Top Melbourne Driving Experiences

Tour the Melbourne country side by car and experience the Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island, and the stunning Great Ocean Road.

Mornington Peninsula

Mornington Peninsula National Park stretches from Point Nepean all the way down the peninsula's southern sole to Bushrangers Bay. Since the bicentenary in 1988, when this former army reserve was handed back to the people, it has become one of the most popular national parks in the country: a thin strip of impeccable coastal scenery with great walks, cycle tracks and untamed beaches. Spend an afternoon wandering along one of the trails, stopping to watch one of the surf competitions regularly held along this coast.

At the eastern end of the park is Cape Schanck, distinguished by its impressive lighthouse built in 1859. Guided tours run daily. From the cape the coastline turns north-east and the towns on this eastern shore - Flinders, Shoreham, and Hastings - tend to be less crowded and less suburban than their counterparts on the Port Phillip side - Rosebud, Dromana, Mount Martha and nondescript Mornington itself.

Penguin Parade Phillip Island

The visitors' centre perched on the site of Phillip Island's only remaining Little Penguin colony is a warm, inviting haven. Every day, thousands of visitors from all over the world come here to get an overview on island activities and witness the wobbly "parade" from shore to sand dunes, of the famous fairy penguins.

You could easily spend all afternoon, making your way around the award-winning displays. Wall charts detail the history of penguin colonies on the island. Interactive exhibits allow you to hear penguin researchers and volunteers talk about their work - in the language of your choice (if only there were adjustable volume knobs). A turn-the-wheel display details the penguins' annual life-cycle, while a walk-through underwater simulation describes their hazardous ocean existence.

The piece de resistance is a row of illuminated nesting boxes dug into the side of the centre that allow you to spy on penguins in their homes - very Big Brother, and twice as entertaining (these guys don't care if you catch them fighting - or making love). But the main attraction for most visitors is the nightly post-dusk penguin parade.

If you're travelling independently of a tour group and have time to venture further afield, buy a "Rediscover Nature" pass: it covers entry charges and access to local attractions including the Penguin Parade, historic Churchill Island and the island's Koala Conservation Centre. Note that advance bookings are essential during Christmas and Easter holidays, as the centre gets very crowded.

Sovereign Hill Gold Mining Township

Gold, treason, murder, revolution: Sovereign Hill holds a vital place in the history of Australia. Life on the Ballarat goldfields has been brilliantly recreated at Sovereign Hill. In an outdoor museum stretching over 60 acres on the site of the world's richest alluvial goldmine, visitors can experience the hustle and bustle of the Ballarat township as it was during the Gold Rush of the 1850s.
You can explore the underground mines and pan for real gold; or visit the Chinese Village to see what life was like for the 40,000 miners from China who made Ballarat their home. Check out the shops along the township's recreated Main Street and see how 19th-century blacksmiths, bankers, doctors and schoolhouses operated.

The Blood On The Southern Cross sound and light show, shown each evening from Monday to Saturday, is an award-winning re-enactment of the dramatic events of the Eureka Stockade - the goldminers' rebellion against unjust colonial rule, which became pivotal in Australia's democratic growth.

It's also worth taking a stroll through Sovereign Hill's Gold Museum: don't miss the major permanent exhibition, Inspired By Gold, a tribute to gold mining in Victoria and Sovereign Hill's prime place in that history.

Sovereign Hill is a great place for a history lesson, so it's no surprise that it attracts thousands of schoolkids each year. One of Victoria's top tourist attractions, it's an eye-opener for anyone, local or visitor, looking to get a tangible sense of one of the most colourful eras in Australia's colonial past.

The Great Ocean Road (2-3 days)

One of Australia's most visited attractions, the Great Ocean Road is renowned for its spectacular scenery and rugged coastline. It meanders along the coast of the Southern Ocean between golden beaches with rugged rock outcrops, and the Otway Ranges, and passes through the Angahook-Lorne State Park and Otway State Forest, abundant rain-forest areas. Pretty, well-serviced towns dot the coastline with the most popular being Lorne, Apollo Bay and Port Campbell. The area is rich in attractions ranging from cheeseries and quaint restaurants, to raging surf and spectacular outcrops.

Among the most popular is the Port Campbell National Park, part of which is pictured above. These outcrops include 'The 12 Apostles' a spectacular collection of eroded sandstone outcrops and are the centre of the park. Among the many other features are 'The Grotto', 'London Bridge', and 'Loch Ard Gorge', named for the ship wrecked there in the last century. Much of this coastline is also known as the 'Shipwreck Coast', a reference to the many ships which were trapped and sunk on the many reefs over the past 150 years or so. Plaques and maps will be found which point to their location.

World famous surf beaches will be found along the coastline including 'Bells Beach', near Torquay, which is a venue for World Championship surfing. There are also many safe beaches near the towns where the family can enjoy leisurely swimming and water sports. Cape Otway features one of several light-houses along the coastline which steered mariners along their perilous way. Whales may be seen between May and September at Warrnambool at the western end of the road, and a Maritime Museum there explains the area with displays and history.

The forests of the region are among the most prolific in Australia and feature massive eucalypts and many species of ferns and shrubs. There are many waterfalls and walks to them are relatively easy from car parks and bush tracks. Information centres along the way provide everything you will need and there is plenty of accommodation to be found, however, it is wise to book during holiday periods. Highly recommended as a place to visit and some spectacular scenery.