Camplify Uncovered: Ned & Tegan do South Australia!

Meet Tegan and Ned and their dream van Dolce Sole. We recently partnered with the duo and sent them on an epic road trip from Melbourne Victoria, all the way through to South Australia. If this road trip as been on your list for a while then Tegan and Ned have the guide for you!

Keep scrolling adventurers… Kicking off our journey, Melbourne!

Day One: Melbourne CBD

We kicked our journey off in the bubbling, bustling Melbourne! If you're looking for a place to stay in the city we found the sweetest campsite, Discovery Park Melbourne, located just a 25-minute drive from the city.

HIGHLIGHTS: No trip to Melbourne is complete without a spot of vintage shopping and eating your way through some of the most incredible street food you will ever have!

FOOD: Little Hop - MEXICAN Finas vegan restaurant, Fitzroy. Best Vietnamese ever!

TIPS: Explore the second-hand shops. Some of our favourites are; Tibbs & Bone, American Vintage, Vintage Garage, and Retropolis.

Other things to do in Melbourne CBD Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens Head to the 88th Floor at the Eureka Skydeck for epic views Jump on the city circle tram for a quick ride around the city

Day Two: Melbourne - Gibson Steps

TRAVEL: Total travel time 4 hours

Our road trip is now officially underway! We drove slowly, stopping at windmills and scenic lookouts. There is SO much to see on the Great Ocean Road and it is so beautiful from the moment you set off.

Three hours into the Great Ocean Road and we made it to our first destination, Gibson Steps, Port Campbell National Park. Dwarfed by 70m high cliffs and limestone stacks that rise out of the ocean, we walked down the 86 steps to the beach. After spending the afternoon exploring hidden bays and rocky outcrops we headed to our next stop on the road trip, Kywong caravan park.

HIGHLIGHTS: Witnessing the 12 Apostles in the rain, visiting Gibson Steps, The Grotto, and Loch Ard Gorge.

FOOD: We used Dolce to make all our meals today, toasties, eggs, and had some trusty van snacks on hand.

TIPS : Be sure to pack your food, there aren’t heaps of cafes or good food spots around. Also, school buses arrived around 3 pm at the 12 apostles, be wary of that if you want to take photos with not many people around.

SLEPT: Kywong Caravan Park - $25

Other things to do on The Great Ocean Road

• Stop at the Memorial Arch on Eastern View

• Chase waterfalls - Erskine Falls and Hopetoun Falls are beautiful

• Stick around for sunset at the 12 Apostles

Day Three: Kywong - Little Blue Lake

TRAVEL: Total travel time 2.5 hours

We hit the road and crossed the border into South Australia, onto the Southern Ocean Road. Our first destination for the day - Little Blue Lake, a volcanic sinkhole in the middle of a paddock and yes, it’s open to the public! We spent a few hours swimming before heading off again in search of Blue Lake in Mount Gambier.

Blue Lake, is bigger, bluer, and has a 3.6 kilometer road and walking track hugging the circumference of the lake, leading you to viewpoints and an epic underpass between the Blue Lake and the Leg of Mutton Lake.

Our next stop on the map was Robe, arriving just as the sun was setting over the harbour. We grabbed some burgers from The Burger Co and then settled into our bed with ocean views from the caravan park - such an epic end to the day!

HIGHLIGHTS: Cliff jumping at Little Blue Lake looked epic, but if you are unsure, you can ask the locals. The views were amazing on this drive and sleeping with sunset views, well, there's nothing better!

FOOD: Dolce van kitchen served up toast and eggs for brekky. We found the sweetest little café for coffee and ice cream, Badenoch's Deli, and put The Burger Co on your list for some dinnertime treats.

TIPS : Be sure to make time for Robe, we didn’t have enough time to explore properly and the town looked amazing

SLEPT: Sea Vu Caravan Park, Robe - $45

Other things to do in Mount Gambier National Park

• The Umpherston Sinkhole (or the Sunken Garden) is one of the most spectacular gardens in SA

• The Naracoorte Caves in the south-eastern region of South Australia are very popular with tourists

• Grab a selfie with the Big Red Lobster

Day Four: Robe - Cape Jervis

TRAVEL : Total travel time 7 hours, including ferry crossing.

Setting off we headed out for Cape Jervis and the Kangaroo Island ferry terminal. From Robe to Cape Jervis the drive is about 5 hrs, but once you are on the ferry its a quick 45 minute trip to Kangaroo Island. The ferry cost $430AUD return for our 6.5 metre long van and 2 adults.

