Seeking advice on holiday - road trip Adelaide to Melbourne in winter

[juddles]

Hi there all,

just seeking any comments or advice that the members here have

In late June this year I want to do a mini-road trip holiday. Will fly family down from Brisbane to Adelaide, then hire car and drive across to Melbourne.

Basics:

Have time for about a ten day trip, roughly 29 June to 8 July
Couple with two girls, 11 and 15
Will rent car. NOT campervan - loved that until the girls got to this age !!
We enjoy beautiful or different landscapes, food, seeing wildlife or animals.
More into nature etc, than cities, but want to have a couple of days in each of Adelaide and Melbourne, mainly for food
Not rich, but not into real budget stuff either (maybe consider us "down to earth 4 star" travelers??)
Thinking Kangaroo Island for a 3 night visit. Waves and Wildlife?
Mainly want to hug coast across.

Separate to destination / activities ideas, also wanted to know about points tickets redemptions with QF. I would like to do the two flights (BNE-ADL, and MEL-BNE) in business using QF points. I see that there are only two seats easily available that way. I am QF WP - would they possibly "open" two extra seats??

 

[Pushka]

Travel from Adl down through Millicent and Mt Gambier then the Great Ocean Road, through Portsea, Port Fairy, Geelong then into Melbourne.

Kangaroo Island is fantastic for wildlife but need to hire a car. Its larger than people realise. My preference? Maybe try Flinders Ranges up through Claire? The gorges are fantastic. Try Glam tenting in Wilpena Pound (check my TR).

 

[VPS]

My preference is to drive from Melbourne to Adelaide along the Gt Ocean road - just makes it a bit easier to pull over and look at the views
If you want to come inland for a bit the Grampians are beautiful and lots of wildlife.
Penola is a nice little town to stop half way between Melbourne and Adelaide and it is very close to Coonawarra if you feel the need to taste some wines
KI is fantastic - stick to the south coast if you don't have much time but it could be very cold and wet in July - avoid driving at dusk if you can - lots of roos - don't underestimate how long it will take to get to the ferry terminal on the Fleurieu - roads are quite narrow and windy. If you do go to KI McLaren Vale and Willunga are also nice places to visit and good food (and did I mention wine)
Flinders Ranges are great but at least 5-6 hours from Adelaide but again Clare Valley has some great wineries
Happy to answer any more questions

Cheers

 

[prozac]

After MEL head to Beechworth. Stay in the old asylum. Nice accomodation and quiet as in 100 acres or so of 1880's landscaped grounds. About 1klm walk into town to restaurants. Town is also quiet as. Close to wineries...Brown Brothers, etc. Drive down through Mytleford, Bright to Mt Beauty. If there is not too much snow go over the Mtn through Omeo and down to coast near Lakes Entrance. Then 80km to Eden. 50km to Bega. Before then Pambula and Merimbula are nice. Good apartments to be had off Stays in Merimbula. Take the coast rd through Tathra to Bermagui. Stop at Tilba Tilba for arty crafty stuff. Work your way up the coast. If you want to do Canberra then turn off at Batemans Bay and head inland.

Oh, I see you want to fly from MEL. We've just done my road trip then. Why not fly from CBR?

 

[Buzzard]

In ADL, visit Gorge Wildlife Park gorgewildlifepark |
If you are in ADL on a weekend, PM me. You can have afternoon tea at my place, +1 and I can take you on a walk or two around Cleland Conservation Park and Waterfall Gully.

As for Kangaroo Island I'm not really a fan of the place. Wouldn't suggest it to anybody. YMMV.

 

[Pushka]

In ADL, visit Gorge Wildlife Park gorgewildlifepark |
If you are in ADL on a weekend, PM me. You can have afternoon tea at my place, +1 and I can take you on a walk or two around Cleland Conservation Park and Waterfall Gully.

As for Kangaroo Island I'm not really a fan of the place. Wouldn't suggest it to anybody. YMMV.

I think KI is amazing. Some of the best beaches in the world. Cant swim in them though! Logistically it is a bit trickier than most realise. The ferry crossing can get real bumpy esp in June. And very expensive. And you need to get out of the arrival area and branch off. Some nice B&B's though near American River. But my preference is Wilpena Pound/Flinders Ranges. Just beautiful country up there.

 

[juddles]

......Kangaroo Island ....Its larger than people realise.......

I am good at geography (I need to be as I work out in the bush in strange places) but I always thought Kangaroo Island was just some island. Now you made me have a good look and I get your point!!

 

[juddles]

....... Why not fly from CBR?

Prozac, my youngest has a school trip there later in the year (the kids have never been to Canberra) so I was made to understand by the youngest that it would not be cool if our family trip removed some of the awe and wonder of her trip

 

[dajop]

Travel from Adl down through Millicent and Mt Gambier then the Great Ocean Road, through Portsea, Port Fairy, Geelong then into Melbourne.

That would be Portland not Portsea Unless when getting to the end of the Great Ocean Road, instead of heading to Geelong, continue along the coast to Queenscliff and take the car ferry across the bay to the Mornington Peninsula.

 

[Pushka]

That would be Portland not Portsea Unless when getting to the end of the Great Ocean Road, instead of heading to Geelong, continue along the coast to Queenscliff and take the car ferry across the bay to the Mornington Peninsula.

Sounds familiar. .

 

[prozac]

I am good at geography (I need to be as I work out in the bush in strange places) but I always thought Kangaroo Island was just some island. Now you made me have a good look and I get your point!!

So you must be either a coffee buyer or a surveyor...
You could also be the local drug rep.

 

[Boca68]

Ok, your incredibly lucky, you have plenty of time available. So, my suggestion....

Get to Kangaroo Island, yes it can be tricky, especially if the weather is dicey. But it is beautiful. So assume 3 days there, back to he mainland now.

Drive to Robe, SA. Lovely spot, some great seafood. (good night layover place) Next day, drive to Mt Gambier, preferably via Penola (think Coonawarra ). Layover again.

Next day, I'd suggest a drive to Halls Gap in the Grampians, Vic. Beautiful place. Stay the night here.

Then, next day, head down to Warrnambool and onto the Great Ocean Road. Many picks for a night stay, Apollo Bay is beautiful, but I'd keep going as far as Lorne. Stay there. Perhaps you could spend an extra day exploring around here? Lots of beautiful scenery. Head into the Otway Ranges for gorgeous natural beauty.

Then, perhaps drive a short distance to the Bellarine Peninsula. Queenscliff is a great stopover. Explore around there. Then time dependant, either move on to Melbourne or if you have an extra day or 2, drive up to Ballarat and beyond. Maldon is worth it. Beautiful countryside and a quality little town with great history.

Then your in Melbourne, its probably a 9 or 10 day excursion. Hope this helps with some ideas juddles

 

[VPS]

btw - if you do go to KI then let me know - I've got an entertainment card that gives you 25% off for four people on the ferry - may have some other family and kid related ones that I never use