Ryker BeckIt is a beautiful and liberating feeling to be bitten by wanderlust and letting our sense of adventure get the better of us. Travelling is good, but travelling with nothing but a backpack is better. The bohemian spirit allows one to sample the flavour of remote, unknown places and the indigenous cultures that a tour comprising five-star hotels, multinational cuisines, and a chauffeur-driven car does not allow. A place that caters to the backpacker’s fancy is Australia. A highly recommended backpacking tour route lies between Adelaide and Melbourne.
Where to Stop between Adelaide and Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road
Padthaway to Naracoorte
Padthaway, commonly referred to as the Chardonnay regions, is famous for Henry’s Drive and Stonehaven Vineyards. From there, one can proceed to witness the natural glory of the Naracoorte Caves that boast of calcite formations and fossil beds.
Coonawarra and Penola en route to Mount Gambier
Known for its red wine, Coonawarra is the perfect stop spot for the wine connoisseur. Their cabernets are worth it all. Penola is known because of its historic features.
Mount Gambier and Port MacDonnell
These two places are for the foodies—the ones who love, adore, respect, and worship good food. Mount Gambier boasts of the world’s best Wagyu beef. In addition, this place boasts of restaurants that serve equally mouth-watering dishes. Mount Gambier, apart from being popular for its Wagyu beef, also boasts of the Umpherston Sinkhole, Engelbrecht Cave, and the fossilised skull of an extinct short-faced kangaroo called Simosthenurus occdentalis. It also boasts of the colour-changing Blue Lake and the Aquifer Tour. Port MacDonnell is well-known for its southern rock lobster.
Warrnambool to Apollo Bay
Known for its colourful festivals like May Racing Carnival, Fun4Kids Festival, and Port Fairy Festival, Warrnambool is the only city found on Shipwreck Coast, infamous for the floundering of 160 ships. One can spot beautiful whales between May and October. On this route, one comes across the Port Campbell Park known for its rock formations called the Twelve Apostles. Another tourist attraction is the Otway National Park.
Apollo Bay
This location is a popular tourist spot and boasts of the Apollo Bay Music Festival and the Great Ocean Sports Festival.
How to Conduct a Backpacking Tour
There is obviously no fixed way of conducting Adelaide to Melbourne backpacker tours. You can simply take a backpack and start out, or you can sign up with one of the tours or travel agencies and follow their tour schedule. Better yet, take a friend and start out. However, before starting out, make sure to research the place you want to visit or tour in detail. Do not miss any place that is there to see or any local food there is to taste. If possible, book your hotel rooms beforehand and make sure your car, if you are using one, is in good condition. Apart from the scenic beauty and food, try to learn about the culture of the place you visit.