Melbourne, Outback & Uluru: Self-Launched Adventure

Arrive into Melbourne Airport and make your way into the city. The SkyBus express service runs directly to the CBD (~£15 one-way) and is far cheaper than a taxi. Check into your hostel in the CBD — St Kilda or Fitzroy are great neighbourhoods. Spend the evening exploring the famous laneways around Hosier Lane and grab a meal on Lygon Street.

🚌SkyBus from Melbourne Airport to CBD (~£15)

🛏Melbourne Central YHA or similar (~£25–35/night in a dorm)

• →Arrive at Melbourne Airport and take the SkyBus to the CBD (~£15)
• →Check into a budget hostel in the CBD (e.g. Melbourne Central YHA)
• →Self-guided evening wander through Hosier Lane and Federation Square

Melbourne's legendary laneway culture is entirely free to explore on foot. Download a free self-guided laneway walking map from the City of Melbourne website. Wander through Degraves Street, Centre Place, and AC/DC Lane. Hit a speciality coffee shop (Melbourne's flat whites are world-famous — budget around £4 each). In the afternoon, explore the free NGV (National Gallery of Victoria) or head up to the Eureka Skydeck for panoramic views (~£18).

🚌Walking and Melbourne's free CBD tram network

🛏Melbourne Central YHA or similar (~£25–35/night in a dorm)

• →Self-guided laneway walking tour (free — maps available at the visitor centre)
• →Flat white crawl through Degraves Street and Pellegrini's Espresso Bar
• →Visit the free National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)
• →Optional: Eureka Skydeck 88 (~£18, book direct at eurekaskydeck.com.au)

Take the Frankston line train from Flinders Street Station toward Sandringham to stop at Middle Brighton and see the iconic colourful bathing boxes on the beach — free to visit and great for photos. Continue south to the Mornington Peninsula by catching a local bus or a pre-booked Mornington Peninsula shuttle. Check into a hostel or guesthouse in Mornington or Rosebud.

🚌Metro train + Peninsula Link bus or shared shuttle (~£15 total)

🛏Peninsula backpackers or budget guesthouse in Mornington (~£25–35/night)

• →Train to Middle Brighton to see the famous coloured bathing boxes (Myki card, ~£4 each way)
• →Travel south to Mornington Peninsula by bus or shuttle (~£10–15)
• →Explore Mornington township's cafes and galleries
• →Sunset walk along Mornington Beach (free)

A free day to explore at your own pace. The Mornington Peninsula has over 50 cellar doors — try a self-guided winery cycle along the Red Hill wine trail (hire a bike locally for ~£20/day). Alternatively, head to one of the stunning ocean beaches like Portsea or Point Leo. For a splurge, the Peninsula Hot Springs has entry from ~£25 and is bookable direct at peninsulahotsprings.com.

🚌Hired bicycle or local bus (~£5–10)

🛏Peninsula backpackers or budget guesthouse in Mornington (~£25–35/night)

• →Self-guided wine trail cycle along Red Hill — bike hire ~£20/day
• →Beach day at Portsea Back Beach or Point Leo (free)
• →Optional: Peninsula Hot Springs entry from ~£25 (book direct)
• →Pick up local produce at a farm gate stall

Catch the Searoad Ferries crossing from Sorrento to Queenscliff (~£15 foot passenger one-way, book at searoad.com.au) — a spectacular 40-minute crossing of Port Phillip Bay. From Queenscliff, the most budget-friendly way to do the Great Ocean Road is via a day-tour operator departing Queenscliff or Geelong; companies like Bunyip Tours or Emu Australia offer Great Ocean Road day trips from ~£60–80 including the 12 Apostles. Alternatively, hire a car for the day from Geelong (~£40–60). Overnight in Port Campbell.

🚌Ferry (~£15) + shared Great Ocean Road day tour (~£65) or car hire (~£50)

🛏Port Campbell Hostel or caravan park cabin (~£25–35/night)

• →Searoad Ferry: Sorrento to Queenscliff (~£15 foot passenger, book at searoad.com.au)
• →Drive or tour the Great Ocean Road, stopping at Lorne and Apollo Bay
• →Walk to the 12 Apostles lookout platform (free entry, Great Ocean Road region)
• →Rainforest walk in Great Otway National Park (free)

Catch a V/Line coach from Warrnambool (closest major stop to Port Campbell) to Halls Gap, the gateway to the Grampians — check vline.com.au for timetables (~£20–25). Halls Gap is a small, walkable village surrounded by the Grampians ranges. Check into a hostel or cabin and get your bearings with a sunset walk up to the Boroka Lookout for sweeping views over the valley.

🚌V/Line coach (~£22)

🛏Halls Gap YHA or Grampians Eco YHA (~£25–35/night)

• →V/Line coach from Warrnambool to Halls Gap (~£20–25, book at vline.com.au)
• →Check into Halls Gap YHA or similar
• →Sunset hike to Boroka Lookout (free, ~1.5hr return)
• →Visit the Brambuk Cultural Centre to learn about Djab wurrung and Jardwadjali peoples (free)

A full day of hiking through some of Victoria's most spectacular scenery — all trails are free to walk with a Parks Victoria national park pass (~£8/vehicle or free on foot). Hike to MacKenzie Falls (3.6km return, moderate), then walk the Pinnacle Walk to The Balconies — iconic overhanging rock formations with views across the valley. Keep your eyes peeled for wild kangaroos and emus grazing right in Halls Gap village.

