As summer slowly approaches, it’s time to start planning your summer road trip. Port Fairy tops the list for beach getaways. With great food and wine, art galleries and gorgeous beaches, it’s the perfect summer getaway.
Whether you have driven the Great Ocean Road a million times, or you’re exploring your own backyard, a stop at the Grampians National Park is a must. From the ocean, to the mountains, you will tick off some of the best scenery Victoria has to offer.
Leaving Port Fairy
As you leave Port Fairy, drive east and pop into Basalt Wines. Learn about their award-winning wine and biodynamic viticulture techniques. Sit down amongst the vines and order from the locally-sourced tapas-style menu.
When your designated driver starts to twitch, jump back in the car and drive 45 minutes towards the town of Penhurst, and continue the drive up the summit of Mount Rouse. The extinct volcano offers unspoiled panoramic views of the surrounding region and a look inside the volcanoes crater. After the lookout, hit the road, following the signs towards Dunkeld.
The Grampians
The Royal Mail Hotel’s pool and sun lounges are waiting for you. Located in the middle of the hotel grounds, the pool offers epic views of the Grampians peaks.
Continue enjoying the views and indulge in a Deluxe Mountain View room and wake up to Mount Sturgeon and Mount Abrupt. Start your day right with breakfast at the Parker Street Project and a tour of Australia’s largest kitchen garden. Explore the smaller walks around Dunkeld or embark on a longer hike up one of the Grampians trails.
Staying a second night at the hotel will have you well fed and well rested. Book in for a tour of the 28,000 bottle wine cellar, and warm up your pallet for a five or eight course degustation at Wickens that night. With floor to ceiling views of the majestic Grampians your dinner will be an unforgettable experience.
The next day, begin your journey back to Melbourne, stopping in at Halls Gap to complete the Pinnacle hike or visit Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre. Alternatively, continue straight to Ballarat for lunch and a walk around the art gallery.
The fun doesn’t have to stop in Port Fairy. Explore little Victorian towns, hike the Grampians mountain range and eat some of the finest food in the country – it’s the perfect way to extend your summer break.