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Planning a road trip around Australia with wee kids (we did it with a 3-year-old and an 18-month-old!) can feel daunting, but taking the ultimate coastal drive from Adelaide to Melbourne is one of the most memorable family holidays you can do.
We travelled from New Zealand to Adelaide, explored a safari park, wandered through charming coastal towns, spotted wild kangaroos and koalas, and drove one of Australia’s most famous coastal routes: the Great Ocean Road.
Of course, travelling with two little ones wasn’t always smooth sailing. We tackled the drive over the busy Easter weekend, navigated holiday crowds, and learnt a few things along the way about planning a road trip with toddlers. But with a little flexibility, some well-timed stops and realistic driving days, it was an adventure that worked surprisingly well for our family.
If you’re planning an Adelaide to Melbourne road trip with young children, here’s our itinerary, where we stayed, the stops we loved, and a few practical tips I’d share with another mum planning the same trip.
The trip at a glance
In a rush? These were our fave places to stay as a family on our Adelaide to Melbourne road trip
- Adelaide: Sofitel Adelaide ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Adelaide: Monarto Safari Resort ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Robe: Harbour View Hotel, Robe ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Warrnambool: Elm Tree Motel ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Lorne: Cumberland Lorne Resort ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Melbourne: 1Hotel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📍Mall’s Balls, Adelaide CBD
📍Glenelg Beach, Adelaide
Phase 1: Adelaide & A Safari Overnight Stay
Days 1–3: Exploring Adelaide
After catching the seasonal direct Air New Zealand flight out of Christchurch (landing around 8:00 PM), we spent two low-key days settling into Adelaide. It’s a super walkable, family-friendly city with gorgeous parks—perfect for burning off toddler energy before hitting the open road.
We stayed at the Sofitel Adelaide, which was a great central spot.
Day 4: Monarto Safari Park Resort
- Drive Time: 1 hour from Adelaide
- Stay: Monarto Safari Resort
- Highlights: Open-plains safari experience
Instead of heading straight to the coast, we made a special overnight detour to Monarto Safari Resort. It’s one of the largest open-range zoos in the world, and spending the night surrounded by wildlife was an absolute dream for the kids before our coastal journey began.
We also made the short roadie to Monarto Safari Resort via Hahndorf, stopping there for lunch and a wander on our way and it was awesome!
We love, love, lovedddd Monarto Safari Resort! 🦒🦏🦓
I did a deep dive into our stay there in these blogposts:
Phase 2: Coastal Road Trip (Robe to Warrnambool)
Day 5: Crossing into Robe
- Drive Time: 3.5 hours from Monarto
- Stay: Harbour View Motel, Robe
Robe is a charming historic seaside town that serves as the perfect halfway mark between Adelaide and the Victorian border. It gave us a chance to stretch our legs, enjoy fresh ocean air, and prep for the coastal drive ahead.
📍The Blue Lake, Mount Gambier, South Australia
📍Umpherston Sinkhole/Balumbul, Mount Gambier
Day 6: Robe to Warrnambool via Mount Gambier
- Drive Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
- Stay: Elm Tree Motel, Warrnambool
GPS Routing Tip: Navigation apps like Google Maps will often try to direct you inland to save a few minutes. Make sure to manually route your drive through Mount Gambier, Donovans, and Portland so you stay along the scenic coast!
Toddler-Friendly Stops Along the Way:
- Humpalicious Camel Milking Tour: We booked the 9:15 AM morning milking tour, which was such a fun, hands-on experience for the girls.
- Griffiths Island Lighthouse (Port Fairy): A lovely coastal walk where you can stretch your legs and spot local birdlife.
- Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village: Located right in Warrnambool (closes at 4:00 PM), this interactive village brings maritime history to life for young kids.
Phase 3: The Heart of the Great Ocean Road (Warrnambool to Lorne)
Day 7: The Iconic Sights & Coastal Wildlife
- Drive Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
- Stay: Cumberland Lorne Resort, Lorne (loved this with the kids!!)
