dinner or afternoon tea.

For a truly relaxing break, book in for one or two nights of drifting aboard the PS Emmylou, which is powered by a restored 1906 steam engine. Measuring 30 metres in length and 10 metres wide, the timber-decked paddle steamer comfortably accommodates 18 overnight passengers in two-berth

Dine at Stefano’s: Hidden beneath the historic Grand Hotel in a sprawling former cellar, Stefano’s has earned an international reputation for its excellent food and convivial atmosphere. Chef and co-owner Stefano de Pieri delivers a constantly changing five-course set menu of unpretentious Italian dishes with a strong focus on fresh local ingredients. Make sure you book in advance for an unforgettable dining experience. www.stefano.com.au Visit the Port of Echuca: Recognised as one of Victoria’s finest heritage icons, the Port of Echuca was once the centre of Australia’s inland trade. Still an operating steam port, it is home to Australia’s largest riverboat fleet. Historic paddle steamers cruise daily from Echuca Wharf.

Tee off beside the river: Step off your houseboat for a round of golf at one of the Murray’s superb golf courses. Tee off in on the banks of the Murray River at Mildura’s Coomealla Golf Club or play on the sandbelt at West Lakes at Riverside Golf Club’s 18-hole course. Echuca’s Rich River Golf Club Resort offers two award-winning 18-hole championship courses.

Aaah! Willandra Houseboats offers six to 10 berth houseboats for deluxe family comfort or the ultimate luxury of a 12-berth penthouse-style houseboat. www.willandrahouseboats.com.au All Seasons Houseboats offers modern two to 12-berth, fully equipped, air-conditioned houseboats. Two new luxury boats offer five bedrooms with 10 to 12 berths, a rooftop spa and easy access for people with disabilities. www.allseasonshouseboats.com.au www.visitmelbourne.com/nz

cabins, most of which feature traditional riverboat-style bunks with linen and towels provided. Choose from one, two and threenight cruises, which are scheduled throughout the year.

Steam enthusiasts can leave from Mildura aboard the PS Melbourne. Originally launched at Koondrook on the river in 1912 and built for the Victorian Government as a work boat, the PS Melbourne is one of the few remaining steam vessels still carrying passengers on the Murray. Alternatively, cruise to Trentham Estate Winery aboard the PS Rothbury, an historic tow boat built in 1881 and renowned as one of the fastest paddle boats on the Murray River.

Canoeing on the Murray A great way to explore the shady creeks and tranquil waters of the lakes and World Heritage-listed wetlands is by hiring a canoe.

Wildlife abounds in the area with more than 200 bird species sharing the Barmah Wetlands with kangaroos, koalas, platypus, reptiles and much more. The region also is home to the largest natural river red gum forest in the world.

Gondwana Canoes offers self-guided canoeing trails including a one-hour, half-day, one-day or overnight adventures or trips taking three or more days, which explore the creeks and lakes along the Murray River.

The company provides two-person Canadian canoes, along with life-jackets, waterproof barrels, detailed maps and river charts, a compass, fact sheets and a book to help identify the abundant local birdlife.

All canoe trails are suitable for beginners and are rated grade one – the easiest grade – on the international river-grading system.

With its endless sunshine and abundant water activities, the Murray River is the perfect place for a boating holiday.

Hire a houseboat and escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life as you meander along one of the world’s great rivers at your own pace, casting a line over the edge to fish for Murray cod, marvelling at the wildlife and exploring the ever changing scenery along the riverbanks.

Boasting fantastic vineyards and quality restaurants that make the most of the region’s abundant produce, the towns of Mildura and Echuca-Moama will add colour and charm to your Murray River boating experience.

A NATURAL PARADISE Victoria is the ideal destination for activities based in the great outdoors with the state’s breathtaking backdrops and diverse natural environments perfect for outdoor pursuits.

See Australia’s iconic native animals in their natural environments, stay in eco-friendly accommodation and experience the great outdoors through a range of adventurous experiences.

Just 90 minutes drive southeast of Melbourne, Phillip Island is one of the most popular wildlife destinations in the state with penguins, seals, koalas and a myriad of sea birds all easy to see at close range.

Dusk is one of the best times to visit the island and the time to witness Australia’s most popular wildlife event – a parade of Little Penguins who emerge from the sea and waddle across the beach at Summerland Point to their burrows in the sand dunes.

The smallest penguins in the world (they are just 33cm tall), with around 26,000 Little Penguins living on Phillip Island.

One of the best ways to experience them up close is with an Ultimate Penguin Tour.

Designed for groups of up to 10 people, the two-hour accredited eco tour takes nature lovers on to a stunning, secluded beach for an intimate and unforgettable experience as the penguins waddle past. Participants use night-vision technology to see the penguins, while rangers provide commentary through personal headphones.

Just around the corner on the western tip of the island, a colony of up to 16,000 fur seals takes up residence at Seal Rocks. Join Wildlife Coast Cruises as they move among the colony and witness the seals play, or view the seals, penguins and nesting seabirds through telescopes at The Nobbies.

Also on Phillip Island is the fantastic Koala Conservation Centre, where you can walk along two elevated treetop boardwalks,

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which allow superb close viewing of wild koalas in six hectares of Australian bushland.

Established in 1991, the centre is dedicated to koala research and conservation and has played a vital role in saving Phillip Island’s koala population through its special koala breeding programme.

