9 Day Alice Springs to Melbourne Cheap as Chips
$2,660.00
This package includes a 3 day 2 night Great Ocean Road and Grampians tour from Adelaide to Melbourne and a 6 day 5 night Alice Springs to Adelaide tour.
You’ll visit all the hot spots on the Great Ocean Road such as Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge and the 12 Apostles.
On the Adelaide to Alice Springs tour, you explore the Flinders Ranges and Coober Pedy before heading to Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon.
You’ll get to see the best spots at the best price and have an amazing time doing so. What are you waiting for?!
Includes:
- 6 days 5 nights tour from Alice Springs to Adelaide
- 1 night accommodation in Adelaide
- 3 days 2 nights tour of the Great Ocean Road and Grampians
- 1 night accommodation in Melbourne after tour
- 5 nights in dormitory accommodation, 4 nights swag camping
- Meals as indicated in itinerary (7 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 7 dinners)
This itinerary works best departing from Alice Springs on a Wednesday and Sunday. If you start on another day, extra nights in Adelaide will be needed at your own expense.
**This tour also operates in reverse, click here to check it out**
“Our cheap as chips and shoestring trips are a great option for the budget-conscious traveller. They’re a combination of tours with accommodation included in between at a price that won’t put a huge hole in your wallet.” – Cameron – One Stop Adventures Travel Expert
Description
- Visit Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon
- Explore the underground Opal mining town of Coober Pedy
- Visit the Clare Valley and Flinders Ranges National Park
- Go hiking in the Grampians National Park
- Explore the Great Ocean Road and view the 12 Apostles
- Accommodation between tours included (1 night in Adelaide, 1 night in Melbourne after the tour)
Below is a calendar and written itinerary example.
Day 1 - Alice Springs to Uluru (Lunch, Dinner
We depart Alice Springs and head towards Uluru. Nothing really prepares you for The Rock – it’s awesome! After lunch, we visit the Cultural Centre to learn about the Aboriginal people of the region and walk around the base of Uluru. We end our first day with a spectacular sunset over Uluru. Tonight we camp at the Ayers Rock Resort Campground in comfy swags under the desert stars, our home for the next two nights.
Day 2 – Kata Tjuta (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
A fantastic Uluru sunrise and breakfast before we head to sunrise and breakfast at The Rock, before we hike Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) and the majestic Valley of the Winds with its incredibly ancient rock formations before returning to the campsite for relaxing afternoon and another Uluru sunset.
Day 3 – Kings Canyon (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Today we visit Kings Creek Station, Australia’s largest exporter of wild camels and our campsite for tonight. We hike Watarrka (Kings Canyon) to experience the fantastic views of the gorge, huge sandstone walls and an immense canyon floor. Here we trek through the Garden of Eden and take a dip in the waterhole to cool down. There is time for you to swim in the pool or take upon any of the optional extra activities they have on offer.
Day 4 - Coober Pedy (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Today we cruise to Coober Pedy, the opal capital of the world. Incredible changing landscape, kangaroos, emus, eagles and road trains all unfold before us and a view of the striking sandstone colours of the Breakaways on the way. On arrival, we visit the local kangaroo orphanage and later enjoy dinner, lots of stories and an overnight stay in an underground bunkhouse.
Day 5 - Flinders Ranges (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
We spend the morning in Coober Pedy and take a tour of the town and an opal mine. We also have the opportunity to “noodle” for opals, visit an opal shop or any of the other underground attractions. We continue our journey south in the afternoon as we travel on down to the foothills of the Flinders Ranges where we sleep among the red gum trees of Stony Creek Bushcamp.
Day 6 - Flinders Ranges to Adelaide (Lunch, Dinner)
This morning we hike Dutchman’s Stern for stunning views of the Spencer Gulf and surrounding ranges and plains. We stop at a winery in the Clare Valley before cruising to Adelaide arriving at around 6:00pm.
Day 7 - Adelaide to the Grampians National Park (Lunch, Dinner) Departing Adelaide we cruise through the Adelaide Hills with a mid-morning stop at a country bakery to grab a bite to eat. We eat lunch before we marvel at Mt. Arapiles then onto the Grampians National Park. Here we hike to the bottom of Mc Kenzie Falls and see breathtaking views from The Balconies. In the late afternoon, see the kangaroos and other wildlife come out to play. We stay overnight in the heart of the Grampians National Park in hostel accommodation.
Day 8 - Grampians National park to the Great Ocean Road (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Visit the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre and spend a great morning hiking the beautiful Grampians. We enjoy lunch at Tower Hill Reserve, the site of a dormant volcano, wetland, lake and home to lots of wildlife. We head south to the Great Ocean Road and Bay of Martyrs, London Bridge and Loch Ard Gorge, part of the fantastic coastal scenery in this area, finishing the day with a sunset at the spectacular Twelve Apostles. Overnight is in hostel accommodation on the Great Ocean Road.
Day 9 - Great Ocean Road to Melbourne (Lunch, Dinner) After breakfast, we soak up the beauty of the Otway National Park. Walk through some of the oldest temperate rainforests in the world. Marvel at the historical section of the Ocean Road carved by returned WWI servicemen. It provides one of the most spectacular coastal roads that you will ever see. Explore the artistic seaside villages of Apollo Bay and Lorne. Anglesea, Bells Beach and Torquay (home of Rip Curl and Quicksilver) are all part of the famous surf coast with time to check out the local waves. We stop at the Split Point Lighthouse featured in the Round the Twist television series, before heading through Geelong to arrive in Melbourne approximately 7:00pm.
*1 night in Melbourne included after the tour concludes on day 9
Frequently Asked Questions
What sort of camping is done on this trip?
Swag camping! A swag is a kind of bag that you can sleep in. It has a mattress and pillow inside and you can roll it up for storage. It has a flap you can put over your head for total cover but most people choose to fall asleep staring at the night sky!
Do I need a sleeping bag?
You will definitely want a sleeping bag in winter as it can get quite cold at night, especially the further south you are and in the Red Centre, around Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon. In summer it is advisable as it can still be cool at night. We advise to bring along your own sleeping bag, otherwise you can hire one for $30 on the Adelaide to Alice Springs section of the trip.
Will I be in the same group the whole trip?
No, this package is a combination of different tours put together and made into one convenient itinerary so that you get the best value trip and see as much as you can! This way you’ll get to make as many friends as you can on your travels.
I've heard the flies are bad in summer. Is this true?
In the warmer months, there can definitely be a lot of flies while travelling through the outback. It is advisable to bring a fly net in the warmer months.
What clothes do I need?
In summer the temperatures can be extremely hot when travelling through the outback. A shirt and shorts are all that is needed during these months though we recommend a light long-sleeved top and light long pants (zip-off) to minimizs your exposure to the sun. It can still get cool at night and in the morning so you will want a jumper as well.
Definitely Bring swimmers as there will be opportunities to swim at some locations. Sunglasses, as well as sunscreen SPF 30+ or better, are also a necessity no matter what time of year.
During Winter the temperatures can be mild during the day but cold at night and in the morning when travelling through the centre of Australia. You will want a mixture of warm and cool clothes for this time of year. Long pants, a good jumper, a beanie, gloves and warm socks are recommended for use at night and in the morning. Further north near Darwin the temperature will not be so cold.
At all times of the year, you will need a hat. Preferably wide-brimmed.
Departs: Wednesday & Sunday
What to bring:
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Walking shoes
- Insect repellent
- Water bottle
- Swimming gear
- Most importantly, a sense of adventure!
A sleeping bag is required for the Alice Springs to Adelaide Section, you can bring your own or hire one for $30.