Electric car road trip itineraries

Swapped to an electric vehicle (EV) and wondering how far a charge can take you? With hundreds of charging stations around the state, it's easy to map out an electric car road trip itinerary in Victoria –so you can drive your EV, worry-free.

We've put together four routes for the perfect midweek or weekend road trip. Explore towns and villages along the way; recharge your batteries while you dine, or stay somewhere where you can easily power up overnight.

Make a plan

Allow plenty of time to charge your EV on your road trip. Road conditions (such as hills) can affect the battery's range.

At some AC charging stations, you'll need your own cable to connect a port to your electric car.

Find charging stations using the Evie or ChargeFox apps. You can also map out a route using PlugShare.com or A Better Routeplanner.

The Great Ocean Road

Estimated driving time: roughly 5.5 hours (Melbourne to Warrnambool).

The beachside town of Torquay officially marks the start of the Great Ocean Road. Top up your EV at RACV Torquay (1 Great Ocean Road, Torquay), before hitting the winding roads of Victoria's best-loved coastal drive. While you wait, take advantage of the resort's direct beach access, or grab a bite to eat in their family-friendly restaurant.

If you're working with a bit more range, stop in Apollo Bay. There are several recharge stations in town including two ports at Great Ocean Road Brewhouse (29 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay) where you can sample one of over 100 craft beers on the menu and soak up the sun in their beer garden, with its stunning ocean views. Chocolate Gannets (6180 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay) also offers a charging station for guests if you have the option of staying overnight in luxury villas right on the beach.

Continue to curl along the Great Ocean Road, stopping at sights along the way. Take a unique nature tour with a conservation guide at Wildlife Wonders or keep an eye out for koalas near Kennett River. Make friends with ferns along the Maits Rest walking trail and ogle the magnificent 12 Apostles.

Spend the night in Warrnambool. Recharge your own batteries at Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs (Worm Bay Road, Warrnambool), relaxing tired muscles in the heated rock pools of their thermal spa.

Keen to kick on further? Head on to the seaside town of Port Fairy, dropping into Tower Hill Reserve along the way. Or, hit the highway, making a stop to use the plugs at Otway Estate (10 Hoveys Road, Barongarook West). The town of Forrest is well worth exploring, with over 60 kilometres of sign-posted walking tracks and close proximity to Lake Elizabeth.

Wilsons Promontory

Estimated driving time: 3 hours (Melbourne to Wilsons Promontory)

Recharge in nature, with an electric car road trip to Wilsons Promontory. Explore tiny towns along the way and chase adventure in one of the state's wildest national parks.

Convenient halfway mark RACV Inverloch (70 Cape Paterson-Inverloch Road, Inverloch) has charging ports. While you wait, dine in their onsite restaurant, against a backdrop of the ocean. Alternatively, you may want to break up your journey with a stop in the small towns of Wonthaggi or Fish Creek. State Coal Mine (Garden Street, Wonthaggi) is the only historic coal mine experience in Australia and has free charging ports. Fill your car battery and your belly at the art deco Fish Creek Hotel (1 Old Waratah Rd, Fish Creek). Extend your time with a stop for great grapes at Waratah Hills Winery.

Adventure awaits at Wilsons Promontory, where you can ditch the car for two legs. Jump on the Mt Oberon Summit Walk for epic views or immerse yourself in southern temperature rainforest along the Lilly Pilly Gully Circuit. Dip your toes into the turquoise waters of Squeaky Beach or cruise along to the dramatic granite Skull Rock. Stay a night or two at Tidal River Campground. The campsite has popular charging facilities - make sure you book a time slot in advance.

It's around 210 kilometres back to Melbourne, so a full charge at Wilsons Prom should easily see you home. Break up the journey with a stop in the town of Loch to rumble through its antique and boutique stores and pop into Loch Brewery and Distillery. Pick up some gourmet goodies at Prom Country Cheese farm or detour off the South Gippsland Highway to Djinta Djinta Winery and de Vine Restaurant for a delicious lunch.

Bendigo

Estimated driving time: roughly 4.5 hours round trip.

