Ararat to Horsham drive: Distance, time & road trip stops

Ararat to Horsham drive: Distance, time & road trip stops

By car, the distance from Ararat to Horsham is 95km, with a driving time of around 1h6m. The best road trip stops on the Ararat to Horsham driving route are Stawell and Mt Stapylton.

The drive from Ararat to Horsham in Victoria is likely to be a leg on a longer road trip. The quickest route from Ballarat to Adelaide – or Geelong to Adelaide – passes through this way.

Ararat is most famous for its ghost tours. For Ararat accommodation picks, head here.

Horsham is a country town with silo art at the northern end of the Grampians. To book Horsham accommodation, investigate the options here.

This guide should help travellers plan their perfect Ararat to Horsham road trip itinerary.

Ararat to Horsham distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Ararat to Horsham is 95km. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and six minutes.

In Ararat, the highlight is the J Ward Museum – a former lunatic asylum that hosts ghost tours.

Ararat to Horsham road trip: Ararat to Stawell

On the way to Stawell, there are several wineries.  The Grampians Estate, Seppelt Cellar Door and Grampians Estate are all worth a look.

You’ll also pass the Ararat Hills Regional Park, which has several walking trails. The one to the One Tree Hill Lookout is arguably the best.

Stawell is where you can turn off for Halls Gap, the kangaroo-heavy gateway village to many of the key attractions in the Grampians.

The Grand Canyon, the Balconies, Silverband Falls, Lake Bellfield,  the Pinnacle Lookout and the Boroka Lookout are all close to Halls Gap.

The town also offers a series of handsome churches and parks. The Big Hill Lookout is the best photo stop.

Ararat to Horsham drive: Stawell to Dimboola

Carrying on towards Horsham, you’ll go past popular camping spot Lake Lonsdale and the Giant Koala in Dadswell Bridge.

The drive along the Western Highway then skirts north of the Grampians National Park. The Mt Stapylton Loop Walk is a highlight in this section. For Aboriginal rock art, go to the Gulgurn Manja shelter.

Walking at Mt Stapylton in the Grampians
Walking at Mt Stapylton in the Grampians is one of the best things to do on the drive from Adelaide to Melbourne. Photo courtesy of Parks Victoria.

Before reaching Horsham, the road trip route passes a series of lakes. The Green Lake Recreation Area is the most pleasant place to stop.

Horsham offers silo art, a pleasant botanic gardens, the Horsham Regional Art Gallery and strolls through the parks by the Wimmera River.

Top Horsham accommodation choices

The best places to stay in Horsham are:

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