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.

This journey departs:

• 11 November 2026

• 10 November 2027

Itinerary

Day 1: Melbourne, Mount Mitchell Estate, the Grampians, Kitchen Garden Tour and Royal Mail Hotel

Depart from Melbourne this morning for the beautiful Macedon Ranges. Visit the historic Mount Mitchell Estate to enjoy lunch at this private homestead and its garden. Afterwards we drive through the majestic Grampians National Park, home to more than a third of Victoria’s flora. Arrive at our accommodation, the Royal Mail Hotel. Here we take a guided tour of the hotel’s kitchen garden, regarded as the largest of its kind in Australia. We then sit down for a Welcome Dinner at our hotel’s award-winning restaurant, whose meals are prepared from the fresh garden produce grown on-site.

Day 2: Private Gardens – Narrapumelap Mansion and Wiltshire

Today, explore 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: Hamilton Private Garden, Budj Bim Cultural Tour and Port Fairy

This morning, we take the short journey to Hamilton to explore another beautiful private garden. Enjoy some free time in Hamilton before being introduced to the Budj Bim heritage area during a cultural tour. Afterwards we continue to the seaside town of Port Fairy, known for its heritage architecture and love of the arts.

Day 4: Warrnambool Art Gallery and a Private Garden

Today we visit the Regional Art Gallery of Warrnambool. The gallery showcases an important collection of works by local and national artists. Afterwards, we enjoy a private garden tour, and meet its owner, before returning to Port Fairy.

Day 5: Great Ocean Road, Twelve Apostles, Great Otway National Park, Sunnymeade and Torquay

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

We enjoy a leisurely morning in Torquay before continuing towards Geelong, where we visit The Heights Heritage House and Garden for a tour and lunch. Afterwards we travel to the Victoria State Rose Garden in Werribee, to admire its massed blooms, before arriving back in Melbourne at approximately 4.00 pm at the post-tour hotel.