One Week From Melbourne to Adelaide

The journey between Melbourne and Adelaide could be done in 8-10 hours if you intend to drive directly there, however we do not recommend it as you would be missing all of the epic sites that there is to see between the two cities; the gorgeous coastline, islands, national parks and most famous of all, the iconic Great Ocean Road. 

Below is a rough guide for a 7-day trip from Melbourne to Adelaide or vice versa. It takes in all of the best spots that you have to see, plus a few extra recommendations if you have a bit more time or flexibility. This trip can either be done by driving yourself, or by joining one of our awesome tours, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the view instead.

Day 1 - Mornington Peninsula & Phillip Island

Day 2 - Great Ocean Road 

Day 3 - Great Ocean Road to The Grampians

Day 4 - Grampians National Park - Barossa Valley

Day 5 - The Barossa Valley

Day 6 - Kangaroo Island

Day 7 - Kangaroo Island - Adelaide

Day 1 - Mornington Peninsula & Phillip Island

Leaving Melbourne nice and early is always a good idea to make the most of your day. You can visit the two places in either order. In most cases, visitors want to see the Penguin Parade on Phillip Island around sunset, so it's best to see the Mornington Peninsula first before heading to Philip Island. Additionally, Mornington Peninsula is only an hour away from Melbourne. Famous for its rugged coastline and fantastic views, Cape Shanck is the southernmost point of the Peninsula national park. You can also pick strawberries at a local farm and visit the Mornington Chocolaterie. 

In the afternoon, head around the bay to Phillip Island, connected to the mainland by a bridge so you do not need to worry about a ferry. There are a couple of nice beaches like Kitty Miller Bay or Summerlands Beach that you may want to take a pit-stop at. Or you can just head all the way to the west of the island to the Nobbies Centre, where you can follow the boardwalk and look out to seal rocks to observe Australia's largest colony of fur seals. At the Nobbies you can also see the famous blowhole. Make sure you get to the Penguin Parade an hour before sunset to get ready to welcome the cute little critters. There is a visitor centre and a cafe to keep you occupied while you wait. 

If you are on a guided tour you will return to Melbourne after a full day of activities. If not then where you stay the night is up to you, there is a YHA on the island, or you could get a head start and head back around the bay to the lovely town of Sorrento and get ready to catch the morning ferry over to Queenscliff.

Phillip Island & The Penguin Parade - Book Now!

Day 2 - Great Ocean Road

You can go all the way back through Melbourne or just catch the ferry, which departs every couple of hours. The ferry cost is $72 and it will save you a lot of time. Today you will discover the Great Ocean Road and you will find out for yourself why it's one of the best drives in the world. Start off by heading from Queenscliff to the surfer town of Torquay and onto Bells Beach, Australia's most famous surf beach. Peruse the surf shops or maybe even take on some of the big waves. Shortly after this you will come across the Memorial Arch, built in memory of the people who worked on the road when it was being built. The road itself was built as a memorial to the Australians who served in the first world war. 

You will then drive through the town of Lorne, and maybe stop off by the beach for lunch at Apollo Bay before heading to the Great Otway National Park. If you are not pushed for time then you should head down to the Cape Otway Lighthouse or take a hike through the luscious rainforest. On the way to the world famous 12 Apostles, you might want to stop at Wreck beach. 

There are not quite 12 of the limestone stacks that are still standing, as they are slowly eroded away by the sea. The 12 Apostles is the iconic image of the Great Ocean Road so it is not to be missed. A short drive further along the coast you can also find another famous Great Ocean Road landmarks like Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge.

If you have the extra time, I strongly recommend spreading out the Great Ocean Road over two days and taking your time at each stop. Try catching the sunset over the Bay of Islands for example, or simply enjoy more time on the beaches. Either way, you will need to stop for a night in one of the coastal towns like Port Campbell, Peterborough or Warrnambool.

