Day 1
Welcome to Melbourne
Friendly Melbourne is the perfect place to begin your Australian self-drive adventure. After settling in to your accommodation, explore this compact metropolis with a walking tour. Along the way, your guide will entertain you with historical tales of Melbourne. A walk in the city is not complete without a drink stop at a local chocolate salon. There are hidden charms around every corner from beautiful Botanic Gardens to incredible street art and chic city squares where you can soak up the atmosphere.
Overnight: Alto Hotel On Bourke - Melbourne or similar.
Day 2
Melbourne to Apollo Bay (Approximate Distance: 199 km | 124 miles | Total Driving Time: 2 hours 39 mins)
Collect your rental car and get ready to enjoy one of the world’s greatest coastal drives: the Great Ocean Road.
The Great Ocean Road has a number of scenic lookouts from Torquay to the border of Victoria and South Australia. Journey to Bells Beach to check out the amazing surf and spectacular views of the Southern Ocean. The town of Anglesea is a must see - famous for its golf course where kangaroos lounge under trees and hop across the greens.
This evening, you will stay in the beautiful village of Apollo Bay. The Bay is referred to as the “Paradise by the Sea” and is the perfect place for those who love beaches and water sports.
Overnight: Best Western Apollo Bay Motel & Apartments or similar.
Day 3
Apollo Bay to Port Fairy (Approximate Distance: 187 km | 117 miles | Total Driving Time: 2 hours 42 mins)
Continue along the Great Ocean Road for a scenic 3-hour drive through the lush Otway National Park, enjoying a stop at Port Campbell to view the magnificent 12 Apostles - considered to be the most beautiful of all Australia's natural wonders.
Make your way to the viewing platform and see if you can spot marine mammals out at sea or in the caves below. You may choose to enjoy the rugged splendour of these famous rock formations by helicopter to get up close and personal with Victoria’s dramatic coastal beauty.
Later, make the short journey to Wreck Beach, which marks the start of a trail where the anchors of two ships, the Marie Gabrielle (1869) and Fiji (1891), are embedded in the beach.
In the evening, stay in the busy fishing port of Port Fairy and discover more about the region's maritime history.
Overnight: Merrijig Inn Port Fairy or similar.
Day 4
Port Fairy
Enjoy a day at leisure in Port Fairy, one of Victoria’s earliest settled coastal villages. You may choose to spend some time on the wharf watching fishermen unload their catches, visit the replica village at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in nearby Warrnambool to see what life was like for early settlers, or explore the village's variety of boutiques, antique stores and art shops. For those drawn to the water, surfing lesons, a guided fishing trip or a cruise to the seal colony on Lady Julia Percy Island may capture your imagination.
Overnight: Merrijig Inn Port Fairy or similar.
Day 5
Port Fairy to Mount Gambier (Approximate Distance: 154 km | 95 miles | Total Driving Time: 1 hour 44 mins)
Cross the state border into South Australia to continue your journey. The next stop is the volcanic landscapes of Mount Gambier - containing geological wonders that are well worth exploring. This dormant volcano houses the 70-metre-deep Blue Lake, with waters appearing steel grey during winter and cobalt blue in the summer months.
The Umpherston Sinkhole is a spectacular sunken garden filled with flowers and greenery, hidden in a giant crater in the centre of Mount Gambier town and created from a collapsed limestone cave.
Overnight: The Barn - Mount Gambier or similar.
Day 6
Mount Gambier to Robe via Coonawarra Wine Region (Approximate Distance: 125 km | 78 miles | Total Driving Time: 1 hour 20 mins)
Today, journey from Mount Gambier to Robe. On the way, meander through the picturesque vineyards of Coonawarra, the country's top producer of premium red wines.
Another optional stop on this journey is at the World Heritage listed 800,000-year-old Naracoorte Caves - featuring spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.
Arrive in the town of Robe - known for its breath-taking white sand beaches and delicious fresh crayfish. During Australia’s Gold Rush era, around 16,500 Chinese fortune-seekers arrived here by boat and trekked 400 kilometres overland to the Victorian Goldfields. The Chinese Monument on the foreshore marks where they landed.
Enjoy a stroll along the jetty and soak up the beautiful South Australian sunset.
Overnight: Robe House & Victoria Cottage or similar.
Day 7
Robe to Adelaide (Approximate Distance: 336 km | 209 miles | Total Driving Time: 3 hours 49 mins)
Make your way to the final stop on your adventure - South Australia’s capital, Adelaide.
Adelaide is filled to the brim with culture, flavours, events, and entertainment. Spacious boulevards and vibrant inner-city districts, sophisticated architecture, and lush gardens, ensure there is something for everyone here.
History lovers will enjoy the variety of churches around every corner, many dating back to the 19th century. Indulge in a bite to eat at Adelaide Central Market - with over 80 stalls offering cheese, seafood, patisseries, and artisan produce.
Adelaide is known as the Festival Capital of Australia – from comedy and cabaret to food and fashion, there's always something on no matter when you visit.
Overnight: Majestic Roof Garden Hotel Adelaide or similar.
Day 8
Depart Adelaide
Your 7-night Melbourne to Adelaide family adventure ends here, and we know you will leave with magical memories as you board your onward flight.
Extend Your Stay: Optional 2 Day Kangaroo Island Tour
The fun doesn’t have to end: our optional 2 Day Kangaroo Island package is the perfect add-on to your Australian Dream Holiday. With native wildlife roaming all over Kangaroo Island, you can practically rub shoulders with the cuddly koalas, furry wallabies, and sea lions who reside here. It's the perfect family getaway for nature lovers and explorers of all ages.
