Page 430 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

428  VIC T ORIA

Exploring Western Victoria

Western Victoria abounds with holiday Broken Hill
possibilities. The spa towns close to
Melbourne make perfect weekend retreats, Renmark Murray Merbein MILDURA
a
ay
with excellent facilities set amid gentle rural
scenery. By contrast, the large number of Red Cliffs
historic sites and architectural splendours
of the Goldfields region requires an
investigative spirit and sightseeing stamina. MURRAY-SUNSET
Y-
Y
PA
P
The Grampians National Park contains NATIONAL PARK
trekking opportunities and rugged views, HATTAH-KULKYNE
NATIONAL PARK
while the Mallee region offers wide open
spaces and undulating sandhills. The Murray Ouyen
River towns have their fair share of historic Walpeup
sites, as well as many recreational facilities, Pinnaroo
restaurants and accommodation. The Great Murrayville Lake
Ocean Road is a popular touring destination – Tyrrell
set aside several days to explore the historic Wyperfeld
towns and scenic beauty of the coastline. National Park
BIG DESERT Hopetoun
WILDERNESS
Lake
Hindmarsh Jeparit
Adelaide Nhill Warracknabeal
Kaniva
Dimboola
Little Desert W
WE
National Park WESTERN Murtoa
T
TE
Horsham
W
WA
Naracoorte
HIGHWAY
Stawell
Edenhope
Rocklands Halls
Reservoir Gap
Balmoral NA
Rupertswood mansion in the Macedon Ranges GRAMPIANS NATIONAL T N PARK PA
Casterton NATI N P
Dunkeld
Lake Bolac
Mt Gambier Hamilton
Getting Around Penshurst
The roads in Western Victoria are well Dartmoor
signed and offer good roadside facilities. Mortlake
The Western Hwy is the route to Ballarat, Heywood
the Grampians and the Mallee region. The
Calder Hwy leads to the spa country and Hopkins
beyond to Bendigo, where it connects with Portland Port Fairy Hop o Ho
highways to Mildura, Swan Hill and Echuca.
Take the Princes Hwy to reach Geelong and Warrnambool
the Great Ocean Road. All these places can Peterborough
also be reached by rail or a combination of Southern Ocean
rail and connecting coaches. However, in
remoter areas, public transport may be a
problem. In these areas, it may be best to
use a tour company or to hire your own car.