Great Ocean Rd + Great Ocean Walk + Grampians Tour
An epic 3 day sightseeing, hiking & wildlife adventure
Good Times Tours offers this epic 3 day adventure that’s perfect for active groups or families who are looking to combine a road trip down the iconic Great Ocean Road with one of Australia’s best coastal hikes, the Great Ocean Walk and also experience the ancient mountain ranges of the Grampians National Park. If you like road trips, hiking, camping, drinking wine by the fire and Australian wildlife, then this is the itinerary for you. Please note this tour can also be extended to 4 days to enjoy more of the Great Ocean Walk or Grampians National Park. If you only have 2 days but want to experience the Great Ocean Road and Great Ocean Walk then check out my 2 day itinerary here.
Tour Availability
This itinerary is for private groups only so please enquire by calling Jono Ingram on 0410341228 or email jonoingram@gmail.com
Tour Departs
Hotel/Airport pickup and drop-off can be arranged.
Tour Returns
Returns to Melbourne at approx. 6:30pm on the 3rd day, however this can be tailored to the individual needs of the group.
Maximum Group Size – 11 for private groups
Cost – For a group of 4 it’s $475pp, however this cost will be reduced per person the larger the group is.
Accommodation – Tent camping at Aire River West campground on the Great Ocean Walk (toilets but no showers) and the second evening will be at Halls Gap Caravan Park next to the Grampians National Park (campground has hot showers, toilets and is located 200m from a general store, cafes, craft brewery etc. Please note both campgrounds allow fires! For groups who want more comfortable accommodation we can utilise cabins at Bimbi Park and Halls Gap Caravan Park. Both options are good value for money.
If you choose the camping option all camping equipment is provided i.e. tent, thermarest sleeping mat, goose down sleeping bag, inflatable pillow & camp chairs.
Food – Tour price includes 2 x cooked BBQ dinner and breakfast. For both days whilst hiking guests will be provided with fruit, muesli bars, water etc. There is also the option to eat in Apollo Bay, Port Campbell and Halls Gap along the way.
What to bring – Your day pack with water bottle, towel, hat, jacket, sunglasses, toiletries & two changes of clothes. Please also bring a good pair of runners or hiking shoes.
Wildlife – Guests will have a great chance to see Koalas, Echidnas, Wallabies, Kookaburras, Cockatoos and Kangaroos.
Tour Runs – Tours run year round but the best time of year for this trip is between October and April (daylight savings + warmer weather)
THE ROUTE
- Day 1 – Melbourne to Blanket Bay – 4 hours driving time
- Day 2 – Johanna Beach to Grampians – 3 hours driving time
- Day 3 – Grampians to Melbourne – 4 hours driving time
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
BELLS BEACH
SPLIT POINT LIGHTHOUSE
LORNE BEACH
SEE KOALAS AT KENNETT RIVER
HIKE 35KM’s OF THE GREAT OCEAN WALK
CAMP AT AIRE RIVER WEST CAMPGROUND
MELBA GULLY
12 APOSTLES
PINNACLES WALK
SUNSET AT REEDS LOOKOUT
CAMP NEXT TO THE GRAMPIANS NATIONAL PARK
SUNRISE AT BOROKA LOOKOUT
BRAMBRUK CULTURAL CENTRE
WINE TASTING AT A GRAMPIANS WINERY
For a more comprehensive tour details and to enquire see details below
WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE
Our Adventure In Detail
Day 1 – Great Ocean Road Sightseeing & Blanket Bay to Aire River Hike – 21km’s
– We’ll depart Melbourne at approx. 8am and drive 90 minutes to the coast where we’ll stop at the iconic Bells Beach to watch local surfers in action.
– Now that we are on the Great Ocean Road, we’ll enjoy sights along the way including the Split Point Lighthouse, Memorial Arch, Lorne Beach and we’ll stop at Kennett River to say hello to the local Koalas.
– The next stop is Blanket Bay which we’ll aim to get to at 1pm so that guests have several hours to walk the 21km’s to Aire River West campground. On this private tour, guests will do the walk self-guided so a reasonable level of fitness is required however the trail is very easy to navigate and clearly marked.
– From Blanket Bay it’s a relatively easy walk through dense gum forest that opens up to provide spectacular views of the ocean before descending to the serene Parker Inlet which makes the perfect place for a rest.
– Depending on the tide and how adventurous you are feeling, there’s an opportunity to either walk the waters edge following rock shelves around Point Franklin or take the short steep climb out of the inlet. Once up on the cliff line it’s a slow descent down to Crayfish Bay where there’s a new section of trail that hugs the coastline to Cape Otway Lightstation.
