Melbourne to Alice Springs Road Trip

Victoria | Melbourne to Alice Springs Road Trip Itinerary

From the vibrant Melbourne city to the dramatic Great Ocean Road coastline, the rugged outback of South Australia and the spiritual heart of Australia - Uluru, you'll do it all on this 14 day Melbourne to Alice Springs road trip.

What an amazing view! The Eureka skydeck in Melbourne gives you 360° view and is a must see when you start your route. During this magnificent trip you’ll start driving along the Great Ocean Road, stopping to admire the astonishing landscapes. Visit the old fisher's town Port Fairy while in Adelaide travel through town and visit a museum or the zoo. Once you have reached Coober Pedy take a tour of the mines where temperatures can rise up to 50°C! You’ll visit the cities of Melbourne and Adelaide and get a real sense of the Australian Outback in Alice Springs. The Northern Territory is famous for Uluru located in the middle of Australia. You will see the magical and spiritual tourist attraction with a long history of great importance in the Aboriginal culture.

Day 1: Melbourne

Pick up your Apollo vehicle at our Melbourne Apollo Branch and start exploring. While in Melbourne we recommend visiting Brighton Bathing Boxes, the Eureka Skydeck and indulging in a big breakfast and one of Melbourne's renowned coffees in a cute laneway cafe.

Image: Visit Victoria

Day 2: Melbourne to Apollo Bay

Travel time: 2 hours 40 minutes

Distance: 196kms

It's time to wave goodbye to Melbourne and head to the Great Ocean Road. While you only have 2 hours and 40 minutes of driving time today, there is plenty to stop at along the way. We recommend stopping in at Bells Beach, one of the more famous surfing locations in Australia, and Point Addis along the way. Make sure you also pull over and grab a picture at the official Great Ocean Road sign just before Lorne!

Image: Visit Victoria

Day 3: Apollo Bay

Spend your day exploring Great Otway National Park around Apollo Bay. This is some of the most beautiful forest scenery you can experience in Australia and we highly recommend visiting the Californian Redwoods Forest and Hopetoun Falls while you're here.

Image: Visit Victoria

Day 4: Apollo Bay to Portland

Travel time: 3 hours 40 minutes

Distance: 261kms

Continuing along the Great Ocean Road, today is full of bucket list moments. The 12 Apostles are limestone stacks, a result of erosion from hundreds of thousands of years of being exposed to the extreme Southern Ocean. Each year they attract thousands of tourists and for good reason! While you're here be sure to visit Gibson Steps, just around the corner where you can walk down to the beach to take in the Apostles from below. After you've soaked in all the Apostle glory, continue on to Loch Ard Gorge, The Grotto, the London Bridge, the Bay of Islands and the Bay of Martyrs before arriving at Portland.

Image: Instagram - @_sarahlatham

Day 5: Portland to Salt Creek

Travel time: 3 hours 45 minutes

Distance: 346kms

Today you say goodbye to Victoria and cross the border into South Australia. Just under 4 hours driving today, once you've arrived at Salt Creek stretch your legs at the Ngugie Ngoppun Walk or Lakes Nature Trail.

Image: Instagram - @tomquan_photographer

Day 6: Salt Creek to Adelaide

Travel time: 2 hours 25 minutes

Distance: 210kms

On your way to Adelaide today we recommend detouring to Mount Barker and Sellicks Beach. On the Fleurieu Peninsula, Sellicks Beach is a well liked spot (and quickly growing in popularity on Instagram!). The vibrant orange hills plumment down to the calm blue ocean are not only visually appealing, but are also a great spot for a dip.

Image: SATC Media Gallery

Day 7: Adelaide

The day is yours to explore Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. Work your way through the range of delicious restaurants before finishing the day at one of Adelaide's quirky bars. We also recommend a visit to the Art Gallery of South Australia while you're here.

Image: SATC Media Gallery

Day 8: Adelaide to Port Augusta

Travel time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Distance: 309kms

It's time to head north. Say goodbye to Adelaide and hit the road, destination Port Augusta. We recommend spending the afternoon at the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens to gain a greater appreciation of Australia's arid plants.

Day 9: Port Augusta to Coober Pedy

Travel time: 5 hours 30 minutes

Distance: 540kms

Continue north and into Australia's outback. Today's destination is the unique Coober Pedy. This area is the opal capital of the world, and is a place like no other with most of its residents actually residing underground!

Image: SATC Media Gallery

Day 10: Coober Pedy

Spend the day exploring Coober Pedy. We recommend choosing from the Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park, the Unions Opal Mine and Museum, a round of golf at the Coober Pedy Opal Fields golf course or the Anna Creek Paintied Hills.

Image: Tourism Australia

Day 11: Coober Pedy to Marla

Travel time: 2 hours 25 minutes

Distance: 234kms

Only 2 and a half hours in your Apollo vehicle today as you head closer towards the Northern Territory and the centre of Australia. Marla is a great resting point between Coober Pedy and the world famous Uluru that awaits you tomorrow.

Day 12: Marla to Uluru

Travel time: 5 hours 20 minutes

Distance: 522kms

We recommend hitting the road early today as you cross from South Australia to the Northern Territory. With just under 5 and a half hours on the road, you'll enjoy sunset tonight overlooking the majestic Uluru.

Day 13: Uluru

Experience sunrise over Uluru before exploring the surrounding area. We recommend the Uluru base walk (a 10km walk taking you around the base of the rock) but be sure to start early and bring plenty of water and sun protection with you as well as visiting Kata Tjuta, a 20 minute drive away.

Image: Thomas Wielecki

Day 14: Uluru to Alice Springs Apollo Branch

Travel time: 4 hours 50 minutes

Distance: 468kms

Say goodbye to Uluru and head back to Alice Springs. If you want to extend your road trip by a day or so, we recommend taking the longer route and visiting Glen Helen Gorge, Ellery Creek Big Hole and Simpsons Gap. Otherwise spend your final afternoon exploring Alice Springs before dropping off your Apollo vehicle and heading home!