The Koala Conservation Centre is also home to a host of Australian wildlife including swamp wallabies, nocturnal brushtail and ringtail possums, echidnas and more than 150 species of birds.

From blowholes to caves and unusual rock formations, Phillip Island has spectacular coastal scenery, sheltered bay beaches and wild surf beaches.

Look out over roaring surf and steep cliff-top scenery from lookouts dotted around the island. Natural landmarks include an awesome blowhole that spews water skyward during big southern swells and the nearby granite and basalt Pyramid Rock.

Another popular destination for nature-based tourism is the Grampians National Park, where wildlife can be found wherever you look.

Just three hours north-west of Melbourne, the Grampians consist of five spectacular sandstone ridges featuring lookouts with stunning panoramic views and picturesque waterfalls.

One of the most accessible wilderness areas in Australia with a vast variety of drives and walks to explore, the area boasts lush green farmlands, bush forests, soaring mountains, flowing waterfalls, semi-desert wilderness and spectacular national parks.

Its wide range of habitats provides a home for an amazing mix of native animals including more than 200 species of birds, 35 mammals, 28 species of reptiles, 11 species of frogs and six kinds of native fish.

Take a short walk around town or on one of the many self-guided walking trails to see kangaroos, wallabies, emus, bandicoots, echidnas, lizards and birds at home in their natural environment. Keep your camera ready – it is common to see kangaroos and wallabies in the main streets of Halls Gap and Wartook, or in the paddocks and bush surrounding the towns.

As well as an array of parrots, lorikeets, rosellas, kookaburras and the shy desert Mallee fowl, the area is a good place to see Australia’s largest bird of prey, the magnificent wedge-tailed eagle, and rare and endangered species including the red-tailed black cockatoo.

Evening brings out the powerful owl and the tawny frogmouth along with a plethora of possums and tiny sugar gliders, who glide high between the treetops.

VICTORIA HAS GOLF HOLIDAYS DOWN TO A TEE Blessed with a variety of high quality golf courses in its metropolitan and regional areas, Victoria is Australia’s leading golf destination boasting 20 of the nation’s top 50 courses.

Australian golfing legend Peter Thomson and many golf venues offering stay-and-play deals.

Across the board, golf in Victoria provides great value for money though green fee rates fluctuate depending on the quality of the course and its reputation. But what really sets Victoria apart from other golfing destinations is the accessibility and proximity of world-class attractions that help to ensure a well-rounded holiday.

New Zealanders planning a golfing holiday need look no further than Victoria and its regions.

The Sands

Melbourne has more courses ranked in the world’s top 100 than any other city on earth and the famous “sandbelt” region in the southeastern suburbs has a cluster of courses that evolved during the golden age of golf architecture on the game’s rarest topography, sandy parkland perfect for golf.

A rich vein of sandy loam subsoil provides the rare opportunity to construct incredible green complexes defended by bunkers with heavy lips. Melbourne also boasts a temperate climate perfect for producing bent grass putting surfaces.

The sandbelt courses include the famed Royal Melbourne (East and West), Kingston Heath, Metropolitan, Victoria, Commonwealth, Huntingdale, Yarra Yarra, Peninsula (North and South), Woodlands and Spring Valley – all championship venues masterminded by acclaimed architects.

Many other terrific layouts have emerged over the past 20 years to add to the richness of golf in Victoria. Regional Victoria is well endowed with golfing facilities, with the Murray River, and the Mornington and Bellarine peninsulas

offering fantastic opportunities for a game, often with beautiful rural, riverside or seaside vistas.

The unique coastal links terrain and massive dunes of the Mornington Peninsula are a boon to golf architects and this fast-growing area has more than 15 courses within 30 minutes drive of each other, including the acclaimed Moonah Links, the National, the Dunes and Cape Schanck.

The Bellarine Peninsula, located near the start of the Great Ocean Road, has several

excellent courses, including Barwon Heads, Thirteenth Beach and The Sands.

The Mornington and Bellarine peninsulas lie on either side of Port Phillip Bay with each easily reached by road from Melbourne in a little over an hour. A car and passenger ferry takes 40 minutes to cross the bay between Sorrento and Queenscliff.

Along Victoria’s northern border, the mighty Murray River is a haven for boating, fishing and golfing with several courses designed by

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Mornington Peninsula Prepare for a round on prestigious courses designed by some of golf ’s greatest names.

With a landscape ideal for golf-course architecture, the Mornington Peninsula features some of the best courses in the world, including eight of Australia’s top 50.

Tee off to the tune of the thundering Bass Strait in the region known as “The Cups” for its proliferation of 18 superb courses, ranging from relaxed nine holes to sensational public courses and exclusive private clubs.

Moonah Links hosted the Australian Open in 2003 and 2005. Five-times British Open champion Peter Thomson created what he described as the culmination of his life’s work among the magnificent dunes land. Its companion course is The Legends, where designer Ross Perrett did a wonderful job fitting the golf holes among the natural landforms, including ancient Moonah forests and dunescapes.

As a 54-hole collective, the National is arguably the best package in the country.

Designer Robert Trent Jones junior was briefed to build something that would test the best in the business and the result challenges golfers of all abilities. Magnificent views of Bass Strait complement the site, where everything is impressive. The fairways and greens at the National are near perfect all the time, and the bunkering is superb.

Abutting the National and built on a similar landscape, Cape Schanck has many terrific holes that dogleg among the myriad fairway ridges and valleys. Grabbing plenty of attention are the spectacular downhill tee-shots, rolling green complexes and sand hazards. Guests can be accommodated in rooms with ocean views or in villas nestled in the golf course grounds.

