An insiders guide to the Grampians

VIV Thomson, winemaker of Best's Great Western, takes us on a tour of this Victorian region.

Viv Thompson

VIV Thomson, winemaker of Best's Great Western, takes us on a tour of this Victorian region.

STAY: Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld
The Royal Mail has a range of options, from rooms and self-contained apartments to a six-bedroom homestead, at the southern tip of the Grampians Ranges, 260km west of Melbourne. Its award-winning restaurant has an amazing wine list; royalmail.com.au.

SOUVENIR: Jenrick Design, Great Western
For a lovely reminder of your visit, take one of your best photos to Jenrick Design where it can be printed on anything from silk scarves and shawls to handbags and cushions; jenrickdesign.com.au.

HISTORY: Brambuk, Halls Gap
The Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Brambuk offers interactive activities and workshops featuring the stories and traditions of the indigenous community in the Grampians; brambuk.com.au.

Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre, Ararat
The centre focuses on another significant part of Grampians history - the migration of Chinese miners in the mid 1800s from South Australia to the Central Goldfields, where one of the world's richest shallow alluvial goldfields was discovered in Ararat; arts-events-tourism.ararat.vic.gov.au.

WALK: The Pinnacle
The region is not short of amazing bushwalks or spectacular views, but the Pinnacle is a must-do. One of the longer walks around the national park, the view from the top - of Halls Gap and the greater Grampians landscape - is breathtaking; visithallsgap.com.au/walks.htm.

ADVENTURE: Rock climbing, Mount Arapiles
Regarded as one of the best rock-climbing locations in the world, Mount Arapiles has more than 2000 climbs for all skill levels; parkweb.vic.gov.au. 

WINE: Best's Great Western
The Grampians region is famous for cool-climate shiraz. Our vineyard has been making wine since the 1860s and feels like a working museum. The cellar door is open daily and we are very proud of our award-winning 2011 Bin 1 Shiraz; bestswines.com.

The Grampians is celebrating 150 years of winemaking with a series of special events. The next, Seriously Shiraz, takes place November 2-5. More: visitgrampians.com.au; grampianswine.com.au.

HOME AND AWAY
THE Ayers Rock Resort complex in the great red centre is looking very smart after a $43 million revamp by Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia. The five-star Sails in the Desert hotel has been thoroughly refurbished and there's an extended Indigenous Guest Experience program that includes dance performances, spear and boomerang-throwing workshops and art classes at which guests are encouraged to create dot paintings. Look around the lobby of Sails for fantastically swirled canvases of emu feathers by resident artist Raymond Walters Japanangka (whose workshop and gallery is nearby). The Ilkari restaurant has been jazzed up with latticed lights and chic tub chairs and features an excellent buffet; the 228 rooms (pictured) feel fresh and full of light with Aboriginal-motif paintings, soft furnishings and custom-made carpets; flat-screen televisions; and fragrant Indigiearth toiletries based on bush botanicals. Also in the resort complex are the Desert Gardens Hotel and Emu Walk Apartments plus budget digs and a camping ground. Don't miss the free Mani Mani Indigenous Cultural Theatre presentation, Wednesday to Sunday. More: ayersrockresort.com.au.
Susan Kurosawa

T&I LOVES
HIGH tea? Not only do Etihad Airways passengers in Diamond first class have personal chefs on call to prepare their meals but there's a tea menu in partnership with the Fernando family of the Sri Lankan dynasty Dilmah (Dilhan Fernando pictured, left; his father, Merrill, right). You might think it's all champagne up the pointy end but high-flyers are praising the airline's classy wellness initiative. T&I's stablemate Wish even named the tea offering as "best airline wine list" in its August bumper travel edition this year (and best overall airline first class, a gong Etihad deserves in full measure). So if it's not a perky sauvignon blanc or a smooth merlot up in the clouds, how about "full-bodied, rounded and refreshing" Uda Watte blend (which the Sri Lankan tea manufacturer likens to pinot noir) or cuppas of rose infused with french vanilla or Italian almond with a frisky hint of amaretto. Sweeten things further with baklava from Etihad's Kitchen Anytime list. More: etihad.com.
Susan Kurosawa

ACCESSORY
Para'Kito Natural Mosquito Protection, $24.95
THIS nifty anti-mosquito device is promoted as 100 per cent effective for up to 15 days, even when swimming. A polymer pellet created from seven essential oils slips into a neoprene wristband or clip, ensuring no direct contact with skin. The clip can be attached to luggage or beach bags or kept close while you sleep; safe during pregnancy and suitable for babies. More: au.parakito.com.
Sharon Fowler

ON THE BENCH
Davis & Waddell Oslo bamboo and ceramic serving ware, $7.99-$39.99
SPRING is here, with the welcome prospect of outdoor dining. Present your favourite al fresco creations on coloured bamboo and white ceramic serving ware, including bowls (four sizes), platters and dip dishes, with matching salad servers. More: davisandwaddell.com.au.
Michelle Rowe

ON THE ROAD
Cancer Council sunscreens, 110ml, from $10.95
SUN protection standards for creams and lotions have officially increased from 30+ to 50+ and the Cancer Council has released an updated range with improved UVA protection (filtering 98 per cent of rays) in time for a long, hot summer. There are Kids, Sport, Sensitive, Ultra and Active varieties; all are non-greasy, water-resistant and last for up to four hours (the Cancer Council suggests reapplying every two hours). Use in conjunction with a broad-brimmed hat, sunglasses and cover-up clothing. More: cancer.org.au.
Susan Kurosawa

BEST DEALS
RENTAL cars from $18.26 a day in Ireland, $25.71 in London and $33.87 in Los Angeles via more than 800 worldwide companies (including Hertz, Budget and Thrifty) are on offer from Sydney's globalCARS. More: 1300 789 992; globalcars.com.au.

GREEN PIECES
THE Ritz-Carlton group has added a resort at Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico to its Reserve portfolio of sanctuaries; marine activities include a Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment program. More: ritzcarlton.com.

APT APP
HANDY for on-the-road use when keeping up, say, a course of weekly anti-malarial tablets, Medicines List new version 2 has a reminder function; use the app to store details of regular medication, dosage and frequency. Free for iPhone.

WEB WISE
ITALY from an expat Australian's perspective? Long-time Tuscany resident and tour guide Sue Jane, originally from Melbourne, has started a lively site filled with personal snippets and news on life Italian style. More: anaussieinitaly.com.

WHAT IN THE WORLD
ACCOR has Cultural Getaway packages at its five Perth hotels tied in with the Van Gogh, Dali & Beyond: The World Reimagined exhibition at the Art Gallery of WA; from $129 a room, valid to December 2, with breakfast, late checkout and a pair of exhibition tickets
• Hawaiian Airlines has introduced iPad minis to update its portable entertainment system on 14 routes served by its Boeing 767-300 aircraft
• Just for ladies who like to holiday in style, Travelling Divas has a 13-day Sri Lanka itinerary from May 4-16 with exclusive highlights, from yoga classes to safari action.

OPEN BOOK
'ALTHOUGH there is no big game shooting in this State [of NSW] there is plenty of variety for the shooter. In the Monaro District there is plenty of game in the shape of parrots of various kinds, plovers, quail, hares, rabbits, native companions, a few ducks and other wild things along the banks of the Craigie, Delegate, Bombala, Creewah and Little Plains.' (Extract from chapter headed The Man with the Gun.)
ANON A TOURIST GUIDE TO THE RAILWAYS OF NSW (1916)