melbourne to lorne via inland route

. Avoid driving after dark as the roads are windy and unlit and theres the danger of hitting wildlife. These are some of the places people talk about on Trippy: Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions 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. Your Great Ocean Road itinerary may be coming to an end, but dont worry, youll finish up with a dreamy little visit toPort Fairy.

The ULTIMATE Great Ocean Road Map 2023 (Local's Guide) We enjoyed our cone in the lovely gardens. Its a fairly steep climb back up to the car park where there are toilets.

New South Wales

We are Alesha and Jarryd, the award-winning writers and professional photographers behind this blog.

South Island

1115km. 15 minutes down the road from Kennett River is Wongarra, where we spent the next two nights at Points South by the Sea. Another good stop in Aireys Inlet is Fairhaven Beach. We want to book accommodation as we go . Do you think that will be possible that time of year or do we have to book in advance ? 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. FromWarrnambool Breakwaterall the way toLogans Beachthis is a great spot to take in the coastal views and even pass a little penguin breeding ground. If you start early and arrive by late morning, youll have a good chance of enjoying the Twelve Apostles without the crowds. The inland route is generally the quicker choice for these times. G.O.R.G.E Chocolates (20 minutes from Port Campbell) is a small, low-key chocolate shop thats very different from the touristy affair of the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie. 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.

(In fact, we returned a month later to do just that!). Dinner, stay over night. Thanks.

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This was our Great Ocean Road route. The weather can play a huge part in what is visible and how close you can get to this area. Apollo Bay is a gorgeous seaside village, located at the entry to the Otways, and without a doubt is one of the most scenic and picturesque stops on our Great Ocean Road drive. The official start of The Great Ocean Road, Torquay is a town with an ingrained surfing culture. 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. I'd like to drive the GOR but am concerned about the nasty road incidents that have happened- I know it can be a challenging drive with hairpin bends. You could continue down the coast, perhaps having a break in Port Campbell (Forage on Foreshore is a recommended cafe). For a view worth getting out of the comfort of your car for, your next stop is Point Roadknight in Anglesea. Required fields are marked *. The cottages are modern and stylish with big windows to make the most of the views of the rolling green hills and ocean beyond. By Ellie Schneider Surf at Bells Beach, walk among the 12 Apostles and sample wine in McLaren Vale on this five-day journey along Australia's dramatic south-east coastline. We were more interested in luxury accommodation on the Great Ocean Road as we wanted a place where we could relax and enjoy the views between sightseeing trips. There is a walking track around the island and on the most westerly point youll find a lovely little lighthouse and a pretty viewpoint too. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Its part-archway, part-cave with a serene pool of water in contrast to the powerful waves beyond. Road Trip | Adelaide to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road: Warrnambool And sadly our Great Ocean Road trip was over. The ocean route via Angelsea (159km) is a spectacular coastal drive and an excellent introduction to the Great Ocean Road. suggest every local activity or attraction, we'll leave it If you want one of the best views in Geelong, grab a seat on theSkyWheel. Many people visit the Great Ocean Road as a very long day trip from Melbourne on bus tours.

North Coast

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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. David & Marg. Quest Warrnambool is the perfect place to do just that. We have been travelling the world together since 2008, with a passion for adventure travel and sustainable tourism.

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What used to be a swamp was reclaimed and turned into these pretty gardens in 1858. Again thank you.

Journey Time: 5 minutes from Bay of Martyrs (20 minutes back to Port Campbell)Stop Time: 20 minutes. 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. 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. 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. Im glad we bought plenty of food (and wine) as we did not want to go out for dinner.

Australia's Coral Coast

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. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 12:30 pmdrive for about 51 minutes, 1:22 pm Jan Juc 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. Please read our.

Plan your journey with our route planner. 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. Youll find them sitting up in the eucalyptus trees. We stayed in Cottage 1 and didnt want to leave. If you fancy trying your luck to spot some wildlife head out to nearbyLake Elizabeth. (Seriously!) If youd like to continue travelling Australia beyond the Great Ocean Road, you canhead northwest to Adelaide. Not even 15km from Apollo Bay is the incredibly lush and beautifulGreat Otway National Park. The drive from . 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). 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 have given us a great itinerary to get the best out of our trip. Journey Time: 4 minutes from The ArchStop Time: 20 minutes. Great Ocean Road (6 mentions) At 8.30am we had it entirely to ourselves. Trip Planner | Travel - RACQ

New Zealand

But no need to rush.

So you may get lucky to lay your eyes on some of these cute local beach dwellers. However, Loch Ard Gorge is still a stunning place for a swim. Its a beautiful long sweep of sand that would be great for a walk. One of the most adventurous things to do on the Great Ocean Road drive is to do a bit of scuba diving.

You can try chocolate buttons for free as you enter and then browse the massive selection of treats including lots of unusual flavours. If you cant drive or only have a day available, this Great Ocean Road Day Tour is popular. I highly recommend visiting in the morning to truly enjoy it. 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. 3rd Stop: Lorne. Its a lovely place for a short stroll.