The Dunes has earned a well-deserved reputation as a quality golf experience.

Designed to exploit the rolling terrain, sloping fairways meander through undulating knolls and ridges. Golfers face some awe-inspiring shots with greens positioned either in sheltered amphitheatres or on exposed elevations.

Bellarine Peninsula The Bellarine Peninsula offers several fine 18-hole courses overlooking the coast of Bass Strait. Enjoy breathtaking ocean views, sea air and friendly wildlife in a region studded with superbly sculpted, high-grade courses designed by international stars such as Stuart Appleby and Sir Nick Faldo.

Golfers can play the well-credentialled Barwon Heads, consistently rated among

THE PRESIDENTS CUP 2011 The world’s best golfers will descend on Melbourne in November when the city hosts The Presidents Cup 2011 at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club, designed by famed golf architect Dr Alister MacKenzie. The international event will again shine a light on Victoria’s world-class golfing opportunities.

Developed in the United States to give the world’s best non-European players a chance to compete in international team match-play competition, The Presidents Cup 2011 will be played for the ninth time, the second time in Victoria.

Unlike other events, players in The Presidents Cup 2011 do not receive prize money but help to nominate charities, to which the PGA Tour donates.

The Presidents Cup 2011 will run from November 15 to 20.

Travel packages are available from licensed tour operators Harvey World Travel www.harveyworld.co.nz and First Travel Group www.firsttravel.co.nz

Australia’s best courses. Nestled in the dunes at the mouth of the Barwon River, the Barwon Heads Golf Club short course is overloaded with character and charm, with individual holes offering incredible variety with cleverly positioned hazards and subtle green contouring.

Nearby is Thirteenth Beach, a 36-hole complex featuring the links-inspired Beach Course set among coastal dunes. Several fairways on the highly rated Thirteenth Beach Course run parallel to the coast with just the dunes as a buffer between golfers and board riders. The Creek Course, designed by six-time major winner Sir Nick Faldo, is more of a parkland style weaving in and around cypresses and pines.

Further along the coast is The Sands at Torquay, the town that marks the start of the Great Ocean Road. The Sands Torquay course signalled the first foray into golf course architecture for 2002 Australian Open champion Stuart Appleby. Bunkering is a feature of the design with sand blending seamlessly into the seaside backdrop. Some holes on the back nine border the foreshore reserve and crashing surf of Bass Strait.

BARWON HEADS GOLF RESORT Barwon Heads Golf Resort at Thirteenth Beach is a fully self-contained luxury accommodation property offering 60 rooms in a combination of one, two and three-bedroom suites. Located at Barwon Heads on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula, the resort is set on the prestigious Thirteenth Beach Golf Links, ranked one of Australia’s top championship golf courses, and is a great place from which to base to explore the region during a short break or holiday.

As well as the golf course, leisure facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, indoor Roman spa, tennis courts and direct beach access via a track. www.barwonheadsgolfresort.com.au

Famous for its wonderfully natural layout, the Anglesea golf course is populated by local kangaroos from the neighbouring national park. Having grown so accustomed to grazing on the fairways they rarely flinch when stray balls whiz past. Visitors to the clubhouse always marvel at the magnificent views across the course to Bass Strait.

Murray River For a different style of golfing holiday, hire a vehicle, throw your clubs in the back and set off along the mighty Murray River to explore, playing at the many quality golf courses along the way.

A haven for boating, fishing and golfing that stretches from Albury in the east to Mildura in the west, the Murray forms the border between Victoria and New South Wales.

Australian Sports Hall of Fame legend and well-known architect Peter Thomson has put his stamp on several courses in the region and many golf venues along the Murray have stay-and-play packages that represent great value for money.

Ideally positioned on the Hume Highway, the major transit route between Sydney and Melbourne, the reinvigorated clubhouse at

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the Commercial Albury Golf Club overlooks an 18-hole course, which occupies rolling land on the northwest edge of town.

What Peter Thomson achieved at Moama put Rich River Golf Club on the map as a place to take the clubs. Most regulars prefer tackling the more established West course but the more modern East course is a better test of a player’s ability.

The more mature Old course at Cobram-Barooga Golf Resort is the pick of the neighbouring layouts on the northern bank of the Murray. Across the road is the much younger West course that will provide even more of a challenge once the trees grow up and become more menacing.

Number 13 is a Redan hole, a design feature first introduced at North Berwick on the links of Scotland.

Golfers taking aim on the fifth hole of the Murray course at Yarrawonga and Border Golf Club (a public course) must avoid inland Australia’s grandest water hazard. Anything wide of the river gums in the left rough dives head first into a fast flowing reach of the Murray River. Five-times British Open champion Peter Thomson and his former business partner Mike Wolveridge masterminded the layout, which meanders among the sandy river flats and lagoons.

The Lake course and the nine-hole Executive course complete the 45-hole complex.

Golf is the cornerstone of the Murray Downs Golf and Country Club, a five-minute drive from the regional centre of Swan Hill, while anyone trying shortcuts at Coomealla Golf Club will rack up big numbers, with the course rewarding straight hitting like few others. The course was designed by Ross Putland, who incorporated the usually dry creek bed as a natural hazard fronting about five greens.

