We didnt bother stopping in Torquay where the Great Ocean Road officially starts, but you might want to visit if youre interested in surf wear. (I would have liked to stay longer but we were getting hungry for lunch as it was after 2pm).
Great Ocean Road
Itll take longer than you think due to the many curves and places youll want to stop to take a photo or visit an attraction. We visited two stops in the tiny town of Timboon for lunch and fitted in a couple more on our way back to Melbourne the next day.
  • Victoria
  • They have cheaper compact cars and you can drive the route in any vehicle. The ocean views are incredible and we could have happily spent all day curled up on the window seat with the fire roaring watching the waves crash down below. If you have more energy than us (or an extra night), the final stops we would have visited were Childers Cove, an uncrowded beach (30 minutes from Port Campbell), and Logans Beach Whale Watching Platform (1 hour from Port Campbell) where you have the chance to see whales in the winter. But one of the most incredible Great Ocean Road attractions is just around the corner. (Seriously!) There are more motels than boutique hotels in the area. Youll find them sitting up in the eucalyptus trees. The Twelve Apostles are reached by a five-minute walk from the car park, where theres also a visitor centre, toilets, and a kiosk (which doesnt open until 10am).
    If you fancy trying your luck to spot some wildlife head out to nearbyLake Elizabeth. With your own car however youll be able to stop when and where you want, spending as long as you need to check out the beaches, taking in the views and having the freedom to explore at your leisure. Dinner, stay over night. One day we had frost on the car in the morning but by the afternoon were eating ice cream in the sun with 20C temperatures. One of the best things to do here is take a walk out on thePort Fairy Wharves. Reserve your spot here. We sampled a few of their offerings (the raspberry liquorice is unusual and delicious) and enjoyed a delicious dark mint hot chocolate in the sun overlooking the farm. You can hike, surf, ride helicopters, follow gourmet food trails, wander seaside towns, and much more. Start early, drive Melbourne > Geelong > Colac > 12 Apostles; this inland route is much faster. If you have limited time you could skip this one (we preferred London Bridge), but its only a quick stop. Just down the road is Hopetoun Falls. But it has a strange beak and is one of the few mammals that lay eggs.
    Country New South Wales
    On a clear sunny day and depending on the tide you can get pretty close. Theres a pull-down bed in the living room so the cottages can sleep up to four people. Dont forget that in Australia you drive on the left.
    Sunshine Coast
    Its a casual, diner type place on the seafront strip thats known for its burgers. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 2:22 pmdrive for about 15 minutes, 2:37 pm Great Ocean Road The weather can play a huge part in what is visible and how close you can get to this area. The ultimate Melbourne to Adelaide roadtrip along the Great Ocean Road and taking in Lorne, Apollo Bay, Port Fairy, Mount Gambier and Victor Harbour. Great Ocean Road 2-Day Itinerary: The BEST Self Drive Itinerary There arent many eating options up here so bring a packed lunch or theres a cafe at Otway Fly and a few options further along in Lavers Hill. After the last couple of years, it seems everyone wants to be out and about and go travelling. For more experienced surfers, and those looking to set foot onto a world-renowned surf beach, head toBells Beach. drive for about 15 minutes 2:37 pm Great Ocean Road stay for about 1 hour and leave at 3:37 pm drive for about 24 minutes 4:01 pm arrive in Lorne driving 2 hours Change your route From: To: Alternate route Enter a city to drive through, or find all trips from Melbourne to Lorne.
    Official site for Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Subscribe. If you have a full day in the area, a fun detour off the Great Ocean Road is to follow some of the 12 Apostles Gourmet Food Trail.
    Hawaii
    The large corner window seat is the perfect place to enjoy the views in winter, and for warmer weather, theres a large balcony with a table, chairs, and BBQ. Stevenson Falls, Triplet Falls, Little Aire Falls, andHopetoun Fallsare just a few of the many highlights here. This map shows the best things to see on the Great Ocean Road drive. Journey Time: 10 minutes from Port CampbellStop Time: 5 minutes.
