Day 1 (D) ARRIVE MELBOURNE
Passengers flying into Victoria arrive at Melbourne Airport during the day and transfer by Skybus (fare included) to central Melbourne and our home for two nights, Citigate Melbourne Flinders Street (or similar) located in the heart of Melbourne. We gather at 6:00 p.m. in the hotel foyer to meet new friends and enjoy dinner together.

Day 2 (B,L,D) MELBOURNE, EUREKA TOWER, PUFFING BILLY
Today experience several Melbourne icons. We depart at 9:30 a.m. for a short “City Sights” tour before visiting the new Eureka Tower Observation Deck. The 360 degree views of the city, bay and mountains from the Eureka Tower level 88 are stunning. We travel by coach to the Dandenong Ranges and enjoy lunch at Grants Picnic Ground, with its tall gums and colourful native birds. In the afternoon we join Melbourne’s famous Puffing Billy from Belgrave to Lakeside. We return to Citigate Melbourne where dinner concludes our day together.

Day 3 (B,D) MELBOURNE, GREAT OCEAN ROAD, OTWAY RANGES, TWELVE APOSTLES, LOCH ARD GORGE, WARRNAMBOOL
This morning passengers who are booked on the 10 day tour join the group at Citigate Melbourne. We depart from Melbourne across West Gate Bridge and along the Princes Highway to Geelong to journey along the breathtaking coastline of south-west Victoria on one of the world’s most scenic roads. The Great Ocean Road officially begins at the Surf Coast town of Torquay and follows the contours of the coast to the Shipwreck Coast city of Warrnambool. Morning cuppa on route as we follow the coastline to the seaside village of Apollo Bay. Simply superb coastal scenery. During the afternoon we travel through the cool climate rainforest of the Otway Ranges, returning to the coast near the much-photographed and world-famous Twelve Apostles. Nearby Loch Ard Gorge and the tragic story of the shipwreck of the Loch Ard reminds us of the perils of early ocean voyages. We travel through Peterborough and then a short journey to Warrnambool and our home for two nights, the Gateway Motor Inn.

Day 4 (B,D) WARRNAMBOOL, FLAGSTAFF HILL MARITIME MUSEUM, PORT FAIRY, SHIPWRECKED SHOW
This morning we visit Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum. Step back in time in a recreated maritime village where we hear and see the hardships of those who sailed the high seas and learn of the wreck of the Loch Ard in the gorge we visited yesterday. Then a short town tour prior to some free time in Warrnambool. During the afternoon we take a guided coach tour of nearby historic Port Fairy on the Moyne River, one of Victoria’s earliest settlements, boasting over 50 National Trust-classified buildings. On to Tower Hill State Game Reserve, once an active volcano and Victoria’s first National Park. We descend inside the rim of the volcano on a circular road, enjoying views of the crater lake and various crater islands. Following dinner we enjoy the multi-million dollar theatrical experience Shipwrecked that brings to life the story of the Loch Ard disaster and the miraculous survival of just two passengers, Tom Pearce and Eva Carmichael.

Day 5 (B,D) WARRNAMBOOL, COLAC, SOVEREIGN HILL, BALLARAT
From Warrnambool we travel to Camperdown, a rural farming township and Red Rock, where we enjoy 360 degree views of the surrounding volcanic lake area. Morning cuppa at Colac before continuing to Ballarat, whose early fortunes were based on the wealth created by gold. Early buildings reflect the prosperity of the era. Time to explore a little of the central part of the city. During the afternoon we visit Sovereign Hill, a world-famous recreated goldfields township set over 25 hectares on a site which forms part of the richest alluvial goldfields the world has ever seen. Home for two nights is the Bell Tower Ballarat. Following dinner we return to Sovereign Hill for the hottest show in town – Blood on the Southern Cross – the dramatic and spectacular story of the Eureka Rebellion on the Ballarat goldfields in 1854.

Day 6 (B,L,D) BALLARAT, ARARAT, HALLS GAP, BALLARAT
From Ballarat we journey to Ararat and visit the Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre in Ararat. Morning cuppa here before making our way to the magnificent Grampians National Park, a very special place for many Victorians. Enjoy a light lunch at Wartook, visit McKenzie Falls and Boroka Lookout with its spectacular views of the Wonderland and Mt William Ranges. On to the picturesque village of Halls Gap, where we visit Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre. Later we return to Ballarat via Pomonal and Mayston.

