Read 1 review. The lake views here are stunning and if youre lucky you might even be able to lay your eyes on a platypus or two. Related article: What should you not miss on the Great Ocean Road? The cave was not very big, extending about ten meters back into the cliff from the opening. This isnt a big deal though as you will still have great views of the scenery either way. Frolic in the ocean and then head up to the lush rainforests abundant with wildlife. Yes. Live chat with local experts anywhere, anytime. 5 Melbourne: 2-Hour City Highlights River Cruise. After the last couple of years, it seems everyone wants to be out and about and go travelling. This lookout gives you the chance to see right out to sea and over the entire city. Brekkie tacos, smoothie bowls and a full lunch menu to eat in or take away will please anyone visiting. 6 Melbourne: Werribee Open Range Zoo Admission Ticket. Victoria is the second-smallest state in Australia but packed with abundant natural beauty, all of which is easily accessible on quick day trips from Melbourne. Apart from the trip distance, refer Directions from Portland Ln to Mildura VIC 3500 for road driving directions! Note: This post contains affiliate links. Phone: +61 3 5227 9100 Toll Free: 1800 AVALON (1800 282 566) Getting to the Great Ocean Road By Car Travel time FROM MELBOURNE CBD 1hr 17min The step by step directions below should take you there: - Travel from Melbourne city onto the Westgate Freeway - Continue onto Princes Freeway - Continue onto Geelong Ring Road - Follow the signs for Torquay Great post guys, you have inspired me to take a trip here when I finally get to Australia again! Here we are, at another beach, and we have it all to ourselves. One of the most adventurous things to do on the Great Ocean Road drive is to do a bit of scuba diving. You can spend more time at each location and engage in activities like trekking, swimming and adventure sports. Please note: this popular area is big and therefore the tour involves quite a lot of driving. The waves here were big, similar to US east coast waves just before a hurricane. Hugging the ocean on one side, the other side of the road changes its landscape from lush rainforest-clad mountains to volcanic plains. Its also a fantastic place if you are looking to see some native Australian wildlife. Day 2 - Pinnacles Walk in the Grampians National Park and drive to Port Campbell on the Great Ocean Road to stay overnight. TheKennett River Koala Walkis the perfect place to get your fix. Theres a lot to see and do along the way. To drive direct from the Melbourne CBD to Torquay, where the road officially starts, is 104km, or 1 hour and 20 minutes. Head down to the Moyne River and stretch your legs along the wharves. For most people, the trip willstart in Melbourneand can be done in a loop or a return journey. Recommended option Train 4h 12m Take the train from Southern Cross to Warrnambool Warrnambool - Melbourne Via Colac & Geelong $103 - $128 Grab some coffee and stroll the foreshore. Great Ocean Road Tour 2 Days experience from Melbourne to Adelaide. Melbourne's two best day tours, Great Ocean Road & Phillip Island, with entrance to Melbourne Skydeck. Apollo Bay is a popular place, so make sure you have booked your accommodation ahead of time. Any advice greatly appreciated! Day 3 - Set of on the Great Ocean Road, staying overnight in the village of Lorne, halfway . 12. Truly a paradise, the area is a popular destination for water sports and recreation activities. 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. Other options include coming from Adelaide, so if this is you, just read the itinerary backwards. The Perth to Adelaide Drive (via the Nullarbor Plain) 3,700 km | 16 days Swim with dolphins, climb the giant Gloucester Tree, camp among . Our self-drive itinerary includes driving via Robe and Victor Harbour though a side trip to include The Grampians could be included. I am not looking forward to the conclusion of your trek. The shortest road distance between Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road is 446 Km. Torquay is also home to theSurf World Museumwith tons of history about the sport and its fame in Australia. There is also a plaque on the left side of the road which serves as a memory for the soldiers. Recommended Experiences Yarra Valley Full Day Gourmet Tour Skydive Yarra Valley Tandem Freefall. 