VICTORIA'S
GREATEST DRIVING TOURS AND HERITAGE TOWNS
SUNDAY
DRIVE...South
Gippsland
WHY: lesser-travelled roads around Bass/South Gippsland
Highways lead to some of Victoria’s most scenic hills and
dales, beaches, rugged coastline, peaceful hamlets.
DISTANCE FROM MELBOURNE: approx 300km to Port Albert, but if
you’re holidaying at Phillip Island, Inverloch or Wilson’s
Prom the return distance can be as short as 290km.
TIME: allow a full day for leisurely touring.
ROUTE: because some signage is confusing make sure you’re
armed with a good road map – the Vicroads directory makes
a good choice. Travelling east, use suddenly-trendy Inverloch
as the starting point. From Cape Liptrap the route returns to
South Gippsland Hwy as a main artery between places of interest.
ON THE WAY: many places for picnics, fishing, photo stops and
refreshing swims.
WHAT TO DO: After breakfast or an early morning tea at Inverloch
(a downunder sabotaged name, Inverloch in Scotland) take the Venus
Bay Road and turn left at Tarwin Lower (which boasts the longest
picnic table in the world) and head for Cape Liptrap. Here, the
squat lighthouse may disappoint but the far-ranging views to Wilson’s
Prom won’t. From the Liptrap Road turn right towards Walkerville
South and drive to the end of the road. Here, a small sheltered
beach makes a good picnic/swimming spot and a hundred metres along
the sand are remnants of lime kilns used in the 1800s. Also interesting
is the pioneer cemetery; while Walkerville is deathly quiet for
much of the year, a living resident glibly tells of real estate
here selling for close on a million dollars.
Take the Walkerville and Waratah Road to Fish Creek and Foster
then head east to Toora, a pretty little hamlet with a pub, several
shops and an understated air of history. For contrast, on the
hills above Toora is a windfarm and the signposted Silcock’s
Hill lookout (off the Highway) offers a good viewing area; a large
stretch of Corner Inlet and Wilson’s Prom can be seen from
here. Agnes Falls, local art and pottery are worth a look. If
another swim is essential, head for nearby Barry Beach –
one of the few good swimmable places on Corner Inlet.
En route Welshpool, gentle Strzelecki foothills hold a beautiful
emerald green long after winter rains have gone. A few fishing
trawlers prove that the commercial fishing industry still uses
Port Welshpool; the fast Tascats also once docked here after ferry
trips to Tasmania but that ended several years ago. The port is
decidedly underwhelming now, but the pub might offer refreshment
to passengers (not drivers) and the (very) long timber jetty is
worth a stroll. At low tide an expansive mudflat harmonises with
a vast disused car park. There is a little museum/craft shop which
should be open during the holiday period. Apparently the fishing
can be great though, especially for anglers with boats.
Travelling further east, the highway passes through pretty hills
and dales until the turn-off to Port Albert. Don’t look
for a town filled with the visible heritage of more familiar Gold
Rush towns north-west of Melbourne; do look for a few historic
buildings dating to the mid-1800s when hundreds of folk landed
here on coastal vessels in preparation for the journey inland
to rich goldfields and fertile farming country. Angus Mc Millan
established the town in 1843, leaving his mark in many other Gippsland
places including Metung on the Lakes. The Maritime Museum is worth
a visit – exhibits include artefacts from the wreck of the
Clonmel, navigational aids, charts, working models, shell collection
and archival material.
Depending on your holiday timetable, stay here for dinner or
head out through Yarram to the Tarra Bulga National Park (a beautiful
remnant of the forests that once covered the Stzelecki Range)
then loop back towards Welshpool and home via the South Gippy
Hwy.
EATING AND DRINKING: most of the towns and hamlets along the
way have general stores, cafes or good country pubs. Kilcunda
pub has an excellent bistro for lunch and dinner. Inverloch has
rapidly improving food choices, but the Cape Liptrap area is not
the place for those needing a caffeine fix in a hurry. An ice
cream and some lollies are about it at Walkerville North camping
ground, but recommended further along is the Port Albert pub (believed
to be the first licensed in Victoria, 1842), the café next
door if open, or fish and chips on the wharf. If the fare doesn’t
meet three hats standard, the tranquil maritime sunset will.
©Peter Robinson
see my images at www.australianplaces.net
For the past
25 years Peter Robinson has travelled far and wide but Australia,
being home, is his first love. As an experienced travel writer
and professional photographer, his wealth of knowledge is revealed
in travel and accommodation reviews that have freelance integrity
and honesty. The main focus of this site is to present brief reviews
of a select group of places to stay for the weekend. Each place
has been visited at least once and evaluated for high standards
before inclusion - and after reviewing over 600 places Peter has
done the hard work so you can enjoy Great
Weekends Away.
