3 Day Great Ocean Road & Grampians Melbourne Loop Tour (Accommodated)

The 3 Day Great Ocean Road & Grampians Melbourne Loop Tour is an immersive 3-day regional Victorian expedition designed for nature enthusiasts, bushwalkers, and wildlife lovers. Connecting the iconic surf beaches and limestone monoliths of Australia’s southern coastline with the rugged sandstone mountain ranges and deep waterfalls of Grampians National Park, this trip captures Victoria’s premier natural landscapes in a seamless round-trip loop starting and ending in Melbourne.

Traveling aboard comfortable air-conditioned minicoaches with expert driver-guides, guests witness native Australian wildlife—including wild koalas, kangaroos, emus, and echidnas—in their natural habitats while taking on scenic coastal walks, ancient volcanic reserve explorations, and rewarding mountain summit hikes.

Key Itinerary Highlights & Destinations Day 1: Melbourne to the Great Ocean Road & Shipwreck Coast

• Coastal Drive & Memorial Arch: Departing early from central Melbourne, the tour heads south toward Geelong before joining the world-famous Great Ocean Road. Stop at the historic Memorial Arch at Aireys Inlet to photograph the gateway marking the heritage route built by returning World War I soldiers.

• Apollo Bay & Wildlife Spotting: Journey through coastal resort towns, pausing at Apollo Bay for lunch. Keep an eye out along the eucalyptus groves of Kennett River for wild koalas and colorful native birdlife resting in the canopy.

• Great Otway National Park Rainforest Walk: Embark on a guided nature walk beneath towering mountain ash trees and ancient tree ferns in the cool-temperate rainforest of Otway National Park.

• Twelve Apostles & Loch Ard Gorge: Reach the dramatic Shipwreck Coast to marvel at the soaring limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles from clifftop boardwalks. Descend into Loch Ard Gorge to walk along the golden beach flanked by sheer cliffs, learning about the historic 1878 shipwreck.

• Overnight in Warrnambool: Travel further west to the seaside hub of Warrnambool for dinner and overnight accommodation.

Day 2: Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve to Grampians National Park

• Tower Hill Conservation Reserve: Begin the morning at Tower Hill, an extinct volcanic crater teeming with native fauna. Take a guided walk with strong cultural links to traditional custodians, searching for wild emus, kangaroos, koalas, and waterbirds roaming free within the crater.

• Grampians National Park (Gariwerd): Head north into the heart of Grampians National Park, a region renowned for its dramatic sandstone ridges, rich Aboriginal rock art heritage, and vibrant wildflower displays.

• The Pinnacle Lookout Hike: Take on the afternoon hike through the dramatic Silent Street and rock canyons up to the Pinnacle Lookout. Summiting this rock outcrop rewards hikers with breathtaking 360-degree views across the Fyans Valley and Lake Bellfield below.

• Traditional Aussie BBQ in Halls Gap: Arrive at the mountain town of Halls Gap. Unwind with a group Aussie barbecue dinner under the mountain sky, often surrounded by wild kangaroos grazing nearby.

Day 3: Grampians Waterfalls, Mountain Overlooks & Return to Melbourne

• MacKenzie Falls Walk: Set out after breakfast to explore MacKenzie Falls, one of Victoria’s largest and most impressive waterfalls. Walk down to the base of the canyon to view water cascading over sheer basalt cliffs into the deep pool below.

• Reeds Lookout & The Balconies: Visit Reeds Lookout for expansive views of the Victoria Valley. Take an easy bushwalk out to The Balconies (famously known as the 'Jaws of Death') for panoramic vistas of sandstone rock ledges hanging over the valley.

• Boroka Lookout: Stop at Boroka Lookout for a final breathtaking gaze over Halls Gap and the surrounding plains before beginning the return journey.

• Return Journey: Drive back through regional Victoria, passing historic goldfields towns like Ararat and Beaufort, arriving back in central Melbourne by early evening.