We boarded the ferry at 2.30 pm and loaded Dolce for the first island adventure (of many to come). A super-smooth ferry ride landed us at Emu Bay on Kangaroo Island. We drove down to the beach for sunset and indulged in a feast of rice, veggies, and dumplings for dinner. There is a pretty good campsite down by the beach, so we paid our fee and settled in for the night.

HIGHLIGHTS: Taking Dolce on its first ferry & island adventure. Shopping for supplies and having a sweet little old school camera to use for the rest of the trip & sunset at the beach!

FOOD : Smoothies in the van for breakfast, salad for lunch, and an Asian-style feast for dinner all lovingly made in Dolce.

TIPS: Pre-download the island maps off google maps as the reception is little to none. Buy groceries and stock up on water too. P.s don’t forget bug spray, it’s a must!

SLEPT: Emu Bay Caravan Site - $25 (no pre booking, just turn up and pay. No showers or toilet too, you can use the beach facilities nearby)

Other things to do around Kangaroo Island

• Visit Hanson Bay Sanctuary for a chance to see the koalas

• Explore Stokes Bay & the rocky Lagoons

• Visit Cape Borda Lighthouse

Day Five: Emu Bay - Stokes Bay

TRAVEL: Total travel time 2 hours.

We spent the morning at Emu Bay, soaking up the sun and shooting some epic content. Mid-morning snacks came in the form of sweet-potato loaded fries, seafood, and coffees from Mini De Light café. It was here we heard about a secret beach at Stokes Bay. We set off in search of the beach and found it!

We followed the signs ‘to the beach’ squeezing through the small gaps between the rocks and out in the hidden waters of Stokes Bay! The beach is heaven on earth; beautiful, pristine, and worth the little trek to get here.

HIGHLIGHTS: Facing my fear of the rocks and hanging out at one of the best beaches I have ever seen.

FOOD : Minis De Light café for lunch and Dolche Van for dinner.

TIPS : Chat to the locals, they know all the best spots!

SLEPT: Stokes Bay Caravan Park, no pre-booking $17 PayPass machine.

Day Six: Stokes Bay - Vivonee Bay

Day six started with coffee at the Vivonne Bay general store before heading out to Flinders Chase National Park. The entry fee is $11 and includes a map and a friendly chat with the ranger. Unfortunately, the National Park was hit pretty badly by the wildfires and around 48% of the island suffered including the wildlife who lived here. The land is regenerating though, it’s bittersweet to see burnt trees next to the brand new life growing. Ned took the chance to skate down the famous windy road on the island before finishing our day at Admirals Arch. We made sure to return to Emu Bay before sunset as driving is strongly not advised to protect the wildlife crossing the roads.

TRAVEL: Total travel time 3.5 hours.

HIGHLIGHTS: Watching the seals play on the beach at Admirals Arch. Watching Ned in his element skating down a pretty epic road and connecting with the locals in the National Park.

FOOD: Vivonne Bay General story – delicious Salad Sando & Coffee and the chance to stock up on food for the van.

TIPS: Take the main roads and avoid shortcuts as most are dirt tracks. Emu Bay Road & B23 are tar roads, easy for driving, and safe.

SLEPT: Emu Bay Caravan Site - $25 (no pre-booking, just turn up and pay. No showers or toilet too, you can use the beach facilities nearby)

Day Seven: Emu Bay - Penneshaw Terminal - Sellicks Beach

There is something pretty sweet about waking up on the beach for sunrise in your campervan, it’s just magic. We spent the morning drinking coffee in the van, shooting the sunrise, and slowly making our way back to the Penneshaw Terminal as it was time to leave the island and head back to the mainland. Loaded up and 45 minutes later we hit the road and found a beach that so fondly reminded us of our time in Sicily. The high cliffs and beautiful sand took me right back to Europe. We made it just in time for sunset at Willunga and the day ended here.

TRAVEL: Total travel time 3.5 hours.

HIGHLIGHTS: Visiting Sellicks beach and spending the whole afternoon reminiscing about European adventures.

FOOD: Van breaky smoothie on route to the ferry. One Little Sister, Normanville for lunch.

TIPS: Willunga Blanch View Point is the best place for sunset. You can drive your car down to Sellick Beach but always check the tide times. Don’t leave without visiting Sellick Lookout, on the corner of Esplanade & Palmerston Avenue.

