Wildlife Tours 2-Day Roundtrip
2 days · Wildlife Tours Australia
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Autopia 3-Day Roundtrip
Melbourne to the Great Ocean Road & Grampians 3 Day Original Tour
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- Duration
- 3 days
- Meeting point
- Melbourne
- Run by
- Autopia Tours
Overview
This Autopia Tours trip runs three days from Melbourne, pairing the Great Ocean Road with two full sections of the Grampians, and it finishes back in Melbourne around 6:00pm on day three. You travel in an air-conditioned medium sized coach with a driver-guide who provides commentary, and the group is capped at 23 travellers. It suits people who want the coastal icons and the mountains stitched into one trip without hiring a car.
Day one follows the Great Ocean Road: a short stop in Anglesea, the Memorial Archway, an hour in Apollo Bay, a stretch of Great Otway National Park, then the headline stops, the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge. You sleep that night in Warrnambool, with private ensuite rooms or shared rooms depending on what you booked, and dinner is provided. Day two shifts inland to the Grampians via Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, calls at Brambuk The National Park and Cultural Centre in Halls Gap, then takes a guided bush walk of roughly 6.5km up to the Pinnacle, adjusted to the group's fitness. The second night is in Halls Gap, with breakfast and dinner included. Day three packs in Boroka Lookout, Reed Lookout and MacKenzie Falls before the long drive back through Horsham to Melbourne.
Wildlife Tours 3-Day Roundtrip
3 days · Wildlife Tours Australia
See live price Check availability →National park entry fees are covered, and the listing promises Australian wildlife sightings in natural habitat, with one reviewer describing koalas, kangaroos and emus seen in the wild as an easy highlight of the trip. It is a walking-friendly trip rather than a hard hike, though a moderate level of fitness and sturdy shoes help on the Pinnacle section.
What's Included
Included
- 2 Nights Accommodation Private ensuites & Budget-friendly shared dorm rooms (Warrnambool, Halls Gap)
- Guided bush walks (~6.5km, subject to fitness level)
- All National Park pass entry fees
- Australian wildlife sightings in there natural habitat
- Hosted by an experienced driver-guide with tour commentary
- Air-conditioned small group travel in a medium sized bus/coach
- Dinner (2)
- Breakfast (2)
Not Included
- Excess luggage charges (where applicable)
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Spending money for personal items
Itinerary
- Melbourne departureMeet at the Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders St at the corner of Market St, by 7:35am. Contact the operator on the number in the listing if you need to change or reconfirm your pickup.
- Great Ocean Road dayStops include Anglesea (25 minutes), the Memorial Archway (15 minutes), Apollo Bay (1 hour), Great Otway National Park (40 minutes), the Twelve Apostles (50 minutes), Loch Ard Gorge (50 minutes) and London Bridge (25 minutes). Park admissions are included.
- Overnight in WarrnamboolStay at the Mid City Motel with a private ensuite or shared room. Dinner is included, with about 6 hours in town before the next day's start.
- Wildlife and the GrampiansAn hour back through Warrnambool, then 2 hours at Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve with entry included. Continue to Halls Gap (1 hour) and Brambuk The National Park and Cultural Centre (50 minutes).
- The Pinnacle walkA guided bush walk of around 6.5km over about 3 hours, subject to the group's fitness level. Entry is included.
- Second night in Halls GapStay at YHA Grampians or Gariwerd Motel, private ensuite or shared dorm. Breakfast and dinner are both provided.
- Lookouts and MacKenzie FallsAn hour in Halls Gap, then Boroka Lookout (20 minutes), Reed Lookout (45 minutes) and MacKenzie Falls (45 minutes), all with admission included.
- Return to MelbourneA 45-minute break in Horsham on the way back. Breakfast is included, and arrival in Melbourne is around 6:00pm, with no Melbourne accommodation that night.
What To Expect From The Tour
A few practical points shape how this tour feels day to day, drawn from the listing and from what travellers report back.
- Fitness and walking. The listing asks for a moderate level of fitness, and the Pinnacle walk covers roughly 6.5km over about 3 hours. Uneven surfaces are involved, so proper walking shoes matter more than fashion. The guide adjusts the pace to the group.
- Group feel. Up to 23 travellers share a medium sized coach. One reviewer enjoyed meeting people from all over the world, and the host-driver format means commentary runs throughout the drive.
- Accommodation choice. Both nights offer either private ensuites or budget shared dorm rooms, so pick the option that suits you when booking. One reviewer found the rooms a bit outdated but considered the trade-off easy for what the trip delivered.
- Weather and layers. The tour runs in all weather, so the listing advises dressing appropriately. One reviewer missed out on sunrise and stars because of conditions, so treat those extras as a bonus rather than a promise.
- Food and drink. Two dinners and two breakfasts are included. Other food, drinks and personal spending are on you, so carry money for lunches and snacks across the three days.
- Luggage limits. Each traveller gets one suitcase and one carry-on bag. Oversized items such as surfboards, golf clubs or bikes may face restrictions, and the operator says to check ahead before travel.
Common issues. The listing is blunt about accessibility: the tour is not wheelchair accessible because of uneven surfaces, and children aged 5 and under cannot come at all, while those aged 6 to 17 must be with a guardian and stay in private accommodation upgrades. One reviewer felt the rooms and bus were somewhat dated. Weather can shut down extras like sunrise or stargazing, as one reviewer experienced. Cancellation terms are also strict: you need to cancel at least 6 full days ahead for a full refund, and less than 2 full days out means no refund at all.
Common Questions
Where Does The Tour Start And End?
The main meeting point is the Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders St on the corner of Market St in Melbourne, at 7:35am. If you want to change or reconfirm your pickup location, contact the operator's reservations team on the number in the listing. The tour ends back at the same meeting point around 6:00pm on day three.
Is Food Included?
Two dinners and two breakfasts are included. Lunches, snacks, drinks and any other personal food are not, so budget for those separately along with spending money.
Do I Need To Pay National Park Entry Fees?
No. All National Park pass entry fees are included in the tour price, covering the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, Tower Hill, the Grampians stops and the other admission-ticketed locations on the itinerary.
Is The Tour Suitable For Children?
The minimum age is 6 years, and infants or children 5 and under cannot travel. Children aged 6 to 17 must be accompanied by a legal guardian or adult and are required to stay in private accommodation upgrades rather than shared dorm rooms.
Can I Cancel If My Plans Change?
A full refund applies if you cancel at least 6 full days before the tour starts. Cancelling 2 to 6 full days ahead gets a 50% refund, and cancelling less than 2 full days ahead gets no refund. Changes made less than 6 full days before start are not accepted, and cut-off times follow the local time of the experience.
What Should I Bring?
Bring clothing for all weather, since the tour operates rain or shine, plus sturdy shoes for the roughly 6.5km guided bush walk. Luggage is limited to one suitcase and one carry-on per person, and oversized gear like surfboards or bikes needs to be cleared with the operator in advance. Money for lunches, drinks and personal items is also worth packing.
Ways To See The Grampians
Live dates, times and prices are on the booking page.
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