Head down to the Moyne River and stretch your legs along the wharves. You are free to wander around the farm to try to see koalas and wallabies or head down to the lovely private beach for a walk or surf.
(In fact, we returned a month later to do just that!). next trip! Journey Time: 40 minutes from LorneStop Time: 15 minutes. If you just wanted a quick stop, you could do that in about 15 minutes, but its worth following one or all of the three marked trails. From: Melbourne. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. Other options include coming from Adelaide, so if this is you, just read the itinerary backwards. Wye River is just over two hours drive from Melbourne via the M1. Head to Lorne via the Great Ocean Road, stop to check out the bookshop and have a walk along the beach front. Both are natural, offshore stone archways. Due to crashing waves over millennia, saltwater and erosion there are now only 8 limestone stacks remaining out of 12. After passing through Port Campbell, youll pass by The Arch and London Bridge.
You have given us a great itinerary to get the best out of our trip.
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.
We do not recommend feeding wild birds, but it is exciting to see the koalas, and if you walk further down Grey River Rd it gets quieter. nev-tagAustralianev-tagMelbournenev-tagVictoria Erin, Heading on a road trip along the Great Ocean Road soon, so great article to read. We recommend Rental Cars, which has the largest range of vehicles for the best value on the market. Theres no real need to stop in Colac, but as the inland route back to Melbourne along the A1 passes through, we stopped for lunch. . While you could drive it in the opposite direction, Port Campbell would be quite far to reach on the coastal route for your overnight stay, and its a fairly long drive from Apollo Bay to Twelve Apostles for an early morning visit.
This rock arch was once connected to the mainland until in collapsed in 1990 (leaving two tourists trapped but uninjured). With the last day of your Great Ocean Road itinerary upon you, there is still so much to be seen and experienced.
At night we loved snuggling on the comfy couch by the fireplace.
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.
We loved it so much we returned a month later for a few days to do nothing but relax and enjoy the view. What is a partial cave, archway and blowhole, The Grotto is definitely something to marvel at.
Its barely even a hamlet, just a collection of houses and farms spread along the coast, but the bigger town Apollo Bay is only 15 minutes away. Lorneis the closest town from the arch and a great spot to grab some lunch atBottle of Milk, use the facilities and continue on towardsKennett River. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 12:30 pmdrive for about 51 minutes, 1:22 pm Jan Juc 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 For a view worth getting out of the comfort of your car for, your next stop is Point Roadknight in Anglesea. If you want an even better view of the Twelve Apostles, you can take a helicopter ride over them.
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 . The best way to get around is to rent a car and explore on your own!
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.
Have a great time. The ultimate Melbourne to Adelaide roadtrip along the Great Ocean Road and taking in Lorne, Apollo Bay, Port Fairy, Mount Gambier and Victor Harbour. 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. - along with all the incredible attractions and things to do .
Make sure you check road conditions Youll find them sitting up in the eucalyptus trees.
The iconic rock stacks were created by erosion of the limestone cliffs from the stormy Southern Ocean. 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. . Follow our journey in real time on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. Go on a culinary crusade via craft breweries and top regional restaurants on the short inland route back to Melbourne via Colac (below). We had no idea what it was at first although its spikes made us guess it was a porcupine. We know what you mean by just taking your time and booking the day of but we would recommend booking in advance as it is so much busier now. Following the Otway Harvest Trail choose between local breweries, berry and fruit farms with quaint cafes, provedore grocers and restaurants a plenty.
After the gorge youll pass the town of Port Campbell. An absolute must-do for anyone wanting one of the best views of this part of the Great Ocean Road is to book in for aTwelve Apostles Helicopter Ride.
The Grotto is one of the most impressive sections of the coastline, and essentially a sinkhole.
There are several veggie options and the lentil burger was decent, if nothing special. Each cottage feels very private and has outstanding ocean views. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Weve been traveling the world together since 2008, searching for the planets best destinations and adventures. You can follow a very similar itinerary to ours, but youll need to pack more in every day. TheKennett River Koala Walkis the perfect place to get your fix. Soaring high above the limestone stacks youll get the best views of Victorias Shipwreck Coast. If you drive directly from Apollo Bay to Port Campbell on the Great Ocean Road it takes about 1.5 hours, but there are some worthwhile detours along the way. You can look down to the falls from a platform near the car park, but its better to walk down the steps to get a closeup view. For more trail information in Great Otway National Park, visit thiswebsite. 375km of scenic winding roads along the southern ocean will take you through some of the countrys most beautiful UNESCO-listed landscapes. Most of the time I was fine in my Allbirds wool runners, but I was glad for hiking shoes on the muddy trails to the waterfalls in Great Otway National Park.
They are full of handmade art and crafts and locally made treats to indulge in like jams, pastries, pickles and ice-cream. Do allocate as much time as you can, thoughits a gorgeous part of the world with plenty to see.
Gradually caves were formed, then arches, and when they collapsed the rock stacks stood alone, isolated from the shore. If you only have time for one, follow the 900-metre-return Geology walk to the left of the car park which takes you to The Razorback, a massive rock formation. Last on the Great Ocean Road Backpackers Guide is the quaint little town of Port Fairy. Get the reverse directions for a This dive spot is actually a ship that was wrecked off the eastern beach in Port Fairy in 1849. READ MORE: Be sure to plan your best trip to Australia by using our Australia Travel Guide! FromWarrnambool Breakwaterall the way toLogans Beachthis is a great spot to take in the coastal views and even pass a little penguin breeding ground. Journey Time: 20 minutes from ChocolaterieStop Time: 25 minutes.
