The Great Southern Touring Route is a number of road trips all rolled into one big touring route. Starting and ending in Melbourne this Australian road trip takes you to some of Victoria’s most famous spots. Along the Great Ocean Road, through the Grampians and to many notable towns and cities. You will pack a lot of Victoria into this one road trip. Here’s my ultimate guide through the best of Victoria along the Great Southern Tourist Route.
Table of Contents
The Great Southern Touring Route at a Glance
The Great Southern Touring route is best done in stages. Each stage offering a different slice of Victoria. The popular highlights and stages will be:
- Melbourne to Geelong with a few days in Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula enjoying the beach life and fine wine and food.
- Leave Geelong and drive the Great Ocean Road taking in many seaside towns, the 12 Apostles to Warrnambool for a few days.
- Say bye to Warrnambool and hello the Grampians National Park for a few days for great views and hikes.
- From the Grampians head back to Melbourne visiting the towns of Stawell, Great Western, Ararat and Ballarat on the way.
The Great Southern Touring Route
As mentioned, the Great Southern Touring Route is best done in stages.
Melbourne to Geelong
Distance Melbourne to Geelong: 76 km (47 miles) taking around 1 hour and 6 minutes (but this will depend on the traffic).
Time in Melbourne: up to 7 days
Time in Geelong: 2-3 days
Check out Geelong accommodation options here
You may want to spend a few days getting to know Melbourne. This second largest city in Australia has plenty to see and do. First stop on this road trip is Geelong. I recently found Geelong a great little gem of a city and a big surprise. There are a number of things to see and do in Geelong including:
- walk along the Waterfront checking out the timber Bollards painted as characters synonymous with Geelong.
- visit the Botanic Gardens.
- AFL lovers might want to visit Kardinia Park, home of the Geelong Cats.
- Do a road trip around the Bellarine Peninsula visiting the wineries and the beachside towns of Queenscliff.
painted bollards in Geelong
Geelong to Great Ocean Road via Torquay
Distance Geelong to Torquay: 21km (13 miles) taking about 30 minutes
Time in Torquay: half to 1 day
Check out Torquay accommodation options here
Time driving the Great Ocean Road: although you can drive this road trip in one day, on this trip I’m budgetting 3 days
Torquay is at the beginning of the Great Ocean Road and worth a visit. Torquay is one of Victoria’s famous beach towns and is a surfing mecca and offers great beach-side living. And many on a daily basis walk along the Promenade along Torquay’s beaches or are surfing. It is also home to Australia’s National Surfing Museum. A visit to the museum will give you a great insight into surfing. One of my favourite things to do in Torquay is to sit in one of the sea-side cafes and enjoy a bite to eat while beach (and people) watching. There is nothing better than fish and chips by the seaside!
take a walk through Australia’s National Surfing Museum, Torquay
On leaving Torquay, head along the Great Ocean Road. But first, a few kilometres up the road from Torquay is the famed Bells Beach. Known for its great surfing and scene of the Bells Beach Surfing Competition at Easter each year. See if the waves are pumping for yourself. Perhaps walk down the steep stairs and dip your toes in the ocean.
dip your toes in the ocean or have a surf at Bells Beach
On leaving Bells Beach you are well and truly driving the Great Ocean Road, one of, if not the best road trip in Australia. I think 3 days driving the Great Ocean Road is the perfect amount of time as there are three distinct parts of the road, that make each part different and unique.
Day one is where your vehicle will hug the coastline taking in the official entrance to the Great Ocean Road and many of the seaside towns of Lorne and Apollo Bay.
Day two is where you will head inland and drive through the tall trees of the Otway Ranges. You may see koalas in the trees on your way to see Cape Otway Lighthouse.
Day three of the Great Ocean Road is probably the part of the road that most come to see. The section between Cape Otway and Warrnambool is known as the Shipwreck Coast due to the large number of shipwrecks that occurred along this coastline. And you will learn about them and understand why there were so many shipwrecks as the weather can be wild here.
The wild weather has in fact shaped the coastline with the 12 Apostles being a highlight. As is Loch Ard Gorge. Then on to Warrnambool.
