Rainbow

There’s no pot of gold at the end of this Rainbow, but the small town on the southern fringe of Victoria’s Mallee is still a hidden gem known as the ‘Gateway to the Mallee.’

The Mallee region is a destination in itself, as part of Victoria’s great silo art trail and the tiny town of Patchewollock.

The colourfully named destination is situated at the edge of the Big Desert, and surrounded by desert lakes and vast Wimmera wilderness. It’s also home to an impressive 23 murals depicting the life and history of the town’s pioneers.

If you want to go ‘rainbow hunting’, 16 of the murals are located on and around the main street (Federal Street), while the most recent installation is at the rear of the heritage-listed Yurunga Homestead, a beautiful Edwardian-era home built in 1909. 

More: The best Australian road trips to tick off your bucket list

Chiltern

Get a taste of Victoria’s earliest medicine at Chiltern, located in Victoria’s north-east. The historic township and old gold-mining town is home to Dow’s Pharmacy, which includes an original apothecary workshop replete with original fittings, as well as equipment, medicine, and other stock dating back more than 100 years.

The original chemist built it in 1859, and one of its early pharmacists was David McEwen, father of the 18th Australian prime minister, Sir John McEwen.

It makes a great stop just 15 minutes before entering the wineries of Rutherglen.

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Koroit

It might be known for its vibrant local pub, but Koroit, on the northern slopes of Victoria’s dormant Tower Hill volcano, is also a history buff’s treasure trove.

The charismatic rural town, located 15km inland from Warrnambool, describes itself as an ‘Irish Village’, and is hailed as one of Australia`s most complete examples of an early Irish settlement.

Nestled in a dormant volcano formed some 30,000 years ago, the wildlife haven was declared Victoria’s first National Park in 1892, and offers visitors an up-close-and-personal experience with some of Australia’s most iconic native birds and animals.

More: Volcanoes you can visit in Victoria

Timboon

When it comes to reputations, being known as the town with the best ice cream in the state seems like a pretty enviable one. This Surf Coast hinterland hot spot, known for its cheese and dairy industry, has become a becoming a foodie’s haven. 

The local Timboon Fine Ice Cream shop has been scooping hand-churned ice cream made using the freshest local ingredients – the milk comes from the neighbour’s farm and the cream from the local dairy – for more than 20 years. There’s even a Saundae School for anyone who wants to learn more about the art of ice cream making.

Timboon is also home to an award-winning whisky distillery, which has been pouring fine spirits from its converted railway shed headquarters since 2008. It’s also a great place to visit if you decide to take an inland route after exploring the Great Ocean Road.

More: Ultimate Great Ocean Road itinerary: Torquay to Warrnambool