Our three day adventure will take you on a journey of discovery along the Great Ocean Road and the Grampians National Park, with plenty of time to soak up the scenery and attractions.
We travel to the Port Campbell, 12 Apostles, Cape Otway, historic Shipwreck Coast and the Grampians see dramatic mountains, stunning waterfalls, as well as the rugged Australian landscape! New friends, great food and adventure!
Days
- 3 days, 2 nights
Group size
- Max 20
Start / finish
- Adelaide / Melbourne
Return
- See itinerary for details
Accommodation
- 2 nights in hostel and cabin accommodation — one at Halls Gap in the Grampians and one at Warrnambool on the coast.
Transport
- An air-conditioned 4WD mini bus with a guide. Around 510km on day 1, 190km on day 2 and 360km on day 3, with national park fees included.
Meals
- Two breakfasts and one dinner. The dinner is on the first night in the Grampians.
Route
Included experiences
- Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge, with time at each
- Grampians National Park — National Heritage listed, rugged and mountainous
- The Pinnacle Lookout — an early hike for the view over the Grampians
- Tower Hill Conservation Reserve — an extinct volcano rich in Indigenous history and wildlife
- Great Otway National Park — a guided walk through the rainforest
- Apollo Bay — lunch and a stretch of the legs in the seaside town
- Warrnambool — sandy beaches and time to relax at the end of day 2
- The Adelaide Hills on the drive out of the city
Pictures / Videos
Itinerary
Enjoy the best natural wonders Victoria has to offer on this 3 Day Adelaide to Melbourne Tour, visiting the Great Ocean Road and Grampians National Park overland.
Day 1: Adelaide to Halls Gap
Depart the city through the Adelaide Hills, en route to the National Heritage-listed Grampians National Park to explore its rugged, majestic mountain ranges and iconic views. Travelling through the western plains of Victoria, watch the mountain range slowly grow on approach. Spend the afternoon exploring this enchanting landscape — hike to the base of Mackenzie Falls and take in famed lookouts The Balconies and Boroka Lookout — before checking in for the night in the heart of the Grampians, Halls Gap.
- Meals: Dinner
- Driving Distance: 510 km
- Hike Distance: 2 km
Day 2: Halls Gap to Warrnambool
Up early to start the day with a hike to the iconic Pinnacle Lookout for an amazing view over the Grampians. Later, visit the Tower Hill Conservation Reserve, an extinct volcano bursting with Australian wildlife and rich in Indigenous history. Finish the day with time to relax in the seaside town of Warrnambool, with its sandy beaches and panoramic ocean views.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Driving Distance: 190 km
- Hike Distance: 4.5 km
Day 3: Warrnambool to Melbourne
The last day is a journey along the historic Great Ocean Road, beginning with the highlights of the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge, with ample time to capture every angle. Embark on a guided rainforest walk in the Great Otway National Park, then lunch in the popular seaside town of Apollo Bay — stretch your legs window shopping or dip your toes in the ocean. We stop for some koala spotting before taking on the last stretch of the Great Ocean Road, following it as it twists and turns with stops at the Memorial Arch and a famous surf beach or two. Arrive in cosmopolitan Melbourne in the early evening.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Driving Distance: 360 km
Reviews
5.0
Based on 39 reviews
Verified from
Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.
AI summary of 39 reviews
Travellers consistently praise this tour as well organised and good value for money, with several noting that included meals, well-planned stops and regular breaks added to the experience. The scenery is a frequent highlight, particularly the Great Ocean Road, the Twelve Apostles at Port Campbell and the Grampians, along with wildlife sightings such as kangaroos, koalas and emus. Reviewers repeatedly credit the guides for their enthusiasm, local knowledge and efforts to help the group bond, with many mentioning enjoyable BBQ meals and a good balance of touring, socialising and relaxing. Some reviews describe optional extras such as a helicopter ride over the Twelve Apostles, and several highlight visits to places they would not have found on their own. The most common suggestion for improvement was to add an activity in the evenings.
