Melbourne to Adelaide drive: Road trip route via the Great Ocean Road
South Australian attractions between Melbourne and Adelaide
Nearer Adelaide, you hit the end of the Murray River, with wildlife-heavy lagoon cruises and kayaking tours on the Coorong near Goolwa. Then come the psychedelic d’Arenberg Cube and world class Shiraz-making wineries of the McLaren Vale. You could also swing by arty, Germanic Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills before hitting the city itself.
15 fabulous Adelaide experiences to supercharge your visit
- DOLPHINS 🐬: Swim with wild dolphins, kayak with the resident bottlenose pod or watch them on a dolphin cruise.
- FOOD AND WINE 🍷: Indulge on Adelaide food tour including Adelaide Central Market. Or try a wine discovery tour with tastings at the National Wine Centre. Or the ultimate Penfolds Magill Estate experience with full estate tour & Grange tasting.
- WILDLIFE 🐨: Spot koalas on a guided Morialta nature hike. Or walk from Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty with entrance to Cleland Wildlife Park.
- CRUISES ⛵: Watch the sun set on a twilight coastal cruise, get to know the city on a Torrens River cruise or take a high tea cruise aboard the Popeye.
- SPORT 🏏: Dare to take on the Adelaide Oval Roofclimb or enter the fabled scoreboard on the behind-the-scenes stadium tour.
- ACTION 🚵♂️: Descend Mount Lofty on a downhill mountain bike tour or kayak along the Torrens River.
The coastal route from Melbourne to Adelaide can be tackled at various speeds. Three days should be a bare minimum, but you’ll really have to pick and choose experiences. A week seems about right to make a proper holiday of the road trip.
For non-drivers, the Melbourne to Adelaide train or bus is an alternative to flying.
Top Adelaide hotel recommendations
For the beach: Oaks Glenelg Plaza Pier Suites. For families: Big4 West Beach. Most fun: Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets. For setting: Oval Hotel. For heritage: Adina Apartment Hotel Adelaide Treasury.
If you found this guide useful, please consider booking your accommodation and tours through the links to Wotif and Viator below.
BOOK AUSTRALIAN ACCOMMODATION AND TOURS.
Australia Travel Questions earns a small commission from them at no extra cost to you.
This helps keep the site running and adding more guides.
The companies chosen are those usually used by Australia Travel Questions founder David Whitley when booking travel in Australia.
More road trips
What are the best stops on a Melbourne to Darwin road trip?
Where to stop on the drive from Perth to Monkey Mia.
Stop in Coober Pedy on the drive from Adelaide to Uluru.
Where to stop on a Mackay to Cairns road trip.
Drive from Port Macquarie to Tamworth along the Oxley Highway.