    We stayed at Anchors at Port Campbellwhere there are three cottages on a farm a few kilometres inland from town. Book Lover's Guide to the Great Ocean Road - Babbling Books The Arch is the first in a series of rock formations where you can stop for a quick look from viewing platforms. Journey Time: 4 minutes from The ArchStop Time: 20 minutes. 1 hour, 50 minutes/92 kilometres A touch over 100 kilometres from Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, Torquay marks the Great Ocean Road's official launch point. Join the adventures on our YouTube channel! The sun wasnt quite high enough to illuminate the stacks, but an hour later it was, and there were even fewer people around. Both are amazing expressions of natural beauty and are worth checking out. Theres a distant view of the lighthouse after 1.5km, but the trail continues beyond that as this is a section of the Great Ocean Walk. We chose to drive back from Port Campbell to Melbourne via the inland route (3 hours) rather than continue on for the final section of the Great Ocean . Expect to see beaches, waterfalls, forests, lighthouses, limestone formations, koalas, and if youre lucky, whales.
    If you want one of the best views in Geelong, grab a seat on theSkyWheel. You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving You can also travel from Melbourne to Adelaide via the Great Ocean Road, but youll need at least a few days as its a distance of nearly 1000km (620 miles). Despite staying close to Apollo Bay, we loved our cottage so much that we didnt visit the town until our way out. It would be quieter in the morning. The three stops above are a good half-day trip, but if you have a full day you can continue on to Otway Fly Treetop Adventures where you can go zip lining (book ahead, $120) or walk above the trees on the elevated treetop walk ($25). I recommend overnight stays near Apollo Bay and Port Campbell as we did. There are several veggie options and the lentil burger was decent, if nothing special. Stop 3 Otway Harvest Trail Cant wait for the trip , Thanks Tracy. There are toilets here but not at Hopetoun Falls. I cant recommend Points South enough. The downside of taking a tour is that youll never escape the crowds. Theres also a cafe if you just want a coffee or one of the tasty looking cakes.
    Adelaide
    Port Fairy offers great locations forscuba divingincludingThe Thistle. Other options include coming from Adelaide, so if this is you, just read the itinerary backwards. .
  • Tasmania
  • The drive from Melbourne to Lorne isnt particularly long, only around 2 hours all up. Youll also find the end of theGreat Ocean Walkhere, which allows you to get some stunning coastal views from a boardwalk before taking to the beach to see these immense stacks from the ground. Journey Time: 10 minutes from Port CampbellStop Time: 1 hour 25 minutes.
    Australia's North West
    At night we loved snuggling on the comfy couch by the fireplace. The whole trail is about 15km, but your best chances for spotting the cute indigenous animals are about 6km in atGrey River.
    Darwin
    Built in honour of the 3,000 soldiers who worked on this stretch of road after WWI, there is now also a sculpture there to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the arch. Wear shoes that are comfortable for walking.
    We stayed in a luxury cottage at Points South by the Seaand it was perfect. Picking up and dropping off the car was quick and easy, and they are near Queen Victoria Market where you can pick up supplies for the trip. If you decide to drive yourself, its best to drive in the opposite direction of our itinerary below. For the best panoramic views in Apollo Bay head straight forMarriners Lookout.
  • New South Wales
  • You can sometimes see whales here in winter. I definitely recommend allocating a few hours to explore it all. Quest Warrnambool is the perfect place to do just that. You can see our detailed GOR self-drive itinerary below. . We didnt do this but tours take place every half an hour from 11am until 1.30pm for 3045 minutes and cost $10. The first stop when driving the Great Ocean Road will beGeelong. All prices quotes below are in Australian dollars.
    Its not the best quality chocolate, but we still enjoyed it. READ MORE: Be sure to plan your best trip to Australia by using our Australia Travel Guide!
    The quieter location meant we could really enjoy the natural beauty of the area.
