ACT
We stayed in Cottage 1 and didnt want to leave. 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. Bay of Martyrs is an overlooked spot thats perfect for escaping the crowds.
All prices quotes below are in Australian dollars.
We visited in mid-September (early spring) and there was frost on our car one morning, so tent camping is probably best in the summer. You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving
stay for about 1 hour and leave at 12:30 pmdrive for about 51 minutes, 1:22 pm Jan Juc
The Grotto is unlike any of the other rock formations in the area. As its a fairly leisurely drive why not break up the short journey and enjoy the sights of the Victorian Surf Coast along the way. Following the Otway Harvest Trail choose between local breweries, berry and fruit farms with quaint cafes, provedore grocers and restaurants a plenty.
Below Ive included driving times between stops and how long we spent at each destination. The drive from Melbourne to Lorne isnt particularly long, only around 2 hours all up.
First, fuel up at Caf Moby, a converted weatherboard house full of character and with foreshore views to boot. Stop 2 Point Roadknight, Anglesea . 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. I have no problem driving.
South Australia
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. Take the inland road via Colac and drive directly to Port Campbell (about 3 hours from Melbourne). There are a few options for pit stop number 3, which will time in perfectly with a late lunch. Enter a city to drive through, or find all. 1115km. At Timboon Railway Shed Distillery you can do whisky tastings and tours, but its worth a visit even if you dont sample their wares. However, the views arent affected by the bigger cityscape.
By the time we arrived it was pouring with rain, so we didnt see much and just had lunch at The Bottle of Milk. Melbourne to Great Ocean Road: Self Drive Tour - 5 Days If you cant drive or only have a day available, this Great Ocean Road Day Tour is popular.
Its only a 10-minute drive from the Twelve Apostles so was very convenient for getting there early. If you only have one day, its going to be a long trip, so you might consider taking a tour so that someone else does the driving. Im glad we bought plenty of food (and wine) as we did not want to go out for dinner.
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. The ocean views from almost everywhere in the cottage (including the bed) were just amazing. You can also buy a toasted sandwich or cheese platter ($20). When we drove past around 2.30pm, the viewing platform was rammed. On a clear sunny day and depending on the tide you can get pretty close. You can then drive back to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road route and choose the stops you are most interested in. Journey Time: 10 minutes from Bells BeachStop Time: 30 minutes. The 20-metre falls crash over a ledge with a backdrop of lush ferns and the forest towering above.
Victoria
. 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 .
We enjoyed our cone in the lovely gardens. This is where the exterior scenes of the familys lighthouse home were filmed! The Arch is the first in a series of rock formations where you can stop for a quick look from viewing platforms.
Apollo Bay is a popular place, so make sure you have booked your accommodation ahead of time. 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. Thats how were going to structure this post for you. Both are natural, offshore stone archways.
Quest Warrnambool is the perfect place to do just that.
Stop 1 - Torquay The official start of The Great Ocean Road, Torquay is a town with an ingrained surfing culture. If youve hired a car youll most likely collect it at the airport. After the last couple of years, it seems everyone wants to be out and about and go travelling.
I definitely recommend allocating a few hours to explore it all. Beauchamp Falls wasnt on our original plan but ended up being my favourite stop of the day. At the end of your Great Ocean Road itinerary, you can leave Port Fairy andhead back towards Melbourneon the M8 National highway to take on your next series of Aussie fun. Our last full day was dedicated to the Port Campbell National Park. If you decide to drive yourself, its best to drive in the opposite direction of our itinerary below. . You can see our detailed GOR self-drive itinerary below. You need to park just off the road and then walk up the hill to the lighthouse. 11:00 am start in Melbournedrive for about 30 minutes, 11:30 am eat at Shadowfax Wines What to expect Surf at world-famous Bells Beach. 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. Great Ocean Road (6 mentions) You can walk to a few viewing platforms to admire the towering limestone stacks from different angles. I recommend overnight stays near Apollo Bay and Port Campbell as we did.
Try searching for places within 2 hours of Melbourne. Once youve had your fill, hop in the car for a quick drive and to the next and last destination of your road trip.
For a shorter track check outMaits Restwhich will take you through a beautiful section of rainforest.
The views of the town and coastline are superb. For the best panoramic views in Apollo Bay head straight forMarriners Lookout.
