Best Attractions from Melbourne to Adelaide

The Great Ocean Road and the Otways

Experience one of the world’s spectacular coastal drives at the Great Ocean Road, and along this route, you can stop at the Otways for a scenic getaway with nature. Stop by the Kennett River to take some pictures of the native wildlife and birds.
At Lorne, you can drop by the Erskine Falls or stroll down the beaches. You could also make a stop in the beautiful coastal town of Anglesea. And from the resort town of Apollo Bay, you can drive to Cape Otway and stop at the highest point of the Great Ocean Road.
The ultimate destination on the Great Ocean Road is the limestone coast where the 12 Apostles stand. Experience the stunning views of the panoramic landscape and seascape. Capture the images of rugged surfs, towering cliffs, and the scenery’s changing colours.
Just 3 kilometres from there, you can also visit the picturesque Loch Ard Gorge, hit the beach, and cool off in the shallows.
Probably, the Great Ocean Road ranks first among the scenic attractions from Melbourne to Adelaide tour.

Ballarat’s Sovereign Hill

In the Victorian town of Ballarat, another best attraction you will be interested in visiting is Sovereign Hill, an open-air museum in Golden Point. The museum displays the years when gold was first discovered in the area.

It’s like history frozen so we can peek into the past. The town was recreated to depict the life and culture of mid-19th century Victoria.

You can do many tourist activities in Sovereign Hill, such as panning some real gold, learning about the Victorian Golden Era, interacting with the locals, or taking photos of the time capsule. It sure is a lot of fun out there.

Mount Gambier

The volcanic and limestone city of Mount Gambier would be the next attractive stop, 17 kilometres from the Victorian border and about 450 kilometres from Adelaide. You can check out the lakes, caves, sinkholes, parks, and gardens there. Most notably, don’t miss the Blue Lake and Umpherston Sink Hole. The Blue Lake is an extinct volcanic lake, a crater lagoon 72 meters deep and the city’s source of fresh drinking water. Take some photos of the beautiful lake and simply enjoy the views. From there, you can drive to Umpherston Sink Hole, a lush, beautifully designed sunken garden that used to be a cave. You can visit some other lakes, caves, and sinkholes, such as Valley Lake, the Leg of Mutton Lake, Cave Gardens, and Engelbrecht Cave.

The Grampians

A detour to the Grampians would be a great choice. Drive straight to the heart of the Grampians, to the scenic town of Halls Gap.
From there you can visit the impressive waterfalls of the Grampians one by one — Mackenzie Falls, Wannon Falls, Nigretta Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Silverband Falls, Beehive Falls, Clematis Falls, and Fish Falls.
Or you could head to the Mt Difficult Road and reach the Boroka Lookout where you can have a 180-degree view of western Victoria. Overlooking the Boroka Lookout are Halls Gap, Lake Bellfield, Fyans Valley, Mt William Range, and Wonderland Range.
Also, in the Grampians, you can look closely at the region’s diverse wildlife and lush flora. Learn more about the Aboriginal people’s history, culture, and heritage.
There are more things you can do and more places you can go if you’re with the Grampians National Park.

Naracoorte Caves

Also in the limestone coast of South Australia is the World Heritage listed Naracoorte Caves National Park, where you can explore the underground caves. The park houses 26 caves that are protected. The caves contained extensive fossil records formed over 200 million years ago. So, refresh your knowledge of palaeontology by visiting the caves of Naracoorte. The recommended caves to visit are Victoria Fossil Cave, Alexandra Cave, Bat Cave, Blanche Cave, and Stick-Tomato Cave. You can also learn more about the caves and their history at the Wonambi Fossil Centre.

Coonawarra Wine Region

From Mount Gambier, stop by and pause at the historic town of Penola and explore the wineries of the Coonawarra Wine Region. Coonawarra, a famous wine-producing region of South Australia, is synonymous with Cabernet Sauvignon. But they also produce the best Shiraz. Relax in a comfortable ambience, great food, and the best wines in the region. Learn the local history and culture through their food and wines. Visit some of Coonawarra’s cellar doors and sample their best wines. View the fantastic vineyards and farms landscape, and start a hearty conversation with some local folks.

Victor Harbour

On the southern coast of Fleurieu Peninsula, about 80 kilometres south of Adelaide, hides the quaint coastal city of Victor Harbour. The city has been a popular summer holiday destination in South Australia. One of the main attractions is the horse-drawn tram on the causeway to Granite Island, a large colony of little penguins. You can hit and enjoy the beaches at Victor Harbour and spot some whales, penguins, dolphins, seals, and wildlife.

Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert

Located in the Fleurieu, Kangaroo Island, and Murray Mallee regions of South Australia, the estuarine lagoon Lake Alexandrina hosts a rich biodiversity.

Adjoined to the smaller Lake Albert, the freshwater habitat is a government-protected area known as Lower Lakes, with most of its water coming from the Murray River.

You can do a lot of activities, especially in Milang, the only lakeshore town in Lake Alexandrina. You can hike, bike, hit the beach, or paddle in the lake to fish.

You can also go bird watching in the wetlands of Lake Alexandrina, which is a habitat for various waterbirds such as migratory waders, geese, cormorants, sandpipers, and Australian shelducks.