5 UNDERRATED VICTORIAN ROAD TRIPS

There’s nothing better than setting off for a road trip in your immaculate car, fresh from your local car cleaning experts. That light feeling you get from your clean car makes driving a treat. If you’re wondering what adventure to take in your car when you have your next day off or weekend break, these 5 underrated Victorian road trips will inspire you to try somewhere new.

WILSONS PROMONTORY

Found 230 KM from Melbourne, Wilsons Promontory National Park is situated at Victoria’s southernmost point. The bushland sanctuary is well known for the Tidal River camping grounds and its many pristine beaches, like Squeaky Beach and Whisky Bay. With a drive of around 3 hours from Melbourne ‘The Prom’, as it’s affectionately known, is a great place for an overnight stay or a weekend away. They have plenty of cabins available and tonnes of camping spaces at Tidal River, though the summer months can be busy so book ahead.

The 30km of breathtaking scenery and winding roads that you will drive between the entrance to the National Park and Tidal River will take your breath away. Granite rock faces, ancient trees and look-outs-a-plenty will leave you in awe of this beautiful part of the world.

HEALESVILLE

A quaint town in the Yarra Ranges, Healesville is the perfect place for a day trip from Melbourne. After only a hour’s drive, ticking over 65 KM on the odometer, Melbourne will be a distant memory as you’re surrounded by the beauty of Eucalyptus trees and ferns on winding roads. Healesville Sanctuary is the perfect place to spend a few hours taking in the flora and fauna native to our beautiful country. Or find yourself a place to eat in the picturesque township. If you’re wondering “where’s a car wash near me?” on your trip back, you’ll find Magic Hand Carwash in both Ferntree Gully and Heathmont.

POINT LONSDALE

The roads past Geelong are most famous for leading to the Great Ocean Road, however with just a small change of course you’ll find yourself on the Bellarine Peninsula in the dreamy, seaside town of Point Lonsdale. The perfect destination for surfing, whale-watching, snorkeling or walks on the beach, a 100 KM trip to Point Lonsdale will take your around an hour and a half from Melbourne and makes it easy to complete a same-day return. If you head via Geelong, stop off for the best car wash around, Magic Hand Carwash at Newtown.

MOUNT BUFFALO

Whether it’s winter or summer, you’ll be glad that you took the time to check out the splendour of Mount Buffalo. On the fringes of the Alpine National Park, in winter Mount Buffalo is a snow-play and skiing destination and in summer it is a dream for hikers, rock-climbers and hang-gliders. Mount Buffalo is 350 KM from Melbourne, which will take you around 4 hours of solid driving. The nearby town of Bright has plenty of accommodation for those looking for a weekend long getaway.

ECHUCA

On the banks of the Murray, the town of Echuca was once Australia’s largest inland port. These days, with the development of major highways, Echuca is around 220 KM of driving from Melbourne which will take you around two and a half hours. You’ll find Paddle Boats on the Murray, an assortment of restaurants and plenty of historical buildings. Situated right on the border of Victoria and New South Wales, you could even make Echuca a stop over on a longer distance road trip.

When you return from your trip, your once sparkly car is likely to be covered in bugs, dust and road grime. To ensure that these contaminants don’t damage your paintwork, make sure to look for your closest car wash as soon as you return.  A thorough clean inside and out, and a hand wax and polish will restore shine and have you beaming again.