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. Both are amazing expressions of natural beauty and are worth checking out. Here are a few budget Great Ocean Road tours you should consider. Or Warrnambool, Camperdown, Geelong, Melbourne. I could not imagine trying to swim out past these waves, just to catch one right back to shore. If you're planning to visit the Great Ocean Road, here's all that you should squeeze into your itinerary. This is just because we really want to show you the best bits of the beautiful Great Ocean Road! can include Port Fairy and more coastal towns. Join our small group coastal adventure to the beaches, rainforests and more of the Great Ocean Road. MELBOURNE: Melbourne is our favorite city in Australia. Start your 3 day Great Ocean Road itinerary with a lazy morning in Torquay. We spent forty five minutes here and during this time we did not see one other person. Walk 91 provides assistance to plan your walk along the GOR Walk, either with luxurious accommodation and meals provided or the budge self-catering option. Includes: 4 nights' accommodation, 5 days unlimited km use of a compact sized car, continental breakfast in Barossa Valley and fully detailed itinerary with local and regional maps. Many travelers continue on to Warrnambool and Adelaide or up to the Grampian Mountains while others are returning to Melbourne. I highly recommended checking out Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve and Port Fairy. Adults: $119 $104 Online special! Brambuk: The National Park and Cultural Centre Finally, we made it to Bells Beach in Torquay, the end point of the Great Ocean Road. The Email id you have Entered is not Registered With us. Deep lush valleys, sky-high rainforests, stunning waterfalls and tons of walking tracks make it a great spot to get off the beach and still be in nature. Check map and driving directions of your route which helps you find the destination easier. A walkway just outside Lorne offers views of the ocean lapping up the mouth of the Saint George River and the Bass Strait. The Great Ocean Road is a 243-kilometre (151-mile) route located along the coast of Victoria in southeastern Australia. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Port Fairy offers great locations forscuba divingincludingThe Thistle. What kind of still camera/lens are you finding most helpful? We parked at a small car park and were the only ones here. The Great Ocean Road is one of Australias great drives. Head down to Main Beach for a swim, sunbathe or surf at Point Impossible or Rocky Point. Checking out the view of Bells Beach from the lookout. Read all of our articles in our. We personally stayed there when we travelled across Australia, and highly recommend it. We still had a long ways to go. It is the southernmost active regular passenger railway station on the Australian mainland (several other Victorian Railways lines such as the branch lines to Timboon and Crowes did venture further south but all have now closed). While your stop here signals the end of your epic 3 day Great Ocean Road itinerary, youre now on to new and exciting things. All the points of interest mentioned above are marked on the Great Ocean Road Map below. The drive offers plenty of places to stop off and explore. Head forEastern Beachfirst. We can recommend a number of excellent companies who all use smaller buses which means more time at stops and more personalized experience. You will want to try and get ahead of as many tour buses as you can. The Grotto is one of the most impressive sections of the coastline, and essentially a sinkhole. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Great commentary. Loch Iel (Pink Lake) The inland Melbourne to Adelaide drive takes around 5.5 hours from the Grampians. Plan ahead and give yourself at least 1 full day. From AU $1625 to AU $1895 3 days ex flights. 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. Drive Along the Great Ocean Road. We have been travelling the world together since 2008, with a passion for adventure travel and sustainable tourism. The Great Ocean Road is one of the most epic road journeys you can go on across the world! Routing: Adelaide to Melbourne Duration: 5 Days Code: AD3 From AUD$690.00* per person, based on standard double/twin share accommodation. What is the distance between Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road? . A Melbourne road trip to Adelaide via the Great Ocean Road can be done over 5 days, easily seeing the best of the Ocean Road highlights. The landscape varies depending on which route you take. But the Great Ocean Road is about so much more than its sinuous, coast hugging tarmac. The Gunditjmara people are the rightful owners of the land incorporated into the Great Ocean Road from Portland to Warrnambool, including Port Fairy and the Princess Highway. Thats how were going to structure this post for you. DestinationsPhotographySustainable TourismAdventure Travel, Adventure ToursStart a BlogTravel TipsSitemap, 2023 NOMADasaurus | Peak Evolution Media, The PERFECT Great Ocean Road Drive Itinerary (2023). It was in this area that we were treated to stunning views. Where does the Great Ocean Road start and finish. Headout is building the future of how we experience our cities. Starting from Torquay, this route takes you through beautiful seaside towns and rain forests as you follow the winding road along the exquisite coastline. Stops. This dive spot is actually a ship that was wrecked off the eastern beach in Port Fairy in 1849. Here at Port Campbell National Park, we spent over two hours hopping from scenic view to scenic view. The Twelve Apostles are giant limestone stacks jutting out of the ocean that form one of the most recognizable landscapes in Australia. TheForeshore Promenadeis a great place for a stroll as well and stretches on for about 6 km. You also wont be getting a sunset picture of the 12 Apostles as it will be one of your first major stops. Whether you're a history buff, foodie, nature lover or adventurer get ready for a great weekend. The distance between Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road is 446 Km by road. