Meals

• Day 1: Lunch at Apollo Bay Bakery + Dinner (prepared or at local venue – guest participation encouraged)
• Day 2: Breakfast
  Special dietary requirements catered where possible with advance notice (bring extra snacks as options can be limited in remote areas).

Accommodation (Night 1 in Halls Gap)
Deep within Grampians National Park, surrounded by bushland.
• Private Room Option: Ensuite motel room (double/twin or single) with air-conditioning, heating, TV, fridge, linen and towels (Gariwerd Motel or similar)
• Shared Option: Dormitory-style room with bunk beds and shared bathrooms (Grampians Eco YHA or similar)
Group may be split across properties depending on fare type booked. Solo travellers in shared rooms may be paired (same gender where possible, not guaranteed).

✅ What’s Included

Itinerary Activities

• All national park entry fees (Great Otway, Port Campbell & Grampians)
• Guided bush walks (~3–4 km total)
• Comprehensive driver-guide commentary

Meals & Accommodation

• 1 night accommodation in Halls Gap (private or shared option)
• 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner (with guest participation)

Guides & Support

• Experienced driver-guide
• Air-conditioned 24-seater mini-bus

Eco & Practical

• Selected Melbourne inner-city pick-up / Adelaide drop-off
• Minimal-impact practices and cultural respect education

🚫 What’s Not Included

• Meals or beverages beyond those listed
• Hotel transfers beyond listed Melbourne pick-up or Adelaide drop-off
• Travel insurance (highly recommended)
• Personal expenses or souvenirs

Spring & Autumn — Mild days (15–22°C), comfortable for walking and wildlife spotting.
Summer — Warm days (20–28°C), longer daylight hours.
Winter — Cool to cold days (8–18°C), crisp air and possible frost; waterfalls often at full flow.
Victoria’s weather can change quickly — layers and a rain jacket are always recommended.

Variable coastal and mountain weather with possible wind, sun and rain – pack light, responsibly and for layered comfort.

✅ Essentials

• 1 L refillable water bottle
• Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
• Layers (warm jumper/fleece + rain jacket)
• Comfortable sturdy closed-toe walking shoes with good grip
• Small soft overnight bag (max 25 kg) + small day pack (5–7 kg)
• Torch or headlamp
• Camera or binoculars
• Cash or card for snacks

Toiletries & Extras

• Personal medications
• Hand sanitiser
• Swimwear (if swimming opportunities arise)

Luggage Limits

• Small soft overnight bag + day pack only (large suitcases must be left at your Melbourne accommodation)

The Great Ocean Road was built by returned World War I soldiers between 1919 and 1932 as a living memorial to their fallen comrades.

Gariwerd (Grampians National Park) is sacred to the Gunditjmara and Jardwadjali peoples, who have lived here for over 20,000 years and left significant rock art sites.

The 12 Apostles are actually eight remaining limestone stacks (originally nine visible); they are constantly eroded by the powerful Southern Ocean.

Mackenzie Falls is Victoria’s largest waterfall by volume and one of the few that flows year-round.

The Grampians contain over 900 species of native plants, including many found nowhere else, and support populations of eastern grey kangaroos, emus and koalas.

The sandstone ranges are over 400 million years old, with dramatic fault lines creating the jagged peaks and deep valleys seen today.

The route from Halls Gap to Adelaide passes through the Wimmera region, famous for its wheat fields, Pink Lake at Dimboola and the transition into South Australia.

Carbon Footprint & Offset Report: Melbourne to Adelaide 2-Day Great Ocean Road & Grampians Tour

Quick Snapshot

Estimated CO₂e footprint per participant: 195 kg CO₂e
(higher-end conservative estimate – covers all on-tour impacts plus average local travel to/from Melbourne pickup points)

Our 200% offset commitment per booking: 390 kg CO₂e
Funded through genuine landscape restoration in climate-vulnerable developing regions (reforestation, mangroves, soil regeneration, etc.). This creates real net-positive impact beyond neutrality.

Tour summary

• 2 days / 1 night (one-way Melbourne to Adelaide)
• Small group 8–23 travellers (max 23)
• Starts at Melbourne inner-city pickup points (central meeting: Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders St corner Market St); ends Adelaide inner-city drop-off (~7:30pm Day 2)
• Air-conditioned 24-seater Mitsubishi Rosa mini-bus (~520 km total driving)
• 1 night in Halls Gap, Grampians (Gariwerd Motel private ensuite or Grampians Eco YHA shared bathroom, adults 18+)
• Meals: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch (Apollo Bay Bakery), 1 dinner (guest participation at Flying Horse Bar & Brewery or similar)
• Highlights: Great Ocean Road coastline, 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, Great Otway National Park rainforest, Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, Grampians National Park (Boroka Lookout, Reeds Lookout/Balconies, Mackenzie Falls), wildlife spotting (kangaroos, emus)

Overview

This report estimates the carbon footprint for one individual participant on this tour using higher-end data from trusted sources. We intentionally choose upper-range figures to fully cover every impact – including hard-to-measure parts like supply chains and indirect effects.