– Upon arrival at Cape Otway Lightstation, guests will have a chance to refill their water bottles and access their bags as the van is parked here. This is also the stop where you can call it a day and be driven 15mins to Aire River West campground. However if the group is feeling strong it’s 10km’s from Cape Otway to the campground.
– The trail from Cape Otway takes you through dense scrub before opening up to awesome cliff top views of the Southern Ocean and eventually you’ll find yourself in awe of the stunning Station Beach. Depending on how you are going for time you have the option of walking along the beach or taking the inland route which runs parallel to the beach.
– Not long after Station beach you’ll find yourself seeing the raw natural beauty of Glenaire Beach from the Escarpment Lookout. From here it’s a 1.5km descent down a sandy trail to the Aire River campsite where your tent will be setup, camp chairs out and a cold beer and wine will be waiting for you.
– With daylight savings ensuring it doesn’t get dark until 8 or 9pm, there is plenty of time to relax around camp whilst a BBQ dinner is cooked for you. There is usually a few local Koalas in the trees which make for great entertainment until it’s time to sit next to the fire and enjoy a glass of red wine. After a big day, everyone usually crawls into their tents at around 10pm.
Day 2 – Aire River to Johanna Beach – 14km’s and visit the 12 Apostles and drive to the Grampians National Park
– In the morning I’ll get the fire going again and make you breakfast and most importantly some hot coffee. The usual game plan is to have guests hitting the trail by 8:30am. From camp you’ll walk slowly uphill, taking time to stop and enjoy the views over Aire River. The trail then follows the cliff tops with numerous vantage points to take in the spectacular views over the southern ocean.
– At 10:30am we’ll arrive at our halfway point for the day which is Castle Cove. The trail runs parallel to the Great Ocean Road and it’s here where the van will be parked so that you can grab an extra drink or bite to eat or take a layer off etc.
– From Castle Cove you depart on the final 7km’s of the walk with the trail winding it’s way along the coast which provides an amazing coastal views.
– After a short while, the trail opens up to provide views of Johanna Beach which is your final destination. From here, the trail slowly descends down to the beach.
– The last 2km of the hike is along Johanna Beach with an arrival time of approx. 1pm. I’ll be waiting with the van and you’ll have a good chance to rest as we drive 15mins to the general store at Laver’s Hill which sells coffee and cakes.
– After our rest, we’ll drive a short distance to Melba Gully which provides guests a great opportunity to be fully immersed in the temperate rainforest of the Otways. The short loop walk takes approx. 45mins and is completely different to the environment you’ve seen to date.
– Next we’ll put on some classic road trip tunes and drive 45mins to the iconic 12 Apostles but whilst 99% of guests have just driven to take a photo, you’ll have walked some of this magnificent coastline and will have a much better appreciation of it’s beauty.
– From the 12 Apostles we’ll drive a short distance to the cute coastal village of Port Campbell to grab a coffee, before settling in for a 2 hour drive up to the Grampians National Park. It’s at this point my guests usually get some sleep whilst we drive the quiet rural backroads inland.
– Upon arrival at Halls Gap Caravan Park, guests are pretty excited to take a hot shower and make friends with the local kangaroos whilst I setup camp, get the fire going and make dinner. If it looks like the sunset is going to be epic, we’ll drive 20mins to Reed’s lookout and it’s also a pretty great spot for a glass of local Grampians Shiraz.
Day 3 – Pinnacles Hike, Brambruk Cultural Centre and local wineries
Today is all about exploring the Wonderland mountain range that imposes itself over Halls Gap. Depending on the fitness of the group we can either depart from the Wonderland carpark or Sundial carpark. Both walks are approx. 2.1km each way to the Pinnacles lookout butt one is easier than the other.
– Once we’ve completed the Pinnacles walk we’ll head into town for lunch before heading to the Brambruk Cultural Centre which has been developed to showcase the rich aboriginal heritage of the Grampians (Gariwerd) region. We’ll have an opportunity to watch a presentation on Aboriginal culture, listen to a didgeridoo performance and learn about the six seasons that occur in the Geriward and how the lives of the Jardwadjali and Djab Wurrung tribes were linked to this cycle.
– After an epic fun filled adventure it’s now time to sample what else the region is famous for and that’s wine! We’ll stop at Best’s Winery and Seppelt Great Western which are two fantastic local wineries. Once we’ve finished at the wineries we’ll depart for Melbourne with an approx. arrival time of 6:30pm.