RELAX AND UNWIND WITH A VICTORIAN SPA Victoria’s naturally occurring mineral waters have given rise to a rich history of spa and wellbeing experiences exemplified by Daylesford and the Mornington Peninsula.

PENINSULA HOT SPRINGS

others sharp, some are very subtle in flavour, others strong.

But while the mineral and geothermal springs do much to improve the health, the regions offer much more, with a holistic lifestyle that has sprung up around them including quality fresh organic food, fine wines and accommodation designed to help relax, rejuvenate and reinvigorate mind, body and spirit.

No other state in Australia has the abundance of mineral springs and geothermal waters as Victoria, with more than 100 recognised mineral springs found within 90 minutes drive of Melbourne.

The therapeutic benefits of bathing in the springs have been exhaustively documented – bicarbonate balances the pH in the bloodstream, calcium and silica are good for the bones, magnesium helps keep the kidneys healthy, potassium is good for the mind and muscles.

The list goes on.

Springs bubble from the earth in leafy glades at the end of lakeside walks and ebb from antique fonts in historic parks. Every spring has a unique taste depending on its mineral composition: some taste sweet,

Taking the waters Mineral springs can be found on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula at Geelong and Clifton Springs, along the Victorian coast from Port Fairy to the Gippsland Lakes and in the mountains of the High Country. But most are concentrated around Daylesford and Hepburn Springs.

Just 90 minutes drive from Melbourne’s CBD, Daylesford is the spa and wellness capital of Australia – a destination where people can achieve balance through a range of wellbeing experiences.

Whether you wish to “take the waters” at one of the naturally occurring mineral springs, indulge in a range of spa treatments, enjoy local sparkling wine and organic produce or rejuvenate body and soul in the beautiful natural surrounds, Daylesford is the place to go.

The region literally bubbles over with invigorating, health-inducing miracles –

more than 80 per cent of the naturally occurring mineral spring water in Australia.

The region was settled by Swiss-Italian migrants more than 100 years ago, a population who discovered the rich health benefits for the natural mineral springs and fostered a development and commitment to sustainable farming in the area.

The legacy of this European heritage is visible today in buildings such as Villa Parma, Lavendula Swiss Italian Farm and the old macaroni factory, Victoria’s oldest Italian-built building.

Food and wine are consuming passions in the Daylesford region with undisguised pride among local producers, providores and restaurateurs.

Gourmet food also is prevalent, with quirky cafés in out-of-the-way spots and elegant restaurants on the main streets. All specialise in cooking fresh local produce.

One of Australia’s foremost cool climate wine regions, the Macedon Ranges boast more than 40 vineyards and is as well known for its wine as it is for its water.

Some of the best…

Nestled in the Mineral Springs Reserve, the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa offers traditional communal bathing in warmed mineral water pools sourced directly from the local springs, along with a range of hydrotherapies including

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spa and relaxation pools, spa couches, aroma steam room and salt-therapy pool.

Built in 1895, the mineral-springs bathhouse underwent a stunning $13 million redevelopment in 2008 and offers unparalleled bathhouse and spa experiences in magnificent surroundings.

It also has a magnificent day spa where guests can experience relaxing and reviving treatments including private mineral baths, massages, facials, body scrubs and wraps and spa rituals.

Located at Peppers Springs Retreat in the village of Hepburn Springs, the Mineral Spa aims to create an atmosphere of wellbeing, relaxation, contemplation and restoration.

It has 11 treatment rooms and overlooks the resort gardens and the beautiful bushland of Manning’s Ridge and Doctors Gully.

The water therapy area, The Retreat, provides hot and cool mineral-water plunge and spa pools and a relaxation deck overlooking European-inspired gardens, a large essential oil hot rock sauna, infrared detox box for internal therapy and a dry steam room.

The boutique Salus Spa is nestled in the gardens of Daylesford’s Lake House hotel, home to the award-winning Lake House restaurant.

The state-of-the-art spa is surrounded by waterfall-fed streams and offers nine treatment areas over three levels. Its hot mineral water spas are in “Treetop Huts”, private cedar treetop cabins overlooking the lagoon and Lake Daylesford.

Tubs are filled with pure mineral water collected from a local spring selected for its high mineral content. Signature Seasonal treatments focus on the unique beauty and experiences in the region.

Whether you wish to alleviate neuralgia, reduce the pain of bruising and breaks, treat skin disease or rheumatism, reduce muscle stiffness, recover from fatigue or improve your fertility, the healing geothermal waters of the Mornington Peninsula may help.

Just an hour from Melbourne and offering the best of coastal living with traditional Australian charm, the Mornington Peninsula offers Australia’s first geothermal resort, the Peninsula Hot Springs and Day Spa at Rye. Drop into the idyllic public pools and soak in the naturally heated and healing mineral waters, or float in a private rock pool under the trees.

While visiting the Mornington Peninsula, take time out to sample regional produce in the many restaurants and cafés in seaside villages or escape to the hinterland for gourmet delights at the myriad boutique wineries and cellar doors.

Other spa and wellness centres found on the Mornington Peninsula include Endota Day Spa Mornington, Endota Spa at Lindenderry at Red Hill, Endota Spa Moonah Links and Woodman Estate Spa Retreat in Moorooduc.

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD Getting behind the wheel is not only a great way to meet the locals, it gives you the luxury to take your holiday at any pace you choose. Three of Victoria’s most popular touring routes promise inland beauty, coastal views, adventure, welcoming towns, history and whatever you choose to see and do along the way – a self-drive trip is to be enjoyed at your leisure.

