Day 1 – Melbourne to Lorne

Drive past the distinctive humps of The You Yangs and into the pretty port of Geelong. Just beyond the city centre is the turnoff for the Great Ocean Road and Torquay – a famed surfing town with the world’s largest surfing museum. Look for point break at the iconic surf spot of nearby Bells Beach. As you steer along the dramatic south-west coastline, you’ll find it hard to believe that World War II soldiers carved the Great Ocean Road out of the cliff with picks, shovels and crowbars. There’s a monument to their efforts just outside the seaside playground of Lorne. Here you can hit the surf, go fishing, sunbake on the golden sand or drink coffee at one of Victoria’s first cafes. Luxury accommodation spills into the surrounding forest, and there are popular walking tracks to a host of waterfalls tucked into the folds of the Otway Range.

Day 2 – Lorne to Port Fairy

On the drive to Apollo Bay, you’ll see rugged cliffs drop dramatically to the ocean on one side and national park on the other. Explore the ancient rainforests, heathlands, glow worm caves and spectacular waterfalls of Great Otway National Park on a bushwalk or bike ride. Visit the 150-year-old Cape Otway Lighthouse and stop for a picnic at Paradise and Shelly Beaches. As you continue round the coast, you’ll spot the craggy limestone towers of the Twelve Apostles. Soak up the stunning views and get snap happy from two easy walkways. Continue along the stretch known as Shipwreck Coast for the wild seas that sent at least 700 ships crashing on the rocks. Pass through the historic whale-watching town of Warrnambool on your way to the pretty village of Port Fairy. Here you can see Australia’s largest fur seal colony and get up close to dolphins, whales and sharks from a boat.

Day 3 – Port Fairy to Halls Gap   

The coastal part of your affair may be over, but don’t think for a moment the romance is. Detour to see the lava tubes at Byaduk Caves in Mount Napier State Park. Or continue north to Dunkeld and see the racecourse framed by the peaks of the southern Grampians. These sandstone ranges stay in your sights as you drive into the tourist hub of Halls Gap, surrounded by the Wonderland and Mount William ranges. Stay here in accommodation ranging from 5-star villas to basic camping grounds and explore many of the Grampians’ major attractions. Follow walking trails such as Venus Baths, Boronia Peak and Chatauqua and visit Boroka and Reed’s lookouts, McKenzie Falls, Lake Bellfield and the pretty picnic spot of Zumsteins. Learn about the diverse culture of the local Aboriginal people at the Brambuk Cultural Centre and see ancient Aboriginal rock art sites on a tour.

Head north towards the goldfields and stop along the way at Stawell, where Australia’s most famous foot race is held each Easter. Learn about the history of the Chinese prospectors in the nearby gold rush town of Ararat. Then have your very own Eureka moment as you head into Ballarat, the heart of Victoria’s goldfields. Explore the elegant tree-lined streets and grand public buildings, the legacy of the 1850s goldmining boom. Relive it at Sovereign Hill, a living museum where you can pan for gold alongside volunteers in period costume. Then learn about the famous uprising of the Eureka stockade at the Mining Exchange. Say your goodbyes to the road trip of a lifetime as you head back to Melbourne through the charming towns of Trentham and Blackwood. Apparently all good things have to come to an end.