This is the stretch where the dramatic limestone cliffs and world-famous rock formations shine.
Photos don’t do this area justice. Seeing with your own eyes is just incredible!! Honestly nature is so beautiful.
Must See Stops for Toddlers Along the Way:
- London Bridge Arch (Peterborough): Much easier to navigate with a double pram or toddlers than some of the steeper lookouts.
- The Baker’s Oven (Port Campbell): The ideal morning tea stop for fresh pastries and coffee.
- The 12 Apostles: The ultimate bucket-list view! The boardwalks are completely pram-accessible.
- Princetown Recreation Reserve or Gellibrand River Flats: Keep your eyes peeled—these lush grassy flats are famous for wild kangaroos grazing in the afternoon.
- Kennett River Holiday Park: Pull over among the sweet-smelling gum trees to spot wild koalas sleeping high up in the branches. There are also a lot of friendly (almost toooo friendly… eek lmao) emus!
- Lorne Highlights: After checking in, take a scenic drive up to Teddy’s Lookout for sweeping views of the winding coastal road, or take a short bush walk to Erskine Falls.
Phase 4: Torquay, Chocolate & On to Melb
Day 8: Lorne to Melbourne (Easter Weekend Realities!)
- Drive Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Stay: 1Hotel, Melbourne
Travelling over Easter weekend meant navigating some huge holiday crowds, but a bit of flexibility saved the day!
- Bells Beach & The Rip Curl Pro: Because the major surf tournament was running over Easter, Bells Beach was packed to the brim. We opted for a quick drive-by to admire the surf vibe from afar.
- Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery: The Easter egg hunt was fully sold out (note for next time: book weeks in advance!), and the venue was buzzing with excited families. We managed to dodge the massive queues, grab a bucket of mouth-watering chocolate freckles and mini eggs for the girls, and enjoy a quick sweet treat before heading out.
- Memorial Arch at Eastern View: The official photo stop marking the start/end of the Great Ocean Road.
- Anglesea Golf Course: A famous local spot where wild eastern grey kangaroos roam freely across the greens.
Days 9–11: Melbourne City & Flying Home
- Drive Time: 1.5 hours to Melbourne
- Flight Home: Melbourne to Christchurch (Direct, landing around 3:00 PM)
We finished our trip with three days in Melbourne, giving us time to unpack, explore the city parks, enjoy the café scene, and prepare for our short 4-hour flight back home to Christchurch.
Essential Tips for Doing the Great Ocean Road with Toddlers/Preschoolers:
- Pack for All Four Seasons: Coastal Victoria weather changes fast. Keep windbreakers, sun hats, and warm layers easily accessible in the car.
- Pram vs. Baby Carrier: Most major lookouts (like the 12 Apostles and London Bridge) feature smooth wooden boardwalks suitable for prams, but a baby carrier is ideal for waterfall tracks like Erskine Falls.
- Pacing is Everything: Keep daily drive times under 3.5 hours and schedule your longer legs around morning or afternoon nap times.
Is the Great Ocean Road worth doing with toddlers?
Absolutely!
Our Adelaide-to-Melbourne road trip was a mix of big-ticket sights, wildlife experiences, coastal towns and little family moments that made the journey special.
Travelling with a 3-year-old and an 18-month-old meant we had to be considerate about driving times, accommodation and how much we could realistically fit into each day. But it didn’t mean we had to miss out on an amazing Australian adventure.
If you’re planning a family holiday to the Great Ocean Road, I’d recommend allowing plenty of time, choosing a few must-see stops, and leaving room to change your plans along the way.
The Great Ocean Road is a beautiful part of Australia to explore, and combining it with the journey from Adelaide to Melbourne gives you the chance to experience so much more than the coastline alone.
And if you’re travelling with little ones? Don’t worry about making the trip perfect. Pack the snacks, plan your stops, and enjoy the adventure as it comes!!
