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  4. Great Ocean Road Adventure ex Melbourne

Hit the coast road and see Australia’s southern gems.

Drive to Australia’s southern hotspots on a fast-paced three-day jaunt from Melbourne to Adelaide. Stop by the world-class surf break of Bells Beach, spot wild koalas at Kennett River and be captivated by each twist and turn of the acclaimed Great Ocean Road. Soak up the dramatic horizon rendered by the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge, learn about local First Nations history in the Grampians National Park and go chasing waterfalls on a scenic hike. With an expert local leader by your side and everything take care of, what’s not to like about a road trip between these two Aussie cities?

Start
Melbourne, Australia
Finish
Adelaide, Australia
Destination
Australia
Style
Basix
Theme
Explorer
Code
PAMA-B
Physical rating
Ages
Min 18
Group size
Min 1, Max 24

Why you'll love this trip

  • Travel along Australia’s most acclaimed stretch of coastline with a scenic drive on the Great Ocean Road. This is one trip you definitely want to call shotgun on a window seat.

  • Battered by the mighty Bass Strait, spend some time checking out the eroded natural wonders of the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge in the Port Campbell National Park.

  • Take a one-night pitstop in Halls Gap to discover the rugged beauty of the Grampians National Park. Go hiking up to the Pinnacles lookout, and marvel at the stunning McKenzie Falls.

  • Gain an insight into the diverse First Nations cultures in Australia with a visit to the Brambuk Cultural Centre, learning of the ancient stories of the Dreaming.

  • Your expert local leaders are in the know when it comes to what to do and where to eat. Not only will they give you all the insider information, they’ll be sure to introduce you to the iconic Aussie barbecue.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip runs both as a Basix- and Original-style Intrepid adventure. All passengers will travel together and enjoy the same inclusions; however, the only difference between the two is the style of accommodation. Basix passengers will stay in multishare mixed gender accommodation, and Original passengers will stay in twin share accommodation. For more information about the Original-style itinerary, please search trip code PAMA-O on the Intrepid website.

Map of Great Ocean Road Adventure ex Melbourne including Australia
The Pinnacles at Grampians National Park, Victoria, Australia
The Pinnacles, Grampians National Park, Victoria, Australia
A kangaroo at Halls Gap, Victoria, Australia
MacKenzie Falls at Grampians National Park, Victoria, Australia
Gibsons Steps at the 12 Apostles, Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia
The Apostles, Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia
Apollo Bay lunch in Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia
The Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia
The Twelve Apostles at Sunset, Victoria, Australia
Enjoying the sunset at Gibson Steps, Victoria, Australia
Emus at the Halls Gap, near the Grampians
A wallaby enjoying a morning 'hop' in Halls Gap

Itinerary
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Let’s get road tripping! Departing Melbourne, hit the road west to Geelong and the chilled-out surf town of Torquay. From there, begin the journey along one of Australia’s most beautiful and famous drives – the Great Ocean Road. This coast road at points is the only barrier between the lush forests of Victoria’s southwest and the cliffs down to the Bass Strait. Along the way, experience a guided walk through an ancient and rare temperate rainforest in the Otways, checking out the enormous trees that are native to the area. Stop for some koala spotting in Kennett River, then break for lunch in seaside Apollo Bay. In the afternoon, continue on to the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge – these rocky landscapes braving the southern oceans are a sight to behold. Continue on your drive for another hour or so, spending the night in Warrnambool.
Included Activities
  • 12 Apostles & London Bridge
  • Koala spotting - Great Ocean Road
  • Melba Gully Walk - Otway Ranges
  • Swim at Lorne (Summer months)
  • Loch Ard Gorge
Meals Included
  • Lunch
Special Information
The total driving time today is about 6.5 hours (approximately 450 km). The total walking time will be about 2 hours (approximately 2 km).

Begin the day checking out more of the Great Ocean Road's natural wonder on the Warrnambool foreshore, then take a drive into the Grampians National Park – an area full of rugged rock landscapes, scenic lookouts and rich in First Nations culture. During the day, you’ll visit the Brambuk Aboriginal Culture Centre to learn about an important period of this ancient culture known as the Dreaming, then hike up to the Pinnacles for impressive views across the Grampians. Keep an eye out for any native flora or wildlife that may pass you by as you walk. Tonight, head to Halls Gap for the evening, enjoying a traditional Aussie-style barbecue with your small group.
Included Activities
  • Brambuk Culture Centre
  • Mackenzie Falls - Grampians
  • Pinnacles Walk - Grampians
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
The total driving time today is about 6 hours (approximately 400 km). The total walking time will be about 4 hours (approximately 5 km).

This morning, hike to the base of McKenzie Falls – the highest and arguably most impressive waterfalls in the Grampians – and check out other sites such as The Balconies and Reeds Lookout. Leaving the Grampians, pass through the town of Horsham and the enchanting Loch Lel – also known as the Pink Lake – before crossing the mighty Murray River and making your last leg of the journey into Adelaide. Most of the afternoon is taken up by the drive, but you’ll arrive in Adelaide around 7.30 pm, in time for an optional celebratory dinner with your group. There is no accommodation planned for tonight, but if you would like to spend more time in Adelaide, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).
Included Activities
  • Reeds Lookout (The Balconies) & Boroka Lookout
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
The total driving time today is about 7.5 hours (approximately 550 km). The total walking time will be about 2.5 hours (approximately 3.5 km).

The estimated time of arrival into Adelaide is around 7.30 pm, so please take this into account when considering onward travel.
 View this trip in reverse

Meals

2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Dormitory (2 nights)

Included activities

  • 12 Apostles & London Bridge
  • Koala spotting - Great Ocean Road
  • Melba Gully Walk - Otway Ranges
  • Swim at Lorne (Summer months)
  • Loch Ard Gorge
  • Brambuk Culture Centre
  • Mackenzie Falls - Grampians
  • Pinnacles Walk - Grampians
  • Reeds Lookout (The Balconies) & Boroka Lookout

Dates & availability

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Travel lightly with Intrepid. We’ve offset the main sources of carbon emissions from this trip on your behalf, including transport, accommodation & waste. Read more

Important notes

1.This trip starts in Melbourne at approximately 6 am and finishes in central Adelaide at approximately 7 pm on Day 3. Onward travel must be booked the following day.
2.This trip is also available as an Original style trip (twin share accommodation) See code PAMA-O.
3.This trip also runs in reverse as a 2 day tour, see code PAAM-B.

Essential trip information

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