🚌Walking — all sites accessible on foot from Halls Gap

🛏Halls Gap YHA or Grampians Eco YHA (~£25–35/night)

• →MacKenzie Falls hike (3.6km return, moderate — free on foot)
• →The Pinnacle Walk to The Balconies (4.4km return, moderate — free)
• →Wildlife spotting: kangaroos and emus in Halls Gap village (free)
• →Optional: Aboriginal rock art sites near Bunjil's Shelter (free)

Take a V/Line coach from Halls Gap to Ballarat, then connect to a coach or train service to Adelaide via Melbourne (check vline.com.au and coach operators like Firefly Express). The journey takes most of the day (~6–8hrs total), so settle in and enjoy the passing countryside. Arrive in Adelaide in the evening and check into a hostel near the CBD — Rundle Street and the East End are great spots.

🚌V/Line + Firefly Express or Greyhound coach (~£40)

🛏Adelaide Central YHA or Hostel 109 (~£22–32/night in a dorm)

• →V/Line and coach travel from Halls Gap to Adelaide (~£35–45 total, book via vline.com.au or firefly.com.au)
• →Arrive Adelaide: explore Rundle Street's bars and restaurants
• →Evening wander through Adelaide Central Market (if open) or Chinatown

Adelaide punches above its weight for a free day. Wander through the Adelaide Botanic Garden (free), explore the Adelaide Central Market for incredible produce, and walk through the North Adelaide parklands. Catch a free tram to Glenelg for a swim at the beach. For a wine lover's day trip, Barossa Valley is accessible via a GetYourGuide wine tour from ~£70, or independently by bus and local shuttles from Adelaide CBD.

🚌Free Adelaide tram + optional tour (~£70)

🛏Adelaide Central YHA or Hostel 109 (~£22–32/night in a dorm)

• →Adelaide Central Market morning visit (free entry, budget ~£10 for food)
• →Free tram to Glenelg beach and back (free on the CBD tram network)
• →Adelaide Botanic Garden self-guided walk (free)
• →Optional: Barossa Valley wine tour via GetYourGuide (~£70) or Kangaroo Island day trip (~£120)

Fly from Adelaide Airport to Ayers Rock Airport (Connellan/Yulara) — Rex Airlines and Qantas operate this route, with fares from ~£120–180 return if booked in advance (check rex.com.au and qantas.com). The flight is roughly 2 hours. Check into the Ayers Rock Resort Campground or the Discovery Resort (the most budget option at the resort — from ~£30–40/night for a powered campsite or dorm). In the afternoon, head to the Uluru sunset viewing area for a glass of bubbly and your first breathtaking views of the rock as it glows red and orange.

🚌Rex or Qantas flight Adelaide to Ayers Rock (~£150)

🛏Ayers Rock Resort Campground or Discovery Holiday Parks Yulara (~£30–40/night)

• →Fly Adelaide to Ayers Rock Airport — from ~£120–180 (book at rex.com.au)
• →Check into Ayers Rock Resort Campground or Discovery Holiday Parks (~£30–40/night)
• →Uluru sunset viewing area — bring your own bubbly for the iconic sundowner experience (free entry to viewing area)

Purchase a 3-day Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park pass (~£18pp, valid 3 days) at the park gate. Walk the Mala Walk (2km one-way) along the base of Uluru, following the same route as the original G Adventures itinerary — interpretive signs explain the deep spiritual significance of the rock to the Anangu people. In the afternoon, drive or take a shuttle (~£15 return, via resort shuttle) to Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) for the Valley of the Winds walk (7.4km loop, allow 3–4hrs). Catch the sunrise over Uluru from the designated sunrise viewing area (free) for a truly unmissable experience.

🚌Resort shuttle to Kata Tjuta (~£15 return)

🛏Ayers Rock Resort Campground or Discovery Holiday Parks Yulara (~£30–40/night)

• →Uluru sunrise viewing area (free with national park pass)
• →Mala Walk at Uluru base (2km one-way, free with park pass — ~£18 for 3-day pass)
• →Kata Tjuta Valley of the Winds walk (7.4km loop, allow 3–4hrs, free with park pass)
• →Optional: Segway or e-bike tour around Uluru base via GetYourGuide (~£55)
• →Optional: Uluru Camel Tours at sunset (~£75, book direct at ulurucameltours.com.au)

A final sunrise walk or visit to the Cultural Centre (free) before heading to Connellan Airport for your onward flight. Book your departure flight in advance — Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide are all served directly from Ayers Rock Airport.

🚌Resort shuttle to airport (~£8)

• →Final sunrise at Uluru or Kata Tjuta (free)
• →Visit the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre (free, opens 7am)
• →Transfer to Connellan Airport for departure