Our passionate locals can take you on guided tours of our region’s key attractions, allowing you behind-the scenes, under the skin and into the heart of our landscapes, with bespoke experiences specially designed for groups.
We’re fortunate enough to have locals and nearby businesses able to offer guided group experiences including:
- Meeting the resident wildlife, tasting wines or touring the Kitchen Garden at the Royal Mail Hotel
- Historic walking tours by local experts
- Tag-a-long convoys visiting sites of cultural significance
- Wine tours with tastings and opportunities to meet the winemakers
- Unique adventure experiences by world-renowned explorers
- Behind-the scenes insights into key attractions
- Farm and Orchard tours by agricultural practitioners leading the curve
Here is a curated list of some of our top group tour experiences with ready-to-go product for your delegates to enjoy:
Royal Mail Hotel Experiences
Kitchen Garden Tour
Take a chef-led tour of the largest organic kitchen-garden in Australia (1.2 hectares, all with views of the Grampians) which feeds the menus at both restaurants and demonstrates a holistic approach to food production and caring for the environment.
Native Wildlife Feeding Tour
The Royal Mail Hotel’s conservation department’s captive breeding program aims to increase numbers of and raise awareness of threatened species such as Eastern Quolls and Tiger Quolls. Guests can join a guided tour during feeding times to get up close and personal and learn about these fascinating animals alongside their passionate Conservation Manager.
Wine Cellar Tutorial
Journey through the hotel’s extensive and award-wining wine collection with the Royal Mail Hotel’s sommeliers on a private tour of their award-winning, 300,000 bottle wine cellar. Hear the stories behind the labels, discover little known facts about the world of wine and—most importantly—enjoy a comparative tasting of a local and international wine.
Situated close to Cavendish, Grampians Nature Programs off explorative experiences for groups of 2 people up to 12. They offer wonderful experiences nestled at the foot of the Grampians National Park.
Groups up to 12 can undertake hands-on workshops and tours in everything from identifying and using Edible Weeds and Bush-Tucker, to FORAGE Tours (Farm Orchard, Renewable- energy, Aquaculture and Garden Ecology), Grampians Botanical Workshops making DIY herbal skin salve and even Collaborative Art classes.
John and Suzi Muir from Grampians Nature Programs also welcome groups to discover the treasures from their expeditions across the globe as part of an adventure talk, hearing about John’s solo expeditions across the Antarctic and his experiences as the first person to trek alone across Australia.
Hamilton Botanic Gardens
Take a tour of the spectacularly beautiful Hamilton Botanic Gardens with head gardener himself, Frank Verschuren. As a local resident for over 15 years and a dedicated member of the Parks & Gardens team of 8, there is no one better suited to guide you and your group through the third oldest Botanic Gardens in Victoria. Meet Frank and get a sneak peek of the Gardens at InspiredByLocals.com.au.
Hamilton Institute of Rural Learning
Visitors are invited to take part in a much loved and cherished activity that takes place after dark at the Hamilton Institute of Rural Learning. The dedicated volunteers at HIRL welcome you to come learn and celebrate the conservation steps taken to protect and the Eastern Barred Bandicoot from extinction in Victoria’s western district. Take part in a tour after dark where the Bandicoots come alive or admire the beauty of the property’s surrounding landscape during the day with nature walks.
Eagle Aboriginal Tours
Dive deep in to south west Victoria’s Aboriginal history with a tag-along tour of local sites of cultural significance from local Gunditjmara–Boandik Elder, Uncle Johnny Lovett. Johnny can guide your group around sites close to Hamilton in particular, but further afield as time permits, sharing stories and insights that give an understanding and appreciation of our region’s Traditional Owners and their customs.
Budj Bim Tours
Operating since 1999, Budj Bim Tours offer authentic, guided tour through the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape. Experience the important history of the Gunditjmara people through the eyes of one of their expert Indigenous guides. As a guest on the Gunditjmara country, experience a culture that is over 60,000 years old and see remnants of a settled lifestyle.
Credit: Grampians Wine Tours via FB
Grampians Wine Tours
With every great wine region comes an even greater wine tour operator! With over 155 years of history, the guys at Grampians Wine Tours thought it was about time to start up a wine tour to show it off! Not only does Grampians Wine Tours provide links to all the incredible cellar doors and vineyards throughout the Grampians National park and surrounding areas, but they also offer a whopping 15 tours in total that include tastings at local olive farms, lunch locations and the chance to discover the largest outdoor gallery located along the silo art trail north of the Grampians.
Credit: portfairyaustralia.com
Geo Tours
Based in Port Fairy, Geo Tours specialises in escorted travel and covers the western sector of the Great Ocean Road and all its volcanic hinterland. Their “Great Ocean Road and Port Fairy Explorer” tour along with the accommodation package is always a crowd favourite and includes destinations across some of the most breathtaking scenery. After restoring an 1880’s hotel into a Four Star Bed and Breakfast, hosts Mike and Marjorie Raetz understand hospitality, so combining this with their passion for “surfaces with a story” you know you’re in for a treat!
Contact details for many of our local activity providers and tour guides offering these authentic and memorable experiences are in our Planners Guide. Request your copy or contact us to connect you with the right fit for your group!
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