Great Southern Touring Route Travel through some of the most exciting, enchanting and exquisitely diverse landscapes in Australia. The Great Southern Touring Route combines the scenic beauty of the Great Ocean Road with the natural attractions of the Twelve Apostles, the Grampians and the heritage of the Goldfields. Suggested six days/five nights Itinerary: DAY 1 MELBOURNE TO GREAT OCEAN ROAD Distance: 98 kilometres Overnight: Torquay Why travel thousands of kilometres, when a taste of African adventure is available just 30 minutes from Melbourne’s city centre?

Werribee Open Range Zoo is home to an amazing array of animals living on 225 hectares of wide, open savannah. Come face-to-face with a pride of lions, see cheeky monkeys and cheetahs at play, watch rhinos, giraffes, zebras and antelopes grazing together on the savannah or visit a family of www.visitmelbourne.com/nz

hippos at the new Kubu River Hippos experience. Next door is the magnificent Werribee Park, where you can discover the story of an Australian pastoral empire.

Explore the Victorian era in the Italianate-style architecture and interiors of Werribee Mansion or stroll through 10 hectares of beautiful formal gardens and open park land. Situated at the start of the Great Ocean Road, Pettavel Winery and Restaurant features a state-of-the-art winery, cellar-door sales, a fine-dining restaurant named the best winery restaurant in Australia. Pettavel produces 15 estate-grown and made wines from 190 acres of vineyards in the Geelong region. Just 100 kilometres south-west of Melbourne on the Great Ocean Road lies the famous Bells Beach, one of the best known surf breaks in the world and home to the annual Rip Curl Pro Surf and Music Festival. Learn about the history of surfing at the nearby towns of Jan Juc and Torquay, home to international surf brands Rip Curl and Quiksilver.

history. Focusing on the history of the Ballarat and Goldfields region is Sovereign Hill, an outdoor museum situated in an early gold diggings area that recreates Victorian life in the 1850s. Be transported back to the Eureka Rebellion, a dramatic battle between gold miners and government forces in December 1854, during the explosive multi-million dollar sound-andlight show Blood on the Southern Cross. Get up close to Australia’s native wildlife, including koalas, kangaroos, wombats, emus and even crocodiles, at the Ballarat Wildlife and Reptile Park. The park is home to a rich collection of wildlife in 16 hectares of natural bushland.

DAY 2 TORQUAY TO GREAT OCEAN ROAD Distance: 240 kilometres Overnight: Warrnambool/Port Campbell Climb through the treetops on the Otway Fly, a 600-metre long 25-metre high elevated tree top walk ascending at a gentle grade through a magnificent stand of cool temperate rainforest featuring myrtle beech, blackwood and mountain ash. A spiral stairway takes you 45 metres through the understorey to emerge among the crowns of the giants of the forest. Further along the Great Ocean Road, the majestic Twelve Apostles rise from the Southern Ocean. The giant rock stacks have been created by constant erosion of the limestone cliffs over 20 million years. Stand on top of the cliff at spectacular Loch Ard Gorge before travelling further west to the haunting natural landscape of the Bay of Islands, where the limestone towers seem to surround you. Learn more about the history of the Shipwreck Coast at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnambool. Built around the heritage-listed Lady Bay Lighthouse precinct, the museum provides a glimpse of the maritime lifestyles and trades of the 1870s and tells the story of more than 180 ships that have come to grief along the coast.

DAY 5 BALLARAT TO SPA COUNTRY Distance: 50 kilometres Overnight: Daylesford/Hepburn Springs The spa and wellness capital of Australia, the Daylesford and Hepburn Springs region is a popular place to “take” the healing spring waters. Nestled in the Mineral Springs Reserve, the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa was built in 1895 and underwent a stunning $13 million redevelopment in 2008. It offers traditional communal bathing in warmed mineral water pools sourced directly from the local springs, along with a range of hydrotherapies including spa and relaxation pools, spa couches, aroma steam room and salt-therapy pool. The boutique Salus Spa in the gardens of Daylesford’s Lake House hotel has a state-of-the-art spa is surrounded by waterfall-fed streams and offers

DAY 3

Famous for its rugged mountains, spectacular waterfalls, wildflowers, wildlife and Aboriginal rock art, Grampians National Park is three hours drive west of Melbourne. Learn about the park’s environment and Aboriginal culture and sample native bush foods from the café at Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre.

Walk a kilometre up a steep but well maintained track to spectacular MacKenzie Falls to see the enormous torrents of water cascading over huge cliffs into a deep pool, sending fine sprays of rainbow mist high into the air above a stunning gorge or join a guided tour and visit some of the 60 Aboriginal rock art sites containing more than 4000 motifs that have been identified in the Grampians National Park.

DAY 4 GRAMPIANS TO BALLARAT Distance: 135 kilometres Overnight: Ballarat Founded in 1884, the Art Gallery of Ballarat is the oldest regional art gallery in Australia and was the first to be built outside a capital city in the overseas dominions of the British Empire.

