Melbourne to Perth Overland

Departing Melbourne, hit the road west to Geelong and the famous surf town of Torquay. From there, begin the journey along one of Australia’s most beautiful and famous drives, the Great Ocean Road. Experience a guided walk through an ancient and rare temperate rainforest. Check out the enormous trees that are native to the area. Stop for some koala spotting, then break for lunch in Apollo Bay. Continue on to the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge, spending the night in Warrnambool.

Note: Total driving time today is about six and a half hours (approximately 450kms)
Total walking time will be about two hours (approximately 2kms)

Begin the day checking out more of the Great Ocean Road’s wonders, then drive into the Grampians National Park – an area rich in Aboriginal culture and beautiful landscapes. We’ll visit the Brambuk Aboriginal Culture Centre to learn about the period known as the Dreaming, then hike up to the Pinnacles for impressive views across the Grampians. Tonight we enjoy a traditional Aussie BBQ in Halls Gap.

Note: Total driving time today is about six hours (approximately 400kms)
Total walking time will be about four hours (approximately 5kms)

Headed north we’ll stop in at Clare for a quick coffee before continuing on to the ancient Southern Flinders Ranges. So unique are the fossils found in this landscape, geologists had to revise the geologic time-line of the Earth’s history, identifying a new era called the Ediacaran period! Hike Alligator Gorge where we’ll have lunch and explore the pristine Warren Gorge where we’ll be spending the night camped out under the stars of the Southern Cross.

Today we drive approx. 400 km (4 hours) in total with stops along the way.

Its an early morning start to travel to the wild and beautiful Eyre Peninsula, one of Australia’s best kept secrets. See some unique outback silo art in the tiny town of Kimba and after a quick pit stop for lunch, it’s time to head to the coast to explore Venus Bay, Talia Caves. Next its to the Lake Newland sand dunes where adrenaline junkies can test out their sand boarding skills.

In the late afternoon we arrive at Coodlie Park Farm Retreat. This working farm has traditional cropping, sheep and a project of tree planting on their own land to offset their own carbon emissions.

Today we drive approx 450km (5 hours) in total with stops along the way.

This morning we’ll continue driving along the coast to then do a learn to surf lesson on a remote and pristine beach. Those not wanting to surf will be able to relax, swim or explore Sceale Bay while the others test their surf skills.
For those wanting to experience one of Australia’s most unique wildlife experiences of swimming with dolphins and sea lions. This incredible optional wildlife experience involves a four hour boat cruise. We find the friendly populations and swim and snorkel amongst them. There is nothing that can parallel the feeling of communing with wild creatures such as these. If you wish to take up this option please notify us in advance so we can make the necessary arrangements. Those who choose to stay on land will travel to Point Labatt Conservation Park, the only place on the mainland where Australian seal pups can be seen learning to swim, play and rest on the beach

There is no getting out of a long drive today as we start to travel across the mighty Nullarbor Plain. Crossing the Nullarbor has become a rite of passage for backpackers and for Australians it is the quintessential experience of the Australian Outback. Take a snap the world famous wombat, kangaroo and camel road sign, see jaw dropping scenery at the longest continuous cliff coast line in the Southern Hemisphere, the spectacular Bunda Cliffs or “Edge of Australia”.
Stop at the iconic Nullarbor Roadhouse, explore the ruins of an old telegraph station and come afternoon cross the border into WA where tonight’s free entertainment is provided courtesy of the celestial sphere.
Tonight we bush camp under the Southern skies on the NullarborToday’s distance is approx. 7 hours, with break stops.

Another early rise this morning as we travel the last part of the Nullarbor visiting the Caiguna Blowhole for some free air conditioning from the ocean. With their planetary sounding names and strewn about space junk, the small towns of Balladonia and Norseman have a slightly intergalactic atmosphere about them. Balladonia shot to worldwide fame in 1979 when the Skylab space station returned to earth here rather abruptly. After lunch we continue the drive to Esperance, which may seem like a bustling metropolis after a couple of days in the outback.

After another reasonably big drive day, get ready for some of Australia’s most spectacular scenery with this part of WA having no less than 9 National Parks and some of the best beaches in the world. We’ll set up camp in the spectacular Cape Le Grand National Park

Today we drive approx 7 hours, with break stops along the way

Crystal clear waters, powdery white sands, expansive granite bluffs… and sunbathing kangaroos? Sound like a dream? Well its not because today you’ll wake up in one of Australia’s best known and most spectacular National Parks. Pristine and perfect are two words that reflect its absolute beauty. The ocean here is practically transparent, the local western grey ‘roos are regularly sunbaking on the beach and the sand at Lucky Bay has twice been judged Australia’s whitest. So beautiful is this park we will be spending the whole day here exploring, swimming, bushwalking and you’ll also have some free time to do whatever you please.

We drive approx 10 minutes today, and walks will vary from 2-4 hours

Head down to the beach nice and early to make friends with some of the local kangaroo’s then we’ll be hiking Frenchman’s Peak, where beautiful vistas span right across Cape Le Grand and the Recherche Archipelago. Refuel with a lunch stop on one of the many beaches on Esperance’s Great Ocean Drive then settle in for the onwards drive to our Stirling Ranges campsite at Mount Trio.

We drive for about 5 hours today, and walk for 2 and a half also.

Today’s an early start as we visit the oldest mountain range in the world, the unique Porongurups which rise from the landscape like an island. Set out on a two-hour hike through some spectacular forests to Castle Rock which is a bit of a climb but worth every bit of effort as you are rewarded with breathtaking views over the region. Then traveling along Western Australia’s answer to Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, you’ll be treated to superb views of sun-bleached boulders, turquoise seas and dramatic red-rock cliffs shaped by eons of crashing waves and rolling tides. Visit the Gap, Natural Bridge, Elephant Rocks and Green Pool for a swim in a sheltered swim and then a stop at the largest Tingle Tree in Western Australia.

It is just over 5 hours from Lucky Bay to Stirling Ranges, with about one hour walking on the way.

If you are feeling brave today you can climb the 50 metre Diamond Tree, a native karri tree once used as a fire lookout and only 1 of 3 wooden top towers in the world. Next it’s time tantalise those tastebuds as we spend the rest of the day tasting our way around the Margaret River region visiting boutique wineries, breweries, a chocolate factory and a cheese factory, sampling as we go. Cheers to that.

Today we drive approx 5 hours making stops along the way.

On the last day of the trip you’ll wake to the now-familiar warble of kookaburras and cockatoos before heading to Dunsborough where you’ll meet Wardandi custodian Josh, who will introduce you to the world’s oldest living culture with his authentic and personal interpretation. Go deep down into the Ngilgi Cave for a memorable didgeridoo cave experience, taste native foods, discover bush medicine and experience traditional fire lighting on this unique indigenous cultural experience.
As our 10 day adventure draws to an end as we have our final lunch and swim at the popular tourist town of Busselton, where it’s hard to miss the 19th-century Jetty stretching 1.8km into Geographe Bay. One last stint on the road see’s us arriving into Perth around 6pm and although there are no formal activities planned it is usual for the group to get together and reflect on the big journey together over a few drinks and mealToday we drive approx. 5 hours, although driving through Perth city traffic can mean a slower journey than previously advised.