Mt Bishop, Wilsons Promontory
Gippsland Drive
Gippsland is one of the few unique and diverse (yet relatively compact) regions in Australia. It comprises of snow fields, wilderness, rainforests, beaches, mining and industrialised areas, farm land, and some of the country s most spectacular coastal scenery, including Wilsons Promontory and Phillip Island all of which is easily reach driving the average motor car. This drive can be shrunk to three days or extended to five days depending on your budget and/or time restraints. Distance: 766 km.Day 1: Leave Melbourne either via Dandenong Rd or Monash Freeway. From Dandenong take the Old Princes Hwy (to visit the towns on the way) or the Princes Fwy. (to bypass the towns on the way). Just before Drouin is the turnoff to Mt. Baw Baw, the closest ski resort to Melbourne. Proceed east on the Princes Fwy. to Warragul and the cities and towns of Gippsland s open-cut coal mining belt Moe, Morwell and Yallourn. At Moe, there is a turnoff to more snow country and the fascinating goldmining ghost town of Walhalla (50 km each way).
Take Hyland Hwy south from Traralgon. If you are towing a caravan or you are not too keen driving on windy mountainous roads, stay on Hyland Hwy when you reach the Traralgon South-Callignee-Mt Tassie turn-off (Traralgon Creek Rd) 6 km south or Traralgon. Then, turn night at Willung South and proceed to Tarra-Bulga National Park and Balook. Otherwise, proceed along Traralgon Creek Rd through the Strzelecki Ranges wilderness area and Mt. Tassie to Balook and Tarra-Bulga National Park. Allow some time to visit Tarra-Bulga National Park (rainforest, tree ferns, waterfalls, suspension bridge and nature trails). Proceed from Balook to Tarra Valley and Yarram. Stay the night at Yarram or Port Albert 15 km to the south on the coast. 235 km
Day 2: Return from Port Albert to South Gippsland Hwy, travelling east via Port Welshpool (picturesque coastal village; views to Wilsons Promontory) and Toora. Agnes Falls is Victoria s highest waterfall. To see it, take Silcocks Hill Road at Toora, past the wind farm (views to Wilsons Promontory), along Hazel Park Road and Agnes Falls Road. Return to Toora, then continue along South Gippsland Hwy to Foster. If you have limited time and want only a brief look at Wilsons Promontory, drive south on the Foster Promontory Rd and check out Tidal River and Squeaky Beach on The Prom (National Park entry fees apply).
Walhalla
Return to Foster for the night or choose accommodation on the way to The Prom. If you would rather spend the whole of Day 3 seeing the sights of The Prom, drive to Fish Creek on the afternoon of Day 2, and follow the signs to Walkerville (Cape Liptrap Coastal Park) and Walkerville South, and view the remnants of the small township and bustling port of Waratah, its brick lined-kiln ruins and town cemetery. Cape Liptrap lighthouse is on the cliffs at the end of the cape. Return to Foster for the night or choose accommodation on the way to The Prom. 190 km
Day 3: If you are making the day trip to Wilsons Promontory, put on your walking shoes because the locations with the most interesting and spectacular views can only be reached on foot. Drive to Tidal River and park (National Park entry fees apply). The park contains the largest coastal wilderness area in Victoria and there are plenty of walking trails to take you there from Tidal River. The Visitor Centre at Tidal River has informative displays about the park with walking maps. Return to Foster for the night or choose accommodation on the way to The Prom. If you are not visiting Wilsons Promontory for the day, skip Day 3 and continue following Day 4. 120 km
Day 4: Our next destination is Venus Bay. If you spent Day 3 at Wilsons Promontory, you can follow the directions in Day 2 above for a visit to Walkerville (Cape Liptrap Coastal Park) and Walkerville South. Cape Liptrap lighthouse is on the cliffs at the end of the cape. From Walkerville South, follow the coast road to Tarwin Lower and Venus Bay. If you visited Walkerville on the previous day, head straight for Venus Bay by travelling east from Foster on the South Gippsland Hwy, turning left at Tarwin and travelling south along the Lower Tarwin Rd to the holiday town of Venus Bay.
Return to the main road, turn left towards Inverloch. Proceed along Bass Hwy through Inverloch to Wonthaggi, a former coal mining town with an excellent Coal Mining Historic Reserve (entry fees apply). Continue along Bass Hwy to Kilcunda, which has a vintage railway trestle bridge beside the ocean (excellent walking trail along former railway path).
At Anderson is the turn-off to Phillip Island; allow at least 24-hours on the island to see the sights if you want to include Phillip Island in this drive (add 70 km). Otherwise, continue north along Bass Hwy, join South Gippsland Hwy and follow the signs back to Melbourne via Dandenong. 221 km
