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Hit the road past scenic coastlines and rugged Outback landscapes.
There are currently no scheduled departures on this trip. Please contact us and we can suggest alternative options.
Travel from Melbourne on a 10-day overland odyssey covering Australia’s mighty south. Weave your way along the acclaimed Great Ocean Road past the Twelve Apostles and London Bridge, take a scenic hike to the Pinnacles in the Grampians National Park, marvel at the orange-rock spires of Warren Gorge and the unusual underground mining town of Coober Pedy, and wind up deep in the Outback. Discover the cultural harmony and raw beauty of Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon, and get an insight into the deeply significant First Nations history in the Red Centre and beyond. This classic road trip is all the best bits of southern Australia, with all the hassle taken care of, so you can focus on admiring the wide brown land in front of you.
- Start
- Melbourne, Australia
- Finish
- Alice Springs, Australia
- Destinations
- Style
- Original
- Theme
- Code
- POMAS
- Physical rating
- More info">
- Ages
- Min 18
- Group size
- Min 6, Max 24
Why you’ll love this trip
- Travel along Australia’s most acclaimed stretch of coastline with a scenic drive on the Great Ocean Road. This is one trip where you definitely want to call shotgun on a window seat.
- Take a one-night pitstop in Halls Gap to discover the rugged beauty of the Grampians National Park. Go hiking up to the Pinnacles lookout, and marvel at the stunning MacKenzie Falls.
- Immerse yourself in First Nations cultures with experiences including witnessing cave paintings near Mutitjulu Waterhole at the base of Uluru and viewing Aboriginal rock art at Yourambulla Caves.
- See the best of Australia’s iconic Red Centre on guided walks around Uluru, Kings Canyon and the ancient red domes of Kata Tjuta.
- ‘Noodle’ for opals, hang out with some rescued joeys and spend the night in a subterranean bunker in the Outback town of Coober Pedy.
Is this trip right for you?
- This is a basic trip, covering the highlights of Australia’s Great Ocean Road and Grampians, Flinders Ranges, and the Red Centre.
- You’ll spend some nights of the trip sleeping in outback camping grounds. While conditions can be basic and facilities are minimal, this is all part of the adventure. You’ll also need to pitch in with preparing meals and cleaning. This is part of the experience of travelling in a group.
- This trip requires a moderate level of fitness as it involves a lot of walking, allowing you to truly enjoy the surrounding nature. Some hikes are longer and more challenging than others. Please bring sturdy, comfortable walking shoes and comfortable clothing.
- This trip is an Intrepid Basix style, and we often use mixed gender multishare accommodation. This means, the minimum age for the trip is 18 years old because minors aren’t able to sleep in mixed gender rooms.
- Temperatures in the Red Centre can be extreme. During the day the weather can be hot (and the Australian sun is strong) so please bring appropriate clothing, use sun protection and drink plenty of water. In the evenings temperatures really drop, so ensure you have base layers and warm clothing.
- On most days of the trip, you’ll spend several hours driving through very sparse areas of desert. Crank up the tunes and sit back to enjoy landscapes that you would miss in any other form of travel.
- Group participation makes up a lot of this trip, so you’ll be required to help with preparation of meals and cleaning up. These are the kind of tasks that bring a group closer together.
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Itinerary
Accommodation
- Motel (1 night)
Included Activities
- 12 Apostles & London Bridge
- Koala spotting – Great Ocean Road
- Melba Gully Walk – Otway Ranges
- Swim at Lorne (Summer months)
- Loch Ard Gorge
Meals Included
- Lunch
Special Information
The total driving time today is about 6.5 hours (approximately 450 km). The total walking time will be about 2 hours (approximately 2 km).
Accommodation
- Motel (1 night)
Included Activities
- Brambuk Culture Centre
- Mackenzie Falls – Grampians
- Pinnacles Walk – Grampians
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Special Information
The total driving time today is about 6 hours (approximately 400 km). The total walking time will be about 4 hours (approximately 5 km).
Included Activities
- Reeds Lookout (The Balconies) & Boroka Lookout
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
The total driving time today is about 7.5 hours (approximately 550 km). The total walking time will be about 2.5 hours (approximately 3.5 km).
The estimated time of arrival into Adelaide is around 7.30 pm, so please take this into account when considering onward travel.
Included Activities
- Wilpena Pound
Meals Included
- Lunch
- Dinner
Special Information
The total driving time today is approximately 6 hours. You’ll be picked up from the YHA Adelaide at 8.30 am, so please arrive at least ten minutes before.
Warren Gorge provides stunning ochre rock faces that complement the blue skies. Keep your eyes peeled for the very well camouflaged local rock wallabies. Tonight, you’ll stay in the quintessential South Australian town of Quorn.
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Special Information
The total driving time today is approximately 3.5 hours.
Accommodation
- Underground Multishare (1 night)
Included Activities
- Anna Creek Station
- Coober Pedy Mine tour
- Josephine’s Gallery and Kangaroo Orphanage
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Special Information
Total driving time today is approximately 6 hours.
Accommodation
- Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
- Dingo Fence
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Special Information
Today driving time will be about 8 hours.
Accommodation
- Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
- Uluru & Kata Tjuta National Park Entrance
- Uluru Base Walk
- Uluru Cultural Centre
- Kata Tjuta
- Maruku Arts cultural experience
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Special Information
There isn’t much driving today, about an hour in total between destinations. You will walk approximately 5 km.
Accommodation
- Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
- Watarrka National Park Entry Fees
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Special Information
Driving time is about 6 hours today, and you will walk approximately 2 km.
Included Activities
- Kings Canyon Rim Walk
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Special Information
Driving time today is approximately 5 hours back to Alice Springs, and the Rim Walk is approximately 6km.
For the Kings Canyon Rim Walk it is a requirement that you have a minimum of 3 litres of water with you. Please consider bringing your own refillable water bottles.
Dates & availability
Trip search is unavailable.
There are currently no scheduled departures on this trip. Please contact us and we can suggest alternative options:
Important notes
1. Tour commences in Melbourne on Day 1 at 7 am and finishes in Alice Springs (Day 10) at approximately 6 pm
2. For the Kings Canyon Rim Walk it is a requirement that you have a minimum of 3 litres of water with you. Please consider bringing your own refillable water bottles.
3. Onward travel to be booked the following day

Essential trip information
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