8 Day Melbourne to Adelaide Itinerary

Crowned "The World's Most Liveable City" for seven years in a row, friendly Melbourne is the perfect place to begin your Australian family self-drive adventure.

This compact metropolis is begging to be explored after settling into your comfortable accommodation. There are hidden charms around every corner, beautiful Botanic Gardens, incredible street art and chic city squares where you can soak up the atmosphere to your heart's content.

Melbourne's Hidden Secrets: Guided Lanes & Arcades Tour

Melbourne’s arcades and laneways hide many treasures, and today's Hidden Secrets Lanes and Arcades walking tour will reveal the inner heart of Melbourne.

Wander Melbourne’s signature lanes and arcades with your guide, visiting the quirkiest cafes, colourful street art, and amazing architecture. Your guide will entertain you with historical tales of Melbourne along the way.
 This is a tour with a few added indulgences: a walk in the city is not complete without a wonderful drink stop, at a local chocolate salon.

Accommodation: Melbourne - 1 Night

Collect your rental car and get ready to embark on one of the world's greatest coastal drives: the Great Ocean Road.

Your Great Ocean Road Journey Begins

The Great Ocean Road Touring Route has a number of scenic lookouts all the way from Torquay to the border of Victoria and South Australia. Make your way along the coast to Bells Beach to check out the amazing surf and capture some spectacular views of the coastline and the Southern Ocean.

Be sure to stop at the town of Anglesea and visit the golf course: it's famous for the kangaroos lounging under trees and hopping across the greens!

Apollo Bay: Paradise By The Sea

Tonight you will stay in the beautiful village of Apollo Bay. The Bay is referred to as the “Paradise by the Sea” and is a great place for those who love the beaches and water sports.

Approximate Distance: 199 km | 124 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours 39 mins

Accommodation: Apollo Bay - 1 Night

Continue along the Great Ocean Road for a scenic 3 hour drive through the lush Otway National Park, pausing at Port Campbell to view the magnificent 12 Apostles.

The 12 Apostles: Giants of the Ocean

The 12 Apostles are giant limestone rock stacks that rise majestically from the Southern Ocean and are considered the most beautiful of all Australia's natural wonders.

See how many of them you can spot - if you can only see eight, you have actually found them all! Four of the Apostles have now crumbled into the sea after many years of being battered by the salty ocean. The remaining Apostles are no less beautiful when the sunlight paints them in a rainbow of colours throughout the day.

Head to the viewing platform and see if you can spot marine mammals out at sea or in the caves below. You can also enjoy the rugged splendour of these famous rock formations by helicopter to get up close and personal with Victoria's dramatic coastal beauty.

Onwards to Port Fairy

The coastline is dotted with many plaques and signs marking the places where more than 160 ships sank along the Shipwreck Coast. Wreck Beach, just beyond the Twelve Apostles, marks the start of a trail where the anchors of two ships, the Marie Gabrielle (1869) and Fiji (1891), are embedded in the beach.

Tonight you can discover more about the region's maritime history by staying at the busy fishing port of Port Fairy.

Approximate Distance: 187 km | 117 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours 42 mins

Accommodation: Port Fairy - 2 Nights

Relax and enjoy a leisurely day in Port Fairy, one of Victoria’s earliest settled coastal villages.

Explore Port Fairy

This charming fishing village boasts wide streets lined with nineteenth century cottages, stone churches and huge Norfolk pine trees.

Here are some great ways to enjoy your day in Port Fairy:

• Spend some time on the wharf and watch the fishermen unloading freshly-caught abalone and crayfish.
• Take to the water: try a surfing lesson, a guided fishing trip or take a cruise to the seal colony on Lady Julia Percy Island.
• Explore Port Fairy's wealth of boutiques, antique stores, and art shops dotted throughout the town.
• Learn about the local maritime history on the Port Fairy Maritime and Shipwreck Heritage Walk.
• Visit the replica village at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in nearby Warrnambool and see what life was like for the Shipwreck Coast’s first settlers.

Crossing the state border into South Australia, your journey continues to the volcanic landscapes of Mt Gambier.

Mt Gambier: Caves, Volcanoes, and Sinkholes    

The geological wonders of Mt Gambier are well worth exploring. This dormant volcano houses the mysterious 70-metre-deep Blue Lake: its waters appear steel grey during winter, turning a startling shade of cobalt blue in the summer months.

The Umpherston Sinkhole may not have the prettiest name, but don't be put off: it's a spectacular sunken garden filled with flowers and greenery, hidden in a giant crater in the centre of Mt Gambier town. Created from a collapsed limestone cave, it must be seen to be believed.

Approximate Distance: 154 km | 95 miles   Total Driving Time: 1 hour 44 mins

Accommodation: Mount Gambia - 1 Night

Meander through the picturesque vineyards of Coonawarra, then return to the coast and discover South Australia's favourite seaside town.

Coonawarra

South Australia is home to 18 wine regions, and Coonawarra is the country's top producer of premium red wines: it's affectionately known as "Australia's Other Red Centre". You'll find tantalizing local produce here too.

An optional stop at the World Heritage listed Naracoorte Caves is well worth the admission price. The 800,000-year-old caves feature spectacular stalactites and stalagmites and are a must see.

Robe and the Limestone Coast

The tiny town of Robe is known for its long white-sand beaches and delicious fresh crayfish. During Australia's Gold Rush era, some 16,500 Chinese fortune-seekers arrived here by boat and then trekked 400 kilometres overland to the Victorian Goldfields. The Chinese Monument on the foreshore marks the spot where they landed.

Enjoy a stroll along the jetty as the waves crash beneath your feet while you soak up the magnificent South Australian sunset.

Approximate Distance: 125 km | 78 miles   Total Driving Time: 1 hour 20 mins

Accommodation: Robe - 1 Night

Cruise along the coast road to South Australia's capital: Adelaide, the "City of Churches".

Adelaide Sightseeing

Cosmopolitan Adelaide is filled to the brim with culture, flavours, events, and entertainment. With spacious boulevards and vibrant inner-city districts, sophisticated architecture and lush gardens, South Australia's capital has it all.

History buffs will love the staggering variety of exquisite churches around every corner, many dating back to the 19th century. Grab a bite to eat at Adelaide Central Market: this bustling hub has over 80 stalls offering cheese, seafood, patisseries, and artisan produce. It's a fantastic place to indulge in a spot of people-watching.

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.

Approximate Distance: 336 km | 209 miles   Total Driving Time: 3 hours 49 mins

Accommodation: Adelaide - 1 Night

Your 8 Day Melbourne to Adelaide family adventure ends here in Adelaide today, and we know you will leave with magical memories of a truly exceptional Australian experience as you board your onward flight.

Extend Your Stay: Optional 2 Day Kangaroo Island Tour

The family 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.