Housed in a heritage-listed building, the gallery offers a vigorous and exciting programme of exhibitions, as well as providing an opportunity to walk through the entire span of Australia’s art

Image: Peppers Springs Retreat & SpA

GREAT OCEAN ROAD TO GRAMPIANS Distance: 160 kilometres Overnight: Halls Gap/Dunkeld

nine treatment areas over three levels. Its hot mineral water spas are in “Treetop Huts”, private cedar treetop cabins overlooking the lagoon and Lake Daylesford. Nourish the soul at the historic Convent Art Gallery, located on the crest of Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens, overlooking Daylesford. A three-level haven of fine art in an historic 19th century mansion, The Convent has decadent retail areas, a Mediterranean restaurant, relaxing Altar bar and lounge, a restored chapel and nuns museum, penthouse apartment and function spaces. It is set on six acres of gardens.

DAY 6 SPA COUNTRY TO MELBOURNE Distance: 110 kilometres Overnight: Melbourne

SYDNEY-MELBOURNE HERITAGE DRIVE Go back in time to see the rich history and heritage of this area, meandering through small historic Australian towns built on the riches of the 19th-century gold rushes, explore and cross the Murray River, see ports where paddle steamers dock and journey through Canberra, the nation’s capital. Suggested six days/five nights itinerary: DAY 1 MELBOURNE TO BENDIGO Distance: 155 kilometres Overnight: Bendigo Visit the Central Deborah Gold Mine in Bendigo, the heart of Victoria’s Goldfields region, where you can descend 60 metres to see how the region’s gold was once mined.

Take Central Deborah’s Vintage Talking Tram tour for an insight into Bendigo’s golden past as it winds its way through Bendigo’s main street. Founded in 1887, the Bendigo Art Gallery is one of Australia’s oldest and largest regional art galleries and features Australian art from the 1850s to the present day including a special collection of art from the Bendigo goldfields.

DAY 2 BENDIGO TO ECHUCA-MOAMA Distance: 100 kilometres Overnight: Echuca/Moama The Port of Echuca remains a working port and its wharf and riverfront buildings have been faithfully restored to service the fleet of paddle steamers that navigate the river. Explore the historic wharf or take a cruise down the

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river on board one of Echuca’s beautifully restored paddle steamers. Cabins are available on PS Emmylou for one and two-night cruises or you can simply join the boat for an hour or two and relax as you watch the world go by. While you’re in the region, tee off at one of Victoria’s best golf courses – the Peter Thomson designed Rich River Golf Club in Moama.

DAY 3 ECHUCA-MOAMA TO YARRAWONGA-MULWALA Distance: 150 kilometres Overnight: Yarrawonga/Mulwala The acclaimed Yarrawonga-Mulwala Pioneer Museum features a comprehensive display of Australian pioneering history including heritage cars and farming equipment, flying machines, wool presses and homewares. Stop for a hit of golf at the Yarrawonga and Border Golf Club, the largest public access golf resort in Australia, with 45 holes of golfing paradise.

Not just for golfing enthusiasts, the resort also offers croquet lawns, lawn bowls, a tennis court and heated swimming pool. Or enjoy a peaceful day cruising on Lake Mulwala aboard one of the region’s popular cruise boats.

DAY 4 YARRAWONGA-MULWALA TO ALBURY WODONGA Distance: 125 kilometres Overnight: Albury Wodonga Pick up a map of the region at the Rutherglen Wine Experience & Visitor Information Centre and explore Rutherglen wine region sampling the region’s signature muscats, tokays and rich reds produced by fourth and fifth generation winemakers. For more information about the region’s diverse cultural heritage, visit the Albury Regional Museum. Home to a variety of wildlife and centuries old river red gums, Wonga Wetlands is located on the Murray River floodplain and has been gently restored from grazing land using Albury City’s environmentally treated wastewater. An ecosystem of lagoons and billabongs, it has 154 recorded bird species, a Wiradjuri campsite, an Indigenous scar tree, six bird-watching hikes and picnic and barbecue facilities.

DAY 5 ALBURY WODONGA TO CANBERRA Distance: 345 kilometres Overnight: Canberra Australia’s national capital, Canberra, is home to many of Australia’s greatest national attractions showcasing the nation’s social and political history, culture, knowledge and art.

The National Gallery of Australia has strengths in Aboriginal and Australian art, Asian textiles, contemporary art from around the world and selected areas of African, Oceanic and pre-Colombian art. Visit Questacon to test your mind at the National Science and Technology Centre, where free games, quizzes and activities engage and explain science to children and teenagers. Or absorb Australia’s military history at the Australian War Memorial and see a stunning recreation of a night operation over Berlin in 1943, including the famous Lancaster bomber, “G for George”.

DAY 6 CANBERRA TO SYDNEY Distance: 280 kilometres Overnight: Sydney

SYDNEY-MELBOURNE COASTAL DRIVE The best way to take in the beauty of the coastline between Melbourne and Sydney is to drive. With 10 national parks to explore, wildlife, beautiful surf beaches and lakes, the journey is a succession of natural wonders. With an abundance of good food and wine along the way this route is the perfect self-drive escape. Suggested seven days/six nights itinerary: DAY 1

DAY 4 MALLACOOTA TO METUNG Distance: 227 kilometres Overnight: Metung

SYDNEY TO JERVIS BAY Distance: 182 kilometres Overnight: Jervis Bay An hour’s drive south of Sydney is the coastal city of Wollongong, the third largest city in New South Wales. Further south is the spectacular Kiama Blowhole, where large waves enter the mouth of the blowhole and compress the air within the inner cavity, forcing the retreating water into a huge water spout as the mouth is blocked by the receding wave. Also visit the Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk, a 500-metre long, 25-metre high treetop walk, which is suitable for people of all levels of fitness.

