where the sky meets the sea

VIC: BELLARINE PENINSULA TO PORT CAMPBELL ALONG THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD

DAY 1: BELLARINE PENINSULA

Start out on the Bellarine Peninsula, with its thriving food and wine scene. Fruit, cheese, olives, mussels, honey and cider abound in this fertile region. Sample local gin and whisky at the Bellarine Distillery, or visit the cellar door at Terindah Estate, Basils Farm or Oakdene vineyards. For lunch, gaze across the bay while enjoying a French-inspired dish at The Deck at Terindah, grab a bite at the Basils Farm cafe, or settle in for a more leisurely feast at Marty @ Oakdene. Cycle it off along the 35km Bellarine Rail Trail, or take in more stops on the Bellarine Taste Trail. Where to stay: Lon Retreat & Spa is set on 81 hectares in Point Lonsdale. It’s a peaceful retreat, with only seven suites and a spa; lonretreat.com.au Where to eat: Dine in your suite at Lon Retreat, or head to Jack Rabbit Restaurant, an award-winning fine-dining spot in a vineyard.

DAY 2: BELLARINE TO LORNE

Expect the 90-minute drive to Lorne to take far longer, as you stop off at the legendary surf spots of Jan Juc and Bells Beach, go round the twist at the Split Point Lighthouse at Aireys Inlet (where exterior scenes for the kids’ TV show were filmed), and stroll Fairhaven Beach. Lunch at A La Grecque in Aireys Inlet, and spend a relaxed afternoon in the beer garden at Aireys Pub, with beer brewed on-site by Salt Brewing Co. La Perouse at Lorne has only four guest rooms and fuses country charm with coastal living. Run by two nurses turned hoteliers, it’s a chic retreat that serves delicious breakfast;   Melbourne’s iconic Spanish tapas restaurant MoVida has an oceanside