How we collect and publish reviews
Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour.
Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.
Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.
Our group of 12 had a fabulous trip from Adelaide to Melbourne led by JDog (Janet). The scenery, activities, food and accommodation were all great, with a few nice surprises along the way, and easier options available if a hike felt too tough. I'd happily recommend this trip.
We did the three-day tour from Adelaide to Melbourne and it was amazing. Accommodation was really nice, we had a barbecue at Halls Gap and ate at a great pub in Warrnambool. Ben, our guide, was fantastic — always sharing knowledge and keeping the group together. Travelling in a small group made it easy to connect with others, the hikes were a great way to bond, and the views from the top were beautiful. Highly recommend.
Very well run, with so much to see. Starting from Adelaide is well worth it, watching the scenery change and even spotting white kangaroos. Would 100% recommend Autopia Tours.
Great tour seeing a lot of varied landscapes over 3 days travelling from Adelaide to Melbourne. Our driver and guide Benny was knowledgeable, funny and excellent, the group was lovely, and the accommodation was comfortable.
“Adelaide to Melbourne 3 day tour”
An excellent tour from Adelaide to Melbourne, made even more enjoyable by our wonderful guide Ben. We stopped at all the major points worth seeing in the Grampians and along the Great Ocean Road, including places you'd never know to visit on your own - seeing koalas and emus at Tower Hill was one of my favourites. There was a nice mix of touring, socialising and relaxing, and with breakfasts and dinners included it was incredibly good value. Ben's BBQ in Halls Gap was delicious. Would 100% recommend.
I did the Great Ocean Road reverse tour with Autopia, and our guide Graham was outstanding - patient and friendly, making sure everyone was comfortable. I usually get motion sick, but his smooth driving let me relax enough to nap. Even with 22 of us on board we still saw koalas and kangaroos, and Graham shared great local knowledge plus some genuinely thoughtful life advice. I'd love to have him as our guide again.
We had a fantastic tour with Craig, Barry and Lauren. The reverse-direction Great Ocean Road route is absolutely beautiful and we'd highly recommend it. Thanks, Autopia Tours.
Craig and Barry did a fantastic job. I'd heard great things about the Great Ocean Road trip and it lived up to them - glad we took the reverse route. Thanks to Craig for the insight into everywhere we visited, and to Barry the platypus too, for making it a trip to remember.
Did the Great Ocean Road reverse tour with Joel, who was a great guy - full of interesting facts and personal stories along the way. He even took us to see wild koalas, which was a brilliant addition to the usual Great Ocean Road highlights. Would definitely recommend.
Professional, accommodating service - Kiwi is a fantastic guide with deep knowledge. Really enjoyed doing the Great Ocean Road tour in reverse today. Thanks Kiwi and Autopia!
The reverse Great Ocean Road tour was great fun, made even better by our guide Steve, aka Steve-o, who kept the whole journey full of information, energy and laughs. Definitely recommend.
A fantastic day on the Great Ocean Road reverse tour. Our driver and guide Steve was great fun and made the day even better, with morning tea and a lunch of sandwiches and fruit provided. The scallop pies and Dooley's ice cream in Apollo Bay, both recommended by Steve, were amazing. Would definitely recommend this tour!
Spent an amazing three days with Jordan seeing South Australia - such a fantastic trip full of highlights. We hiked to waterfalls, took in seaside views, and climbed up to a lookout called the Pinnacle for stunning views. We saw so many kangaroos, wallabies, emus and koalas in the wild. Everything was well organised with a lovely group. Would 100% recommend.
The 3-day tour from Adelaide to Melbourne with Jordan was fantastic. We stopped at gems like Halls Gap and Apollo Bay, with highlights including kangaroos at Halls Gap, koalas in the old volcano, and the hike up the Pinnacle. Just driving the Great Ocean Road would already be worthwhile, but this tour covered so much more. Recommend it to anyone travelling between Adelaide and Melbourne - thanks Jordan.