Read Our Reviews
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Candy Tong2024-07-03Jono went above and beyond to ensure that my family enjoyed Mornington and Great Ocean Road. He has been very accommodating to our family needs, and the little children also absolutely adored him! I would 200% recommend booking the private tour with Jono to anyone.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Kelvin Deer2024-07-01Jono (Good Time Tours) is a must if you are looking for something a bit bespoke and not your average trip out of Melbourne. Nothing was too difficult for Jono. From the suggested itinerary, the various pickups and then throughout the day, we had a knowledgeable local who shared his experiences with our group. Thanks Jono.... legend!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Cindy Kennedy2024-05-06Organised this wine tour to celebrate a couple of birthdays from work. Jono was very approachable, accommodating and flexible in terms of letting us choose our lunch destination. Each cellar door was very welcoming as Jono knew some of the winemakers and introduced us to them. Jono even went as far as suggesting this gorgeous spot for a great autumn pic. Overall everyone absolutely enjoyed their time and we will most likely book Jono again.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Paul & Marie-Louise McElwee2024-04-30We had an excellent trip to the Yarra Valley with Jono on Anzac Day. Nothing was too much trouble, from the initial enquiry the week before and arranging a tour that catered for the reduced mobility of two of our group. He was very flexible on the day as well. I would highly recommend touring with Jono.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Kate Moxhay2024-03-18Jono was an exceptional driver and host for our group's tour around the Heathcote wine region yesterday. Would highly recommend Jono to anyone looking for a reliable, friendly and fun host!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Jessica Cowin2024-03-09Jono was the most amazing tour guide. He elevated our Yarra Valley wine tour experience. Great fun and well managed tour, he got us everywhere on time and took us to some great wineries. Would definitely roll with him again!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Nobu Kurihara2022-11-19Jono took our Japanese group to Heathcoat wineries. Excellent private tour. Our guide Jono was incredibly knowledgable, cheerful and gave us a fantastic day! We learnt about history, culture, features and much more. He was well traveled and have flexibility, high standards, and we were very happy with Jono's tour - he had great memory and experience in Japan and all over the world, we also enjoyed chatting with him!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Dale Manson2022-07-10Jono was fantastic. From prior to the booking right through to the day, Jono was accommodating and a great communicator. Jono looked after us superbly throughout our wine tour in the Macedon Ranges. If you’re looking for a reliable and quality tour, hit up Jono!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Anna Bevington2021-02-07We loved our 1 day winery tour in Heathcote. Jono had picked some great independent venues where you got to meet the owners and everything was well organised from start to finish. The bus was comfy and clean, price was very good value and Jono was a great host. Would definitely recommend!
More Hiking Tour Reviews
“I can’t say enough about how wonderful our experience with Jono was. It truly was one of the highlights of our 3 week trip in Australia. We really wanted an experience that was off the grid and intimate, and explore parts of Victoria that the “locals” would share with their friends. It was all that and more. Jono was the epitome of what you would want in a guide: knowledgeable, professional, engaging, and above all a down-to-earth demeanor that made you feel comfortable from the get go. His attention to detail from the gear, the hidden gems he shared with us, and his insights on Australian culture(s) were terrific. I cannot recommend highly enough!“ Jenny Beagle – Colorado
“I went with a friend and had a fantastic time. Jono is professional, polite and has a great local knowledge. Really good camping gear, enough food. He allowed enough time for everyone to do things at their pace. Wilsons Prom is a really good spot and we did a lot, the day ended with Jono setting up the tents, marquee and sleeping bags.“ Sara P – Melbourne
“I went to Wilsons Prom on small group tour with Jono and Clint and had the best time! The guides were fantastic, and kept the itinerary flexible to suit our preferences and energy level. Everything from camping equipment to food (and sunscreen!) is taken care of, so you can just relax and enjoy the stunning scenery. I highly recommend Good Times Tours and can’t wait to do other tours with them!“ Linda H – Finland
“Jono runs a fantastic trip. Everything is covered, all you have to do is walk and enjoy. He has an excellent knowledgeable of the area. We hiked the Great Ocean Way for 2 days, then, on Jono’s suggestion, went over to the Grampians for a day. Hiking was wonderful, camping comfortable and easy (saw koalas at Aire River and kangaroos in Grampians)“ Deborah S – North Carolina
Get in touch
We’d love to hear from you, so please contact us on any of the platforms below.
facebook.com/goodtimestoursvictoria
Jono Ingram – 0410 341 228 or @jonoingram