Each cottage feels very private and has outstanding ocean views. Now youll be able to find the wreckage in shallow waters, which makes it great for divers to explore. A great photo op spot, this is one of the most photographed spots along the Great Ocean Road. Thanks. 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. 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. But one of the most incredible Great Ocean Road attractions is just around the corner.
The steps lead to a beach where you can get another view of the Twelve Apostles, but unfortunately, they were closed for safety reasons on our visit. This was our Great Ocean Road route. We spent the first two nights in an incredible cottage overlooking the ocean at Points South by the Sea, a 15-minute drive before Apollo Bay.
to each other and sharing tips and advice. So you may get lucky to lay your eyes on some of these cute local beach dwellers. Learn how your comment data is processed. If you are on a budget, the cheapest way to do a Great Ocean Road Trip is by camping. If possible, I recommend driving yourself and spending at least two nights on the road. It would be quieter in the morning. DAY 1 Drive: Melbourne > Geelong > Lorne (2-2.5 HRS) It's time to head out!
The weather can play a huge part in what is visible and how close you can get to this area.
Journey Time: 35 minutes from Apollo BayStop Time: 2 hours (including lunch).
Journey Time: 3 minutes from RedwoodsStop Time: 20 minutes. Apollo Bay is a popular place, so make sure you have booked your accommodation ahead of time. Thanks for your support, kind friend! Split Point Lighthouse is still a functioning lighthouse, so you can only go inside on a tour.
You could also fit them in on the previous day. Drive from Melbourne to Adelaide along one of Australia's most famous coastal routes. This gives you the opportunity to see the quieter countryside inland of vibrant rolling hills and farmlandyou could almost be in England. The Great Ocean Road drive is 243km (151 miles) long. You can also buy a toasted sandwich or cheese platter ($20).
11:00 am start in Melbournedrive for about 30 minutes, 11:30 am eat at Shadowfax Wines
You can drive the entire length of the Great Ocean Road in one long day (about 8 hours return), but we recommend splitting the journey up into a few days.
Via: Where should I stop along the way?
They live in the eucalyptus trees behind the caravan park and are not hard to find. We liked the brie and pepper havarti (sadly they dont have storage space for cheddar). I definitely recommend allocating a few hours to explore it all. Continue on from this point as there are tons of Great Ocean Road attractions to come.
And to get your fill of more art you can visit theGeelong Art GalleryandThe Heritage Center.
This rock arch was once connected to the mainland until in collapsed in 1990 (leaving two tourists trapped but uninjured). To: Adelaide. Bells Beach (4 mentions) Hi Tracy, November is a beautiful time to travel the Great Ocean Road. Winter (June to August) can be chilly, but youll have the chance to see whales, lower crowds, and can cosy up by the fire. Both are natural, offshore stone archways. This dive spot is actually a ship that was wrecked off the eastern beach in Port Fairy in 1849.
You can hike, surf, ride helicopters, follow gourmet food trails, wander seaside towns, and much more.
Visit 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge. Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation Make sure you book ahead though, as its not something you can just show up and do. Turn off for this road just before you reach Apollo Bay.
By clicking the Submit button, you give consent for us to store your information for the purposes of displaying your comment and you accept the terms of our Privacy Policy. Its a lovely place for a short stroll. If you start early and arrive by late morning, youll have a good chance of enjoying the Twelve Apostles without the crowds. Or if youd prefer to visit the Twelve Apostles before most of the other tour buses arrive, this Great Ocean Road Reverse Experience heads directly to the highlights via the inland route then follows the road back to the city. Explore the best of Australia and find your perfect getaway.
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. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 3:37 pmdrive for about 24 minutes, Shadowfax Wines The iconic rock stacks were created by erosion of the limestone cliffs from the stormy Southern Ocean. We spent four days self-driving the road from Melbourne, but you could follow our Great Ocean Road itinerary in two or three days if necessary (we had a fair amount of relaxation time).
Loch Ard Gorge is another place that you dont want to miss. Your stop times will varywe tend to walk fast but take a lot of photos. 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. who wants the trip to end? At night we loved snuggling on the comfy couch by the fireplace. Its a beautiful drive but slow going. Other lunch options are Movida which was recommended to us for tapas or The Swingbridge Cafe is right on the beach. How far is the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne? There are many free campsites and serviced holiday parks along the route, and you can either pitch your own tent or drive a campervan. We personally stayed there when we travelled across Australia, and highly recommend it. 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. Check out Points South on Vrbo or compare prices on Booking.com. After the Twelve Apostles, continue along the Great Ocean Road towards Port Campbell. We rented a car from the local company Advance Car Rental in Melbournea Toyota Corolla cost us $158 for six days. 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.