Travelling Adelaide to Melbourne with guide J-Dog was excellent - she kept spirits up with plenty of stories about the places we passed, and her rendition of Home of the Gumtrees is still stuck in my head.
What a fantastic 3-day trip from Adelaide to Melbourne with our friendly guide J-Dog, who drove us over 1000km sharing her knowledge along the way. Great accommodation and food, and we spotted koalas, kangaroos, possums, wallabies, emus, birds and even a camel. The Pinnacle Lookout, Loch Ard Gorge and Twelve Apostles were fantastic, and I loved our small group of eight. Thanks for everything!
Great tour - I'd definitely recommend starting in Adelaide and finishing in Melbourne. Jordan was informative and good fun, with entertaining and enjoyable commentary throughout.
This 3-day, 2-night tour from Adelaide to Melbourne is a fantastic itinerary, taking in the Great Ocean Road and Grampians National Park plus small towns along the way. Guide James made the trip - full of trivia, conversation, BBQ skills and music, and endlessly attentive to our group of fourteen. Hotels were clean and the food (two dinners, two breakfasts, one lunch) was good, with safe driving throughout. Highly recommend it as a way to get between the two cities.
A 3-day tour from Adelaide to Melbourne taking in the Grampians and Great Ocean Road - every day had a highlight, from an overnight stay and hike in the Grampians to visiting Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve and Melba Gully, then driving the Great Ocean Road itself. Guide Jordan was a superstar, sharing plenty of information and driving excellently. Book it - you won't regret it, and you'll come away with unforgettable memories and photos.
Did the 3-day tour from Adelaide to Melbourne with Autopia and it was amazing. Our guide Janet was fantastic - caring, and always had a story to tell. Accommodation and meals were good too - the best trip of my seven weeks travelling Australia.
The Adelaide to Melbourne tour is a fully packed three-day trip covering the highlights of the Grampians and Great Ocean Road without feeling rushed. Guide Janet was absolutely amazing, clearly passionate about her work, the wildlife and the group, answering every question with interesting facts and stories about Australian history. Would book this again and again.
“Tour Review”
We did the Adelaide to Melbourne tour led by Janet (also known as Jdawg), and it exceeded our expectations. Although she'd done the route many times, she was so keen and enthusiastic to pass on her knowledge of the areas she loves, and nothing was too much trouble. She made the most of every moment, including a fabulous helicopter ride over the Twelve Apostles, which was magical, and taught us many Aussie songs - she's also the queen of the BBQ. An absolutely fabulous trip; a big thank-you to Janet and Autopia.
Great 3-day tour from Adelaide to Melbourne, taking in the Grampians and Great Ocean Road. Lots of great views and animal sightings — guide Janet was lovely and very knowledgeable, thank you.
“A three-day trip from Adelaide to Melbourne with James is…”
I highly recommend this Adelaide to Melbourne tour to anyone seeking a delightful road trip. Our guide, James, was fantastic and did a wonderful job; his passion was evident, and he ensured everyone's enjoyment. The tour was exceptionally well organised. Thank you again, James, for making it so worthwhile.
Our Adelaide to Melbourne tour with guide Jordan, taking in the Grampians and the Great Ocean Road, was a real highlight of our Australia trip. The bush walks were well chosen and we spotted koalas, emus, kangaroos, wallabies and kookaburras (who tried to steal our barbecue sausages). Weather can change quickly and it gets hot, but Jordan explained everything well and took us to some great spots.
I had the best time on the tour from Adelaide to Melbourne - it showed me things I'd never have found on my own. Our guide J Dawg really made the trip, putting in huge effort to make sure everyone enjoyed themselves, with brilliant knowledge of every stop and the wildlife we saw along the way. Three fantastic days I'd recommend to anyone wanting to explore more of Australia.
