The weather can play a huge part in what is visible and how close you can get to this area. This is one of Victorias best bush and ocean walks. Home to some of Australia's best-known surf beaches, Torquay marks the official beginning of the Great Ocean Road. 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. The main issues can be poor visibility due to fog, slippery roads in wet weather, and traffic from vehicles and pedestrians in the busy sections. Featuring the major stops, seaside towns and villages along the Great Ocean Road including Torquay, Anglesea, Airey's Inlet, Lorne, Wye River, Kennett River, Apollo Bay, Port Campbell National Park, Port Campbell and Allensford; plus Warnambool and Port Fairy (as an extension to the official end of the Great Ocean Rd at Allensford.) From AU $1625 to AU $1895 3 days ex flights. The Obelisk sits atop a rugged coastline, which is rapidly being eroded by the harsh elements. If you want to travel by bus, know that there are plenty from Geelong to Apollo Bay, Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Portland,all travelling via the Great Ocean Road. hi guys my husband and l are going to drive the great ocean road in early November. Griffiths Islandcan be accessed by a footbridge nearby to the wharf and is a great place to do a little bird watching. Born to parents bit by the wander bug, Lakshmi calls her love for travel "hereditary and habitual". Conveniently located a little ways from Port Campbell, these serviced apartments have great rooms, a gorgeous pool area and make for a great stopover. 50 Things to do and see along the Great Ocean Road as a PDF Ebook. 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. A little warning about the Penguin Parade: It is very touristy and professionally put together. This will help you make the most of your time so you can see the things that matter to you. Imagine free falling from the sky onto these gorgeous views? A dormant volcanic crater, Tower Hill is full of Australian wildlife (koalas, kangaroos, emus to name a few) and has lush wetlands and bush. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. 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. I dashed out of the cave to higher ground, able to stay dry. The coastline of the Great Ocean Road is constantly changing and one such natural formation is the London Arch. Apart from the trip distance, refer. The Ultimate Guide To Watch Phillip Island Penguin Parade. Read all of our articles in our Australia Travel Guide. They will also add to the crowds at every one of your stops, so you want to beat them if you can. Great Ocean Road Tour 2 Days experience from Melbourne to Adelaide. Check out the Vline train & bus timetable to make your way between Geelong and Warrnambool. 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. 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. A large wave crashed on shore, quickly heading towards our cave and where we thought we would be safe. After the gorge youll pass the town of Port Campbell. GREAT OCEAN ROAD Routing: Melbourne to Adelaide Duration: 5 Days Code: M01 From AUD$685.00* per person, based on standard double/twin share accommodation. What is the shortest road distance between Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road? Along the way you'll stop by the border of Victoria and South Australia and a red line marks the exact spot. Thats how were going to structure this post for you. Cruising the Great Ocean Road is ranked amongst the top things to do in Australia. Find out more and plan your adventure. The Great Ocean Road is one of Australias great drives. Things to do in Melbourne Day Trips from Melbourne Great Ocean Road Tour From Melbourne. If you travel one way from Port Campbell to Melbourne (or vice versa), it is a 300 km journey. Get outdoors on bushwalking, surfing and mountain biking expeditions or take the cultural route through galleries, museums and heritage attractions. Some of the beautiful coastal towns you will come across during your drive are Apollo Bay, Cape Otway, Port Campbell, Torquay, and Lorne. During your travel, you plan to visit the following-1) Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay, Victoria, Australia. The Great Ocean Road offers amazing scenery, unforgettable natural features and quaint towns making it a unique vacation spot. Other good breaks in addition to Bells Beach includeSan Juc, Winki Pop, Bird RockandSparrowsjust to name a few. Home to some of Australia's best-known surf beaches, Torquay marks the official beginning of the Great Ocean Road. 6 Melbourne: Werribee Open Range Zoo Admission Ticket. Our self-drive itinerary includes driving via Robe and Victor Harbour though a side trip to include The Grampians could be included. Do you think that will be possible that time of year or do we have to book in advance ? While the Great Ocean Road covers a ton of coastline, this national park is a gem located more on the inland route. Start your 3 day Great Ocean Road itinerary with a lazy morning in Torquay. Visit some of the valleys most impressive wineries, go on a skydiving experience and simply kick your heels and relax. It stretches for 243 kms. 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. You could drive the main highlights of the Great Ocean Road (from the Bay of Islands to the Twelve Apostles), and then drive to Melbourne on highway A1. