Day 1
Welcome to Melbourne
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: Alto Hotel On Bourke - Melbourne - 1 Night
Located in Melbourne CBD, this award-winning, eco-friendly boutique hotel features free Wi-Fi and relaxing massage chairs in the cosy lounge. It offers air-conditioned accommodation with an LED flat-screen TV, over 100 cable channels, and an iPod dock. Guests enjoy free access to a fitness centre just 3 minutes' walk away.
Day 2
Melbourne to Apollo Bay: Discover the Great Ocean Road (Approximate Distance: 199 km | 124 miles | Total Driving Time: 2 hours 39 mins)
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.
Accommodation: Best Western Apollo Bay Motel & Apartments - 1 Night
Situated in the heart of Apollo Bay, Best Western Apollo Bay Motel & Apartments is a 20-minute drive from the Otway National Park, and a 4-minute walk from Apollo Bay Museum. It offers a seasonal outdoor pool and free onsite parking. All rooms feature a reverse-cycle split air conditioning/heating system. Each is equipped with tea/coffee making facilities, and a flat-screen TV.
Day 3
Apollo Bay to Port Fairy: Marvel at the 12 Apostles (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, 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.
Accommodation: Merrijig Inn Port Fairy - 2 Nights
Overlooking Port Fairy Wharf, Merrijig Inn offers antique-style accommodation with free breakfast and free Wi-Fi. Guests can relax in the garden, sit by the fireplace in the shared lounge, or read a book in the library. A fully-equipped shared kitchen is included. The inn's restaurant, The Merrijig Kitchen, serves dinner made with a range of locally sourced produce.
Day 4
Free Day in Port Fairy
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:
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Spend some time on the wharf and watch the fishermen unloading freshly-caught abalone and crayfish.
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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.
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Explore Port Fairy's wealth of boutiques, antique stores, and art shops dotted throughout the town.
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Learn about the local maritime history on the Port Fairy Maritime and Shipwreck Heritage Walk.
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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.
Day 5
Port Fairy to Mount Gambier: Beautiful South Australia (Approximate Distance: 154 km | 95 miles | Total Driving Time: 1 hour 44 mins)
Crossing the state border into South Australia, your journey continues to the volcanic landscapes of Mount Gambier.
Mount Gambier: Caves, Volcanoes, and Sinkholes
The geological wonders of Mount 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 Mount Gambier town. Created from a collapsed limestone cave, it must be seen to be believed.
Accommodation: The Barn - Mount Gambier - 1 Night
Set on 5 acres of manicured, English-style gardens, The Barn offers a tennis court, a 24-hour modern fitness centre, an award-winning steakhouse, and a piano bar. All accommodation offers satellite TV and a patio with garden views. The Barn Steakhouse serves local grass-fed beef, fresh seafood, and delicious desserts. Continental or cooked breakfast is served in-room or in the Oak Tree Room. There is a wine cellar offering Coonawarra region wines with over 750 to choose from.
Day 6
Mount Gambier to Robe via Coonawarra Wine Region (Approximate Distance: 125 km | 78 miles | Total Driving Time: 1 hour 20 mins)
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 tantalising 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.
Accommodation: Robe House & Victoria Cottage,Robe - 1 Night
Built in 1847, this charming sandstone building was the first in Robe. Originally home to the Government Resident, Robe House has been pivotal in the town's history. Featuring high vaulted ceilings and rustic floorboards, it now offers five fully self-contained bed and breakfast apartments.
Day 7
Robe to Adelaide: The Festival Capital (Approximate Distance: 336 km | 209 miles | Total Driving Time: 3 hours 49 mins)
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.
Accommodation: Majestic Roof Garden Hotel Adelaide - 1 Night
The award-winning 4.5-star Majestic Roof Garden Hotel is located only 50 m from the bars, restaurants, and shopping of Rundle Street. Guests have access to the rooftop garden with panoramic city views. All rooms at The Majestic Roof Garden Adelaide feature modern bathrooms, king-size beds, a full minibar, and free Wi-Fi access. 24-hour room service and a 24-hour reception are available.
Day 8
Depart Adelaide
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 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.
