Melbourne to Halls Gap drive: How long is it, and where should I stop on the way?

The Melbourne to Halls Gap drive is 253km long and takes just under three hours. Good stops on the way include the Werribee Gorge Circuit Walk, Ballarat and Lake Burrumbeet.

A Melbourne to Halls Gap road trip takes you to one of the most scenic chunks of Victoria.

Halls Gap in Victoria is the delightfully pretty gateway town to the Grampians National Park. It’s a well-located hub for attractions such as the Boroka Lookout, Mackenzie Falls, the Halls Gap Zoo and Lake Fyans. You’ll also see plenty of Grampians wildlife around – there are scores of kangaroos around Halls Gap.

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The Grampians is just about close enough to Melbourne to make it a feasible weekend break destination. But it’s probably best made into part of a loop around western Victoria that also takes in the Great Ocean Road.

Before leaving, you may want to tick Melbourne Cricket Ground tours, Yarra River dinner cruises and cross-city hot air balloon flights off your Melbourne wish list. For a great range of Melbourne tours and experiences, explore here. To track down the best value Melbourne accommodation, come this way.

Melbourne to Halls Gap drive: Distance and driving time

The drive from Melbourne to Halls Gap is 253km long in distance. That means a Melbourne to Halls Gap driving time of around two hours and 54 minutes, according to Google Maps. Book in advance for the best Melbourne car hire deals.

The quickest route heads out over the Western Gate Bridge, passing the suburbs of Yarraville, Spotswood and Altona North, before joining the motorway section of the Western Highway. This passes through Derrimut and Caroline Springs before leaving Melbourne for good.

After that the Melbourne to Halls Gap drive passes through Rockbank, Melton and Bacchus Marsh.

Werribee Gorge Circuit Walk in Werribee Gorge State Park

Just after Bacchus Marsh is the first good option for a stop on the Melbourne to Halls Gap drive. The Werribee Gorge State Park offers both woodlands and dramatic gorge views. The 10km-long Werribee Gorge Circuit Walk should get the blood pumping, but you might not have the 4.5 hours required to take it on. The Parks Victoria website has more detailed information on the Werribee Gorge State Park.

Alternatively, take a slight detour north from the Western Freeway to the Lerderderg State Park.

Melbourne to Halls Gap drive: Ballarat and Lake Burrumbeet

After driving past Pentland Hills, Myrniong, the Pykes Creek Reservoir, Ballan, Gordon, Wallace, Bungaree and Mount Warrenheip, you get to the real highlight of the road trip: Ballarat.

This inland city is home to Australia’s best open air museum, Sovereign Hill. The Ballarat Wildlife Park and fisherman’s favourite Lake Burrumbeet are worth a look, too.

With the Melbourne to Ballarat section of the drive completed, the Western Freeway becomes the Western Highway, and the Ballarat to Halls Gap drive is about 142km long. The road passes through Beaufort, Langi Ghiran and Ararat before you branch off towards Halls Gap via Moyston and Pomonal.

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