Red Centre to Melbourne: Self-Launched Outback & Great Ocean Road
10 days · Australia
G Adventures charges £1,450
No-markup version: ~£980 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 10-day "Red Centre to Melbourne" run: Alice Springs, Uluru and Kings Canyon, the opal town of Coober Pedy, the Flinders Ranges and Clare Valley, Adelaide, the Grampians, and the Great Ocean Road into Melbourne. The group tour's private van is replaced with a mix of commercial Outback shuttle/coach services and a budget hire car or regional buses for the southern legs, multi-share hostel dorms replace the tour's hostel/swag nights (you can still swag-camp near Uluru for the experience), and self-bookable day tours (GetYourGuide, Klook or direct with local operators) replace the guided inclusions. Costs are rough per-person estimates in GBP based on backpacker/budget rates; Australia is not a cheap destination, so the savings versus the group tour are real but modest.
Day-by-day
Arrive Alice Springs — desert town warm-up
Alice Springs, NT
Fly or take The Ghan/coach into Alice Springs and check into a hostel dorm (YHA Alice Springs or similar, ~£18-25/night). Alice Wanderer's airport shuttle is about $16 AUD (~£8) versus $25-30 for a taxi. Spend the afternoon on the free Anzac Hill hike for a view over the MacDonnell Ranges, and optionally the Royal Flying Doctors Service Museum ($16 AUD, ~£8) or Alice Springs Desert Park ($25-40 AUD). In the evening, head to a pub in Todd Mall for live music and a beer with fellow travellers.
🚌Alice Wanderer airport shuttle (~£8) or taxi (~£14); walking in town
🛏Hostel dorm, Alice Springs (multi-share)
- →Anzac Hill sunset hike (free)
- →Royal Flying Doctors Service Museum (~£8)
- →Alice Springs Desert Park (~£13-21, optional)
- →Pub night in Todd Mall
Alice Springs to Uluru via Kings Canyon
Kings Canyon / Yulara, NT
Book a seat on one of the commercial small-group Red Centre shuttles or a 2-3 day Uluru/Kings Canyon tour (Emu Run, Autopia, or the AAT Kings day tour — roughly £90-140 for a one-way transfer with stops, bookable via GetYourGuide/Klook). Depart early, hike Kings Canyon's Rim Walk (~3-4 hours, closed or restricted when forecast exceeds 36°C), then continue to Yulara. Overnight in the Ayers Rock Campground cabins or a swag-camp tour option — swagging under the stars here is the classic budget experience (~£25-35).
🚌Red Centre shuttle/tour coach, ~£90-140 one way with stops
🛏Swag camp or campground cabin, Yulara (multi-share)
- →Kings Canyon Rim Walk
- →Outback sunset at Yulara
Uluru: Mala Walk, cultural centre and sunset
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, NT
Buy the 3-day Uluru-Kata Tjuta park pass online (~$38 AUD / £19). Join the free ranger-guided Mala Walk (seasonal, check the park schedule) and visit the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre. In the afternoon, walk part of the base circuit or add the free Valley of the Winds walk at Kata Tjuta if you have a vehicle/shuttle. Watch sunset over Uluru from the designated viewing area with a bottle of bubbly from the Yulara IGA. Optional add-ons: Outback Astronomy tour ($60-70 AUD) or a helicopter flight ($180-360 AUD).
🚌Shuttle hop-on/hop-off or shared transfer within the park (~£15)
🛏Swag camp or campground cabin, Yulara (multi-share)
- →Mala Walk with ranger (free)
- →Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre
- →Uluru base walk
- →Sunset viewing of Uluru
Uluru to Coober Pedy — underground night
Coober Pedy, SA
Get back to Alice Springs by shuttle and then take the Greyhound/Premier Stateliner coach south on the Stuart Highway to Coober Pedy (~10 hours, ~£55-75, or book a direct Yulara-Coober Pedy leg with a small-group operator if available). In Coober Pedy, do a self-bookable opal mine tour (~$35 AUD / £18) — Old Timers Mine or Umoona Opal Mine — and sleep underground at a dugout hostel such as the Desert Cave or Underground Motel dorm (~£25-30).
🚌Shuttle back to Alice Springs + coach to Coober Pedy (~£55-75)
🛏Underground hostel dugout, Coober Pedy (multi-share)
- →Old Timers Mine or Umoona Opal Mine tour (~£18)
- →Dugout house visit
Coober Pedy to the Flinders Ranges
Ikara-Flinders Ranges, SA
This is the trickiest DIY leg: public transport to the Flinders is minimal. Options: (a) take the coach to Port Augusta (~£35-45) and stay there, or (b) hire a car in Coober Pedy one-way to Port Augusta/Adelaide (~£45-70/day plus one-way fee) and drive into Wilpena Pound. Budget travellers often group up with fellow hostel guests to split a hire car. Overnight in Wilpena Pound Resort campground or a hostel/cabin in Hawker or Quorn (~£22-30).