We then double it (200%) and fund genuine landscape restoration projects in developing and climate-affected regions worldwide. This goes beyond standard offsetting to deliver real, lasting benefits for ecosystems and communities.

All figures in kg CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent – the standard measure that includes all greenhouse gases).

Tour Details

• Duration: 2 days / 1 night
• Key locations: Melbourne start, Great Ocean Road (Apollo Bay, 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, Great Otway National Park), Halls Gap, Grampians National Park (Boroka Lookout, Reeds Lookout/Balconies, Mackenzie Falls), Dimboola Pink Lake, Nhill, Bordertown, Adelaide end
• Travel style: Small-group eco one-way tour with guided bush walks, scenic drives and wildlife focus
• Assumptions: Average participant, standard behaviours, higher-impact choices where uncertain. Local travel to Melbourne pickup points is factored into the higher-end footprint for completeness.

Calculation Approach

• Sources: UK DEFRA 2025 conversion factors, Australian National Greenhouse Accounts 2024, UNWTO tourism data, IPCC guidelines, and peer-reviewed studies.
• Higher-end scale: Upper-range emission factors everywhere, plus well-to-tank fuel effects, +20% uncertainty buffer, and conservative assumptions for Melbourne-to-Adelaide mini-bus operations and tourism-level meals.
• Per person, full tour experience.
• Excludes only purely personal extras (e.g. souvenirs or optional extra tastings).

Detailed Emissions Breakdown (per participant)

Transportation – 105 kg CO₂e

• Average local travel to/from Melbourne pickup points (higher-end mix of car, taxi or public transport): 25 kg
• All on-tour air-conditioned mini-bus transfers (~520 km total, shared small group): 80 kg – higher-end diesel factor with realistic low-occupancy buffer

Accommodation – 45 kg CO₂e

• 1 night in Halls Gap (motel ensuite or eco YHA shared): 45 kg – higher-end for regional energy, heating and laundry

Meals & Food – 25 kg CO₂e

• 2 days of included meals (lunch, dinner with guest participation, breakfast) + snacks: ~12.5 kg per day – higher-impact estimate including production, transport and waste

Activities & Excursions – 20 kg CO₂e

• Guided bush walks (~4 km total), national park entries, lookout stops, wildlife spotting and commentary

TOTAL ESTIMATED FOOTPRINT PER PERSON: 195 kg CO₂e

Our 200% Offset Commitment

• Amount we will offset:2 × 195 kg = 390 kg CO₂e per individual booking
• How: Direct funding of landscape restoration projects – reforestation, mangrove protection, regenerative agriculture, wetland and soil carbon restoration
• Where: Developing countries and regions most affected by climate change (e.g. Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America) for maximum global benefit and community co-benefits
• Why 200% and higher-end estimates: To guarantee coverage despite any measurement discrepancies and to create genuine extra positive impact

Important Notes

• Numbers are deliberately conservative (higher) so we over-deliver on restoration – real footprint may be lower
• The tour already has strong sustainability practices (minimal ecosystem disturbance, respect for traditional owners, refillable water encouraged, stay on designated tracks, no feeding wildlife, waste management, guest participation in meal prep/clean-up); our independent higher-end analysis adds extra certainty
• Carbon accounting has natural uncertainties – doubling it is the responsible way
• This directly supports long-term carbon-sequestering landscapes and local communities

Is this a round-trip or one-way tour?
This is a one-way tour ending in Adelaide on Day 2 (~7:30pm).

Can children join?
Yes from age 6 (accompanied); not suitable for under 6.

What type of accommodation do I get?
Depends on the fare booked — private ensuite motel room or shared dormitory (details confirmed at booking).

How much walking is required?
Approximately 3–4 km total over 2 days on uneven tracks with steep sections — moderate fitness needed.

Is food provided?
Yes — 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner (dietary requirements catered with notice).

What if I have dietary requirements?
Please advise at booking — options are catered where possible, but bring snacks as remote areas have limited choices.

Are there kangaroo sightings guaranteed?
Kangaroos are regularly seen, especially at dusk, but wildlife is never guaranteed.

What is the luggage limit?
Small soft overnight bag (max 25 kg) + day pack only. Large suitcases must stay in Melbourne.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
No — the walks and terrain are not suitable for wheelchairs or mobility aids.

What happens if it rains?
The tour operates in light to moderate rain. Only extreme weather causes cancellation.