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Theres also a small but well-equipped kitchen, a balcony with table and chairs, and a bathroom with an excellent shower and a spa bath with a view. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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 happen to be road-tripping on the second Sunday of the month, check out the Birregurra Markets. Journey Time: 5 minutes from Twelve ApostlesStop Time: 1 hour 35 minutes. RACQ's Trip Planner allows you to find places, get directions or plan your next road trip. We were out for about four hours in total and were left with the afternoon to relax in our wonderful cottage. Torquay is also home to theSurf World Museumwith tons of history about the sport and its fame in Australia. The only exception is if you only have one day for the drive, which I explain below. The drive from Lorne to Apollo Bay is the most scenic section of the Great Ocean Road. Find local inspiration and start planning your next road trip with our simple interactive journey planner. by calculating the distance from Melbourne to Lorne. 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. 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. You could continue down the coast, perhaps having a break in Port Campbell (Forage on Foreshore is a recommended cafe). 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. Bay of Martyrs is an overlooked spot thats perfect for escaping the crowds. Journey Time: 25 minutes from Aireys InletStop Time: 50 minutes.
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 . 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. I highly recommend visiting in the morning to truly enjoy it. 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. 8am-fly in, pick up car, drive to 12 apostles (inland route) 12.30- visit 12 Apostles, lunch ect, 2.30-Back on the road.
That way you can travel at your own pace, avoid the crowds, and have more time to enjoy the many Great Ocean Road attractions beyond the Twelve Apostles. 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. The trip from Adelaide to Melbourne takes around 8 hours if you go the inland route. Subscribe, Home | Australia | The PERFECT Great Ocean Road Drive Itinerary (2023). Although the property is along the road itself, the cottages are perched upon the cliffside and it feels wonderfully tranquil with only the sound of crashing waves below. 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. There are several veggie options and the lentil burger was decent, if nothing special. We had a light lunch in the surprisingly good cafe housed in the Assistant Keepers Quarters with views of the lighthouse.
Its part-archway, part-cave with a serene pool of water in contrast to the powerful waves beyond. Journey Time: 20 minutes from ChocolaterieStop Time: 25 minutes.
When we drove past around 2.30pm, the viewing platform was rammed.
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. Despite the name, there are only seven stacks (there were eight when they named it).
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. 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. Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Melbourne to Lorne. But all the views are spectacular on this stretch of the Great Ocean Road Trip. you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets,
While the Great Ocean Road covers a ton of coastline, this national park is a gem located more on the inland route. Try searching for places within 2 hours of Melbourne.
After the gorge youll pass the town of Port Campbell. From here you are well on your way to having covered a ton of ground. Beauchamp Falls wasnt on our original plan but ended up being my favourite stop of the day. This map shows the best things to see on the Great Ocean Road drive.
One of the most adventurous things to do on the Great Ocean Road drive is to do a bit of scuba diving.
Day 1: Melbourne to Port Fairy via inland route. Distance from Lorne: 45.5 km Estimated total driving time from Lorne: 54 minutes Activity length: 3 hours Another excellent spot for the best coastal views in this Melbourne to Adelaide drive is Apollo Bay. We didnt do this but tours take place every half an hour from 11am until 1.30pm for 3045 minutes and cost $10. There are toilets here but not at Hopetoun Falls.
Over time it has been improved to create a peaceful and beautiful space to be enjoyed. We already have plans to return and will perhaps try the 100km Great Ocean Walk next time. If youd like to continue travelling Australia beyond the Great Ocean Road, you canhead northwest to Adelaide.
I recommend packing a water bottle (we always travel with a few Vapur flexible bottles as they are light and foldable when empty) and a travel coffee mug or thermos. After passing through Port Campbell, youll pass by The Arch and London Bridge. We hope you have a great time along the Great Ocean Road. Last on the Great Ocean Road Backpackers Guide is the quaint little town of Port Fairy.
The Bay of Islandsoffers similar scenery to the Twelve Apostles but without the crowds. I include suggestions for shorter trips below. Beach. We had two partly rainy days and the rest were sunny with varied temperatures. For more information on routes and trails visit the websitehere. On the way back to Melbourne, do some .
1115km.
Our personal recommendation for where we stay in Apollo Bay every time is The Apollo Apartment.
Port Fairy is a tiny town on Victorias iconic shipwreck coast with a charming vibe and an exciting causeway that leads you out to an island worth exploring too. 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. Battery Hillis a great spot to get a view from on high of the town and see some pieces of Port Fairy history like the remnants of a Russian invasion from the 1860s. We stayed in a luxury cottage at Points South by the Seaand it was perfect. Head down to the Moyne River and stretch your legs along the wharves. Wear shoes that are comfortable for walking.