Best's Great Western estate
Great Western is the home of Australia’s first, and arguably best known, sparkling wine. Here the soils and temperate climate combine to produce an excellent range of regional specialties: sparkling wine, classic Shiraz, Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Wines under the Great Western label are produced from grapes grown on Best's Great Western estates. A visit to Best’s is an absolute must for any wine fancier. Few wineries are as historic or as atmospheric. The rustic timber winery building and underground cellar breathe history,
Sovereign Hill
Australia’s foremost outdoor museum – Sovereign Hill recreates Ballarat’s first ten years after the discovery of gold in 1851 when thousands of international fortune-hunters rushed to the Australian goldfields in search of riches.
By day, Sovereign Hill is where Australia’s history comes to life! It's just like stepping back in time – from the hustle and bustle of Main Street where costumed ladies and gents parade their new-found wealth, to the excitement of the Red Hill Gully Diggings where you can pan for REAL gold.
Day five itinerary
Depart Halls Gap for Melbourne
Visit Bests Great Western to sample excellent wines and explore the underground cellars
Ararat Established in 1857, Ararat and is the only Australian town to have been founded by the Chinese. Today, the thriving community serves a district renowned for its production of quality merino wool, a diverse range of agricultural crops and a range of fine wines.
Langi Ghiran State Park abuts the Western Highway 80 kilometers west of Ballarat and 14 kilometers east of Ararat. The 2695 hectare park contains two distinct land types - rugged granite peaks and gentle sloping open woodland.
Ballarat for lunch. Ballarat is Victoria’s largest inland city and is famous for being the site of the world’s largest deposit of alluvial gold. One of Victoria’s most popular tourist attractions, Sovereign Hill is a fabulous re-creation of the hustle and bustle of life in Ballarat in the 1850s. Set on a former gold mining site, the compound has more than 60 buildings, while over 200 people volunteer to dress in period costume on a regular basis.
Sovereign Hill. Pan for gold, ride in a horse drawn carriage, or go underground into a mine at Sovereign Hill, a living museum that re-creates life in Ballarat in the 1850s.
Arrive Melbourne