Day 7 (B,L,D) BALLARAT, DAYLESFORD, CASTLEMAINE, BENDIGO, ECHUCA
This morning we travel to Daylesford which, with nearby Hepburn Springs, boasts the highest concentration of mineral springs in the country. Swiss-Italian miners and other immigrants settled here and people travelled from afar to “take the waters”. On to Castlemaine, visit Buda Historic Home and Garden, morning cuppa here. We continue to the goldrush era city of Bendigo. Lunch in Bendigo followed by a visit to Central Deborah Gold Mine, where we board the vintage talking tram for a tour of Bendigo. Visit the historic and famous Bendigo Pottery, Australia’s oldest working pottery. Watch the potters at work, view the pottery museum. Later we continue to Echuca and our home for two nights, Philadelphia Motor Inn.

Day 8 (B,L,D) ECHUCA
A relaxing day as we explore this river town, once Australia’s second busiest port, the main transport hub for a huge area served by the Murray, Murrumbidgee and Darling Rivers. The arrival of rail in the 1880’s spelled the end of the river trade. This morning we take a short drive to the Barmah Forest, the largest red gum forest in the world with a river frontage of over 100 kilometres. Hundreds of bird species inhabit the wetlands. We return to Echuca and, following lunch, we visit the Port of Echuca, the red gum mill and cruise the Murray on an authentic paddle steamer. Some free time this afternoon to explore, browse or simply relax.

Day 9 (B,L,D) ECHUCA, KYABRAM, SHEPPARTON, BENALLA, GLENROWAN, MYRTLEFORD
We continue to the central Victorian city of Shepparton, centre of a large stone fruit growing and irrigated dairy farming area. Visit the Shepparton Heritage Centre, four galleries depicting themes of early development of the area. Following lunch we continue to Benalla in the heart of Victoria’s bushranger country. Stroll around the Benalla Rose Garden or visit the Art Gallery. At Glenrowan, Ned Kelly country, we visit the Ned Kelly Museum and Homestead at Kate’s Cottage, then a short journey to Myrtleford and our home for two nights, the Golden Leaf Motel.

Day 10 (B,D) MYRTLEFORD, CHILTERN, BEECHWORTH, MYRTLEFORD
This morning we visit the village of Chiltern, named after the Chiltern Hills in England. Visit Dow’s Pharmacy, set up as it was in 1929, and enjoy a morning cuppa at Lakeview Homestead, noted for its association with the Australian author, Henry Handel Richardson, who used Chiltern as the setting for part of the novel The Fortunes of Richard Mahony. Onto Beechworth, with its wide and well-planned town layout dating back to the early days of the gold rush. Time for a browse along the main street prior to a guided coach tour of the area, including the Powder Magazine, Goldfields Hospital facade and the cultural precinct including the historic courthouse, scene of Ned Kelly’s committal hearing in 1880. View the amazing sculpture, the Phoenix Tree prior to returning to Myrtleford.

Day 11 (B,L,D) MYRTLEFORD, BRIGHT, MOUNT HOTHAM, OMEO, SWIFTS CREEK, BRUTHEN, LAKES ENTRANCE
We journey to the sub-Alpine village of Bright, known for its tree-lined streets, the English trees a glorious hue of colour in Autumn and Spring. Morning cuppa at Harrietville. From here, the Great Alpine Road climbs the Great Dividing Range to the alpine resort of Mount Hotham where we pause for photos and to enjoy the stunning mountain scenery. We continue on to Omeo, our lunch destination. During the gold era, Omeo was a rugged, unruly frontier settlement, thankfully now a quiet country village. Our descent continues through Swifts Creek to Bruthen and the coastal holiday town of Lakes Entrance. A short tour of the area before arriving at Lakes Entrance and our overnight home, Glenara Motel (or similar).

Day 12 (B,L) LAKES ENTRANCE, SALE, YARRAGON, MELBOURNE
Westward bound, we visit the Bairnsdale Clock Museum before continuing through Central Gippsland, with its huge brown coal and power generation industries to the craft village of Yarragon. Following lunch, the last stage of our holiday together takes us along the Princes Freeway via Forest Hill, arriving in Melbourne at Southern Cross Station (coach terminal) at approximately 4:00 p.m. Interstate passengers continue to Melbourne Airport for their return flight home at the end of a most enjoyable Victorian Highlights Seniors Coach Tours Holiday.