12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road
Warrnambool
Distance Torquay to Warrnambool: 243 km (150 miles)
Time in Warrnambool: 1-2 days
Check Accommodation options for Warrnambool here
Warrnambool is at the end of the Great Ocean Road and worth a visit. Warrnambool is home to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum where you will learn heaps about the shipwrecks along the Shipwreck Coast. You will get to sea the famous Loch Ard Peacock and other items salvaged from the many shipwrecks. The museum has been recreated like a fishing village and it is fun visiting the unique stores as you walk around.
After visiting the museum you can head in to town to see the Warrnambool street art or head to the park for a play if visiting Warrnambool with kids. Or drive to Logan Beach Whale Watching Platform to get a glimpse of the whales that visit each year as they migrate to and from the warmer Australia waters to and from the Antarctic.
overlooking Flagstaff Hill Village Museum
stand in awe looking at the Loch Ard Peacock
Warnnambool to The Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park
Distance Warrnambool to The Grampians (Dunkeld): 96.6km (60 miles) taking about 1 hour and 7 minutes
Time in The Grampians: 2-4 days
Check out The Grampians accommodation options here
Check accommodation in Halls Gap here
Leaving Warrnambool take the C174 and head to The Grampians. The road in a total contrast to the seaside town of Warrnambool. Travelling inland the road is flat with farming land on either side. It’s great for wind farms! Possibly detour to the town of Penshurst where you can discover the history of the area at the Volcano Museum. The museum is very apt considering The Grampians are made from extinct volcanos.
Then suddenly, after driving on flat and straight road, there, in the distance, is The Grampians. There are plenty of wonderful things to see and do in The Grampians. First stop is Dunkeld at the southern end of The Grampians. Dunkeld is a great base to explore Mount Sturgeon and the ‘Piccaninny Walks’ – hikers paradise. You could easily spend a few days here.
From Dunkeld you can drive around the base of The Grampians known as The Grampians Drive or head to Halls Gap. Halls Gap is the major town in The Grampians and is surrounded by mountains. Halls Gap is a great base to explore The Grampians. Some of the best things to see and do in The Grampians is to drive the winding roads to the lookouts. Boroka Lookout and Reed Lookout are sublime with fabulous views over The Grampians and country Victoria. There are also waterfalls to see including hiking to Mackenzie Falls.
Once you’ve seen all the fabulous views from the lookout enjoy Halls Gap or perhaps visit Halls Gap Zoo. Wine lovers may want to visit some of the Wineries which are close by.
Hiking in The Grampians is extremely popular and draws thousands of people every year. There are plenty of hikes in The Grampians if you prefer walking rather than driving!
the road to The Grampians is very flat
wind farm along the road from Warrnambool to The Grampians
The Grampians in the distance – you cannot miss them
view over The Grampians from Boroka Lookout
Halls Gap to Stawell
Distance Halls Gap to Stawell: 27.3km (17 miles) taking about 21 minutes to drive
Time in Stawell: 1-2 days
Check out Stawell accommodation options here
Stawell is a short drive from Halls Gap and well worth a visit. Stawell is famous for the Stawell Gift, a 120 metre sprint running race held over Easter every year. There are also many other running races held on the day. If you can’t make it to the race don’t worry, you could visit the Stawell Gift Museum at Central Park. You could walk around the running track and see the scoreboard. Then you can walk down the main street in Stawell checking out the walk of fame, similar to the stars on the side walks of Los Angeles, there are plaques on the side walks in Stawell. And I suggest a visit to Waack’s Bakery – they make great pies!
Stawell Hall of Fame
Stawell to Ararat via Great Western
Distance Stawell to Great Western: 14.3km (9 miles) taking about 12 minutes via the Western Highway or A8
Distance Stawell to Ararat: 31km (19 miles) taking about 25 minutes via the Western Highway or A8
Time in Great Western: 1/2 day
Time in Ararat: 1-2 days
Check out Ararat accommodation options here
Leaving Stawell, you will drive a short distance along the Western Highway or A8 that links Melbourne to Adelaide by road to Ararat. But first, stopping in Great Western. Why? Well, Great Western is home to Seppelt Wines where you can tour the largest underground cellar in the Southern Hemisphere. It is known as ‘The Drives’ and is a labyrinth of tunnels. Very interesting. And very enjoyable if you include a wine tasting after.
