'Kangaroo Rest Area,' read the sign, marking the grassy knoll where over-petted marsupials could escape the hordes of humans that descend on the Ballarat Wildlife Park each day. Not that the 'roos are complaining, mind you; with the tourists comes a steady stream of food held out in eager hands for the tame Kangaroo Island 'roos to snuffle up.

An easy two-hour drive through rolling pastureland from Melbourne, the 16-hectare Ballarat Wildlife Park is certainly one of the highlights of a trip to the southern Australian state of Victoria; an area which boasts everything from towering rainforests and historic towns to dramatic coastlines and scenic drives.

Owned and run by the affable Greg Parker, daily tours around the Wildlife Park allow you to get up close and personal with a wide range of Australian wildlife, both mammal and reptile. Visitors flock here to see animals like the shy Tasmanian Devil (that's not quite as fierce as its name suggests), the cuddly wombats which look much like over-sized hamsters and, of course, the lethargic koala. Moving for just a few minutes a day thanks to the nutrient-deficient eucalyptus leaves it prefers, koala spotting is often as exciting as watching a pride of lions sleep, but for sheer novelty factor the koala enclosure is the hit of the park.

In between the various enclosures roam the tame Kangaroo Island 'roos. When they're not lazing about on the large lawns (makes you wonder why they need a rest area) they'll come bouncing up for a tasty morsel or scratch behind the ears. It's a great way to get hands on with some of the unique Aussie wildlife and is sure to make you regret trying that kangaroo steak the previous night.

Thar' be gold in them hills!
If the wildlife is like nothing you've seen before, then Ballarat's other main attraction ? the historic village of Sovereign Hill ? will perhaps feel more familiar.

A cross between Pilgrim's Rest and Gold Reef City, Sovereign Hill may not be to everyone's taste, but it's certainly a faithful recreation of what the Ballarat goldfields would've been like when gold was first discovered here in 1851, transforming this peaceful farming area literally overnight as thousands of Australians and foreigners flocked here to seek, and lose, their fortune.

Click to visit the Great Ocean Road image gallery
Throughout Sovereign Hill you'll find 'interpreters' dressed in period clothing, variety shows in the vaudeville theatre, and authentic shopkeepers hawking their homemade wares, but to really get in the swing of things you need to grab a sieve and try your hand at panning ? Sovereign Hill stocks their stream with A$20 000 worth of gold chips every year, so there's a good chance you'll strike it lucky.

If you prefer scenery to sieving you should head straight for Warnambool ? two hours to the south. A vibey student town with a good dose of historic attractions, it is also the gateway to the famed Great Ocean Road.

From kangaroos to coastline
Opened in 1932, the 350 kilometres from here to Melbourne are some of the most stunning in all Australia. This dramatic coastline is as deadly as it is scenic though, and dozens of shipwrecks line the ocean floor along what has become one of Australia's most popular touring routes.

The highlight of the trip is certainly the collection of rocky outcrops known as the '12 Apostles'; colossal limestone plinths slowly being eroded away by the ocean. Incredibly, these freestanding monoliths occur on a mere 60 kilometres of Australia's 20 000 kilometre coastline

This stretch of coast is also Australia's whale nursery, and from June to September each year you're likely to spot Southern Right whales frolicking just beyond the breakers. There are numerous viewing spots along the way, so take the time to stop and enjoy the views. Along the Great Ocean Road it's definitely the journey that counts, not the destination.

From the 12 Apostles the road wends its way through a number of quaint seaside towns, offering a range of overnight accommodation and great restaurants. Try the Port Campbell crayfish, Coffin Bay oysters and as much fish as you could hope for, all washed down by a bottle or two excellent Australian pinot noir of course.

Fly through the forests
If you fancy getting off the beaten track for a few hours, the forests of the Otway Ranges, just a few kilometres from the coast, are a worthwhile diversion. The best way to experience these towering temperate forests is on the Otway Fly treetop walk, where walkways suspended 30m above the ground take you through large stands of Mountain Ash, Myrtle beech and Blackwoods, and make for a pleasant side-trip from the Great Ocean Road.

The two hundred kilometres or so from the Otways back to Melbourne is the most popular section of the Great Ocean Road, and a number of Melbournians have weekend homes in the pretty seaside resorts of Lorne and Apollo Bay. Surfing is a popular pastime along these beaches, and nowhere more so than the legendary town of Torquay.

Home to the famous Point Break (as well as an intriguing surf spot called Winkipop), the town is the spiritual home of surfing in Australia and a great place to watch the pros in action at the annual Rip Curl Pro Surfing Classic at the famous Bell's Beach.

Whether you want surf, seafood or scenery, the Great Ocean Road is without doubt one of Australia's greatest touring routes, and an unmissable part of any visit to the state of Victoria.