{"id":2731,"date":"2023-03-28T18:15:31","date_gmt":"2023-03-28T18:15:31","guid":{"rendered":"\/blog\/?p=2731"},"modified":"2024-10-30T21:31:37","modified_gmt":"2024-10-30T21:31:37","slug":"adelaide-to-melbourne-your-road-trip-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/magazine\/road-trips\/adelaide-to-melbourne-your-road-trip-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Melbourne to Adelaide Drive: Your road trip guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Melbourne to Adelaide road trip provides unforgettable scenery, idyllic vineyards and a huge variety of opportunities for adventure. One stretch of the journey that is particularly great \u2013 especially if you\u2019re an adventurous type \u2013 is on the stretch from Warrnambool to Adelaide, stopping off at Mount Gambier.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our itinerary will follow the route from Melbourne to Adelaide, but you can always just reverse the trip. We have broken this road trip down into five stages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Distance from Melbourne to Adelaide<\/h2>\n

All up, the drive from Melbourne to Adelaide (or Adelaide to Melbourne if it suits your plans better) is less than 1,000 kilometres. This does include the detour along the incredible, iconic Great Ocean Road, which runs along the south western edge of Victoria.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Long Does it Take to Drive From Melbourne to Adelaide?<\/h2>\n

You could comfortably complete the road trip from Melbourne to Adelaide in just 2 days, if you were so inclined. But why would you want to rush through a region that boasts caves to explore, stunning coastline, national parks galore and adventure around every corner? Feel free to allow yourself a week or more for this spectacular trip.<\/span><\/p>\n

Selecting a car for your route<\/h2>\n

Of course, you\u2019re never going to be able to stop at all the incredible stops we\u2019ve got lined up for you, without your own wheels. And if you\u2019re not local to Adelaide or Melbourne, you\u2019re going to want to hire a car.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are opting to drive from Melbourne to Adelaide, you can hire a car at\u00a0 <\/span>Avalon airport<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Melbourne airport<\/span><\/a>. Or, if you\u2019re already in the city, check out our locations in <\/span>Melbourne CBD<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But if your preferred route is to drive from Adelaide to Melbourne, you can hire from <\/span>Adelaide airport<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Croydon Park<\/span><\/a> and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Edwardstown<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As road trips go, the drive from Melbourne to Adelaide is extremely fun, but doesn\u2019t require any special off roading equipment. It is still always a great idea to make sure you have enough space in the car to be comfortable, and there could be some gravel or unpaved roads on the route, so <\/span>SUV hire<\/span><\/a> is popular.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Leg 1: Drive Melbourne to Warrnambool (via the Great Ocean Road)<\/h2>\n

\"great<\/p>\n

Recommended time: <\/b>At least 2 nights, 3 days
\n<\/span>Distance: <\/b>345 kilometres
\n<\/span>Drive time: <\/b>Around 5.5 hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re starting your epic road trip from Melbourne to Adelaide in the city centres, you\u2019re going to want to get out early to beat the morning traffic. If you\u2019re hiring a car, it can actually pay to pick it up the night before to avoid battling your way out of the city. Once you\u2019re on the road, head straight for Torquay and the start of the Great Ocean Road. This could take around 2 hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The official start and end of the Great Ocean Road are Torquay in Allansford, but the journey from Melbourne to Mt Gambier and then driving onto Adelaide is much more popular. It\u2019s more efficient, there are more opportunities to see and experience breathtaking landscapes and you would feel like you\u2019re missing out if you only went halfway.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Arguably Australia\u2019s most famous road trip, The Great Ocean Road is a fairly short stretch that sparkles with phenomenal natural attractions, including the Twelve Apostles and London Bridge and Loch Ard Gorge. You can get more inspiration from our dedicated <\/span>Great Ocean Road Trip itinerary<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Have your swimming gear at the ready and be prepared to stop and get out the car. There are so many opportunities for a swim, to stretch your legs on incredible tracks and to gawk at the incredible rock formations, phenomenal ocean views and wildlife. If you\u2019re not limited by time, you could easily spend a week driving this epic road.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unmissable highlights<\/h3>\n