Hit the road, heading deep into Victoria's Goldfields.The gourmet village of Kyneton is perfect for a pit stop. Plug your car into the town's EVIE charging station (7/15 Baynton Street, Kyneton) and head off in search of sustenance. We suggest Home Grown on Piper for a hearty, healthy brekky, Fook Shing for South East Asian cuisine or Miss M's Lounge for delicious Spanish tapas. For coffee lovers, pop into The Town Roaster to try their tasty seasonal blends. 

Walk off your meal with a wander along Piper Street, popping your head into its antique dealers.

Head on to Bendigo, where there are plenty of places to plug in for the night. Mercure Bendigo Schaller (60 Lucan Street, Bendigo) offer ports to hotel guests, as does the Goldfields Motor Inn (308 High St, Golden Square).

There are plenty of ways to while away the hours in Bendigo. Wander through Rosalind Park and pop into Bendigo Art Gallery. Explore the city's Chinese heritage at the Golden Dragon Museum and spy street art down Chancery and Bath Lanes.

Belly rumbling? Head to Alium Dining for modern European dishes, The Woodhouse for chargrilled meats or dine fine at renowned restaurant Masons of Bendigo. Kick on with a tipple or two at Ms Batterhams lounge bar or admire the cityscape from Nimbus Rooftop.

Fully charged, make your back home, stopping in the town of Trentham to stretch your legs. Order pub fare at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, pop into RedBeard Historic Bakery for next-level sourdough or for a real treat, book a table in advance at Annie Smithers' Du Fermier. Don't miss nearby Trentham Falls, Victoria's highest single-drop waterfall.

Sea Lake via Ballarat

Estimated driving time: 4.5-5 hours from Melbourne to Sea Lake

Put your EV to the test with an epic road trip out to the town of Sea Lake, stopping to recharge at Ballarat.

It's around 115km to Ballarat from Melbourne. Once there, drop into Sovereign Hill (Bradshaw Street, Ballarat), an open-air museum depicting the town during its gold rush days. Plug your very modern car in, before stepping back in time. Alternatively, use the Chargefox charging station in the centre of town (61 Curtis Street, Ballarat), then wander down to explore the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Australia's oldest regional gallery.

Staying the night? Both Craig's Royal Hotel (10 Lydiard St S, Ballarat East) and Lake Inn Ballarat (1317 Mair St, Ballarat Central) offer charging facilities to guests. You're a stone's throw from some of the city's best eateries. Try Asian-fusion at Moon & Mountain or Roy Hammond, modern-European at Lola or order plates of pasta at Ragazzone. Unwind with a glass of vino or a refreshing ale from Aunty Jacks.

Hit the road early, heading to Sea Lake. If your car battery holds enough charge to drive 400km, you should be golden. To play it safe, plan a lunch break at Seppelt Wines' cellar door (36 Cemetery Road, Great Western), where you can order platters loaded with produce. You'll find additional charging ports in Avoca (99A High Street, Avoca) and Ararat (Elizabeth Park on Collings Street, Western Hwy, Ararat).

Once in Sea Lake, check into Lake Tyrrell Accommodation (97 Railway Avenue, Sea Lake), to allow your vehicle time to rejuvenate. Settle in for a pub meal at the Royal Hotel, which is owned and managed by the local community.

Sufficiently fed, head out to stunning Lake Tyrrell for a night of stargazing with Sea Lake Tyrrell Tours. Alternatively, hit the hay and rise before dawn, to see the epic sunrises the Wimmera Mallee region is known for reflected on the surface of the ancient salt lake.

You can head back to Melbourne or continue the adventure, taking in part or all of the Silo Art Trail. Sea Lake has its very own silo mural, and there is both silo art and charging ports in Kaniva (located at the public toilets off Madden St N) and both Tesla and Chargefox stations in Horsham (Baillie St). Recharge your battery in Nhill, which has plugs in town (11 Davis Ave, Nhill) and at Zero Inn (31 Nelson St, Nhill). While time away at local art gallery Studio 33, or make a dedicated stop to visit the Australia Pin Ball Museum.