Grand Victoria Loop

Loop around Victoria, covering the coast, mountains, goldfields, high country, and Wilsons Promontory in one go.

Head west from Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road, turn north to the Grampians, cross the Goldfields to the High Country, and then cross the Great Alpine Road down to Gippsland, returning to the city via Wilsons Promontory and Phillip Island. Spend one or two nights at each stop. Although it requires frequent hotel changes, it offers a vast span of landscapes, making it perfect for self-drive travelers with plenty of time. The Mornington Peninsula and Mount Buller are excluded from this route.

Snow chains are required on the Mount Hotham section in winter; watch out for bushfires and park closures in summer.

Day by day

Day 1 · Melbourne Laneways and Markets

Melbourne（Flinders Street Station & Federation Square、Hosier Lane、Degraves Street & Centre Place、Queen Victoria Market、National Gallery of Victoria (NGV International)）

Explore the city center on foot and via the Free Tram Zone. The main laneways can be covered in half a day upon arrival.

Queen Victoria Market is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays, and stalls pack up early in the afternoon.

Stay: CBD

Day 2 · Surf Coast to Apollo Bay

Great Ocean Road（Bells Beach、Split Point Lighthouse、Lorne、Kennett River Koala Walk）

Drive about 190 km from Melbourne via Torquay and Lorne along the Great Ocean Road to Apollo Bay, taking about 6 hours including stops.

Stay: Apollo Bay

Day 3 · Otway Rainforest and the Twelve Apostles

Great Ocean Road（Maits Rest Rainforest Walk、Otway Fly Treetop Adventures、Gibson Steps、The Twelve Apostles、Loch Ard Gorge）

Drive about 100 km from Apollo Bay through the Otways to Port Campbell; expect a full day of driving with frequent stops.

Booking tickets in advance is recommended for the Otway Fly Treetop Walk during peak season.

Stay: Port Campbell

Day 4 · Arch Coast and North to the Grampians

Great Ocean Road（London Arch、Bay of Islands） → Grampians (Gariwerd)（Brambuk – The National Park and Cultural Centre）

Drive about 220 km along the coast from Port Campbell, then head north via Warrnambool to Halls Gap, taking about 3 hours.

Stay: Halls Gap

Day 5 · Full Day on the Grampians Ridges

Grampians (Gariwerd)（Boroka Lookout、The Balconies & Reed Lookout、The Pinnacle Lookout、Silverband Falls）

Based in Halls Gap, drive 20–40 minutes between lookouts. The Pinnacle walk takes about 2 hours.

MacKenzie Falls is closed for construction through 2026, and some mountain roads remain closed. Check park alerts beforehand.

Stay: Halls Gap

Day 6 · Wine Country and Gold Rush Towns

Grampians (Gariwerd)（Great Western & Seppelt Winery） → Melbourne（Sovereign Hill）

Drive about 200 km from Halls Gap via Great Western and Ballarat to Daylesford, taking about 2.5 hours.

Allow at least 3 hours for Sovereign Hill, as it closes early in the afternoon.

Stay: Daylesford

Day 7 · Spa Town to Bendigo

Melbourne（Daylesford & Hepburn Springs） → Bendigo（Castlemaine、Bendigo Art Gallery）

Enjoy the hot springs in Daylesford in the morning, then drive about 80 km via Castlemaine to Bendigo, taking about 1 hour.

Stay: Bendigo CBD

Day 8 · Bendigo Gold Mines and Chinese History

Bendigo（Central Deborah Gold Mine、Golden Dragon Museum & Yi Yuan Gardens、Bendigo Talking Tram、Bendigo Joss House Temple）

Explore the city center on foot and by vintage talking tram. It is about a 15-minute journey between the gold mine and the museum.

Underground gold mine tours must be booked in advance.

Stay: Bendigo CBD

Day 9 · East to Beechworth

Bright & Victorian High Country（Beechworth）

Drive about 240 km from Bendigo via Shepparton to Beechworth, taking about 3 hours.

Stay: Beechworth

Day 10 · Milawa Gourmet Region to Bright

Bright & Victorian High Country（Milawa Gourmet Region、Bright Autumn Avenues & Centenary Park）

Drive about 30 minutes from Beechworth to Milawa, then continue through the valley to Bright for about 1 hour.

Stay: Bright

Day 11 · Mount Buffalo Plateau

Bright & Victorian High Country（Eurobin Falls、Mount Buffalo National Park、Lake Catani、The Horn (Mount Buffalo)）

Drive about 1 hour from Bright up the mountain via Porepunkah. Hop between sights on the plateau by car, and return to Bright in the evening.

Check park closure notices before heading up. The road to The Horn may be temporarily closed in wet or snowy weather.

Stay: Bright

Day 12 · Crossing the Great Alpine Road

Bright & Victorian High Country（Harrietville、Mount Hotham、Dinner Plain） → Lakes Entrance

Drive about 290 km from Bright via Hotham and Omeo to Lakes Entrance, taking about 5 hours on winding mountain roads.

The route has many bends and few service stations; fill up your tank before departure.

Stay: Lakes Entrance

Day 13 · Gippsland to Wilsons Promontory

Wilsons Promontory（Prom Wildlife Walk、Whisky Bay）

Drive about 270 km from Lakes Entrance via Yarram and Foster to Tidal River, taking about 3.5 hours.

Accommodation at Tidal River is limited; this night should be booked first when planning the trip.

Stay: Tidal River Campground

Day 14 · Wilsons Promontory Beaches and Peaks

Wilsons Promontory（Mount Oberon Summit、Tidal River、Pillar Point、Squeaky Beach）

Explore on foot from Tidal River. The round trip from Pillar Point to Squeaky Beach takes about 2 hours, and the mountain hike takes about 2 hours.

The Big Drift track is closed for construction. The entire park closes on days of extreme fire danger.

Stay: Tidal River Campground

Day 15 · To Phillip Island for the Penguins

Phillip Island（The Nobbies、Koala Conservation Reserve、Phillip Island Penguin Parade）

Drive about 2 hours from Tidal River via the Inverloch coast to Cowes, then drive about 20 minutes to the Penguin Parade in the evening.

Tickets for the Penguin Parade must be booked in advance. The parade starts after sunset.

Stay: Cowes

Day 16 · Churchill Island and Return to Melbourne

Phillip Island（Churchill Island Heritage Farm）

Drive about 140 km from Cowes via Churchill Island and the South Gippsland Highway back to Melbourne, taking about 2 hours.