A Local's Look at Melbourne and Victoria

Just a 60-minute drive out of Melbourne city, you’ll discover a tucked away region boasting scenery dotted with cute hobby farms, quaint townships, rolling green hills and endless beaches. Begin with a short orientation of the township of Mornington before arriving at the harbour and Pier for views across Port Phillip Bay. Colourful bathing boxes can be seen along the foreshore of this very popular seaside town.

You might like to visit Cape Schanck, known for the cleanest air direct from the Antarctic and take a walk along the boardwalks that offer stunning views of the wild surf of Bass Strait. Journey through the rolling hills, pastures and vineyards of Red Hill where you can stop in for tastings of the regions cool climate wines, considered to be some of Australia’s finest examples of Chardonnay, Shiraz and Pinot Noir.

Whilst in the region, there is also the opportunity to stop for cheese and produce tastings before returning to Melbourne via the summit of Arthurs Seat, the highest viewpoint on the peninsula where, on a clear day, there are panoramic views of Port Phillip Bay, beaches, peninsulas and Melbourne’s skyline in the distance

The style capital of Australia, Melbourne, is best discovered with a local. On this half-day walking tour, your guide will reveal the city’s contemporary maze of designer boutiques, quirky galleries, historical lanes and arcades. The walk will take about three hours and will include speciality retailers, a little history, and attention to amazing architecture. Around about 50 interesting stores will be pointed out to you and in the afternoon you may return to those you like best. Share lunch and a glass of wine before you say farewell to your guide.

Established in 1860, Tahbilk is not only Victoria's and one of Australia's oldest wineries, but also boasts the world's largest plantings of marsanne as well as some of the world's oldest shiraz vines. Set amongst beautiful gardens, Tahbilk's historic buildings and glorious underground cellars remain intact. Begin your day with a personally guided tour of the winery. Tahbilk's traditional red wines are fermented in the same vats that were used in the 1800s. In addition to the historic winery, Tahbilk has a modern winery, and employs up-to-date winemaking techniques and practices. You can learn why some older techniques are still preferred and where new practices produce a better wine.

Following this, you will learn about the art of winemaking in the form of blending, the motto being that “the whole is greater than the sum of the parts”. Guided by a wine ambassador, you will start with individual wines and blend them to create a wine that is truly yours. A 750ml bottle of your blend will be yours to take away. It's then time for lunch! Tahbilk's Wetlands Café is perched overlooking the wetlands providing an ideal setting for a relaxed lunch with some fine wines. Enjoy a two-course lunch created with the finest local produce and a matching glass of wine at each course. Finish the day by walking through the wetlands with an expert guide who will explain the restoration work that has been completed, the work being done to save endangered species and the impact the ecological work has on the winery and wines.

Begin your touring today at Hanging Rock, a sacred Aboriginal site for the Wurundjeri people, and the evocative setting to Peter Weir's 1975 film, Picnic at Hanging Rock. You can almost sense the mystical power of these imposing boulder outcrops. Visit the Hanging Rock Discovery Centre to gain a fascinating background on the area's history, mystery and geology. Then ascend the rock to the 105m summit for a bird's-eye view over the surrounding flat plains and farmland, and the thickly forested Macedon and Cobaw ranges. One of the finest vineyards in this cool-climate wine-growing region, Hanging Rock Winery, is nestled on sloping land near the foothills of spectacular Hanging Rock. It was established with the aim of making Australia’s finest sparkling wine. The cellar door offers an intimate wine tasting experience.

Piper Street in Kyneton, long known for its heritage buildings and antique dealers, is now a modern-day gourmand's paradise. Without doubt, the star dining experience is Source Dining, a boutique country restaurant serving contemporary food using what is grown in their extensive kitchen garden and by small local producers. Located ten minutes north of Daylesford is a 100-acre lavender property once farmed by Swiss-Italians who came to Australia in the 1850s. European-style gardens frame and meander around the original stone buildings. Productive vegetable and herb gardens were established to supply the cafe, La Trattoria. Lavender was planted out to provide quality materials for the creation of farm-made body lotions and creams, room mists and insecticides and essential oil.

Come face to face with Australia's unique wildlife at the award-winning Ballarat Wildlife Park. Join a park wildlife keeper on a private tour of the park offering the opportunity to interact with or hand feed kangaroos, tree kangaroos, koalas, wombats and many more. Indulge in lunch at Lola by The Provincial Hotel, which sits pretty on Ballarat's historic Lydiard Street. Built in 1909, the iconic building has housed a myriad of publicans and hoteliers, each enriching the hotel with greater grandeur.

Situated in Halls Gap within the natural oasis that is Grampians Gariwerd, Brambuk it is the perfect place to learn more about Aboriginal culture. Discover the culture of the Aboriginal communities of Western Victoria through multimedia shows, art exhibitions, artefact displays and cultural talks Moving on to something more active, keep an eye out for native wildlife including koalas, kangaroos and even echidnas as you hike to The Pinnacle Lookout and admire the vast views of the Grampians. The relatively easy walk to The Balconies is suitable for walkers of all abilities. In springtime, keep an eye out for native wildflowers and birdlife in the stringybark forest. Wander through native shrubs and plant life along the rocky path that leads up to the lookout, and then soak up the panoramic views of Victoria Valley and the surrounding ranges. After you've worked up an appetite, Harvest Halls Gap is a café and provedore nestled in the midst of the Grampians and prides itself on showcasing local produce. Back at the Royal Mail, learn about their captive breeding program and environmental initiatives and get up close and personal with endangered native Australian animals.

Today you'll be privileged to visit the ancient indigenous aquaculture site, Budj Bim, a 30,000-year-old volcano and the only Australian UNESCO World Heritage property listed exclusively for its Aboriginal cultural values. The Budj Bim cultural landscape features the earliest living example of aquaculture in the world, with a history of eel farming dating back over 6,000 years. Escorted by a local Indigenous expert, walk as a guest on Gunditjmara country and experience a culture that is over 60,000 years old. You will see remnants of a settled lifestyle including circular stone dwellings. Enjoy lunch at Bank Street & Co, a cosy café in the heart of Port Fairy, before a walk to Griffiths Island with its colony of shearwater seabirds and spectacular lighthouse at the eastern tip.