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The standalone arch was earlier connected to the coast with another such arch giving it the name London Bridge, but in 1990 the connecting arch fell down due to erosion. PLACES TO GO IN AUSTRALIA: Spend some time in Sydney, go wine tasting in Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, explore Uluru and the Red Centre of Australia, visit Melbourne, go snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, and dont miss Tasmania, one of our favorite places in Australia. Great Ocean Road Melbourne to Adelaide Drive 1,500 km | 7 - 12 days Great surf, picturesque coastal towns, ocean views around every bend, wine country and some spectacular hikes define this road trip. Planning a trip to Australia? Loch Iel (Pink Lake) The inland Melbourne to Adelaide drive takes around 5.5 hours from the Grampians. 8 Days or so of hiking from Apollo Bay to the 12 Apostles following the coastline with views and experiences not possible by car or bus. Before you set off on your adventure though, you should know how long the road is and how long it takes to drive. With the last day of your Great Ocean Road itinerary upon you, there is still so much to be seen and experienced. Note: This post contains affiliate links. Duration: 5 Days Prices From: US$ 699 Trip Type: Self-Drives, Tailor-made Travel Ideas Australia See Trip Details Our website uses cookies. Sometimes, Tyler and Kara feel like they will never be able to escape the attention of people curious about their blond hair. Private Great Ocean Road tour. From AUD$940.00* per person, based on [] We parked at a small car park and were the only ones here. Next, we got off the beaten track, taking an unnamed dirt road towards the shoreline. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. However, the Great Ocean Road is a hit at any time of the year and here is why . There are 5 ways to get from Mount Gambier to Great Ocean Road by bus or car Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. Just a few minutes west of the border you'll come across a beautiful pink salt lake. Day 3: Warrnambool to Port Fairy then Melbourne (or Adelaide). We spent forty five minutes here and during this time we did not see one other person. FromWarrnambool Breakwaterall the way toLogans Beachthis is a great spot to take in the coastal views and even pass a little penguin breeding ground. 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. Wealso have information on a great hike in Kings Canyon and a recap of our experience in the Red Centre of Australia. Explore Victoria's Great Ocean Road on an all-day reverse tour Discover the region's history and culture with a knowledgeable local guide Get going early and enjoy a small-group experience that beats the crowds Experience London Bridge, 12 Apostles, Great Otway, and other sites National Park fees Live commentary on board Professional guide It will stop off at most of the popular viewing spots. Most of the highlights are located around Port Campbell. The Twelve Apostles marked the end of the most scenic of viewpoints but did not end our journey down the Great Ocean Road. It has the most food options before Geelong, which is a further 1 hour drive away. 5+. Find out about other waterfalls in the Otways. Day 3: Warrnambool to Port Fairy then Melbourne (or Adelaide) Distance: 30km to Port Fairy, then 312km to Melbourne. Learn about the Best Things to Do in Melbourne and get a recap of our experiences here. 1. Day 3 - Set of on the Great Ocean Road, staying overnight in the village of Lorne, halfway . Apollo Bay is a popular place, so make sure you have booked your accommodation ahead of time. These two areas are highly populated by local surfers, keen to ride their magnificent waves. Melbourne To Phillip Island Tour: A Complete Guide For A Perfect Day Trip, We've served 15 million+ guests and we are here for you, All You Need For An Epic Great Ocean Road Tour From Melbourne, Happy customers across 10,000+ experiences, 5,000+ verified reviews with 90% excellent score, Featured and recommended by the best brands, Have a question? The Twelve Apostlesare one of the most amazing sights within Australia and its not hard to see why as you drive along the coast from Great Otway. You also wont be getting a sunset picture of the 12 Apostles as it will be one of your first major stops. 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 essentially a sinkhole in a limestone stack and opens out to a view of the sea and cliffs beyond. Your story was very useful for us to plan our one day trip in March 2020 just before the corona virus outbreak. 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 road driving distance between Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road is 446 Km. Would like to know what kind of still camera and lens you are using. To get here, however, was a two-hour drive via the M1 highway from Melbourne. The V/line service offers frequent train travel departing Melbournes Southern Cross Station and running to both Geelong and Warrnambool. Thousands of visitors flock here for summer and for festivals during the year, including the world famous Folkie. One of the most adventurous things to do on the Great Ocean Road drive is to do a bit of scuba diving. I am using a Canon 5D Mark iii with a 20-70 mm lens. The perfect place for a Melbourne city escape. What is the road driving distance between Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road? Try out the walking trails, have a picnic by the sea, take in the scenic views, or go searching for Australian wildlife.