- New South Wales
If you want one of the best views in Geelong, grab a seat on theSkyWheel. As one of the world's leading travel journalists, our content and adventures have been featured by National Geographic, Lonely Planet, CNN, BBC, Forbes, Business Insider, Washington Post, Yahoo!, BuzzFeed, Channel 7, Channel 10, ABC, The Guardian, and plenty other publications. Its a beautiful long sweep of sand that would be great for a walk.
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.
Adelaide to Melbourne Drive Itinerary: Great Ocean Road Trip 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. Train operators. 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. But it has a strange beak and is one of the few mammals that lay eggs.
As Victorias 5th largest city, Warrnambool is a lot bigger than most of the seaside towns along the Great Ocean Road drive.
They are impossibly cute and fluffy and we couldnt quite believe they were real. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products, and regularly review these. We spent the full day we had in the Apollo Bay area detouring off the Great Ocean Road to explore the inland forest section of the Great Otway National Park. We arrived in Port Campbell at 2.45pm and had a few hours rest before heading out to see the sunset at London Bridge, which is a quieter alternative to the Twelve Apostles. For more experienced surfers, and those looking to set foot onto a world-renowned surf beach, head toBells Beach.
Our personal recommendation for where we stay in Apollo Bay every time is The Apollo Apartment. 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.
We stayed at Anchors at Port Campbellwhere there are three cottages on a farm a few kilometres inland from town. I include suggestions for shorter trips below. Day 1: Melbourne to Port Fairy via inland route.
Melbourne to Lorne drive - plan a road trip Required fields are marked *.
Northen Territory
Friday. 3.1 Set off from Melbourne early 3.2 Stop in Torquay 3.3 Visit Bells Beach 3.4 Great Ocean Road sign 3.5 Stop in Lorne for lunch 3.6 Erskine Falls 3.7 Sunset at the Twelve Apostles 3.8 Sleep in Apollo Bay 4 Great Ocean Road itinerary - Day 2 4.1 Hopetoun Falls 4.2 Triplet Falls 4.3 Otway Fly Treetop Adventures 4.4 Gibson Steps 4.5 Loch Ard Gorge Simon had a reusable coffee cup but wished hed had a larger flask for our early start at Twelve Apostles (the kiosk there doesnt open until 10am).
Lorne to Melbourne drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip. Its part-archway, part-cave with a serene pool of water in contrast to the powerful waves beyond.
Location - Tucker House Wye River Its a highlight of a Great Ocean Road itinerary! 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. Where does the Great Ocean Road start and finish. 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. If you are wondering the best direction to drive the Great Ocean Road, I recommend driving it from east to west, starting in Torquay. Lorne is made for lunches. We even saw a wallaby (like a smaller kangaroo)! Head down to the Moyne River and stretch your legs along the wharves. Day 3: Warrnambool to Port Fairy then Melbourne (or Adelaide). It might not seem as impressive as the other stops from the viewing platform by the car park, but you can walk down to the beach for a scenic walk. There are two viewing platforms to admire London Bridge a short walk from the car park.
The drive from Lorne to Apollo Bay is the most scenic section of the Great Ocean Road. Journey Time: 10 minutes from Port CampbellStop Time: 1 hour 25 minutes. If you time it right, there are also history and bush tucker talks. TheForeshore Promenadeis a great place for a stroll as well and stretches on for about 6 km. Winter (June to August) can be chilly, but youll have the chance to see whales, lower crowds, and can cosy up by the fire. Alternative Places to Stay Near Apollo Bay. We had lunch and found the vegetarian options a bit limited if you didnt want cheese, but the food gets good reviews from meat-eaters. Bells Beach is a famous surf beach with huge waves and is home to the Rip Curl Pro surfing competition in April.
Despite staying close to Apollo Bay, we loved our cottage so much that we didnt visit the town until our way out. The cottages are quite close together, so if you take a bath with the blinds up, you do have to trust your neighbours wont walk in front of your cottage (we had no issues). For more information on routes and trails visit the websitehere. The views of the countryside outside are lovely.
The ULTIMATE Great Ocean Road Map 2023 (Local's Guide) Thanks. If youre looking to do a bit of waterfall chasing, this is a great place to find them!
This is a great place not only to catch some stunner views but also to watch the fisherman come in with their catch, which you likely can find in the restaurants in town. 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. Search for more options in Port Campbell here.
Perfect write up, very helpful indeed, Appreciate your work guys, Cheers.
One of the most adventurous things to do on the Great Ocean Road drive is to do a bit of scuba diving.
