Melbourne to Adelaide via the Great Ocean Road
The direct drive from Melbourne to Adelaide is 728 km, just short of eight hours without stops. Going via the Great Ocean Road and the Limestone Coast is a different trip: a four day coastal plan adds up to 989 km, with days of 185 to 336 km. The common mistake is planning the coast in two days, when the 243 km Great Ocean Road alone is slow, winding driving.
Updated
Key facts
- Direct route
- 728 km, just shy of eight hours if you do not stop
- Great Ocean Road length
- 243 km, from Torquay to Allansford near Warrnambool
- Four day coastal plan
- Melbourne to Apollo Bay 187 km, Apollo Bay to Port Fairy 185 km, Port Fairy to Robe 281 km, Robe to Adelaide 336 km
- Leaving Melbourne
- Leaving Melbourne via the CityLink tollway requires a toll pass, which can be linked to your hire car or paid online
- Wildlife
- Kangaroos and wallabies are most active at dawn and dusk, so daytime driving is recommended
- Airports for the coast
- Melbourne Airport is 110 km from Torquay and Avalon Airport is 49 km; hire cars are available at both and in central Melbourne
- Recommended pace
- Tourism Australia suggests four days, extendable to six or seven
- One-way fee
- Can apply when a Melbourne car goes back in Adelaide; Hertz Australia's terms, for example, confirm approval and cost at reservation
Melbourne to Adelaide
989 km over four days via the Great Ocean Road (728 km direct) ยท about 12 hours of driving over four days (direct: just shy of 8 hours)
Torquay
130 km, 1.5 hours
Where the Great Ocean Road starts, and home to Bells Beach and the Australian National Surfing Museum.
Apollo Bay
187 km from Melbourne via Lorne, 3 hours
First overnight stop in Tourism Australia's plan. Cape Otway Lightstation is a further 33 km, 35 minutes from Apollo Bay.
Twelve Apostles
77 km and 1 hour 15 minutes from the Otway Ranges.
Port Fairy
185 km from Apollo Bay, 2.5 hours
End of day two in Tourism Australia's plan.
Mount Gambier
Across the South Australian border, with a 3.6 km trail around Blue Lake and the Umpherston Sinkhole.
Robe
281 km from Port Fairy, 3 hours
End of day three on the Limestone Coast; Adelaide is 336 km and 3.5 hours further.
- Adelaide
How long is the drive from Melbourne to Adelaide?
South Australian Tourism gives the direct route as 728 km and just shy of eight hours without stops, running through western Victoria to the border at Bordertown. RACV rounds it to 725 km and around eight long hours, with breaks on top.
RACV's comparison of the two routes says the direct Melbourne to Adelaide drive can be done non-stop in under 10 hours, but the scenic version is better over several days.
Melbourne to Adelaide via the Great Ocean Road: how many days?
Tourism Australia recommends four days: Melbourne to Apollo Bay via Lorne (187 km, 3 hours), Apollo Bay to Port Fairy (185 km, 2.5 hours), Port Fairy to Robe (281 km, 3 hours) and Robe to Adelaide (336 km, 3.5 hours). Added together that is 989 km, more than 260 km further than the direct route.
It says the trip can be stretched to six or seven days, and that the Great Ocean Road itself is 243 km of winding coastal road at a slower pace with sealed two-lane highway, tight turns and drop-offs. Use the slow vehicle turnouts and overtake only where dashed lines allow.
Where to stop between Melbourne and Adelaide
RACV's coastal stop list gives legs you can mix and match: Melbourne to Torquay 130 km (1.5 hours), Torquay to Apollo Bay 115 km (1 hour 45 minutes), Otway Ranges to the Twelve Apostles 77 km (1 hour 15 minutes), Twelve Apostles to Warrnambool 73 km (1 hour), Warrnambool to Port Fairy 29 km, and Port Fairy to Naracoorte Caves 235 km (2 hours 40 minutes).
Past Port Fairy the route leaves the sea. Tourism Australia's five day version goes Portland, Mount Gambier and Coonawarra, then Naracoorte Caves and Victor Harbor.
Can you do a one-way car hire from Melbourne to Adelaide?
Whether a company allows it and what it charges is set per booking. For example, Hertz's Australian terms say a one-way fee may apply if you return the car to a different location, and that you are told at reservation whether a different return is permitted and what the fee is.
For the coast, Tourism Australia notes that hire cars are available at Melbourne Airport (110 km from Torquay), Avalon Airport (49 km from Torquay) and in central Melbourne. Adelaide Airport is about 15 minutes from the city centre, so drop-off on arrival is easy.
What must the hire car agreement allow?
Check the kilometre allowance, because a daily cap can apply depending on the vehicle and pick-up location, and 989 km in four days is about 250 km a day. Unsealed roads are a prohibited use in Hertz's terms, for example, except access roads to recognised camping or accommodation, so gravel side roads to viewpoints and beaches are worth checking against your own agreement.
Tolls come back to you through the rental company: for example, Hertz charges tolls plus a processing fee unless you take its toll service. Tourism Australia says leaving Melbourne on CityLink needs a toll pass, which can be linked to a hire car or paid online.
Compare one-way cars: Melbourne Airport to Adelaide Airport
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Pickup and return points for this trip
Questions people ask
How long does it take to drive from Melbourne to Adelaide?
Just short of eight hours for the 728 km direct route without stops. The Great Ocean Road and Limestone Coast route takes about four days.
How long is the Great Ocean Road?
243 km, from Torquay to Allansford near Warrnambool.
Is it safe to drive from Melbourne to Adelaide?
Tourism Australia describes the Great Ocean Road itinerary as mostly a sealed two-lane highway with sections of tight turns and drop-offs. It advises daytime driving because kangaroos and wallabies are most active at dawn and dusk, and says to use slow vehicle turnouts.
Can I hire a car in Melbourne and drop it in Adelaide?
Whether a company allows it, and the one-way fee, is set per booking and shows when you search. Read the kilometre allowance and the unsealed road clause for the coastal route.
Is the Great Ocean Road worth doing on the way to Adelaide?
It adds about 260 km over the direct route in Tourism Australia's four day plan, and turns a one day drive into four. Sights include the Twelve Apostles, Port Fairy and Mount Gambier's Blue Lake.
Are there tolls between Melbourne and Adelaide?
Tourism Australia says leaving Melbourne on the CityLink tollway needs a toll pass, which can be linked to a hire car or paid online. Ask your hire company how it bills tolls.