Organized Tours from Melbourne To Great Ocean Road The iconic spots and landmarks on the Great Ocean Road can be covered within a day as it is stretches for only about 243 Km (151 miles). Sometimes, Tyler and Kara feel like they will never be able to escape the attention of people curious about their blond hair. A few minutes down the road from Sherbrook West is a large car park with trails to various viewpoints. Find good prices and choices of accommodation: there is still so much more to see, Port Fairy is a beautiful little village and well worth spending time visiting too. Even in Australia, Tyler and Kara were getting a lot of stares, this time from Chinese tourists. If youre looking to do a bit of waterfall chasing, this is a great place to find them! Theres so much to see and do, so you dont want to be left feeling rushed and tired at the end of your trip. They finish at either the 12 Apostles or Warrnambool, and then drive back to Melbourne. The Great Ocean Road winds through picturesque locations that outdo one another in terms of visual extravaganza. This is a beautiful surfing and fishing town with heritage buildings that have wonderful eateries and accommodation. The same would not go for the rest of the Earth Trekkers. Subscribe, Home | Australia | The PERFECT Great Ocean Road Drive Itinerary (2023). Go for a swim in the southern ocean, soak in the sun or admire the stunning views out over Corio Bay and go for a stroll along theEastern Promenade. For several hours, we traveled along the Great Ocean Road, on very windy roads, through towns like Apollo Bay, Skenes Creek, and Lorne. I am not looking forward to the conclusion of your trek. Located just outside of Geelong and only 45 minutes from Melbourne CBD, Avalon Airport is the closest airport to the start of the Great Ocean Road, being only a 35 minute drive from Torquay. There is no dearth of viewpoints on the Great Ocean Road and Teddys Lookout is another magnificent spot added to the list. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. Lookout on the ocean from May to September as you might spot Whales! Here we are, at another beach, and we have it all to ourselves. 1st Stop: Torquay. Visit top wilderness destinations and picturesque towns on this epic 3-day tour from Melbourne to the Great Ocean Road and the Grampians. Torquay is also home to theSurf World Museumwith tons of history about the sport and its fame in Australia. This is a stop that not a lot of tourists know about, so you can avoid the crowds and see and experience more than most people would on their Great Ocean Road trip. This was not anywhere near as scenic as Port Campbell National Park but was still worth seeing. The V/line service offers frequent train travel departing Melbournes Southern Cross Station and running to both Geelong and Warrnambool. In Portland we stayed at the Portland Holiday Village. After the last couple of years, it seems everyone wants to be out and about and go travelling. I dashed out of the cave to higher ground, able to stay dry. A road trip along the Great Ocean Road & Grampians National Park is a trip where you feel small in the universe. Returns: Approx 9:00pm. How long does it take to drive the Great Ocean Road? Your email address will not be published. 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. What used to be a swamp was reclaimed and turned into these pretty gardens in 1858. Theyll even show you how to throw a Boomerang and spear! There are also several wineries and breweries in the area worth stopping in at to pick something up to enjoy throughout the rest of your trip too. It is essentially a sinkhole in a limestone stack and opens out to a view of the sea and cliffs beyond. Experience the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne to Adelaide. But the Great Ocean Road is about so much more than its sinuous, coast hugging tarmac. Some of the beautiful coastal towns you will come across during your drive are Apollo Bay, Cape Otway, Port Campbell, Torquay, and Lorne. DestinationsPhotographySustainable TourismAdventure Travel, Adventure ToursStart a BlogTravel TipsSitemap, 2023 NOMADasaurus | Peak Evolution Media, The PERFECT Great Ocean Road Drive Itinerary (2023). If youve hired a car youll most likely collect it at the airport. Make sure you book ahead though, as its not something you can just show up and do. A large wave crashed on shore, quickly heading towards our cave and where we thought we would be safe. Discover some of the best things to do in Melbourne. So you may get lucky to lay your eyes on some of these cute local beach dwellers. Check our. Here we joined the largest crowds of people yet, all elbowing for the best place to take family photos. Poor Tim got hit hard by the wave, soaking his feet. Victoria is the second-smallest state in Australia but packed with abundant natural beauty, all of which is easily accessible on quick day trips from Melbourne. This will help you make the most of your time so you can see the things that matter to you. 34 mins), (3 hrs