Last on the Great Ocean Road Backpackers Guide is the quaint little town of Port Fairy. Stock up on essentials, fill up the car, turn up the radio and head towards Apollo Bay! While wandering around town youll surely spot a ton of street art, which is something Geelong is known for. But no need to rush. There's a couple of fun things to see in the area including Battery Hill, an old fort, and a beautiful port . While it is a large city the laid back beach vibe is very present here and you could wind up spending more time here than you planned. Then back along the coast towards Melbourne, taking a small detour down to the cape otway lighthouse. Make sure you book ahead though, as its not something you can just show up and do. Great post guys, you have inspired me to take a trip here when I finally get to Australia again! The ocean route via Angelsea (159km) is a spectacular coastal drive and an excellent introduction to the Great Ocean Road. Avoid driving after dark as the roads are windy and unlit and theres the danger of hitting wildlife. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 3:37 pmdrive for about 24 minutes, Shadowfax Wines While your stop here signals the end of your epic 3 day Great Ocean Road itinerary, youre now on to new and exciting things. 7am-Leave Lorne .
The Great Ocean Road Trip - A Three-Day Itinerary - Australian Traveller Loch Ard Gorge is another place that you dont want to miss.
If you had plenty of time, you might want to spend a night here as there are some beautiful beaches and waterfalls nearby. David & Marg. The Grotto is one of the most impressive sections of the coastline, and essentially a sinkhole. I cant recommend Points South enough. Dont forget that in Australia you drive on the left. Apollo Bay has plenty of spots for lunch and a big beach. We didnt expect to spend so long at a chocolate shop, but this place is huge! Kennett River is known as one of the best spots on the Great Ocean Road to see koalas, and it didnt disappoint.
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. The sun wasnt quite high enough to illuminate the stacks, but an hour later it was, and there were even fewer people around. 288 km/179 miles, about 3.5 hours. I found holiday rental sites had the most interesting options and ended up booking two lovely cottages with stunning views.
READ MORE: Be sure to plan your best trip to Australia by using our Australia Travel Guide!
Official site for Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Subscribe. Each cottage feels very private and has outstanding ocean views. The Bay of Islandsoffers similar scenery to the Twelve Apostles but without the crowds. The landscape varies depending on which route you take. We did not want to leave, but Port Campbell made a much more convenient base for exploring the Twelve Apostles and surrounding attractionswere glad we had a full day and two nights here. After passing through Port Campbell, youll pass by The Arch and London Bridge.
Split Point Lighthouse is still a functioning lighthouse, so you can only go inside on a tour. hi guys my husband and l are going to drive the great ocean road in early November. Split into colour-coded sections to help you find exactly what you are looking for quickly and easily, the map includes viewpoints and lookouts, campsites and campgrounds, the major towns and holiday destinations, waterfalls, beaches - even petrol stations(!) The current exchange rate is 1 AUD = 0.78 USD and 0.56 GBP. Then, if you like, you can descend to the foot of the falls via a 30-minute hike. travelers and answer their questions about Melbourne!
Find local inspiration and start planning your next road trip with our simple interactive journey planner. We actually visited at sunset the previous day. This is the only Great Ocean Road Map you will ever need.
Other options include coming from Adelaide, so if this is you, just read the itinerary backwards. Just around the corner is Timboon Fine Ice Cream where you can choose from a huge selection of unusual flavours including a whisky cream made with the drink from next door. Cant wait for the trip , Thanks Tracy.
Journey Time: 5 minutes from Twelve ApostlesStop Time: 1 hour 35 minutes.
Other options include coming from Adelaide, so if this is you, just read the itinerary backwards. If you're planning a road trip to Lorne, you can research locations to stop along the way. Both are amazing expressions of natural beauty and are worth checking out.
3 must-do stops on a Melbourne to Lorne road trip - Mantra Road trip: Melbourne to Adelaide in 6 days. If you really want a unique perspective though, and love a bit of adventure, how does skydiving over the 12 Apostles sound? Its a beautiful drive but slow going.
by calculating the distance from Melbourne to Lorne.
Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Lorne - 5 ways to travel via - Rome2rio Lorne is one of the most popular towns on a Great Ocean Road Trip. If you have limited time you could skip this one (we preferred London Bridge), but its only a quick stop.
Tasmania
Another good stop in Aireys Inlet is Fairhaven Beach.
Melbourne to Lorne - 4 ways to travel via train, bus, night bus, and car Wear shoes that are comfortable for walking. This section could be endless, so rather than trying to 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.
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