  • Western Australia
  • Great Ocean Road (6 mentions) Possible stops on the way back to Apollo Bay are the Cape Otway Lighthouse (which we visit the next day) and Maits Rest, an easy walk through the rainforest. Stop for lunch in Campertown - try a local cafe or bring a picnic to eat in the Botanic Gardens; Explore Port Fairy, including the bookshops mentioned in this post, and stay the night . Even better, its a non-profit enterprise that provides training and employment opportunities to people with mental and physical disabilities. Journey Time: 35 minutes from Apollo BayStop Time: 2 hours (including lunch). Brekkie tacos, smoothie bowls and a full lunch menu to eat in or take away will please anyone visiting. If youd like to continue travelling Australia beyond the Great Ocean Road, you canhead northwest to Adelaide. We recommend Rental Cars, which has the largest range of vehicles for the best value on the market. Amongst the native eucalyptus trees is this surprising cluster of giant Californian Redwoods which were planted in the 1930s and are thriving. Theres also a cafe if you want a longer break. We rented a car from the local company Advance Car Rental in Melbournea Toyota Corolla cost us $158 for six days. Many people also continue inland to the Grampians National Park, a fantastic hiking and wildlife location, before returning to Melbourne via the old gold mining town of Ballarat. Search for more options in Port Campbell here. Nearby youll find another popular waterfall, Triplet Falls (a one hour walk). No Great Ocean road trip is complete without making a stop atMemoria Arch, which is less than 30 minutes from Torquay and a real highlight of the journey. DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Distance from Lorne: 45.5 km Estimated total driving time from Lorne: 54 minutes Activity length: 3 hours Another excellent spot for the best coastal views in this Melbourne to Adelaide drive is Apollo Bay. Or you can take the scenic route via the Great Ocean Road - it'll take you a lot longer and you'll probably want to break the trip up by staying a night or two or three along the way - but the scenery is worth it and there's so much to do along the way. You could continue down the coast, perhaps having a break in Port Campbell (Forage on Foreshore is a recommended cafe). Loch Ard Gorgeis the first attraction on the way, just a stones throw from the Twelve Apostles. Let us help you get started with planning your Great Ocean Road itinerary. . 8am-fly in, pick up car, drive to 12 apostles (inland route) 12.30- visit 12 Apostles, lunch ect, 2.30-Back on the road 5- Arrive at Lorne. Jan Juc At Timboon Railway Shed Distillery you can do whisky tastings and tours, but its worth a visit even if you dont sample their wares. You have to walk down 400 steps to get to the beach where you can see the remains of shipwrecks. This budget-friendly hostel has dorms and private rooms and its in the centre of town with a fantastic roof terrace. Journey Time: 3 minutes from RedwoodsStop Time: 20 minutes. From here you are well on your way to having covered a ton of ground. Book as far in advance as you can as it is very popular. Looking for ideas for more destinations within driving distance of Melbourne? The homemade scones and vegetarian korma pie were delicious, and the cakes looked tempting. If that is not an option though, or you dont like the idea of driving on the wrong side of the road, there are plenty of excellent tours likethis onethat will take you to see all the sights including the Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell, Otway National Park and more. You can do a Great Ocean Road Trip at any time of year. We had no idea what it was at first although its spikes made us guess it was a porcupine. Its a beautiful drive but slow going.
    suggest every local activity or attraction, we'll leave it This was our Great Ocean Road route. This connects to the more distant, and much quieter, Living on the Edge walk (to the right of the car park) where you can see Muttonbird Island and enjoy more gorgeous coastal views. The extensive grounds contain much more than just the lighthouse and you can learn about the history dating back to 1848 and enjoy fantastic views of the rugged cliffs. Relax and unwind in the seaside town of Lorne, attracting visitors for more than a century with its easy Mediterranean feel and charming scenery. By clicking the Submit button, you give consent for us to store your information for the purposes of displaying your comment and you accept the terms of our Privacy Policy. Head down to the Moyne River and stretch your legs along the wharves. Check out Points South on Vrbo or compare prices on Booking.com.