Our particular itinerary starts in Melbourne and finishes in Port Fairy over 3 days, and is the exact route we have personally done numerous times. If you have limited time and can only do it in 1 day, then dont stress. Read more about taking a day trip from Melbourne to Yarra Valley. Stunning photos. The Obelisk sits atop a rugged coastline, which is rapidly being eroded by the harsh elements. We spent forty five minutes here and during this time we did not see one other person. The Kennet River located between Lorne and Apollo Bay is one of the best places in Australia to view wild koalas. If you're planning a self-guided tour, this could come handy. To get you fueled up for your last day head toBohemiaCafe & Barfor a takeaway coffee or a wicked and delicious breakfast. If you're planning on the West Gate Bridge route, take the Princes Highway over the bridge and travel along the Bellarine Peninsula or the Surf Coast Highway to the famous surfing town of Torquay. Read more about taking a Melbourne to Phillip Island Tour. Covering nearly 200 hectares, this park is one of the few Great Ocean Road highlights that is not a beach. Find more of them listed here. Recommended Experiences Phillip Island: Penguin Parade Afternoon Wildlife Tour Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tour, Yarra Valley is mostly known for its wineries, but thats just one of its many treasures. For many people, the Great Ocean Road is a highlight when visiting Australia. Lorne Seabaths, Gym, inground Trampolines for kids, and more. you really need 2-3 weeks to make the most of this itinerary, especially as you're going to be going over to Kangaroo Island. All the while, Tyler and Kara were screaming with delight, laughing afterwards. Great Ocean Road Tour 2 Days experience from Melbourne to Adelaide. Start your 3 day Great Ocean Road itinerary with a lazy morning in Torquay. We had a villa, a small, two bedroom cabin with a kitchen and ensuite bathroom. 5 Melbourne: 2-Hour City Highlights River Cruise. You can do this in one big day (its almost 600km direct), but we personally recommend breaking the trip up into 2 or 3 days, spending some time in Mount Gambier and Coorong National Park. Head forEastern Beachfirst. The Great Ocean Road map highlights 50 of the best attractions, recommended places to stop, and things to do on a self-drive holiday along the Victorian coast to the 12 Apostles and Port Campbell National Park. Getting stuck behind tour buses will add to your travel time. Spectacular and diverse scenery, wildlife, byo tent or book accommodation along the way. Having your own vehicle is highly recommended so you can really explore all the things to see on the Great Ocean Road, as it really is one of the Australias top destinations. This often includes stopping at lookouts along the way. Hugging the ocean on one side, the other side of the road changes its landscape from lush rainforest-clad mountains to volcanic plains. The nearly 250 kilometre road encapsulates some of Australia's most iconic scenery and gives visitors the opportunity to get close to wildlife. 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. The official limit on the B100 (the Great Ocean Road) is between 80-100km per hour; in towns between 50-70km/h, and when there is traffic and during busy periods, as low as 30km/h. A dormant volcanic crater, Tower Hill is full of Australian wildlife (koalas, kangaroos, emus to name a few) and has lush wetlands and bush. Surf lessons can be booked in Lorne, Anglesea, Torquay, and Ocean Grove. It takes travellers past world-class surfing breaks, through pockets of rainforest and calm seaside towns, and under koala-filled tree canopies. Read our detailed blog to know all about Skydiving in Melbourne and book your Great Ocean Road skydive. Once you factor in viewpoints and short walks, expect this road trip to take one full day. Once in Warrnambool, it doesnt take long to drive to Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve. Day 3: Warrnambool to Port Fairy then Melbourne (or Adelaide) Distance: 30km to Port Fairy, then 312km to Melbourne. All the points of interest mentioned above are marked on the Great Ocean Road Map below. The official length of the Great Ocean Road is around 243 km/ 151 miles. In 1932, the road was thrown open to the public and has since then become one of the worlds best road trip destinations. It is comparable to Big Sur in California with coastal views, winding roads, and many, many scenic viewpoints. This would end up being our favorite part of the day. Would like to know what kind of still camera and lens you are using. One of the most adventurous things to do on the Great Ocean Road drive is to do a bit of scuba diving. The cave was not very big, extending about ten meters back into the cliff from the opening. Warrnambool railway station is the terminus of the Warrnambool line in Victoria, Australia.It serves the city of Warrnambool, and it opened on 4 February 1890.. You can also find the flight distance or distance to fly from Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road. It stretches for 243 kms. Day 1: Melbourne to Port Campbell We depart from Southern Cross Coach Terminal on Spencer Street at 8:30am before we commence this amazing 4 day, 3 night guided Great Ocean Road & Beyond Itinerary. For the best panoramic views in Apollo Bay head straight forMarriners Lookout. For those who love to drive and are comfortable in driving outside the city and through a variety of terrain it is a paradise waiting to be explored.