I highly recommend visiting in the morning to truly enjoy it. Its also a fantastic place if you are looking to see some native Australian wildlife. Journey Time: 5 minutes from Twelve ApostlesStop Time: 1 hour 35 minutes.
Journey Time: 10 minutes from Port CampbellStop Time: 5 minutes. DestinationsPhotographySustainable TourismAdventure Travel, Adventure ToursStart a BlogTravel TipsSitemap, 2023 NOMADasaurus | Peak Evolution Media, The PERFECT Great Ocean Road Drive Itinerary (2023). Journey Time: 4 minutes from The ArchStop Time: 20 minutes. Thanks. If youve hired a car youll most likely collect it at the airport. Great Ocean Road (6 mentions). Hi Tracy, November is a beautiful time to travel the Great Ocean Road. 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. Lorne is made for lunches.
Your email address will not be published. You could also fit them in on the previous day.
Now 2 pillars are left standing above the sea and make for an impressive view inPort Campbell National Park. At 8.30am we had it entirely to ourselves. (I would have liked to stay longer but we were getting hungry for lunch as it was after 2pm).
1115km. Below Ive included driving times between stops and how long we spent at each destination. Its a longer walk to reach the waterfall than at Hopetoun Falls (it took us an hour return), but its lovely and peaceful through the forest of ferns, mountain ash, and myrtle beech. Great Ocean Road (6 mentions) The current exchange rate is 1 AUD = 0.78 USD and 0.56 GBP.
After the Twelve Apostles, continue along the Great Ocean Road towards Port Campbell.
suggest every local activity or attraction, we'll leave it Although officially the Great Ocean Road starts in Geelong, Melbourne is the ideal start to the trip as it provides the contrast of a big city with the quiet of the small towns dotted along the Great Ocean Road. Dinner, stay over night. We already have plans to return and will perhaps try the 100km Great Ocean Walk next time. You can then drive back to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road route and choose the stops you are most interested in.
There are signs reminding you along the road as tourists driving the wrong way is a common problem. The sun wasnt quite high enough to illuminate the stacks, but an hour later it was, and there were even fewer people around. 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. The drive from Melbourne to Lorne isnt particularly long, only around 2 hours all up. Day 1: Melbourne to Port Fairy via inland route. Another worthwhile detour on the way to Port Campbell is Wreck Beach, but we didnt have the energy to stop.
Don't forget about exploring your own hometown with a staycation. Its part-archway, part-cave with a serene pool of water in contrast to the powerful waves beyond.
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. If you have an extra night, you could add it to either of those locations depending on your interestsApollo Bay is nearer forests and waterfalls and Port Campbell is nearer the Twelve Apostles and many other beautiful coastal rock formations. The Great Ocean Road is one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world. Trippy is where Stop 2 Point Roadknight, Anglesea We decided to skip sunrise and arrive about an hour later at 7.20am. Stop 1 Torquay The Great Ocean Road (2 mentions) If youre a hiker more than a surfer, youll be in for a treat with theSurf Coast Walk 44km of trails that connect Torquay toAngelseaandAireys Inletalong the coast. 5 Day Great Ocean Road Itinerary (Our Route), Where to Stay in Apollo Bay: Points South by the Sea, Where to Stay in Port Campbell: Anchors at Port Campbell, Search for more options in Port Campbell here, Check the latest prices of Anchors on Vrbo.
This is the only Great Ocean Road Map you will ever need. Established during early 19 th Century this town has come a long way, but it has also made a really good effort to stick to its roots. But no need to rush. They live in the eucalyptus trees behind the caravan park and are not hard to find. TheForeshore Promenadeis a great place for a stroll as well and stretches on for about 6 km. While the Great Ocean Road covers a ton of coastline, this national park is a gem located more on the inland route. 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. With great facilities, cozy apartment-style suites and great views from almost any room on site, this is your best choice if youd like a bit of space to stretch out after a big day of driving the Great Ocean Road. We hope you have a great time along the Great Ocean Road. Torquay is also home to theSurf World Museumwith tons of history about the sport and its fame in Australia. One of the most iconic road trips in all of Australia, if not the world, has got to be the Great Ocean Road drive. Covering nearly 200 hectares, this park is one of the few Great Ocean Road highlights that is not a beach. . It was named after the clipper Loch Ard that was wrecked here in 1878.
They are set up studio style (best for a couple) with the large comfortable bed on a platform at the back and a sofa, armchair, and small dining table at the front. You can hike, surf, ride helicopters, follow gourmet food trails, wander seaside towns, and much more. Click the button below to explore more questions One of Victoria's most scenic drives, Great Ocean Road provides plenty of exciting pit stopsexplore the surfing town of Bells Beach, discover the waterfalls of Lorne, zipline through the Otway Ranges, and visit The Twelve Apostles rock formations. As Victorias 5th largest city, Warrnambool is a lot bigger than most of the seaside towns along the Great Ocean Road drive. We stayed in Cottage 1 and didnt want to leave. Sat & Sun Not too far down the coast is an iconic must-visit stop on any of the Great Ocean Road drives,Torquay, known for its epic surf beaches. This means youll be driving on the ocean side of the road and will have the best views and easy access to the many viewpoints. If possible, I recommend driving yourself and spending at least two nights on the road. One of the best walking tracks to visit here isMelba Gulleywhich is full of gorgeous giant fern trees and home to glow worm caves, which are best seen after dark. We had 4 nights and 4.5 days on the road trip and it was a good amount of time to see the Great Ocean Road highlights, although we could easily have spent longer. If you really want a unique perspective though, and love a bit of adventure, how does skydiving over the 12 Apostles sound?