🚌Coach to Port Augusta (~£35-45) or shared hire car (~£30-45 pp)
🛏Campground cabin or rural hostel, Flinders Ranges/Port Augusta
- →Scenic drive into the Flinders Ranges
- →Wilpena Pound viewpoint
Flinders Ranges walk and Clare Valley tasting
Ikara-Flinders Ranges to Clare Valley / Adelaide, SA
Do a morning walk — the Wilpena Pound Wangara Lookout hike or the shorter Hills Homestead walk (both free). Then travel south to the Clare Valley; if driving, stop at wineries in Auburn/Sevenhill for a self-guided tasting (most cellar doors charge $10-15 AUD, often waived on purchase). Without a car, base yourself in Clare by coach and join the Clare Valley Wine Trail self-guided cycle route or a shuttle wine tour (~£55). Continue to Adelaide in the evening (coach from Clare ~£20, or drive ~2 hours).
🚌Coach Clare→Adelaide (~£20) or hire car
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Adelaide
- →Wangara Lookout hike, Wilpena Pound (free)
- →Clare Valley cellar door tastings (~£10-20)
Adelaide: laneways, markets and food
Adelaide, SA
Free day in Adelaide. Wander the Central Market and Rundle Mall laneways, do a self-guided street-art walk in the West End, and eat your way through the city (Adelaide Central Market breakfast is a budget highlight, ~£8). Optional extras: dolphin swim cruise from Glenelg (~$120-130 AUD / ~£65) or a day trip to Kangaroo Island (~$283 AUD — pricey, skip unless you have a spare day). Book any Barossa Valley wine tour via GetYourGuide if you want a guided tasting day (~£85).
🚌Walking + Adelaide Metro tram/bus (~£4 day pass)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Adelaide
- →Adelaide Central Market
- →West End street art walk
- →Glenelg beach
- →Optional dolphin cruise (~£65)
Adelaide to the Grampians (Halls Gap)
Halls Gap, Grampians NP, VIC
Take the V/Line coach Adelaide→Melbourne and hop off at Ararat or Stawell (~£35-45, 6-7 hours), then a local bus/taxi into Halls Gap (~£10-15). Alternatively, pick up a hire car in Adelaide and drive (~5.5 hours, ~£40-60/day). Check into a hostel or caravan-park cabin in Halls Gap (~£25-35). Afternoon: walk to the Balconies (Reeds Lookout) for views over the Victoria Valley and visit Mackenzie Falls.
🚌V/Line coach to Ararat/Stawell + local bus (~£45-60 total)
🛏Hostel or caravan park cabin, Halls Gap
- →The Balconies / Reeds Lookout
- →Mackenzie Falls walk
Grampians to the Great Ocean Road (Port Campbell)
Port Campbell, VIC
Early morning hike — the Pinnacle walk from Halls Gap is the classic (~3 hours return). Visit Brambuk the National Park & Cultural Centre (free entry, boomerang throwing and bush-tucker tastings at low cost) to learn about Gariwerd Indigenous culture. Then travel to the coast: with a car it's ~2.5 hours to Port Campbell via Warrnambool; on public transport take the V/Line train to Warrnambool (~£15) then a local coach/taxi (~£12). Overnight in Port Campbell hostel/cabin (~£30-40).
🚌Hire car or V/Line train to Warrnambool + coach (~£25-35)
🛏Hostel or cabin, Port Campbell
- →The Pinnacle hike, Grampians
- →Brambuk Cultural Centre (free)
- →London Arch / Loch Ard Gorge viewpoints
Great Ocean Road to Melbourne
Port Campbell to Melbourne, VIC
Sunrise at the 12 Apostles (the free viewing platform is best before the tour buses arrive at 9am). Walk Loch Ard Gorge and the Gibson Steps, then continue along the Great Ocean Road — self-drive, or book a one-way Great Ocean Road small-group tour from Port Campbell to Melbourne (~£55-75 on GetYourGuide, often the cheapest way to cover the road with stops) which includes the Otway rainforest walk near Apollo Bay. Arrive Melbourne in the evening; onward travel from 8pm is doable. Hostel dorms in Melbourne's CBD (~£25-35).
🚌Great Ocean Road one-way tour or hire car (~£55-75)
🛏Hostel dorm, Melbourne CBD (if staying on)
- →12 Apostles at sunrise
- →Loch Ard Gorge
- →Gibson Steps
- →Great Otway National Park rainforest walk
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£980 | £1,450 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £470 per person (32%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£980
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Red Centre to Melbourne: Self-Launched Outback & Great Ocean Road cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £980 per person for 10 days in Australia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,450 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £980 — a saving of roughly £470 (32%) per person.
How long is the Australia trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Australia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, road-trip, backpacker trip through Australia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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