    Victoria

    Or get a full Melbourne to Lorne flight plan.
    FromWarrnambool Breakwaterall the way toLogans Beachthis is a great spot to take in the coastal views and even pass a little penguin breeding ground. You could also fit them in on the previous day.
  • South Australia
  • They are full of handmade art and crafts and locally made treats to indulge in like jams, pastries, pickles and ice-cream. Adelaide to Melbourne Drive Itinerary: Great Ocean Road Trip Five minutes down the road is Apostle Whey Cheese where for a bargain price of $1 you can try all 12 of their cows milk cheeses. Perfect write up, very helpful indeed, Appreciate your work guys, Cheers. By the time we arrived it was pouring with rain, so we didnt see much and just had lunch at The Bottle of Milk. Its known for the dramatic Twelve Apostles rock stacks that emerge from the ocean, and while they are definitely a highlight, there is so much more to enjoy along the way. The Great Ocean Road drive is 243km (151 miles) long. We have been travelling the world together since 2008, with a passion for adventure travel and sustainable tourism. - along with all the incredible attractions and things to do . However, when the winds pick up it is best to stay above the Grotto. Walk back down to the base of the bluff to enjoy relaxing on the beach for a while. This is where the exterior scenes of the familys lighthouse home were filmed! This page contains affiliate links. The total driving distance from Adelaide to Melbourne is almost 1,000km along the coastal route, so the Great Ocean Road is actually only a small part of the journey. They are happy for you to wander the property to see the horses, chickens, pigs, and sheep. There are a few hostels in the centre of this small townPort Campbell Guesthouse & Flash Packers has private rooms and a homely vibe, while Port Campbell Hostel has dorms and rooms (and a brewery next door). The Lightstation is open every day from 10am 5pm (except for Christmas Day), but if you arrive out of hours, you can still walk along the lovely coastal trail that starts by the car park. If you had plenty of time, you might want to spend a night here as there are some beautiful beaches and waterfalls nearby. Covering nearly 200 hectares, this park is one of the few Great Ocean Road highlights that is not a beach. Kennett River is known as one of the best spots on the Great Ocean Road to see koalas, and it didnt disappoint. We hope you have a great time along the Great Ocean Road. We liked the brie and pepper havarti (sadly they dont have storage space for cheddar). The gas log fire kept us warm. travelers and answer their questions about Melbourne! Find local inspiration and start planning your next road trip with our simple interactive journey planner. Want to plan the trip back? to double check the weather. These are some of the places people talk about on Trippy: Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions The trip from Adelaide to Melbourne takes around 8 hours if you go the inland route. Each cottage feels very private and has outstanding ocean views. and answers related to Lorne. Soaring high above the limestone stacks youll get the best views of Victorias Shipwreck Coast. It starts in Torquay, which is 105km (65 miles) from Melbourne, and continues westward along the coast to finish at Allansford near Warrnambool. While wandering around town youll surely spot a ton of street art, which is something Geelong is known for. Cannon Hillis a great place to start if you want to get the lay of the land.
    Torquay is also home to theSurf World Museumwith tons of history about the sport and its fame in Australia.
    North East
    Central Coast
    Its only a 10-minute drive from the Twelve Apostles so was very convenient for getting there early. Thanks. Alternative Places to Stay in Port Campbell. Journey Time: 40 minutes from LorneStop Time: 15 minutes. Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Melbourne to Lorne. Bells Beach is a famous surf beach with huge waves and is home to the Rip Curl Pro surfing competition in April. Days: 5. While driving to Lorne we had our first Australian wildlife experiencean echidna crossing the road. The town of Port Campbell is in the middle of the park so you can take a break or have lunch there after visiting the eastern side (Twelve Apostles, Gibson Steps, and Loch Ard Gorge), before continuing west. You could then drive the Great Ocean Road at a more leisurely pace and spend the night in the Apollo Bay area before continuing back to Melbourne the next day. From Beauchamp we drove back to Points South in about 45 minutes. From the car park, there is a short trail that will lead you right to the viewpoint where youll be gifted with the most incredible sweeping views of Apollo Bay and the coastline. There are many free campsites and serviced holiday parks along the route, and you can either pitch your own tent or drive a campervan. They are a beautiful sight amongst the dramatic cliffs and crashing waves as they change colour throughout the day. Dinner, stay over night Friday 7am-Leave Lorne 9am- Arrive Barwon heads for sky dive then head back to Melbourne CBD, drop car off in city 2pm Check into hotel Sat & Sun Points South by the Sea is the perfect place to stay on the Great Ocean Road; in fact, its one of our favourite places weve ever stayed. With the last day of your Great Ocean Road itinerary upon you, there is still so much to be seen and experienced. Best Road Trips: Melbourne to Adelaide (Insider Guide for 2023) Great post guys, you have inspired me to take a trip here when I finally get to Australia again!
