From the Great Ocean Road to the Grampians Tour

From the Great Ocean Road to the Grampians

Exit Melbourne on the M1 motorway southbound.Then head to Geelong, then Torquay. Torquay is also the starting point for the Great Ocean Road - One of the world's most scenic coastal drives spanning 400 kilometres (249 miles) Wildlife Tours Australia (wildlifetours.com.au)

Wildlife Tours Australia

At the wheel of his racing car, with his hair in the wind, treading with passion this hot macadam, he will have the pleasant feeling of being like in a film, whose ensembles will come together in harmony and whose main actors will be none more. Wild koalas ...

— ... Welcome to the Great Ocean Road!

A journey from the Great Ocean Road to the Grampians is one that should be on every traveller’s bucket list. The vast expanse from Port Campbell’s limestone coasts to the rugged mountain ranges of the tail end of the Great Dividing Range provides an ultimate outback experience.

A two-day trip is good, but three days is better. The journey commences by traversing Melbourne’s 2.6-kilometre long Westgate Bridge toward the region’s most spectacular coastal drive, the Great Ocean Road.

From the Great Ocean Road to the Grampians

Wildlife Tours Australia

The Great Ocean Road The first stop is the Great Ocean Road. Well, we do not stop here. We rather explore the beautiful seaside towns, verdure rainforest teeming with wildlife, pristine beaches, and magnificent offshore limestone stacks.

Built between 1919 and 1932, the Great Ocean Road is a war memorial honouring the servicemen of the First World War. The 243-kilometre long coastal road not only provides access to Victoria’s countryside but also to the natural scenery of stunning shorelines and panoramic landscapes from Torquay to Warrnambool.

In this route, you can enjoy watching the surfers in Torquay, Australia’s surfing capital, and walk on the sandy beaches of small coastal towns including Anglesea, Lorne, Kennett River, and Apollo Bay.

From the Great Ocean Road to the Grampians

Wildlife Tours Australia

You also get to have your photos taken at the historic Memorial Arch that was first erected in 1939. Along the way, you can explore the ancient Otways rainforest for the endemic flora and fauna. The best places to spot the koalas in the wild are Cape Otway and Kennett River. You can get up close to other native wild animals and birds, too.

But the main highlight should be Port Campbell’s limestone coast where the iconic 12 Apostles stand. The 12 Apostles are a collection of rock formations formed in the last 6,000 years. You can stroll down the beach with towering stone pillars of up to 50 metres high and rugged surf pounding the base’s surface at the backdrop. A visit to the quaint Loch Ard Gorge would be a bonus.

From the Great Ocean Road to the Grampians

Wildlife Tours Australia

From Warrnambool to the Grampians After an overnight stay in the coastal town of Warrnambool on the western end of the Great Ocean Road, we explore the region further. We take a walk on Warrnambool’s rocky coastline to see some seals on the rocks, to spot the migrating whales, and to feel the cool breeze of the salty Southern Ocean.

We then visit the 30,000-year old extinct volcano, Tower Hill, which was Victoria’s first national park and a wildlife wonderland on the other end of the Great Ocean Road.

From the Great Ocean Road to the Grampians

Wildlife Tours Australia

From the Great Ocean Road to the Grampians

Wildlife Tours Australia From Tower Hill National Park, we proceed to Mount Rouse, another extinct volcano sitting on the western end of Victoria. Experience the breathtaking views of lava fields and volcanic plains and stunning landscapes stretching from the Grampians on the north to the ocean on the south.

Then we wind our way into the heart of the Grampians, to Halls Gap.

Exploring the Grampians National Park Halls Gap houses the Brambuk National Park and Cultural Centre where you can learn more about the Grampians’ flora and fauna and rich Aboriginal heritage.

Brambuk the National Park & Cultural Centre, where you will find the very best information and interpretation of the Grampians National Park (Gariwerd) only 3hrs west of Melbourne. Famous for its rugged mountains, spectacular waterfalls, wildflowers, wildlife and Aboriginal rock art sites - this Park is unique among Australia’s national parks. Start exploring by visiting Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre, where you will discover the Park's exceptional environment and Aboriginal culture.

Take a 2-hour hike on a bush walking trail to The Pinnacle and experience the stunning views of massive sandstone ridges of the Wonderland Range and the Wimmera Plains. The views are simply spectacular you can’t express in words.

From the Great Ocean Road to the Grampians

Wildlife Tours Australia

From the Great Ocean Road to the Grampians