We did the 3 day Adelaide to Melbourne tour with our wonderful guide J-Dog and had a lovely time. Our bus broke down early on, but we were quickly swapped to another one with a couple of free meals by way of apology. J-Dog stayed upbeat even through the rain and kept us entertained with great stories - Autopia clearly cares about its travellers. Would definitely recommend.
“The best!! ”
My trip was amazing I had no complaints it was a great way to see inner Australia.
“I had a great trip ”
I had a great trip the only thing that could have improved it was to maybe do something in the evening.
“OUTSTANDING TRIP TO KANGAROO ISLAND”
I cannot recommend this company highly enough. Our overnight trip to Kangaroo Island was exceptional value for money (even for a solo traveller on a budget). The wildlife you see and the surrounding landscape of Kangaroo Island really is outstanding! (see photos attached). Our guide Jerry was fantastic and really made the trip all the more worthwhile with her enthusiasm and knowledge of the area and it’s wildlife!!
The food is great quality and everyone helps with the preparation and cleaning up which not only helps out but also allows for group bonding. We had a BBQ in the evening and it was delicious!!
The accommodation is on a local farm and is pristine and high quality. There is even a Koala residing there! At the night time there is no light pollution so the view of the night sky is fabulous!!
Thank you to Groovy Grape, and a MASSIVE thank you to Jerry for such a wonderful time!
“Best money I've ever spent.”
It was simply the best experience of my life, I've never before seen anything as beautiful as Admiral's Arch or Hanson Bay (which was off the itinerary, thanks Shane!).
We had a really good group as well, and Shane really made it easy for everyone to get excited and ready for whatever we were doing.
10/10 would do it again
“Busy action packed 2 days”
From start to finish this small group trip was just great. Jerry, our tour guide worked so hard and made this trip a really memorable experience. She obviously had a tight schedule to fit so many activities in but we never felt rushed and she was such a friendly cheerful person that the group just gelled instantly and everyone had a great time.
“Kangaroo Island 2 day tour”
Fantastic tour! Casey was the perfect hostess and went out of her way to ensure we had a memorable experience.
“Great tours and good value for money”
We did 3 tours with groovy grapes: Barossa valley wineries, kangaroo island, and the great ocean road. All were very good and worth every penny. Kangaroo Island was probably the most bang for your buck and time so if you can only fit in one I suggest that one. All of the tours were well organized and thought out even done to regular bathroom and coffee stops. You will see beautiful sights and wildlife on pretty much all of them. We even got to pet kangaroos on the wone tour. All the guides were friendly and nice but Altair was hands down the best. He is an amazing tour guide so try to get him if you do the great ocean road trip!
“Kangaroo island.”
Please do not go on one of those massive tour bus companies when going to kangaroo island. Instead book with groovy grapes. I had an awesome time on the tour. Dan and Alisa were entertaining tour guides. Both very knowledgeable and fun. Tour wise we saw a lot of kangaroo island. We got to go sand boarding and bales beach was breathtaking. Food was good. Dinner was my favorite as everyone helped make the food. If you want a groovy experience look no further than groovy grapes.
“It was good value for money.”
I had a great time in Australia thank you. I would rate the tour as a 5 I think, because it was pretty much how I expected and had a good tour guide and itinerary. I can't think of anything significant that I'd change. It was good value for money.
“Breathtaking”
The magnificent coastline which goes for miles. It really is a postcard view. We went onto Port Campbell to see the 12 apostles nature at its best.
“Amazing experience on great ocean road!!”
I just got back from the three day tour and I cannot praise it highly enough. It was incredibly well organised and as a result we saw loads of really interesting and amazing things. Matt, the tour guide, was fab. A really nice guy first and foremost but also everything ran like clockwork. He made a big effort to learn all of our names and put us all at ease. He also had a LOT of knowledge about the area, and all plants and animals of Australia more generally. My fave oz experience yet!
