12 Day Perth to Melbourne Adventure Tour
$3,350.00
Come on a once in a lifetime journey across the spectacular Nullarbor with the 12 day Perth to Melbourne adventure tour and experience some of the best and most beautiful spots in Australia.
You’ll see so much that you wouldn’t expect on this once in a lifetime trip including Wave Rock, The quaint little town of Esperance and some of the most beautiful beaches in Cape Le Grande National Park. Plus you will also experience once of Australia’s most famous tourist drives which is the Great Ocean Road via the magical Grampians National Park.
Cross the Nullarbor taking in the beautiful coastal views, rugged highway and abundance of wildlife before arriving at Coodlie Park for a true Aussie farm stay.
You’re now on the Eyre Peninsula where you have the chance to enjoy some of the top wildlife experiences in the world! Swim with sea lions and cage dive with great white sharks to cap off an amazing journey across this great country!
Includes
- 9 day Perth to Adelaide camping tour
- 2 nights dormitory accommodation at YHA Adelaide
- 2 day 1 night Great Ocean Road and Grampians Adelaide to Melbourne tour
- Private beaches just for the tour group
- Amazing sunsets and sunrises
- Surfing, hiking and lots of beach time!
- Friendly, informative tour guide
- Meals as indicated in itinerary
- All entry fees and touring
*This tour operates in the reverse direction, click here to check it out!*
“This trip allows you to cross the second largest desert area in the world and check out some amazing spots along the way! From awesome national parks and beaches to stunning treetop walks and wildlife including the chance to cage dive with Great White Sharks, this is a great experience.” – Liz – One Stop Adventures Travel Expert
Description
- Wave Rock
- Visit Esperance
- Cape Le Grande National Park
- Koonalda Homestead & Nullarbor National Park
- Learn to surf & sandboarding adventure
- Stunning beaches and coast
- Cross the Nullarbor
- Visit Coodlie Park
- Swim with sea lions and cage dive with great white sharks (own expense)
- Visit a historic lighthouse and enjoy the breathtaking coastal views
- Get up close and personal to koalas and some amazing birdlife in the wild
- Marvel at the 12 Apostles
- Visit Loch Ard Gorge and learn the true story of the famous shipwreck
- Descend the Gibson Steps and view the Apostles from the beach
- Visit The Balconies/Jaws of Death
- Check out the views at Reed Lookout
- Visit the Aboriginal Cultural Centre
- Explore Halls Gap
- Mackenzie Falls
- Lots of Aussie wildlife
Day 1: Wave Rock & Fitzgerald River National Park
Day 2: Cape Le Grand National Park
Day 3: Cape Le Grand to The Nullarbor
Day 4: The Nullabor & Koonalda Homestead
Driving’s the name of the game today (we’ve got 500 kilometres of the world’s longest stretch of straight road to cover!). Today will certainly give you a sense of the sheer size of this vast and ancient land. Koonalda Homestead in the Nullarbor National Park. This unique campsite was originally a sheep shearing station and fuel and rest stop for people travelling along the Nullarbor in the 1950s. Abandoned in the 1970’s the site became somewhat of a car graveyard with old cars left behind, broken down on the Nullarbor Plain. A photographers dream! Travel time today is about 6 hours and once again be prepared to be bedazzled by the wonders of the southern skies. Koonalda Homestead provides toilets but no showers and all meals are cooked up for you again today.
Day 5: Great Australian Bight & Coodlie Park
Day 6: Coodlie Park & the Eyre Peninsula
Today is a day you’ll remember forever swimming with sea lions and dolphins in the clear waters off Baird Bay, on the Eyre Peninsula. (Please note: the Baird Bay Eco-tour is an optional outing you’ll need to book before your adventure begins. Cost is $170 per person; duration 3-4 hours). Those who choose to stay dry will have the morning at their leisure. Following a picnic lunch on the beach, we’ll hit the waters again doing a learn to surf lesson with Sceale Bay Surf School on a remote and pristine beach. Those not wanting to surf will be able to relax, swim or explore.
Tonight we’ll stay back at Coodlie Park in the swag huts, drive for about 3 hours today, walk about 1, with some swimming if you choose to as well.
Day 7: Mikkira Station & Port Lincoln
This morning test out your sand boarding skills in the Lake Newland Conservation Park sand dunes then explore the spectacular Eyre Peninsula coastline visiting Talia Caves before heading to Port Lincoln – the Seafood Capital of Australia.
Day 8: Port Lincoln to Mt Remarkable (Shark Cage Diving)
We visit Wadlata Cultural Centre and have an interpretive walk through the life of the new frontier pioneers of South Australia. We’ll pick up any people returning from the Shark Cage Dive and then head to Mt. Remarkable National Park to set up camp for the night.
