Victorian Homesteads & Private Gardens Along the Great Southern Touring Route

Absorb the stunning wilderness of Victoria’s Grampians National Park, while spending two nights at the renowned Royal Mail Hotel. Visit private gardens of the Western District and along the Great Ocean Road. Admire the striking Twelve Apostles and the Victoria State Rose Garden. Pay a visit to the private garden of Botanica Founder, Judy Vanrenen OAM, and hear about her love of gardening.

Itinerary

Day 1: Melbourne, Nursery Visit, Mount Mitchell Estate, Grampians National Park and Royal Mail Hotel Dinner

Depart from the Marriott Hotel at 9am for the beautiful Macedon Ranges. Visit a private garden here before continuing to the historic Mount Mitchell estate to enjoy lunch at this private homestead garden. Arrive later in the majestic Grampians National Park, home to more than a third of Victoria’s flora. From here, we explore Halls Gap, situated in the heart of the park. Sit down to a Welcome Dinner this evening at the award-winning Royal Mail Hotel, where we stay for two nights. 

Day 2: Grampians Private Gardens – Narrapumelap Mansion and Wiltshire

Today, explore two private gardens in the Western District, starting with Narrapumelap mansion. Constructed in 1873, this is an expansive French mansion with an intricate Gothic style. We then visit the private garden of Wiltshire owned by Botanica Founder Judy Vanrenen OAM, to hear how she created her garden from bare paddocks. 

Day 3: Royal Mail Hotel Kitchen Garden Tour, Hamilton Private Garden and Port Fairy

This morning, tour the Royal Mail Hotel’s kitchen garden, regarded as the largest of its kind in Australia. We then take the short journey to Hamilton to explore another beautiful private garden. Enjoy some free time in Hamilton where you may choose to explore the botanic gardens or art gallery, before travelling to the seaside town of Port Fairy, known for its heritage architecture and love of the arts.  

Day 4: Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Darlington Private Gardens

Today we explore the Camperdown Botanic Gardens. Designed by William Guilfoyle, architect of Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens, these gardens feature views over the twin volcanic lakes of Bullen Merri and Gnotuk. Afterwards, visit two more private gardens, and meet their owners, in the surrounding area, before continuing on to Port Campbell.

Day 5: Great Ocean Road, Twelve Apostles, Great Otway National Park, Lorne, Sunnymeade Private Garden and Geelong

Today, we journey along the Great Ocean Road, which is not only a spectacular coastal drive, but also serves as the world’s longest war memorial, having been built by the country’s returning World War I veterans. Stop at the iconic limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles, which cut a dramatic figure along Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast. We then travel through the lush rainforest of Great Otway National Park on our way to Lorne. Enjoy time to explore the shops or stroll along Lorne’s famous beaches before visiting the spectacular private garden Sunnymeade.

Day 6: Geelong, The Heights, Victoria State Rose Garden and Melbourne

Visit a private garden just outside Geelong before heading to The Heights Heritage House and Garden. After lunch, we travel to the Victoria State Rose Garden in Werribee, to admire its massed blooms, before arriving back in Melbourne at approximately 4:00pm at the post-tour hotel.