Lake Fyans Holiday Park

Keen hikers continue the Pomonal trail on to Halls Gap, but you can also get there with a 10-minute car trip. The zoo is home to over 160 species, including endangered red pandas, meerkats and cheetas. Encounter sessions for the sturdy-hearted members of the party include opportunities to pat an alligator and pet a dingo. Twenty minutes' drive and you're in Brambuk - the National Park and Cultural Centre. As well as a hub point for the many hiking and biking trails through the surrounding wilderness, Brambuk is an opportunity to discover the ancient culture of the area's Aboriginal people and sample bushtucker grub in the café. Road trippers can join the Eastern Grampians Scenic Route (five minutes from site), or head to the official starting point in Ararat (half an hour). It's a pleasant half-day tour along the eastern edge of the mountains, stopping off in typical towns to take in the history and sample the wine. Half an hour past Halls Gap and you're in the Grampians National Park, a walkers' paradise of sandstone peaks and thundering waterfalls, rock art and wallabies. You won't want to leave; but if you're travelling further, Melbourne is a little under three hours away.