Australia

Halls Gap is a good jumping off point for hikes and drives thru the mountains.
Just south of there near the small village of Koroit is the Tower Hill Reserve, which we've been to a couple of times. There are several very nice hiking trails thru the reserve where you can see mobs of grey kangaroos, emus, and even some koalas roaming freely around an ancient caldera. We thought it one of the most enchanting places we visited in Australia.
From there you can also drive along at least a portion of the Great Ocean Road to the Twelve Apostles...although it would make for a long day out from Halls Gap unless you overnighted somewhere along the way, one possibility being the international surfing mecca of Bell's Beach a bit closer to Melbourne. The GOR really is one of the world's great scenic drives.

I agree with above post - Halls Gap is a good base.

Great info. Thanks. And we were thinking about the Great Ocean Road too. It seemed a little far to go to the Twelve Apostles. We thought apollo bay. But I will check it out. Any favorites along the way ?

It would be a very long day to try to drive part of the GOR from Halls Gap, but worth it in my opinion. Better to find somewhere to stay overnight and make it a more relaxing 2 day trip. Apollo Bay is as good a place as any.
The Twelve Apostles is the big photo op along the coast, but it's all pretty. Nearby is the Otway Fly Treetop Walk - also worth a stop.
Best bet is to find a good guidebook that describes the GOR in some detail to help with your planning. We used "Back Roads Australia", available on Amazon, but there are many others.
As you pass thru the Cape Otway section of the road be alert for cars parked along random stretches of the road...it means there are Koalas in the trees nearby.

Hi Anny. Good choice. You will love the Grampians. Ideal place to base yourself would be Halls Gaps. Go to the Visitor Information Centre there and check out the multitude of great walks available.
It is only a two hour 160 kilometre scenic drive from Halls Gap to Port Fairy on the GOR. Port Fairy is one of my favourite places. Spend a couple of nights there and check out the GOR. Just be mindful that January is the middle of our usually very hot summer. However, it will be cooler in the mountains and on the coast.

All really helpful suggestions. Thanks so much.

Hi Anny,

I’m assuming you’re travelling to/from Melbourne when visiting Halls Gap so…………

As Judy suggested Port Fairy is a nice village on the GOR and about 2hrs drive from Halls Gap, once you’re on the GOR you may as well make the most of it. Make sure you get a good guide to the GOR before you set out there is a lot to see along the way.

When you leave Port Fairy, the twelve Apostles are only 1.5 hrs towards Melbourne

Apollo Bay another 1.5 hrs after that.

Melbourne is another 2.5 hrs.

If you have the time when you leave Apollo Bay, could I suggest rather than going directly back to Melbourne via Geelong you head east to Queenscliff, catch the ferry across the mouth of Port Phillip Bay to Portsea and make your way up the eastern side to Melbourne. This is known as the Mornington Peninsula and has some very nice wineries etc Going this way from Apollo Bay would be around 6hrs allowing for the ferry

I hope you have the time to appreciate it, or you may need to come back again.

Also note because it’s summer and school holiday time it’s peak holiday season through January so accommodation may be hard to get in some towns.