Depending on which itinerary you chose we’ll drive for about four hours, and walk for two, if not doing the cage dive. We bush camp In Mt. Remarkable National Park which has showers and toilets.
Day 9: Mt Remarkable to Adelaide
This morning we’ll embark on our last hike of the tour – Davey’s Gully Walk in Mt Remarkable National Park, before hitting the road back to Adelaide and travelling through some of South Australia quant country towns.
Drive time today is about 5 hours and this overland adventure ends upon arrival in Adelaide.
Day 10: Free day to explore Adelaide
Day 11: Adelaide to The Grampians National Park
We’ll begin the day picking up from central Adelaide before heading East. We’ll take a break from our drive and stop to have morning tea along the mighty Murray river before continuing onto the township of Horsham for a look around.
Upon arrival into Halls Gap we’ll head to the Brambuk Aboriginal cultural centre, the Grampians is one of the best places in Victoria to learn about Aboriginal heritage and culture and also to spot wildlife so keep an eye out for Kangaroos and hopefully Emus too!
After the cultural centre we’ll head to the stunning views of Reeds lookout and The Balconies(Jaws of Death). The Jutting out rock formations of the Balconies over the spectacular valley really makes for one of the iconic photos of the day.
Mackenzie Falls is up next with an easy hike down to the Falls for beautiful views and a moment to look and reflect. Last up for the day we’ll head to Boroka lookout for views of the heart of the Grampians Ranges before retiring to our accommodation for the night to enjoy a nice Dinner amongst new friends.
Meal(s) included: Dinner
Day 12: The Great Ocean Road to Melbourne
Wake up to your awesome guide who’s prepared breakfast and get your fill before heading south towards one of the top ten drives in the world – The Great Ocean Road. We’ll stop off at Tower Hill on the way to get a look at the Volcanic Crater before starting the drive along this spectacular coastal drive with a visit to the Bay of Martyrs.
London Bridge is up next for some cool photos and selfies before heading to Loch Ard Gorge. This area is spectacular to behold and a favourite of many so make sure you explore it and get down to the lovely hidden beach, you’ll learn the story of the survivors of the famous shipwreck the Loch Ard by which the area is named as well.
A visit to the 12 Apostles is next, formerly known as the Sow and Piglets the Apostles are arguably one of the most iconic photos of our trip. We’ll have plenty of time to get some great photos before heading further east along the road to the Otway Rainforest.
Enjoying a walk through the cool temperate rainforest, you’ll feel dwarfed walking among the massive mountain ash trees. Breath in some of the freshest air you’ll ever come across as you check out the local flora and fauna.
We continue our drive and arrive at the surf coast where we checkout the seaside town of Apollo Bay. We stop off in Kennett River and spot birds and koalas in the wild before continuing onto Memorial Arch. The Arch is the former toll point for the great ocean road and is where you can get the iconic photo with the great ocean road sign over the road.
We continue through seaside towns Anglesea and Lorne before making the final stretch of road back to Melbourne over the West Gate Bridge arriving between 7 and 8:00pm.
Meal(s) included: Breakfast
Optional Activities: Helicopter Ride over the 12 Apostles ($145 – 10 to 15 minutes)
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES
While everything on our tours is included in the price such as transport, accommodation, food and entry and national park fees, there are two optional extra activities that we leave up to the passenger to decide if they want to do.
Swim with sea lions and dolphins ($170pp)
This is an amazing experience - you may have swum with dolphins at other places around the world but the interaction that you will have with the sea lions and dolphins at Baird Bay will leave you breathless. Baird Bay is a sheltered bay on the Eyre Peninsula and passengers aboard the boat for a short ride to our first stop, which is to swim with sea lions. This takes place in approximately 2 metres of water. It is a natural experience and the sea lions come into the sheltered lagoon to interact with us.
After this, we head further out into the bay to swim with the dolphins. This happens in four metres of water but is still within the sheltered bay. The tour is 3-4 hours, wetsuit and snorkel equipment is provided at no additional cost.
As this activity is outsourced, only limited spaces are available so you must book this optional experience at the time of booking so you don’t miss out. You will pay the operator direct $170 on the day of activity.
Shark Cage Diving with Calypso Star Charters ($495pp)
Calypso Star Charters was established in 1990 and have a proud history of providing safe and exciting Advanced Eco Certified Shark Cage Diving. They are also the only one-day Shark Cage Diving South Australian tour operator who is permitted to use natural fish berley (chum) to attract the sharks. This sustainable practice provides passengers with the best possible chance of sighting and interaction close to the vessel and cage which will enhance your incredible experience! Book your cage dive now here!
What to bring:
- Water
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Sleeping bag (Hire not available)
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Warm and cool clothing
- Flashlight
- Camera
- Towel
- Insect repellent
- A sense of adventure!
Luggage restrictions: 20 kg max
*This tour operates September till May only