Melbourne to Adelaide: The Ultimate Great Ocean Road Trip - Melbourne to Apollo Bay in 2 Days of Food, Coffee & Scenic Drives (Part 2)
- Mario Ng
- Jun 26
- 8 min read
Updated: 23 minutes ago
🚗 The Ultimate Melbourne to Adelaide Road Trip Series
What began as a casual chat about Europe turned into the ultimate Melbourne to Adelaide road trip — here’s how we planned every unforgettable kilometre.
Part 2: Melbourne to Apollo Bay in 2 Days of Food, Coffee & Scenic Drives
From a Dreamliner touchdown to scenic coastal drives, boutique stays, and seafood feasts — our Australian adventure kicked off with style, sunshine, and serious road trip vibes.
From smoked trout breakfasts and sanctuary strolls to a breathtaking chopper ride over the Twelve Apostles — our Great Ocean Road journey hit full stride with wildlife, wonders, and winding roads all the way to Mount Gambier.
Part 4: From Mount Gambier to Melbourne: A Scenic South Australian Road Trip Through Adelaide’s Hidden Gems
From marathon drives and foodie discoveries to wine tastings, Vietnamese feasts, and unforgettable moments with friends — our Adelaide chapter was a rich blend of flavour, friendship, and scenic surprises.
Part 5: Final Stretch: One-Day Drive, Silo Art & City Eats
From silos and sunsets to one final stroll through Melbourne’s markets, we wrapped up our 721-kilometre return drive with heartfelt meals, sky-high views, and the kind of memories only the open road can offer.
🏨 The Ultimate Melbourne to Adelaide Road Trip Series: Where We Stayed
Sofitel Melbourne on Collins – A suite stay to kick off the trip in style
Apollo Bay Waterfront Motor Inn – Coastal charm and convenience
Mount Gambier Hotel – A comfy stop after a long day’s drive
Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets – Boutique vibes, thanks to a Dennis Bunnik review
Sofitel Adelaide – A must-stay. The first five-star hotel in Adelaide in 30 years
Mercure Welcome Melbourne – A quick crash pad after the long return drive
W Melbourne – A luxurious suite stay to end the journey in style
Day 0: Departure from Singapore – Let the Adventure Begin!
Date: 27 July 2022
Location: Singapore Changi Airport, Terminal 3
The day of our Australian road trip had finally arrived. We met at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 Starbucks for a cup of coffee before checking in. Here we go!
Waiting patiently in the transit area, we bought some magazines and snapped some pictures of ourselves and the plane. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner definitely looked beautiful. She’s a gorgeous beauty!
Day 1: Arriving in Melbourne – From Dreamliner to Dream Car
Flight: Scoot TR18 (01:35 – 11:00)
Date: 28 July 2022
Destination: Melbourne, Australia
In-Flight Highlights
On board the flight, we were informed that we could have our complimentary meal either at the beginning or towards the end of our flight. We thought about it for a moment and decided to have a late supper. We had already pre-ordered our complimentary meal during our booking, choosing the Singapore Airlines laksa served in a paper box that is usually served on regional flights. Of course, Singapore Airlines' food, especially its laksa, can do no wrong. The entire content was soon wiped out. We could choose any beverage, and I got a can of orange juice. The snack came in the form of Nibbles Double Chocolate Lava Cookies. Each box came with three pieces, and it felt somewhat misleading that the nutrition facts stated the box contained three servings. And with each serving having 150 calories, I absorbed 450 calories in two minutes. Worth it.
As we neared Australia, we were awoken by the glimpse of sunlight shining in from the windows. Ah, it was the beautiful sunrise witnessed from 35,000 feet above sea level. It was majestic, and we were glad to have seen this. After admiring it for a while and taking the all-important pictures, I soon dozed off again. After some 7 hours and 25 minutes, our plane touched down! We were in Melbourne!
🌅 Pro Tip: Choose a left-side window seat for overnight flights into Australia—you might catch a magical sunrise!
Arrival & Car Rental – Mercedes-Benz Magic
After exiting immigration, we headed straight to the car park to get our rental car. After entering the Sixt booth and registering our particulars, we soon found out the car we were given. Truth be told, at that time, I had forgotten what car we initially reserved, except that it was a Mercedes-Benz. Hence, when they gave us the keys to a Mercedes-Benz CLA200, I was ecstatic. We could not wait to complete the registration process, and we soon briskwalked to the parking lot containing our car. And of course, we had to spend ten minutes taking photos of this beautiful car. It was also the start of our immense admiration for this vehicular beauty. After figuring out the features of the car, we soon made our way to the city.
Exploring Melbourne: Sofitel, Specialty Coffee & Shopping Sprees
Sofitel Melbourne on Collins - Check-In
We checked into Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, our home base for the night. The room was elegant, and the view was incredible; we wasted no time snapping photos for our review.
