Victoria | Melbourne to Grampians National Park Road Trip Itinerary

Explore the best of the Great Ocean Road and Grampians National Park on this 5 day road trip itinerary.

Day 1: Melbourne Apollo Branch to Grampians National Park

Distance: 250km

Travel time: 3 hours

After a three-hour drive, campers will arrive in Halls Gap – the perfect base for exploring the Grampians. Here, will lie an information point, shops and importantly, a gas station.

Image: Visit Victoria

Day 2: Grampians National Park 

From Halls Gap, campers can easily take the fun and adventurous route to Mackenzie Falls – by campervan! Located just 15 km from Halls Gap, campers will first reach the Boroka Lookout, where they will be greeted with two viewing platforms and panoramic views over the east of the Grampians. From here, an easy 8 km walk with take travellers to the Reed Lookout, where they will once again witness magnificent views over Victoria Valley, Victoria Range, Serra Range, Lake Wartook and the Mt Difficult Range.

14 km drive from the Boroka Lookout lies one of the largest waterfalls in Victoria, the MacKenzie Falls – a must-visit when exploring the Grampians. For those looking for more hard adventure, nearby Mount Abrupt and Mount Surgeon offers a 7 km hike which takes approximately three hours.

Image: Visit Victoria

Day 3: Grampians National Park to Warrnambool

Distance: 130 km

Travel time: 2 hours

Enjoy the comfort of having the road to yourself between Grampians and Warrnambool. The drive consists of one long straight road, allowing you to turn on cruise control, turn up the beats and enjoy the rural experience.

Image: Lachlan Gardiner

Day 4: Warrnambool to Torquay (Great Ocean Road)

Distance: 159 km

Travel time: 2 hours 30 minutes

See the towering 12 Apostles for yourself along the iconic Great Ocean Road. Also known as B100, the drive promises up close experiences with native wildlife, iconic surf breaks, pristine rainforests, misty waterfalls and more. Must-visits on Great Ocean Road include Apollo Bay; offering spectacular views of the water, Teddy’s Lookout in Lorne; with photo-perfect views and Rye River; where the rainforest meets the sea. Be sure to fill up when you can with Lorne, Anglesea, Apollo Bay and Torquay having refuel stations.

Image: Visit Victoria

Day 5:  Torquay to Melbourne

Distance: 100 km

Travel time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Once you have arrived in Torquay, it is time to cover the last 100 km back to Apollo's Melbourne branch, where you will be greeted by Apollo’s friendly team for a breezy drop off.

Image: Visit Victoria

Highlights

Grampians National Park

From world-famous hiking trails, majestic waterfalls, dazzling spring wildflowers and awe-inspiring mountain panoramas, Grampians National Park is one of Mother Nature’s wonders. The Hike and Seek Grampians Day Tour is ideal for those wanting to discover the region, with highlights including two hikes, the breathtaking MacKenzie Falls and plentiful photo opportunities. During the tour, campers will also discover rich Aboriginal heritage, with the region having the largest number of ancient Aboriginal rock art paintings and shelters in southern Australia.

Great Ocean Road

Experience one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives, winding alongside the wild and windswept Southern Ocean. Home to the must-see 12 Apostles, jaw-dropping cliffs, empty beaches and bountiful wildlife, the drive is one of Australia’s most iconic.

Active adventure

The itinerary is full of adventure, with the Grampians and Great Ocean Road drawing walkers from around the world. Campers can also relax and enjoy the Grampians with fishing, canoeing and kayaking experiences on offer at Lake Wartook, Lake Bellfield and Moora Moora Reservoir. For those looking for more active adventure, climb to the highest peak within the Grampians – Mount William, or explore the plethora of overnight hikes in the region. The Great Ocean Road offers epic surf, paddle boarding, canoeing and hiking experiences, as well as skydiving for the daredevils in the group.

Wildlife encounters

Native birdlife, kangaroos and emus can be seen in abundance around the Grampians National Park however, a popular location for a photo opportunity is the Halls Gap Recreation Reserve. It is also not unusual for travellers to encounter swamp wallabies, echidnas and the occasional shingleback lizard.

A must-experience for any animal lover is the whale migration along the Great Ocean Road in the cooler months, with Portland, Port Fairy and Warrnambool being likely places to see them. Koalas and kangaroos can also be seen all around the region, with guaranteed kangaroo sightings at Anglesea Golf Course. For a remarkable and exclusive experience, visit Lake Elizabeth and Mount Emu Creek in Skipton, where you may be lucky enough to spot the iconic Australian platypus.