|
Victorian Homesteads, Mansions & Gardens
Spend 5 days exploring Victorian homesteads and beautiful private gardens, combined with the spectacular scenery of the Grampians and the Great Ocean Road.
Day 1 Mon. Yuulong Lavender Farm, Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Depart 180 Swanston Street at 8.30 a.m. Interstate visitors are met at Melbourne Airport at 9.00 a.m. We travel to Yuulong Lavender Farm where the Yuulong lavender was first found. Initially starting with 1000 lavender plants, today Yuulong features eight varieties of lavender which encompass the surrounding hills Continue to the gold rush town of Ballarat. Stroll around the magnificent Ballarat Botanical Gardens which cover an area of 40 hectares, divided into three distinct zones. The central part of the botanical gardens preserves the ‘gardenesque’ style of the Victorian pleasure garden, while on either side there are open parkland buffers known as the North Garden and South Garden. Located on the western shore of picturesque Lake Wendouree, the gardens are also home to the famous Begonia Festival. Next enjoy an exclusive visit to Narrapumelup private homestead and garden. Travel to Hamilton.
Three Night Stay: Hamilton, Comfort Inn Botanical, opposite the botanic gardens.
Dx1
Day 2 Tue. Coonawarra, Penola.
Visit Wannon Falls and historic Penola. We visit the Points Arboretum and Eucalyptus Discovery Centre as well as Yallum Park homestead and its collection of William Morris wallpapers. We then visit the Mary MacKillop Centre and a winery.
Bx1 Dx1
Day 3 Wed. Grampians.
Visit the private country gardens of Wakefield Park, Crombie and Toora West. Meet the private garden owners and hear how they created their gardens from bare paddock. View the Grampians mountain range with more than 1000 species of wildflowers, one of nature’s amazing creations (in season). See the picturesque Victoria Valley, renowned for its super fine wool production, and admire the rugged splendour of the Grampians’ peaks. Native wildflowers include heath, banksia, tiny orchids, ferns and blackboys.
Bx1 Dx1
Day 4 Thur. Port Fairy.
Visit Audley Garden and the homestead of Burswood, a National Trust classified country estate. The homestead features fine antiques and exquisitely decorated rooms. From Portland continue on to the seaside resort of Port Fairy before arriving at our home for the night, Warrnambool.
Stay: Warrnambool, Sundowner Mid City Motor Inn or similar.
Bx1 Dx1
Day 5 Fri. Great Ocean Road.
View magnificent Great Ocean Road coastal scenery, including the Twelve Apostles, as we pass through Lorne and Geelong. Visit Geelong’s 21st century $2 million ‘low water’ botanic garden overlooking Corio Bay. The gardens date back to 1851, and originally there was to be 81 hectares of botanical garden. But the harsh conditions and the physical logistics associated with the site made this extremely difficult. Over time these plans were amended and the original 2-hectare nursery area which was at the centre of the development became known as the Geelong Botanic Gardens. The gardens are the fourth oldest in Australia. After time to explore the gardens we continue to Melbourne.
Bx1
For more information or to book call your holiday centre consultants on 1300296543 |