If not interested in wine, continue driving to Ararat. Ararat is not as popular as Ballarat, the next stop on the Great Southern touring route but Ararat is still worth a visit of a day or two. Just before the town is a sign to a lookout. I’d follow the signs to the lookout as you will get views back to The Grampians. Then head into town. There are many grand buildings as Ararat was built from the gold rush in the 1850s.
One of the best things to do in Ararat is to go on a guided tour of J Ward, Ararat’s Old Gaol and Asylum. I really enjoyed this tour. I heard stories of its time as a goldfields prison in 1859 housing thieves and murderers before it become home for Victoria’s criminally insance.
stop at Seppelt Winery in Great Western on your way to Ararat
Ararat to Ballarat
Distance Ararat to Ballarat: 93km (58 miles) taking a little over an hour to drive
Time in Ballarat: 2-3 days
Check out Ballarat accommodation options here
Ballarat is a popular Victorian city to visit for its extensive gold rush of the 1850s history. Many from Melbourne visit Ballarat on an easy day or weekend visit. Some of the biggest gold nuggets were found in and around Ballarat and nearby in the city of Bendigo. And these two cities are linked by the Goldfield’s Way, a great little road trip all about gold.
Ballarat has many great things to see and do including:
- spend a day at Sovereign Hill, a recreated gold town. Walk around and see what life was like during the gold rush of the 1850s.
- walk or drive along the main street of Ballarat to see some of the gorgeous sandstone buildings, built from the wealth made during the gold rush.
- visit Lake Wendouree and if feeling energetic or needing the kids to run off some energy walk the 6 kilometre track running around the lake.
- You could also visit the Ballarat Botanical Gardens.
- For more gold rush history visit the Eureka Stockade. This is where miners built a stockade and there was a rebellion of gold miners against the colonial government in Ballarat in 1854. They were protesting the high license fees. Unfortunately, government troops stormed the stockade leading to the deaths of 22 miners and 6 soldiers.
Eureka Circle remembering the events here at the Eureka Stockade
Ballarat to Melbourne
Great Southern Touring Route FAQs
How long is the Great Southern Touring Route? The Great Southern Touring Route is 864km (534 miles) in length.
How long should I budget to travel the Great Southern Touring Route road trip? Although you could drive this route in 7 days, 14 days would be ideal.
Where do you visit on the Great Southern Touring Route? It is a loop from Melbourne visiting Geelong, the Great Ocean Road, The Grampians National Park and towns along the A8 (Stawell, Ararat and Ballarat.
What is the best time to drive the Great Southern Touring Route? You can drive the Great Southern Touring Route anytime as the roads are sealed however, there may be seasonal activities you want to include in this road trip.
- Summer months are the most popular time, but can be crowded.
- The Winter months see fewer crowds and is a good time for whale watching. But the weather can be severely cold.
- Spring and Autumn months are ideal to travel this road trip with less crowds than summer and with milder weather.
What to Pack for a road trip along the Great Southern Touring Route?
- Pack road trip food. Though you will be spoilt for choice with the food available. From locally caught seafood along the Great Ocean Road, to country town bakeries and great pub food.
- Clothes for the weather you will be travelling in. However, take a jacket as it can be blustery along the Great Ocean Road, particularly the Shipwreck Coast where the 12 Apostles are. And if you plan to hike in The Grampians take your hiking gear. Pack beach wear and your surf board if planning to spend time in the surf.
- Check your vehicle is in good condition before any road trip. And if towing a caravan do some pre-road trip caravan checks on that too.
Can dogs be taken on this road trip? Yes, dogs can be taken on this road trip though they aren’t allowed in the National Parks – so there goes stopping in The Grampians.
Are You Ready for a Great Southern Touring Route Road Trip?
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