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Capturing the vibrant culture and cuisine of the South Australian capital, the rugged beauty of Victoria’s coast and one of Australia’s most charming river cities, this multi-day road trip from Adelaide to Mildura, via Portland, offers something for everyone, with plenty of family-friendly activities along the way. As you journey south from Adelaide, consider making stops at the stunning Mount Gambier Blue Lake and the Naracoorte Caves National Park, both must-see South Australian attractions. There’s also the chance to spot whales and hike coastal trails. Then head inland to Mildura, where wineries, international art installations and the mighty Murray River compete for your attention. Our advice? Take your time and take it all in.
This compact capital city is even easier to explore when you’re based at the best accommodation in Adelaide – that is, one of our four properties: Quest Port Adelaide, which is a seven-minute drive from Semaphore Beach; Quest King William South, which sits in the heart of the CBD dining scene; Quest on Franklin, which puts you an easy walk from Adelaide Oval; or Quest Mawson Lakes, which is the ideal jumping-off point to visit the Barossa Valley. All four properties are accessible-accredited.
Settle in for breakfast or brunch at this bright corner café and enjoy the state’s best produce. Made with 95% South Australian ingredients – from meat and grains to dairy and veggies – the menu spans XO crab scrambled eggs and a moreish fried chicken burger. Plus, the excellent coffee by Monastery is roasted right in Adelaide. This is a must-visit Adelaide cafe for locally sourced food.
A picturesque 40-minute drive from Quest King William South, this Adelaide Hills winery offers much more than world-class drops (you must try the shiraz). Elegant onsite restaurant LVN is renowned for its multi-course tasting menus – indigenous ingredients might include saltbush and wattleseed. Be sure to wander the estate’s beautiful gardens among contemporary sculptures.
Take the five-minute stroll from Quest on Franklin to enjoy dinner at this chic Euro-leaning bar and restaurant. A pioneer of the city’s dining scene, the eatery boasts a 400+-bottle wine list that’s designed to match classic dishes such as mushroom pithivier and pappardelle with blue swimmer crab and chilli.
One of the best things to do in Adelaide? Spend three hours on the lookout for bottlenose dolphins, stingrays, fur seals and native birds as you drift down the tranquil mangrove-lined creeks of Garden Island on a guided tour of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary. Among the world’s most easily accessible dolphin sanctuaries, it’s less than 15 minutes’ drive from Quest Port Adelaide. This is a fantastic Adelaide eco-tourism activity and a chance to see marine wildlife up close.
On the south coast of Victoria, the historic city of Portland is a hub for marine exploration. Quest Portland’s 49 apartments and family-friendly pool are close to attractions including the Maritime Discovery Centre, Nuns Beach (where you might spot whales in the bay) and a clutch of 19th-century buildings in the heart of town.
This charming gift store is a must-visit for mementos of your trip. Just five minutes down the road from Quest Portland, you’ll find cookbooks and ceramics, candles and gift cards, and if you can’t choose, the friendly staff will happily make suggestions.
Discover the ancient eel (kooyang) farming and smoking practices of the Gunditjmara people at this education facility about a 35-minute drive from Quest Portland. It’s open Wednesday to Sunday, so book ahead to take a tour or reserve a table at the lakeside café, where a First Nations chef prepares dishes using native ingredients.
For a takeaway coffee, grab-and-go snacks before you hit the road or a sit-down lunch, head to this local favourite. Crowd-pleasing dishes include smashed avo toast at breakfast and a king prawn burger for lunch, but it’s the dedicated toastie menu that can’t be ignored (try the beef brisket).
Drive 20 minutes out Portland through an impressive wind farm to reach this pristine spot where there’s plenty to do: take a dip at the beach, which is patrolled during summer; check out the Tarragal limestone caves with views across Discovery Bay; and watch the saltwater shoot up from blowholes in the rocks.
Quest Mildura is positioned perfectly to discover this thriving riverside city on the border of Victoria and New South Wales. Our 66 apartments are close to restaurants and wineries, the Mildura Arts Centre for culture lovers, the Water Play Park for families and the Mildura Brewery for a cold drink on a hot day. All this comes with the Murray River an easy 15-minute walk away.
Kick-start the day with coffee at this buzzy café just a stroll from Quest Mildura. The space is cool, the service is warm and the unmissable signature dishes include French toast and the Brother Benny (with lamb shoulder cooked for 12 hours). Kids will love the family-friendly café menu, including the chocolate waffle soldiers with ice cream and maple syrup.
Famous for his Field of Light installation at Uluru in the Red Centre, artist Bruce Munro has brought a similar shimmering spectacle to Mildura. Made up of more than 300,000 individual lights arranged on Lock Island, on the Murray River, the twinkling artwork offers a reflective walking journey and a magical local experience.
Sit back and watch houseboats motor down the Murray River as you sip estate-grown chardonnay, shiraz and sauvignon blanc at this renowned Mildura winery that’s only a 15-minute drive from Quest Mildura. The onsite restaurant celebrates Murray-Darling produce with international flair, from roasted Peking duck breast to chicken cotoletta. Finishing with a dessert wine seems only right.
About a 90-minute drive from Quest Mildura, this surreal World Heritage-listed national park is famous for the discovery of Mungo Man and Mungo Lady, human remains said to be more than 42,000 years old. Spanning the lands of the Paakantji, Ngyiampaa and Mutthi Mutthi people, the park’s Mungo Stories Walk Together culture app helps share the stories of the Traditional Owners.
Quest acknowledges the Traditional Owners and cultural Custodians of the land on which our apartment hotels are located throughout Australia and where we gather, work, travel and stay. We recognise and celebrate their continuing connection to lands, waterways and our local communities. We pay our respects to elders past and present for they hold the memories, cultures, traditions and hopes of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.