Great Ocean Road and Beyond 4 Day 3 Night Melbourne to Adelaide

Day 1:
Melbourne – Port Campbell Itinerary
We depart from Southern Cross Coach Terminal on Spencer Street at 8:30am before we commence this amazing 4-day, 3-night guided Great Ocean Road and Beyond tour. Travel through the city of Melbourne and over the West Gate Bridge through the vast volcanic plains en-route to Geelong.

The Great Ocean Road is divided into three distinct sections, the Surf Coast, Otway Ranges, and the Shipwreck Coast.
We allow ample time to explore all three sections. We start the journey along the Great Ocean Road at Torquay (Surf Coast). This stretch of coast presents the first of countless photo opportunities, as we encounter stunning coastal views and lookouts and visit such places as the famous Bells Beach. Turn your gaze inland and see incredible native Australian wildlife including the Eastern Grey Kangaroos as they graze in the wild.

Our journey continues as we travel the impressive and scenic cliff-hugging section of the Great Ocean Road.
The itinerary includes visiting sites such as the ‘Memorial Arch’ and hear the intriguing story of this incredible road, before arriving in Lorne, the largest of the seaside townships with its abundance of cafes and shops, a perfect place for a stroll.
From Lorne, we continue along this spectacular road, visiting many scenic spots. Lunch is in the Wye River Café overlooking the ocean.

We continue towards the Kennett River where we may see koalas and many colourful native birds in the wild. Travel through Apollo Bay and into the Great Otway National Park (Otway Ranges). Here we offer a guided walk through a cool temperate rainforest gully to see the world’s tallest flowering plants, prehistoric trees and ferns and many other unique features.

Our next stop on the itinerary is undoubtedly one of the most iconic vistas within Australia and truly representative of Australia’s natural beauty, the 12 Apostles. We arrive as these iconic stack and cliff faces are bathed in the afternoon sun. Wander around the boardwalks
before we head off.

Accommodation for the first night is the small fishing village of Port Campbell, nestled in a beautiful natural port which has some wonderful cafés and restaurants for dinner (at own expense) and views.
Accommodation:
Parkview Port Campbell Motel (or similar)
Lunch: Wye River Café
Dinner is not included – passengers are spoilt for choice in the beautiful town of Port Campbell

Day 2: Port Campbell – Port Fairy Itinerary

The morning of day 2 is one of the highlights of the 4 days. Rarely do people get to enjoy this section of the Great Ocean Road without the day touring crowds from Melbourne. After breakfast at a local cafe,
we head back out to the 12 Apostles and take in the view during the morning sunlight.
We spend time visiting the unique formations of Loch Ard Gorge and immerse ourselves in the harrowing story of the wreck of the Lock Ard. It's onto London Bridge and then The Bay of Islands before saying goodbye to this amazing stretch of coastline.

We head inland through Australia’s premier dairy country before we arrive in one of Victoria’s largest regional towns of Warrnambool which is also our lunch stop today. We explore Tower Hill Wildlife Park
where our guide takes the group on an interactive tour learning about the local Aboriginal history, geology, flora, and fauna. This stop is one of the real highlights of the 4 days.

We arrive at the quaint fishing village of Port Fairy, our destination for the night. We arrive early enough to enjoy a stroll around this beautiful township before enjoying dinner (at your expense) at the many local restaurants, cafés or pubs.

Breakfast: Alcove Café
Lunch: Warrnambool RSL Accommodation: Ashmont Inn and Apartments (or similar)
Meals:
Breakfast and lunch
Dinner is not included – Port Fairy is spoilt for choice for wonderful dinner options