Market Lane Coffee – First Taste of Melbourne's Coffee Scene
Located just across the street, Market Lane Coffee was the perfect first café stop. Known for their premium brews, we savoured a smooth latte and shared a flaky pastry. The café lived up to its reputation.
☕ Melbourne Travel Tip: Market Lane Coffee is a must-visit for coffee lovers!
DFO South Wharf – Outlet Heaven
After coffee, we headed back to the hotel for an afternoon tea break at Club Sofitel. Once we got the food out of the way, we headed straight to DFO South Wharf, Melbourne’s premier luxury outlet destination. With luxury brands like Polo Ralph Lauren and Boss, as well as sports brands like Nike and Adidas, this mall is a shopaholic’s dream come true. For those seeking further bargains, you can shop to your heart’s content at other brands like Timberland, Tissot, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and Victoria’s Secret. There are so many different brands that I cannot mention them all. We managed to squeeze in some time in between shopping to indulge in a chocolate break at Lindt Café and picked up souvenirs for friends back home.
After some shopping, we found some time to have a stroll around South Wharf Promenade. The sun was setting by that point, and the scenery was just amazing. We managed to capture a few shots of the city. Melbourne looked stunning.
Somehow, after that, we managed to squeeze in even more time to have a quick photoshoot of our beautiful rental car. We then headed back to Sofitel Melbourne on Collins for a room service dinner and finally called it a night.
🛍️ Shopping Tip: Block out half a day (or more!) for DFO South Wharf — it’s a bargain hunter’s paradise. For the ultimate convenience, stay right next door at Pan Pacific or Novotel South Wharf.
Day 2: Melbourne to Apollo Bay – Scenic Drives & Fresh Seafood
Date: 29 July 2022
Route: Melbourne → Geelong → Apollo Bay
Brunch at Pope Joan
The next morning, we slept in to compensate for the previous long day and checked out. We then enjoyed a light brunch at Pope Joan, a beautiful café beside the hotel. Then it was time to hit the road!
Geelong Pit Stop – The Boathouse Experience
We made our journey south and drove towards Apollo Bay. Even though it was expected to take some 3 hours, we split our journey into two, first heading to The Geelong Boat House to enjoy a proper plate of Fish and Chips! As we had just finished our light lunch at Pope Joan, we decided to share a fish and chips, adding another plate of calamari, and enjoyed another cup of latte each. As with most seafood in coastal cities Down Under, the food was delicious. The fish tasted incredibly fresh, and the calamari was springy - a great way to enjoy those squid. Even though we were still quite full from our light lunch, we managed to finish everything at The Geelong Boat House. This is a great pitstop to enjoy a meal before heading off to your next destination!
While my friend was busy on the phone, I managed to capture a few shots of the birds eyeing our fish and chips from afar. Thankfully, we were seated indoors and they did not have a chance to share our meal. Although it was indoors, the weather made it chilly, and we were thankful for the fireplace that warmed us as we indulged in the fresh fish and chips. The weather was perfect that day, and we took the opportunity to snap pictures of the surroundings. It was just stunning and reminded us how beautiful Australia is!
🍽️ Dining Highlight: Break up the Melbourne–Apollo Bay drive with fish, chips, and bay views at The Geelong Boat House — a delicious detour you won’t regret!
Scenic Route to Apollo Bay
After taking yet more photos of our car, we sped towards Apollo Bay! Halfway towards Apollo Bay, we saw yet more beautiful landscapes of the country, stopped, took some pictures, took more photos of the car, and continued our way to Apollo Bay. Finally, some 5 hours after we first left Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, we arrived at our next destination. We checked in at Apollo Bay Waterfront Motor Inn.
Dinner in Apollo Bay – Casalingo’s Culinary Delight
We headed straight to Casalingo, a fantastic restaurant in the heart of Apollo Bay. Once again, we indulged in their fresh seafood, enjoying freshly shucked oysters, a fish of the day dish, Gnocchi with slow-braised beef ragu, and pork ribs. Of course, all of the dishes were fantastic, and it was our best meal yet so far in Australia. Perhaps due to the cold weather, we had more room for desserts and promptly ordered two to share. We had the following:
Dark chocolate & honey semifreddo, chocolate torte, hazelnut praline
Orange marmalade frangipane tart, served with housemade bayleaf ice cream
Both desserts were excellent, and we finished everything on the plates. Our bellies satisfied, we headed back to the hotel, but not before taking advantage of being away from the city, capturing some fantastic shots of the skies.
🍽️ Dining Highlight: Craving a hearty meal in Apollo Bay? Casalingo serves up some of the town’s finest food — definitely worth booking a table for!
What’s Next?
With Apollo Bay as our perfect coastal base, we are only just getting started. Next up: dramatic cliffs, winding roads, and unforgettable views as we take on the iconic Great Ocean Road. From the Twelve Apostles to hidden beach towns, stay tuned for the next leg of our Australian road trip adventure!
👉 Coming up in Part 3:
Windswept coastlines, wild koalas, and the jaw-dropping beauty of the Great Ocean Road—don’t miss it!
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