The famous Coonawarra vineyards are a short one and a half hour drive from Hamilton, but on the way many interesting places await the traveller.
West along the Glenelg highway call in and sample premium local wine from Bochara Wines cellar door sales before proceeding to Coleraine, once the home of Helena Rubenstein of international cosmetic fame. Here you’ll find the Glenelg Fine Chocolates (not to be missed), Eucalyptus Discovery Centre as well as the history of the region’s pioneers, the Henty Brothers, housed in the former Court House.
On from Coleraine and from the top of the Muntham Hills there are great views of the surrounding countryside. Then descending into the next town Casterton, birthplace of the famous Australian Kelpie sheepdog, first bred at the Warrock Station in 1870 and now home to the Nationally famous Australian Landmark Kelpie Muster held in June each year.
A short distance across the South Australian border is Penola, a historic town home of the Mary MacKillop Interpretive Centre, Petticoat Lane with Yallum Park, another historic landmark, just five minutes drive away. The cellar doors of the Coonawarra wineries are all set out in close proximity along one section of the highway north from the township of Penola.
All offer superb wines for you to experience along with venues to enjoy fine food.
South now to Mount Gambier, famous for it’s Blue Lake. A stop at the Lady Nelson Visitor Information Centre will arm you with advice on all the things to see and do in the area. A 20 minute drive along the Nelson Rd from Mount Gambier is Piccaninny Ponds, the site of an underground water cave and at nearby Nelson there are cruises along the Glenelg River, fishing, walks, boating, camping and picnic facilities plus beach access with good swimming. A quaint picnic and landing spot can be found at Pritchard’s Landing on the Glenelg River – just ten minutes from Nelson along the Dartmoor Rd. Return to Hamilton via Digby.
Hamilton & Surrounds
DRIVING TIME 3 HOURS
Day trip PDF’s
The following PDF files detail the various day trips.
[PDF files require the free Adobe Acrobat reader available at www.adobe.com]
Top day trips include the Grampians National Park for hiking and lookouts, Port Fairy and the coast for beaches and dining, Budj Bim for Indigenous heritage, the Coonawarra wine region just over the border, and the volcanic crater lakes around Camperdown.
How far is the Great Ocean Road from Hamilton?
The western end of the Great Ocean Road is about 90 minutes south of Hamilton via Port Fairy or Portland — close enough for a full day exploring the Twelve Apostles and the Shipwreck Coast.
Is the Grampians a day trip from Hamilton?
Yes — Halls Gap and the central Grampians are around an hour’s drive north, making walks to MacKenzie Falls, the Pinnacle lookout and the Balconies very doable in a day.
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DRIVING TIME 3 HOURS