Day 1: Melbourne to Queenscliff
Head west from Melbourne via the West Gate and Princes Freeways, and then continue south along the bay to Queenscliff. Take a stop in Geelong, the ‘city by the bay’, if time allows. From Geelong it is only another 30-minute ride to Queenscliff, located on the very south-western point of Port Phillip.
Day 2: Queenscliff to Apollo Bay
From Queenscliff, head towards Point Lonsdale where you can overlook the treacherous entrance to Port Phillip Bay, aka “The Rip”. Cross the bridge and head across the Peninsula famous for its long, sandy surf beaches. Continue along the Surfcoast Highway to the village of Barwon Heads. Today’s trip includes spectacular scenic coast along the Great Ocean Road to Apollo Bay, passing through Torquay, Australia’s surfing capital, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet and Lorne.
Day 3: Apollo Bay to Port Fairy
From Apollo Bay, head towards the Otway National Park, amongst lush woodland, via Glenaire and Lavers Hill to the Great Ocean Road. Continue passing through lush farming countryside on to Princetown. From here, you will experience one of the best coastal sceneries in the world as you travel through Port Campbell and onto Peterborough. From the Bay of Islands continue along the Princes Highway to Allansford, and then the short, scenic ride from Warrnambool to Port Fairy. Day 4: Port Fairy to Mount Gambier
Follow the Princes Highway that sweeps around from Port Fairy until you reach Portland, the site of Victoria’s first permanent settlement. From Portland travel along the Portland-Nelson Road to Nelson, and then continue through Port MacDonnell before arriving at Mount Gambier – South Australia’s second-largest city.
Day 5: Mount Gambier to Victor Harbor
While this is one of the longer sectors of this journey, it rewards with marvelous coastal villages and stunning scenery. The route passes through Millicent, Kingston, then along the Princes Highway again to the beautiful Coorong National Park and Meningie on the shore of Lake Albert. Head to Wellington, where a free ferry will take you across the Murray River, and continue west through the wine region to Langhorne Creek and the historic village of Strathalbyn, then on to Goolwa, Australia’s only registered inland port, before arriving in Victor Harbor, a quaint little coastal village with heaps of character.
Day 6: Victor Harbor to Kangaroo Island
From Victor Harbor head across the stunning Fleurieu Peninsula region to Cape Jervis, and take the ferry (with your bike) across to Kangaroo Island – one of the highlights of a visit to South Australia. The ferry from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw will take about 45 minutes; check departure times in advance. Kangaroo Island is home to the world’s largest breeding colony of sea lions. The island has been carefully protected from mainland rabbits and foxes, so you’ll find heaps of native fauna including the echidna, koala, platypus, goanna, glossy black cockatoo, albatross and the island’s own species of kangaroo. Stay the night on Kangaroo Island.
Day 7: Kangaroo Island to Adelaide
Take the ferry back from Penneshaw to Cape Jervis after a leisurely morning on Kangaroo Island. On departing Cape Jervis, head north to Tanunda and the Barossa Valley, one of the world’s greatest wine producing areas. This beautiful valley of sloping green hills is home to more than 50 wineries, ranging from some of Australia’s largest wine companies to small independent winemakers, all offering wine tastings at their cellar doors. (Remember: Don’t drink and ride!). Another option is to head up into the scenic Adelaide Hills and detour though the historic town of Hahndorf, before arriving in Adelaide – the capital city of South Australia.
Day 8: Adelaide (full day in Adelaide)
Spend a full day enjoying the sights of Adelaide – take a walk along the Torrens River and North Terrace, through the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, South Australian Museum and the National Wine Centre. Do some shopping in Rundle Mall, have a beer in one of Adelaide’s many attractive pubs, or catch the historic Glenelg Tram from the city to the bayside village of Glenelg. Adelaide is known as the “City of Churches”, with graceful architecture, and renowned for fabulous food, great events – and of course, wonderful local wines from the nearby famous wine regions of the Clare and Barossa Valleys and McLaren Vale.
Day 9: Adelaide to The Grampians (Halls Gap)
Get an early start for the return journey to Melbourne – this time via the inland route and the Grampians. Head south-east from Adelaide along the South East Freeway and the Dukes Highway, passing through Mount Barker, Murray Bridge, Tailem Bend, Keith, Bordertown, across into Victoria, through Nhill, Dimboola, Horsham to Halls Gap – in the heart of the Grampians National Park. The Grampians is one of the largest parks in the State. The Grampians is a network of scenic roads, and a popular national park for bushwalking, camping, rock climbing and abseiling. The nearby lakes offer swimming, canoeing, fishing and picnic spots.
Day 10: The Grampians (Halls Gap) to Melbourne
After a quick stop at Great Western, a town renowned for its wineries, you will soon find yourself at Ballarat. In Ballarat, experience the re-creation of the goldrush days at Sovereign Hill. Visit the Gold Museum and the Eureka Centre to explore the story of the Eureka Rebellion, Australia’s only civil uprising, and the Ballarat Wildlife Park where you will see a range of native Australian animals including wombats, koalas and kangaroos. On the way back to Melbourne take a 40 minute detour to Hepburn Springs, a resort town located in the middle of the largest concentration of mineral springs in Australia. The springs are full of health-giving minerals that occur naturally in different formulations, giving every spring a distinctive taste. The town is increasingly known for its resident masseurs and holistic therapists.
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