Melbourne to Darwin road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops

Melbourne to Darwin drive: Road trip stops in Victoria

But what are the very best bits of a Melbourne to Darwin road trip? Well, there are several on the Melbourne to Adelaide leg. Sovereign Hill in Ballarat is arguably the best museum in Australia. It’s a massive recreated gold rush town with train rides, wheelwright workshops and all manner of demonstrations. Skip the queues by advance-booking a ticket.

Good Ballarat accommodation options include the apartment-style Quest, the family-focused Big4 NRMA Ballarat holiday park and the highly-rated Lake Inn.

The Grampians is the best overnight stop between Melbourne and Adelaide, however. The Grampians wildlife is best seen based in kangaroo-heavy Halls Gap.

Halls Gap accommodation options include the happily affordable NRMA Holiday Park, the green-credentialled Gariwerd Motel and the impressive Grampians Eco YHA, which has kangaroos bounding outside.

Otherwise, highlights of the region include the Boroka Lookout, Mackenzie Falls and the Mount Stapylton loop walk.

Further along the Western Highway, 4WDers might be more interested in exploring the Little Desert National Park from Dimboola or Nhill.

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Dimboola, the solid Motel Dimboola should do the job.