SLEPT: BIG 4 WILLUNGA campground - $45

Other things to do around Sellicks Beach

• Visit Aldinga Bay for more coastal vibes

• Explore Maslin beach for a swim and sunbathe

• Sample local wines at Minko Wines

Day Eight: Willunga - Seppeltsfield

Did you go to South Australia if you didn't indulge in a little wine tasting? Perfectly located just a ten-minute drive from Willunga you will find Rabbithole wines, a delicious little stop off on route to Seppeltsfield. Down the Rabbithole Wines has a cocktail of the week and wine of the week. Seppeltsfield is a palm tree haven, we chucked up the drone to grab some shots and retired for the day with a very tasty veggie curry from Kampung Kitchen.

TRAVEL: Total travel time 2 hours.

HIGHLIGHTS: Finding the double-decker bus & taking home some delicious wine’s from the tasting.

FOOD: You must try the veggie curry at Kampung Kitchen, it was delish!

TIPS : If you have a drone, take it. The views from above are amazing! Also, daytime wine tasting means you can sample the goods (legally) and purchase a few bottles to take with you on the road.

SLEPT : Discovery Park Barossa Valley $25 –great value for money and amazing for kids, they even had a mini water park!

Other things to do around Seppeltsfield

• Book on a guided wine tour

• Segway your way through SA

• Visit the Seppeltsfield Mausoleum

Day 9: Seppeltsfield - Ethel Bay

Road trips are epic. Not only do you cover so much ground, get off the beaten track, and make amazing memories you are guaranteed to return with a tale or two. Today was one of our funny encounters. We arrived in a small town called Mallala for a quick pit stop, caffeine was high on the agenda. The only place we could find coffee was from the local pub, the bartender offered us beer multiple times because she hates making coffee, the proof was in the cup. We quickly gave up on our Mallala coffee mission. We arrived at Ethel Bay, right on time for sunset with not another soul in sight. Think high rising cliffs, deep orange skies, and silence, magic!

TRAVEL: Total travel time 4 hours.

HIGHLIGHTS : Arriving at Ethel Bay for the most magical sunset.

FOOD : Van Eggs & toast for breakfast. Dinner, Gluten-free pasta, al fresco from Dolce.

TIPS : Buy good coffee in the supermarket for moments like this when you can't find your takeaway fix.

SLEPT: Shell Beach Campsite $16.50 be sure to book online.

Day 10: Shell Beach - Moonta Bay

The Shell Beach Campsite is such a great place to stay, the beach is on your van doorstep. Now, Dolce Sole is a powerhouse campervan but not built for the backroads. The roads around this area are a little rocky and bumpy, so we took our time and stayed on the tar seal roads en route to Moonta Bay for the sake of the van!

TRAVEL: Total travel time 2.5 hours.

HIGHLIGHTS: Finding the rock pools before hitting the road for the day.

FOOD : It was a Dolce Day, Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner all made in our campervan kitchen.

TIPS : The phone signal here isn’t great, so download maps to your phone before you arrive.

SLEPT : Moonta Bay Holiday Park - $41, such an amazing town and waterfront campsite, lots of playgrounds for families

Other things to do around Moonta

• Visit the Moonta Bay jetty

• Find the old sweet shop and stock up on goodies

• Stop for Gelato at Coffee Barn Gelateria, so yummy!

Day 11: Whyalla - Coffin Bay

On day 11 we found our favourite café on the trip! Nook & Nourish was exactly that, nourishing, delicious, and lots of Vegan & GF options, so awesome… plus great coffee! We wandered around the town, checking out their range of cute vintage stores. We grabbed lunch after purchasing some nick-nacks and vintage magazines. Another famous jetty provided a great location for us to shoot. We visited the Talia Caves, such an epic little stop-off before finally ending the day at Whyalla.

TRAVEL : Total travel time 4 hours.

HIGHLIGHTS : Finding good food and coffee & also some pretty beautiful photoshoot locations.

FOOD : Nook & Nourish is a must-do! Cafe Capellas for a Risotto & Salad lunch.

TIPS : Spend some time wandering around the town here. Great vintage shops & the perfect place to pick up some unique pieces.

