Penshurst

Set on the Hamilton Highway, 272km south-west of Melbourne, Penshurst is ideally located for trips into two of the state's premier tourist magnets, the Great Ocean Road and the Grampians.

Nestled in the basalt plains beneath the beautiful extinct volcano, Mt Rouse, Penshurst is 70km north of Warrnambool on the Great Ocean Road, and 30km south of the Grampians mountain range.

Not that Penshurst is completely overshadowed by the surrounding scenery, in fact far from it. You can get a feel of the town by following the heritage trail of historic homes, buildings and churches.

One of the oldest structures in the region is the original cottage built on the Napier property in 1858. The cottage now stands in the shadow of a more spacious homestead built early in the 20th century.

The town also boasts water gardens, a gallery and museum while boating enthusiasts can head 10km out of town to Lake Linlithgow. The Mt Rouse lookout presents sweeping views of the Western District.