    Beach. It would also be tempting to continue down past the end of the road to Warrnambool or Port Fairy for a night and visit the nearby Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve for a chance to see koalas, kangaroos, and emu in the wild. The Botanic Cafe on the Lake within the Botanical Gardens is a pretty spot for lunch with outdoor seating and views of the lake. You will pass the Twelve Apostles on the way to Port Campbell, but its very crowded mid-afternoon so we left it for the next morning. Anyone remember the 90s TV show Round the Twist? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Great Ocean Road - 3 Day 2 Night Road Trip Itinerary Takinga surf lessonis a sure-fire way to have you feeling confident on the board and in the water if you havent tried the sport before.
    You need to head down to the lower viewing platform to appreciate it, which is a 700-metre return walk with stairs from the car park. You can also compare many rental companies and find the cheapest cars at Rental Cars. We even saw a wallaby (like a smaller kangaroo)! Follow the inland route if you are headed back to Melbourne for a shorter drive. If you want an even better view of the Twelve Apostles, you can take a helicopter ride over them. Trippy is where We were also planning to stop at Teddys Lookout on the way out of town, but visibility was so low we didnt bother. We visited in early spring (mid-September) and while we werent going to do any swimming, it was good walking weather. The Cape Otway Lightstation is a 15-minute (each way) detour from the Great Ocean Road and is the only place we visited with an entrance fee ($18.50), but its well worth it. Journey Time: 25 minutes from Aireys InletStop Time: 50 minutes. The Ultimate Melbourne to Sydney Road Trip Itinerary Our itinerary will take you through the most iconic towns and cities, the rugged Phillip Island, the small town of Walhalla, the beautiful Wilsons Promontory, and onto the vast Kosciuszko National Park. Wye River is just over two hours drive from Melbourne via the M1. When we drove past around 2.30pm, the viewing platform was rammed. What to expect Surf at world-famous Bells Beach.
  • ACT
  • Lorne is one of the most popular towns on a Great Ocean Road Trip.
  • Queensland
  • The best Great Ocean Road stops are in the Port Campbell National Park (including Twelve Apostles) so focus your time here. Sat & Sun Train operators. If you are on a budget, the cheapest way to do a Great Ocean Road Trip is by camping. Route planner, Travel information, Victoria, Australia
    Gold Coast
    You can visit the Marriners Lookout, Lake Elizabeth, and local museums such as The Bass Strait Shell Museum to discover more about sea life. The huge natural limestone arch was formed by erosion and you can see the power of the waves that caused it. you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, As Victorias 5th largest city, Warrnambool is a lot bigger than most of the seaside towns along the Great Ocean Road drive.
    Port Fairy is a tiny town on Victorias iconic shipwreck coast with a charming vibe and an exciting causeway that leads you out to an island worth exploring too. Halfway along the Surf Coast walk its only around a 3km round trip from the town, up the point for amazing views over the town and ocean crashing below. How long does it take to drive the Great Ocean Road? There are some short trails you can follow, but we didnt have time to go far.

    Como Volver A Ser Virgen Remedios Caseros, Stephen Darby Obituary, Articles M