SLEPT : Whyalla Discovery Park - $36

Other things to do around Coffin Bay

• Walk along the white sands of Talia Beach

• Stop at Needles Eye lookout

• Explore all the caves around the beach

Day 12: Talia Caves - Haslam Caravan Park

Did you know that Coffin Bay is famous for Oysters? There is a small Oyster HQ set up with stalls and a bar in the ocean next to the Oyster farms, it doesn’t get much fresher than that! Once we had our share of oysters, we headed off to explore the Tahlia Caves where you’ll find some of the best coastal scenery in Australia! The Talia Cave Tourist Drive leads to two great caves, both beautifully coloured by the distinctive limestone and granite formations. Next up we headed to the Woolshed caves for sunset and it was MAGICAL!

TRAVEL: Total travel time 4 hours.

HIGHLIGHTS: Discovering brand new places & hanging out at the Woolshed Caves for sunset.

FOOD : If you love Oysters, Coffin Bay is a must! Lots of tours around too!

TIPS : Visit the Woolshed at sunset, it is so beautiful. Pre-download your maps again, the phone signal isn’t great.

SLEPT : Talia Caves Headland

Other things to do around Talia Caves

• Take a private historical boat tour

• Stop at Coffins lookout

• Visit an oyster farm

Day 13: Haslam - Pink Lake - Port Augusta

We started our day at Talia Caves on the hunt for the BIG rock pools. Hot tip for you – head down the Woolshed beach steps and turn right, head past the little bay, and BOOM, there they are. Be careful with the tides as they all differ, but they are pretty magical. We heard from some locals that there is a sweet little spot called Smooth Pool suitable for those with a 4WD. We saw the most incredible sunset on the beach, totally worth it! We knew the drive to Pink Lake would be huge so we set off and drove as far as we could before stopping for a veggie burger feast before bed.

TRAVEL: Total travel time 9 hours.

HIGHLIGHTS : Incredible sunsets at Smooth Pool!

FOOD : GF Veggie van burgers, on the road at 10 pm!

TIPS : To find the BIG rock pools head down the Woolshed Beach steps and turn right, keep walking around the little bay and you will find them.

SLEPT : Haslam Campground - leave a donation of $15. The toilets are on the beach and there is no shower.

Day 14: Port Augusta - Pink Lake

We promise your eyes do not deceive you, the lake is that pink and it is crazy! South Australia is home to some of the world's most vibrant lakes. After stopping for supplies and coffee in the Smoky Bay general store we arrived at Pink Lake at Low Tide. We can officially tick skating down the road, behind the van with the pink lake next to us off the bucket list – how epic! As our road trip drew to a close we had some big drives ahead to fit in the last stops on our South Australia road trip itinerary. We drove seven hours to the next stop,

TRAVEL : Total travel time 9 hours

HIGHLIGHTS : Skating behind Dolce right next to the pink lake! It was such an epic photoshoot too.

FOOD : Smoky Bay General Store has all the goods.

TIPS : Check the tides for the lake and pack food and water – not much around the area to buy.

SLEPT : Shoreline caravan park port Augusta - $39. The large fence around the entire campsite made us feel a little uneasy & there are lots of warning signs around.

Day 15: Port Augusta - Flinders Ranges - Hawker

We started our journey to Hawker early, heading through the ranges and stopping at all the lookout points. Stoke Hill was a personal fave, very beautiful!

TRAVEL: Total travel time 3 hours

HIGHLIGHTS : Finding secluded lookouts and enjoying them all to ourselves, just us three.

FOOD : Dolce specials of smoothies, eggs and toast, and salad for dinner.

TIPS : Check for 4WD tracks before you set off, you don’t want to get caught out. Preload your google maps and be careful driving at dusk or dark, there is so much wildlife on the road.

SLEPT : Hawker Caravan Park

Other things to do around The Flinders Ranges

• Check out Arkaroo Rock Trail

• Stop at Stokes Hill Lookout

• Take your time and drive slowly through the ranges.

Day 16: Hawker - Wagga Wagga

All good things must come to an end and we are SO sad about it! But it's time to get dolce home so you can book your very own epic South Australia road trip. Check out our highlights below including the best sunset locations and foodie stops. We have spliced in some epic stops along the way too so if you have more time you can explore further on your South Australia road trip!

Trip Highlights:

Our Favourite sunset locations

• SELLICKS BEACH

• WILLUNGA BLANCHE LOOKOUT

• 12 APOSTLES

• ETHEL BAY

• TALIA CAVES

• RAZORBACK LOOKOUT

Foodie Faves

• VIVONNE BAY GENERAL STORE: Cater to all needs & delish great coffees.

• THE BURGER CO ROBE

• NOOK & NOURISH

Want to hire Dolce Sole yourself?

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