DAY 2 JERVIS BAY TO TILBA Distance: 190 kilometres Overnight: Tilba The Australian Museum of Flight is the largest aviation museum in Australia with more than 25 aircraft and numerous aviation artefacts that tell the story of Australian naval aviation.

Discover the natural wonders of the Jervis Bay Marine Park with award-winning Dolphin Watch Cruises. Or feel the pure white silica sand between your toes at Hyams Beach – said to have the whitest sand of any beach in the world.

Gypsy Point near Mallacoota is one of Victoria’s most popular boating destinations. Venture on to the water on a commercial cruise or take a canoe and spot the abundant birdlife on the Mallacoota Inlet. Drive further south to Lakes Entrance, the gateway to the magnificent Gippsland Lakes – the largest inland waterway system in Australia. Visit the extraordinary 90 Mile Beach to cast a line or join a local fishing charter to try your luck. Catch the ferry and go koala spotting on Raymond Island, a small island off the lakeside village of Paynesville.

DAY 5 METUNG TO WILSONS PROMONTORY Distance: 288 kilometres Overnight: Tidal River/Foster Head off the beaten track in Victoria’s largest coastal wilderness area, Wilsons Promontory National Park, a 50,000 hectare reserve threaded with walking tracks and home to abundant wildlife including kangaroos, emus, wombats, echidnas and vividly plumed rosellas.

Go bushwalking on one of the numerous walks in the park and stop overnight at one of the

DAY 3 TILBA TO MALLACOOTA Distance: 206 kilometres Overnight: Mallacoota Learn about the indigenous history of the Eurobodalla coast at Umbarra Cultural Centre, near Bermagui. Visit the museum, take an Indigenous tour to hear stories about the Yuin people or try activities such as ochre painting, boomerang and spear throwing. Stretching along a diverse coastline of rocky coves and headlands, long sandy beaches and coastal lagoons, all backed by forested hills, Mimosa Rocks National Park offers an array of outdoor activities including fishing, swimming, surfing, snorkelling, walking or birdwatching at beaches such as Aragunnu, Picnic Point or Bithry Inlet.

Or try fresh local oysters straight from the pristine waters of Merimbula Lake at Wheelers Oyster Farm. Buy oysters for your journey, or enjoy them and other local seafood at the onsite restaurant. Just across the Victorian border, is Croajingolong National Park, which covers 87,500 hectares and stretches 100 kilometres along the wilderness coast of East Gippsland. www.visitmelbourne.com/nz

11 outstation campsites, accessible only by foot. Walk or cycle along the Bass Coast Rail Trail, a 16-kilometre stretch between Anderson and Wonthaggi. The landscape varies from the rugged coastline at Kilcunda, to flat farmland and coastal bushland.

DAY 6 WILSONS PROMONTORY TO PHILLIP ISLAND Distance: 182 kilometres Overnight: Phillip Island While Phillip Island is best known for Australia’s most popular wildlife event, the daily Little Penguin Parade, it is also famous for its beautiful coastal scenery and native wildlife.

Join Wildlife Coast Cruises to move among up to 16,000 fur seals at Seal Rocks or watch the seals play through telescopes from The Nobbies Centre. Walk along treetop boardwalks at the Koala Conservation Centre and spot koalas high in the trees. The island also is home to the Phillip Island Circuit, a world-class grand prix track that hosts the Moto GP, world superbikes and V8 supercars.

DAY 7 PHILLIP ISLAND TO MELBOURNE Distance: 140 kilometres Overnight: Melbourne

GREAT SOUTHERN TOURING ROUTE Great Ocean Road, Grampians and Ballarat

12 Apostles scenic Helicopter FligHt

BorokA Downs

tHe VictoriA ApArtMents

12 Apostles Helicopters, on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, offers you a unique opportunity to see the 12 Apostles and Port Campbell National Park from the air. Join us for an unrivalled view of Australia’s most spectacular coastline in the comfort and safety of our luxury fleet of helicopters.

Five star luxury in secluded serenity bordering the Grampians National Park. Each spacious villa provides extensive self-catering facilities; large spa and king bed; and wildlife abounds.

The property is ecotourism accredited and a Tourism Hall of Fame winner.

The Victoria Apartments have been built with a strong historic architectural ambience and consist of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments. Secure roller door garages and modern, luxury fitted rooms in a central location make The Victoria Apartments the place to stay to explore Port Fairy.

Tel + 61 3 5598 8283 www.12apostleshelicopters.com info@12apostleshelicopters.com.au

Tel + 61 3 5356 6243 www.borokadowns.com.au info@borokadowns.com.au

Tel + 61 3 5568 1160 info@thevictoria.com.au www.thevictoria.com.au

$75

AUD pp

royAl MAil Hotel Stay for 3 nights and pay for 2, at the Royal Mail Hotel Dunkeld.

Experience The Age Good Food Guide’s ‘Restaurant of the Year’ whilst taking in the stunning surrounds of the Grampians Ranges.

Valid for travel Sunday to Thursday. Dining reservations essential.

Tel + 61 3 5577 2241 www.royalmail.com.au relax@royalmail.com.au

Stay 3 nightS pay for 2

Sun – Thurs upon mention of this ad, not valid public holidays or special events.