Day 3 - Grampians National Park

Finish off the Great Ocean Road if you were taking it easy the day before, Bay of Islands and Bay of Martyrs would be good stop offs in the morning for fantastic views. Heading up to the Grampians National Park is one of the longer drives on the route. It takes around 5-7 hours, depending how often you want to stop, but nonetheless it is a great scenic drive. Halls Gap is a good base to explore the Grampians, and there are plenty of accomodation and restaurant options to choose from. 

If you have time on the day you arrive then you might want to take on the short and easy Venus Baths route starting from Halls Gap. An alternative route is to take a drive out to Mackenzie Falls. Get an early night sleep and charge your batteries for an early morning hike.

Day 4 - Grampians National Park

This morning’s hike will be a tough but rewarding one for those who are up for it. Starting from Halls Gap and following the well signposted loop that takes you up to the amazing Pinnacle lookout point. This hike takes around 5 hours and can be quite challenging, though highly worth it for those breathtaking sceneries you will come across. 

Make sure you wear proper hiking shoes, take some snacks and enough water with you to keep you fuelled. If you are looking for something less challenging you could drive to Sundial or Wonderland car parks and head to the Pinnacle Lookout on a shorter route from there. There is a visitor centre in Halls Gap that I would recommend checking out before departing on any walks, if you are unsure where to go.

After a spectacular day of hiking, you might want to see some of the local waterfalls before heading over the border into South Australia. It is around a 6 hour drive to the Barossa Valley, so I would try and get as far as you can before stopping for the night. The aptly named Bordertown is around halfway to Barossa Valley. Alternatively, you can take a 3 days tour if you do have the time before you head to your next destination to make the most of Grampians National Park. 

Great Ocean Road to Grampians 3 Day Tour (Basic Dorm Share ($495)

Day 5 - Barossa Valley

The world-famous Barossa Valley wine region is an awesome experience not to be missed out on if you are a wine-lover. Unless you have a designated driver who does not mind missing out on the wine, you should leave your car parked safely somewhere. This way you can join one of the amazing guided tours. They will take you to the best vineyards and you get to sample some of the best wines Australia has to offer. Bear in mind that if you have limited time and want to get closer to Kangaroo Island for the next day, then someone will have to avoid the wine tasting to keep the journey going. 

If wine isn't your thing, there is plenty of other things to do around Barossa or Adelaide; beer tasting, visiting a lavender farm, skydiving, swimming with dolphins, exploring the Murray River, or even hot air ballooning.

Day 6 & 7 - Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island, one of my favourite places in Australia, it has so much to offer and is bigger than you might think, so give yourself enough time to explore. To get to the island you will need to take the Sealink Ferry from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw. The ferry departs three times daily and it is always best to book it in advance. Once on the island, there are several activities to do and places to visit. From swimming in clear waters next to the idyllic beaches to seeing a plethora of wildlife where you can get up close such as seals, kangaroos and many more.

It is probably best to pick a direction and head around the perimeter of the island. In the south, you can take in the views of the Seal Bay conservation park, where you can actually walk on the beach right next to the seals. Heading west, you have Vivonne Bay and also the huge Flinders Chase national park. Here you can tackle the wilderness trail or just head all the way to West Bay Beach. A big tourist attraction here is the incredible Remarkable Rocks, a series of granite boulders moulded by the weather over millions of years. Explore more beaches in the north or see some of the farms and wildlife sanctuaries in the centre before taking the last ferry back to the mainland and heading to Adelaide to complete your journey.

So there you have it, Melbourne to Adelaide in a week. You could do it a bit quicker or take more time on the road. You could for example pay Wilsons Promontory National Park, which lies east of Melbourne, a visit, or explore the Yorke Peninsula, west of Adelaide. Most of all just enjoy it and you will have memories to last a lifetime.

If you have any questions or are interested in booking any of the above trips don't hesitate to Contact Us or fill out our Build your Own package form to see if you can save money on your Aussie adventure!