Tour highlights
- Journey along the National Heritage Listed Great Ocean Road, see the Memorial Arch
- Reconnect with nature on a rainforest walk through the lush Great Otway National Park
- Be blown away by the panoramic views from the 12 Apostles lookout and Loch Ard Gorge beach
- Enrich your cultural awareness of those who came before at Tower Hill Conservation Wildlife Reserve
- Guaranteed Australian wildlife sightings in their natural habitat ie. kangaroos, emus, echidnas and koalas
- Explore the rugged bush landscape of the Grampians National Park
- Capture the views from Reed’s, Boroka, and The Balconies Lookout
- Impressive hike to the summit of the Pinnacle Lookout
- Relax at the base of MacKenzie Waterfalls
Itinerary
Day 1: Melbourne to Great Ocean Road
Start your 3-day adventure by exploring the world-famous Great Ocean Road with its stunning ocean views and surf beaches. Spot wild koalas along the way with a stop in the quaint seaside town of Apollo Bay for lunch, followed by a guided rainforest walk in the Great Otway National Park rainforest. Later, we visited the amazing shipwreck coast famous for the Twelve Apostles rock formation and Loch Ard Gorge. Overnight in Warrnambool.
- Meals: Dinner
- Accommodation: Warrnabool Motel private rooms (with ensuite) or shared accommodation (with shared bathroom) or similar alternative
- Driving distance: 375 kilometers
Day 2: Great Ocean Road to the Grampians
During the second day, you will have the opportunity to visit Tower Hill Conservation Wildlife Reserve, an extinct volcano that is rich in Aboriginal history and has a vast amount of wildlife, such as emus and kangaroos. From here, you head north into the Grampians. In the afternoon, the guide will take you up to the iconic Pinnacle lookout, which offers a panoramic view of the Grampians National Park for a delightful afternoon hike. Finish the day with a traditional Aussie BBQ at your overnight stay in Halls Gap.
- Meals: Breakfast, dinner
- Accom: Gariwerd Motel private rooms (with ensuite) or Grampians Eco YHA shared accommodation (with shared bathroom) or similar alternative
- Driving distance: 190 kilometers
- Hike distance: 4.5 kilometers
Day 3: The Grampians to Melbourne
On the last day of the journey, you will start early in the morning to hike to the base of Mackenzie Falls, and then you will explore some other famous sites, such as The Balconies / Reeds Lookout and Boroka Lookout, which are among the most famous in the area. A few days after exploring the coastline and mountain ranges of the region, you make your way back to Melbourne, arriving around 5:30 p.m. after an incredible few days.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accom: N/A
- Driving Distance: 290 kilometers
- Hike distance: 2 kilometers
What is a suitable age for this tour?
Child policy for this tour is 6 years old and over, due to the nature of this tour, it’s not suitable for infants or children 5 years and under. Children aged between 6 to 17 years old are required to stay in standard private accommodation and must be accompanied by a legal guardian or adult.
How fit do I need to be for this tour?
A minimum moderate level of fitness is required to complete the walks. Walks can be up to 3 km in length, often over steep and rocky sections and in direct sunlight. Walks will be at the guide’s discretion to ensure the safety of guests. Therefore a medium / high level of fitness is required and a doctor’s certificate is required for people over 70 years (30 days prior to travel).
Are National Park fees included in the tour cost?
Autopia Tours includes National Parks fees within the tour price, this covers guests for 3 national parks which include Grampians National Park, Great Otway National Park, and Port Campbell National Park. Park Passes are not available for purchase by guests not traveling onboard the tours.
What kind of vehicle do we travel in for this Melbourne to Adelaide tour?
The tour uses 24-seater Mitsubishi Rosa mini-buses for this trip, this vehicle makes moving people easy, safe, and comfortable. With high back seats and large windows for unobstructed views. The maximum number of passengers is 23 people, with a minimum requirement of 8 people to guarantee the departure.