Experience one of the world's most scenic drives, the Great Ocean Road. This 8 day return journey starts in Melbourne, driving past iconic surf beaches, clifftops, and the towering 12 Apostles rock formation. A real highlight of this trip is seeing native wildlife in their natural habitats, with koalas resting in the trees, emus, kangaroos and wallabies in the bush, and seals relaxing in the sand.
Head inland to the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park to explore walking trails, waterfalls and ancient Aboriginal rock art. Explore the gold rush history of Ballarat and spoil yourself in the indulgent town of Daylesford on your journey back to Melbourne.
This Tour Also Features
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Included transfer(s)- Private transfer Melbourne Airport to your accommodation
On arrival, you will be met by a private driver and delivered to your Melbourne accommodation.
Melbourne is the coastal capital of the state of Victoria. At the city's centre is the modern Federation Square development, with shopping, bars, and restaurants by the Yarra River. In the Southbank area, the Melbourne Arts Precinct is the site of Arts Centre Melbourne and the National Gallery of Victoria, with Australian and indigenous art. As the cultural capital of Australia, Melbourne has a hidden gem around every corner - Rich history, bustling laneways, rooftop bars, and world-class restaurants are just the beginning!
An introduction to the marvellous Melbourne. Learn about the city’s fascinating history, explore its bustling art and cafe scene, as well as plenty of other cultural highlights with your local expert Oceania guide. In a small group, take a stroll through stunning gardens, and see some of the world famous attractions such as Albert Park Lake home to the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, and Federation Square.
The Melbourne hidden bar culture is a unique part of Australia’s cultural capital. The difficult thing is just that – they’re hidden! This city makes you work to find its best bits, which is why you’ll find some of the best bars behind other venues, underneath laneways, or tucked into repurposed spaces.
Join an experienced guide and uncover four of these fascinating venues in one afternoon, and learn what makes each one special over a drink, or four (at your own expense). Speak with talented bartenders during this small-group experience, making sure to chat with them about what kinds of drinks you like to personalise your Melbourne Hidden Bars Tour even more.
Our rental car range includes the latest vehicles from the top suppliers. We have a fantastic range, from economy hatchbacks to prestige sedans and SUVs. Insurance can often be included with a small excess or deductible.
Melbourne is the cool, artsy capital of the state of Victoria. Renowned for its laneway art, cafes, bars, restaurants and museums, there is no shortage of things to do, see, eat and drink. Grab a coffee in Degraves Street, see the murals on Hosier Lane or Blender Lane, pop over to St Kilda and stroll along the promenade or visit one of the many museums. For a spot of retail therapy, catch the 86 or 96 tram from the CBD to the bohemian Brunswick Street shopping district for an eclectic mix of second hand vintage and high-end boutique stores. On the opposite side of the city, the Docklands open-air entertainment precinct boasts a myriad of public artwork, family fun activities such as glow in the dark mini golf, and a variety of dining options lining the marina. Get there easily on the free City Circle tram, or wander over the Bourke Street footbridge. To make the most of your time in Melbourne, we recommend taking a city tour to get true local insight into this vibrant city.
Within moments of Melbourne’s cultural Arts precinct, you are cruising through Melbourne’s picturesque gardens, parkland’s and some of the city's famous sporting arenas.
Begin your journey by heading south to the picturesque town of Torquay, recognised as the surfing capital of Australia, thanks to the famous Bells Beach. Follow the coast from Anglesea to Lorne, here we recommended a short detour to Erskine Falls. You can park close to the 30 metre cascading waterfall, or take a walk through the lush rainforest to stretch your legs.
The final stretch of your journey from Lorne to Apollo Bay has been described as one of the most beautiful and breathtaking drives in the world.
Your destination, Apollo Bay is the starting point for some of Australia’s most famous short and multi-day walks and is the perfect base to explore the Great Ocean Walk and surrounding Otways rainforest. Take a swim in the waters of the southern ocean, wander along the coast and explore rainforests and waterfalls, ferns and crystal clear streams.
Immerse yourself in the wilds of the Otways at Wildlife Wonders, just 5km outside of Apollo Bay. Enjoy a 75-minute guided walk through the magical Otways bushland, where you'll discover lush tree-fern gullies, eucalypt woodlands and spectacular ocean vistas. Your conservationist guide will share with you the secrets of the bush and the plants and animals who call the Otways home.
All the profits from Wildlife Wonders go directly to the Conservation Ecology Centre, working to conserve the unique Australian plants and animals across the Otways.
The first part of your drive today will take you to the iconic 12 Apostles, perhaps the most famous landmark on the Great Ocean Road, and stopping here is a must. You can park at the carpark and follow the paved path to the lookout, or to take some time and stretch your legs take the path down Gibson's steps to the beach. Descending down these 86 stairs carved into the cliff face, reaching the beach you are treated to a closeup view of these incredible rock formations.
Continue along Shipwreck Coast, where some 700 ships have crashed against the rocks.
Explore the coastal city of Warrnambool where you might be lucky enough to spot southern right whales calve off Logan Beach if you are travelling between May and October. From here, it's a 30-minute drive to your destination of Port Fairy.
An energetic, 15 minute flight that packs in the must-see Great Ocean Road sights. Catch the highlights of the Shipwreck Coast from a luxury helicopter. See the 12 Apostles, London Bridge, and more from breathtaking heights. London Bridge is a thrilling addition to any Great Ocean Road tour.
From Port Fairy head north towards Penshurst and Dunkeld then onto Halls Gap in the heart of the Grampians. Famous for it's hiking trails, the Grampians is home to a plethora of native flora and fauna.
We recommend stopping in at Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre for the most up to date park and track information before venturing off on one of the iconic walks.
Head out of Grampians National Park and into gold rush country as you head east. Just 50km (31 miles) into the journey you can stop in Ararat, once a rich gold mining town, it still has some great architectural examples of days gone by, such as the Court House Hotel, built in 1958 and the Briggs Francis & Associates building from 1864.
Continue through Beaufort, where gold was also found, but their spoils had all but disappeared within 10 short years.
Sovereign Hill is an open-air museum in Golden Point, a suburb of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Sovereign Hill depicts Ballarat's first ten years after the discovery of gold there in 1851. It was officially opened on 29 November 1970 and has become a nationally acclaimed tourist attraction. It is one of Victoria's most popular attractions and Ballarat's most famous.
Set in the Australian 1850s, the complex is located on a 25-hectare site that is linked to the richest alluvial gold rush in the world. The site comprises over 60 historically recreated buildings, with costumed staff and volunteers, who are able to answer questions and will pose for photos. The recreation is completed with antiques, artwork, books and papers, machinery, livestock and animals, carriages, and devices all appropriate to the era.
This route to Melbourne is not the most direct, but adds less than an hour to your driving time to visit a true Victorian gem, Daylesford. This town is famous for its mineral waters and spas, art, culture and incredible food. Make sure you make time to indulge in the fresh, seasonal produce at one of the town's cafes or restaurants and to visit the Convent Gallery, housed in a historic 19th century mansion. Browse arty collectables, historic buildings and boutiques before continuing to Melbourne.
Explore more of Melbourne before dropping your rental car at the airport depot and continuing your onward journey.