Day 3: Port Fairy – Naracoorte via Penola Itinerary

Today we’re bound for South Australia. After a relaxing breakfast in the café next to our accommodation we head towards Portland there’s time for panoramic coastal views from the Petrified Forest at Cape Bridgewater before a scenic drive through dense pine plantations and over the picturesque Glenelg River.
We continue onto Mount Gambier which is our lunch stop today. Mount Gambier is also home to the famous Blue Lake which occupies a crater of the ancient volcano which gives this city its name. Early each summer, in a remarkable quirk of nature, the colour of the water in the lake changes from its winter hues to an intense cobalt
blue.
A photo stop at the Blue Lake is a must and so is a visit to the Umpherston Sinkhole, a collapsed limestone cave that has been transformed into a magical sunken garden. We take a walk along its terraced flower beds and behind the hanging vines deep down to the floor of this extraordinary natural wonder.
Our next stop is Penola, arriving early enough to explore its abundant historical attractions. Penola played a central part in the life of Mother Mary MacKillop (St Mary of the Cross) Australia’s only saint. We pass the schoolhouse where she taught the poorest children of the district and take a walk along Petticoat Lane, a charmingly preserved group of mid eighteenth-century cottages and gardens. We then drive through the Coonawarra vineyards where Australia’s most illustrious Cabernet Sauvignon vines thrive on the famed rich red “terra rossa” soils. The highlight of this afternoon is our visit to one of the many
Coonawarra Wineries where we will be guided though a tasting of
some of Australia’s best wines.
Naracoorte is our final destination today famous for its World Heritage listed site, the Naracoorte Caves.
Our accommodation tonight is at the William Macintosh Motor Lodge set on the outskirts of Naracoorte. Those still feeling energised after our full day’s touring can take one of the easily accessible country walks, or simply relax in your apartment accommodation. Dinner tonight is in the William Macintosh Restaurant where you can choose off their extensive menu and enjoy their excellent hospitality (dinner at own cost).
Breakfast: Rebecca’s Café
Lunch: Limestone Coast Café
Winery visit with tasting
Accommodation:
William Macintosh Motor Lodge Naracoorte (or similar)
Dinner is not included

Day 4: Naracoorte – Adelaide Itinerary

Enjoy a hot or continental breakfast at the hotel before another exciting and diverse day of discovery on this Great Ocean Road & Beyond itinerary,
A guided visit to the world heritage listed Naracoorte Caves takes
us to one of the world’s most important fossil sites.
Our tour features a dazzling array of stalactites and stalagmites as well as the bones and skeletons of giant, long extinct animals.
We then begin a picturesque drive through some of South Australia’s
farming and grazing heartland. With a population of around one person to one square kilometre, this is the real Australian countryside and you can relax and enjoy all the colours and textures of these rural landscapes in the comfort of our comfortable reclining seat, air-conditioned bus.

In Coonalpyn the five towering grain silos that dominate the township have been transformed into a monumental work of public art that is a visual showstopper.
From here, Ki Ki, Yumali and Coomandook disappear almost as quickly as we encounter them and at Wellington, where road meets river, we take time out for a leisurely ferry crossing of the mighty River Murray, the largest inland waterway in Australia.
Our itinerary takes us to lunch at Bremerton Winery in the acclaimed Langhorne Creek wine region. You are welcome to sample their wines in the restored iron stone barn dating from 1866.
The southern Adelaide Hills leads us through Strathalbyn, on the banks of the Angas River. Originally a farming community of Scottish
immigrants, it’s now a classified heritage town and a thriving centre of all things antique and collectible. Enjoy the lovely scenery before we continue through the rolling hills and valleys to the historic German village of Hahndorf.
Founded by German settlers fleeing religious persecution in the late 1830s, Hahndorf is Australia’s oldest German settlement and one of South Australia’s most popular tourist destinations. You can enjoy a stroll along its bustling main street of historic buildings, gift shops, arts and crafts galleries.

Our final stop is both spectacular and surprising. From Mt Lofty Summit the whole of South Australia’s capital city of Adelaide is spread out on the plains below.
We will drop you at your accommodation in this wonderful city
around 6.00pm on Thursday afternoon fully energised
and refreshed after a wonderful 4 days of touring.
Meals:
Breakfast, Hotel
Morning tea -Warm Muffins from the William McIntosh accommodation
Lunch –Bremerton Winery Langhorne Creek

• When:

  Departs Melbourne Monday Morning on a weekly basis

• Duration:

  4 Days and 3 Nights

• Start Time:

  8:30am

• Meeting Place:

  Pick-up from Southern Cross Coach Terminal, Spencer Street, Melbourne

• Price:

  From $1995 pp

• Group Size:

  16 people maximum