Stay 4 nightS pay for 3

Sun – Thurs upon mention of this ad

$180

1 bedroom apartment AUD twin share. Conditions apply

BrAMBuk: tHe nAtionAl pArk & culturAl centre

seAcoMBe House – MAgicAl MeAnDers

Located within the spectacular Grampians National Park; Brambuk brings to life the history and culture of the Aboriginal communities of Western Victoria. Join a Six Seasons Tour and be immersed in the Aboriginal culture including a visit to ancient rock art and views from the best vantage points within the Grampians National Park.

Two nights accommodation in magical Port Fairy in a stylish executive room in the Comfort Inn, within a historic tranquil garden setting, minutes from shops and walking distance to historic port and beaches. Daily continental breakfast for two, plus day spa discount voucher and Port Fairy Explorer’s pack.

Tel + 61 3 53614000 www.brambuk.com.au activities@brambuk.com.au

Tel + 61 3 55681 082 www.seacombehouse.com.au enquiry@seacombehouse.com.au

For more information go to: www.greatsoutherntouring.com.au

$120

AUD pp

From

$325 AUD pp

WHAT’S ON AROUND VICTORIA 2011

MARCH 1 - 6 March 5 - 6 March 11 - 14 March 12, 13, 19, 20 March 13 March 19 - 20 March 20 March 31 March - 3 April

Australian International Airshow, Avalon, www.airshow.com.au Bike Buller Mountain Bike Festival ww.bikebullermtbfestival.com Port Fairy Folk Festival www.portfairyfolkfestival.com Tastes of Rutherglen www.rutherglenvic.com 3 Peaks Challenge High Country www.fallscreek.com.au Tour de Flavour, Mansfield www.tourdeflavour.com.au Bendigo Olive Fiesta www.bendigoolivefiesta.com.au The Man From Snowy River Bush Festival www.bushfestival.com.au

APRIL 8 - 10 April 19 – 30 April 30 April - 1 May 30 April - 11 May

Apollo Bay Music Festival www.apollobaymusicfestival.com Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach www.ripcurl.com.au Grampians Grape Escape www.grampiansgrapeescape.com.au Bright Autumn Festival www.brightautumnfestival.org.au

Image Courtesy: Getty Images/Tourism Victoria

Victoria offers an array of exciting events throughout 2011, from gourmet food and wine to international arts and music festivals, from The Presidents Cup 2011 to the Rip Curl international surfing pro. Here is a small taste of what is to come.

MAY 1 May 4 - 6 May 7 - 8 May 13 - 22 May 14 - 15 May 23 - 27 May

The Great Train Race, Belgrave www.puffingbilly.com.au Warrnambool Racing Carnival www.warrnamboolracing.com.au Ballarat Heritage Weekend www.ballaratheritageweekend.com Daylesford Macedon Produce Harvest Festival www.dmproduce.com.au Great Ocean Road International Marathon www.greatoceanroadmarathon.com.au International Cool Climate Wine Show, Mornington Peninsula www.coolclimatewineshow.org.au

JUNE National Celtic Festival, Portarlington www.nationalcelticfestival.com Steam Rally, Echuca www.echucasteamrally.com.au Rutherglen Winery Walkabout www.rutherglenvic.com Weekend Fit for a King, King Valley www.winesofthekingvalley.com.au Winter Wine Weekend, Mornington Peninsula www.mpva.com.au

JULY 3 - 10 July 14 - 17 July

Fun4Kids Festival, Warrnambool www.fun4kids.com.au Mildura Writers Festival www.artsmildura.com.au

AUGUST 1 August - 6 November 20 August - 18 September 28 August - 4 September

The White Wedding Dress Exhibition, Bendigo Art Gallery www.bendigoartgallery.com.au Ballarat International Foto Biennale www.ballaratfoto.org Tour of the Murray www.caribou.net.au

Phillip Island Grand Prix

10 - 13 June 11 - 12 June 11 - 12 June 11 - 12 June 11 - 13 June

SEPTEMBER 23 September - 2 October

Mildura Country Music Festival www.milduracountrymusic.com.au

14 - 16 October 28 - 31 October 28 - 31 October

Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, Phillip Island www.motogp.com.au Mildura Jazz Food and Wine Festival www.artsmildura.com.au Wangaratta Festival of Jazz www.wangarattajazz.com

NOVEMBER 15 - 20 November 20 - 21 November 26 November - 4 December Dates TBC Dates TBC

The Presidents Cup 2011, Melbourne www.pgatour.com/tournaments/presidentscup Brown Brothers Wine & Food Festival www.brownbrothers.com.au Great Victorian Bike Ride www.bv.com.au Australian Alternate Varieties Wine Show, Mildura www.aavws.com La Dolce Vita, King Valley www.winesofthekingvalley.com.au www.visitmelbourne.com/nz

Photographer: Adrian Lander

OCTOBER

w o r t n o r f e k li g in h t o n s ’ e r e Th . e r t a e h t r o o d t u o n a t a s t sea

TOU0118

We just experienced the most amazing show nature has to offer. The chopper took off, banked far out over the ocean and our magnificent southern coast gave the performance of a lifetime. Far below, the coastal pillars stood tall and strong against a barrage of crashing waves.

The result was spectacular. It was raw, powerful and absolutely mesmerising.

We’ d been wanting to take a road trip here for years and having just finished two weeks, I can tell you this is a part of Australia that you just can’t afford to miss. Every twist in the road brings new adventures, breathtaking views and experiences that you’ ll be reliving for years. If you’ve ever wanted to star in a Choose Your Own Adventure Book, the Great Ocean Road is the place to start.

www.visitmelbourne.com/nz