3-Day Great Ocean Road and Grampians Trip from Adelaide to Melbourne

Adelaide, Australia

Make the most of the Grampians and the Great Ocean Road with this 3 days, 2 night all inclusive tour. Enjoy spending a night in the heart of the Grampians before hiking it in the morning. Stop to admire the extraordinary rock formation along the road before appreciating the sunset upon the 12 Apostles. With a max of 21 passengers enjoy a fun, interactive and informative tour with a professional tour guide.

Day 1
Escape the city and cruise through the scenic Adelaide Hills with a morning stop to grab a bite to eat and a tea or coffee. Stop for lunch before entering Halls Gap, gateway to the famed Grampians National Park. At around dusk, when wildlife, such as wallabies, kangaroos, cockatoos and kookaburras, come out to play, walk (an easy 1 hour) through rocky outcrops and forests to The Balconies, another stunning geological formation. Tonight sleep in dormitory style accommodation in the heart of the Grampians.

Day 2
Wake up and hike 2 hours to The Pinnacle, probably the finest viewpoint in the Grampians. Visit the Brambuk Cultural Centre to learn about the local Aboriginal history, before departing this wondrous place. Enjoy lunch somewhere truly spectacular: the Tower Hill Reserve, home to wetlands, a lake, abundant wildlife and a dormant volcano.
The magnificent Great Ocean Road beckons! Stop at several extraordinary rock formations along the Shipwreck Coast, such as the Bay of Martyrs, London Bridge and Loch Ard Gorge. For many, the most amazing sight is the famed Twelve Apostles. This spectacular collection of limestone stacks is best appreciated at sunset from the boardwalk. The next morning you also have the opportunity to view them aboard a helicopter (extra cost). Tonight stay in dormitory style accommodation on the Great Ocean Road.

Day 3
Start your final day with an easy walk (1 hour) through the Great Otway National Park, which boasts some of the world’s oldest temperate rainforest. Sections of the Great Ocean Road were carved through cliffs by servicemen returning after World War I, and offer some of the most impressive coastal roads you’ll ever see. You can take a quick dip in the ocean or explore the artistic beachside villages of Apollo Bay and Lorne. You can watch surfers in action at famed beaches such as Bells Beach and Torquay (home of the surf brand outlets Rip Curl and Quicksilver). Stop at Kennett River Koalas to watch the cuddly creatures in the wild, before heading through Geelong on the way to the big city, Melbourne.

Please Remember
Sometimes the itinerary must be flexible due to road and weather conditions. The hike to the Pinnacle is the most challenging walk on the tour through rough terrain, a reasonable level of fitness is required.

Traveler Reviews

Review by:   seidl,    October 2016
This was a fun trip with young backpackers from around the world. The hostel accommodations were very spartan and had no wifi, but the scenery and animals encountered were terrific. Highly recommend.

Review by:   SuZett E,    September 2016
This was a wonderful trip and our guide, Damien, had a sparkling intelligence and comprehensive knowledge of the area. I had a flight to catch on the last evening and he moved heaven and earth to get me to a shuttle bus for the airport in Melbourne. Thank you, Damien! I wouldn't recommend going in the winter, because it rained - all three days. My feet were cold and soggy the whole time. Yet, I wouldn't trade the experience. I think different guides provide different experiences. Damien was very energetic and worked very hard to get us to all the key sights, despite the unpredictable weather. I would say that a moderate level of fitness is the minimum. We did a lot of up and down hiking to get to waterfalls, beaches, etc. We even did an evening hike in the rain forest, in the rain! It was all beautiful. I would have liked a little more time at the 12 Apostles for photography, but Damien put us on a schedule to maximize the number of sites visited. The food....well, the night Damien cooked for us was great curry, but the rest of the time, it was sandwiches, except for pizza one night. Meh. But the food wasn't the point of the tour. It was an affordable tour, and both the food and lodgings were in line with the price. I recommend if you have to go in the Australian winter, as I did, to expect rain and bring not just a rain jacket but an umbrella and waterproofed hiking boots. Sneakers just don't cut it.

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