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Whitsundays

Conveniently located a little ways from Port Campbell, these serviced apartments have great rooms, a gorgeous pool area and make for a great stopover.

Australian Capital Territory

Journey Time: 5 minutes from Twelve ApostlesStop Time: 1 hour 35 minutes. By the time we arrived it was pouring with rain, so we didnt see much and just had lunch at The Bottle of Milk. The best Great Ocean Road stops are in the Port Campbell National Park (including Twelve Apostles) so focus your time here. 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. This rock arch was once connected to the mainland until in collapsed in 1990 (leaving two tourists trapped but uninjured). 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. The lake views here are stunning and if youre lucky you might even be able to lay your eyes on a platypus or two. Head down to the Moyne River and stretch your legs along the wharves. Jump out of a plane at 15,000 feet above the ground and get the best, most exhilarating views of the entire coastline. All prices quotes below are in Australian dollars. Its a small village, but Port Campbell is a nice place to stop for a snack and some fuel. If you're planning a road trip to Lorne, you can research locations to stop along the way. Day 1: Melbourne to Apollo Bay Distance: 195km Drive Time: 3 Hours Sightseeing Time: 5 Hours For most people, the trip will start in Melbourne and can be done in a loop or a return journey. Youll also find theAustralian Surfing Hall of Famehere as well.

Victoria

Along the way you can sample cheese, whisky, beer, chocolate, fudge, strawberries (in summer), ice cream, and olives from local producers.

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A great photo op spot, this is one of the most photographed spots along the Great Ocean Road. thought of doing it in one day, but now will make a stop over and take two days.. Journey Time: 1 hour from Apollo Bay or WongarraStop Time: 25 minutes. We didnt do this but tours take place every half an hour from 11am until 1.30pm for 3045 minutes and cost $10. beaches and quaint towns including Lorne or Apollo Bay. We saw two koalasone sleeping (which they do for up to 22 hours a day) and one munching on leaves (which they do for the rest of the time). You can hike, surf, ride helicopters, follow gourmet food trails, wander seaside towns, and much more. Follow the inland route if you are headed back to Melbourne for a shorter drive. 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.

Both are natural, offshore stone archways. I found holiday rental sites had the most interesting options and ended up booking two lovely cottages with stunning views. 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. Its a hub for the local food scene with a small shop selling cheese, wine, beer, condiments and other products made in the area. 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. Seeingthe Twelve Apostlesfor yourself should be at the top of your Australian Bucket list, no matter the weather. How Far are the 12 Apostles from Melbourne? - Great Ocean Road Tours Its a beautiful drive but slow going. Thanks for your support, kind friend!

Northern Territory

As Victorias 5th largest city, Warrnambool is a lot bigger than most of the seaside towns along the Great Ocean Road drive. 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.

Hervey Bay

While driving to Lorne we had our first Australian wildlife experiencean echidna crossing the road. It hugs the coastline with many twists and turns and stunning ocean views. Learn how your comment data is processed. 3 must-do stops on a Melbourne to Lorne road trip - Mantra If it hadnt been raining so heavily, Im sure we would have stopped often for photos. Melbourne to Great Ocean Road: Self Drive Tour - 5 Days You can also find some cool day trips or get away for a weekend. Days - 1, 2 & 3 - Melbourne CBD. 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. Its a wonderfully scenic place with a beach below and crashing waves. Subscribe, Home | Australia | The PERFECT Great Ocean Road Drive Itinerary (2023). 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. What is a partial cave, archway and blowhole, The Grotto is definitely something to marvel at. The Arch is a giant archway in the ocean, and London Bridge is the same but is more square instead of arched to it looks like a bridge.

Gladstone

You can do a Great Ocean Road Trip at any time of year. Happy travels. To: Adelaide. . 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.

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Reserve your spot here. However, the views arent affected by the bigger cityscape. Try searching for places within 2 hours of Melbourne. Walk back down to the base of the bluff to enjoy relaxing on the beach for a while. Wear shoes that are comfortable for walking. Make sure you visit first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon for the best koala viewing times. 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. Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Lorne - 5 ways to travel via - Rome2rio The whole trail is about 15km, but your best chances for spotting the cute indigenous animals are about 6km in atGrey River.

This map shows the best things to see on the Great Ocean Road drive. If possible, I recommend driving yourself and spending at least two nights on the road. Expert travel tips from a digital nomad couple, This page contains affiliate links. 9am- Arrive Barwon heads for sky dive then head back to Melbourne CBD, drop car off in city . It's okay, you can start planning your Hi Tracy, November is a beautiful time to travel the Great Ocean Road. 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. We didnt find the drive difficult although it is very windy, which gets tiring after a while (especially if you get travel sick). stay for about 1 hour and leave at 3:37 pmdrive for about 24 minutes, Shadowfax Wines