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. Cannon Hillis a great place to start if you want to get the lay of the land. 21 Awesome Things to Do in Ipswich, Queensland (2023 Guide), The Perfect 3 Days in Rockhampton Itinerary, 16 BEST Cairns Day Trips Not to Be Missed [2023 Guide]. Try out the walking trails, have a picnic by the sea, take in the scenic views, or go searching for Australian wildlife. The Great Ocean Road offers amazing scenery, unforgettable natural features and quaint towns making it a unique vacation spot. Just a few minutes west of the border you'll come across a beautiful pink salt lake. A drive between Melbourne and Adelaide via the inland route takes only 8 hours. If your tour is on schedule you might find yourself some time for a swim. Going up is going to be a task though! To do this, leave Melbourne before 8am as most tours leave Melbourne city between 8am and 9am. Day 3: Warrnambool to Port Fairy then Melbourne (or Adelaide). The first to know about trending destinations, travel deals, tips and Taking an organized bus tour from Melbourne to the Great Ocean Road is the best way to experience the best of the pictursque route from the comfort of your bus. It will stop off at most of the popular viewing spots. But if you are driving under the speed limit and following protocols, it could be one of the best drives of your life given the amazing view throughout the drive. And your Great Ocean Road route should not miss out on two other attractions nearby either. You can also find the distance from Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road using other travel options like bus, subway, tram, train and rail. You might even get a stretch of beach all to yourself, maybe for the best adventure of the day. It seemed like there was another amazing view every 400 meters, so we were jumping in and out of our car a lot. Tip: Beat the tour buses to avoid the traffic and crowds. These are decent, but not as good as what you just saw, and definitely not as great as what you are about to visit next. Rent a campervan and go on an adventure. All the while, Tyler and Kara were screaming with delight, laughing afterwards. Most of the highlights are located around Port Campbell. This would end up being our favorite part of the day. Always hustling towards the least trodden path, she has encountered some wonderful people during her escapades and if you ever meet her, she won't stop gushing about them. Find good prices and choices of accommodation: there is still so much more to see, Port Fairy is a beautiful little village and well worth spending time visiting too. But that does not take away from the impressive views at all. To get you fueled up for your last day head toBohemiaCafe & Barfor a takeaway coffee or a wicked and delicious breakfast. Youll also find theAustralian Surfing Hall of Famehere as well. The Grotto is multiple geological formations rolled into one and is one of the most spectacular points to view the coast. You can also try a different route while coming back by adding multiple destinations. In Portland there's time for panoramic coastal views from the Cape Nelson Lighthouse, before a scenic drive through dense pine plantations to our lunch venue in the . Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. If you want one of the best views in Geelong, grab a seat on theSkyWheel. Passing the iconic 12 Apostles and other amazing natural features carved into the expansive coastline the Great Ocean Road is a road trip to remember. It was nothing fancy but suited our needs for our family of four. 1st Stop: Torquay. The best way to get around is to rent a car and explore on your own! However, when the winds pick up it is best to stay above the Grotto. Great Ocean Road one-day itinerary. 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. Director, editor and producer of feature documentary about animal welfare in farming. 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. 3 Melbourne: SEA LIFE Aquarium Entrance Ticket. Hey! Lorne is a picturesque town set between Loutit Bay and the Otway National Park, it is where the bush meets the ocean. The Great Ocean Road drive is one of the most scenic drives that Australia has to offer. Hopetoun Falls Just gorgeous, the walk to these falls is not very far, though it does involve steps. Road trip: Melbourne to Great Ocean Road 277km Beach Culture Benefit Slip on your driving gloves and set off for a run down one the world's most celebrated and breathtaking roads. Tyler and Kara joined us, took a look around, and then went back to their game. We would appreciate some advice for an itinerary driving from Melbourne to Cape Jervis via the Great Ocean Road visiting Phillip Island and Kennett River where we may hopefully see some Koalas, on the way. We want to book accommodation as we go . You will be bracing natural elements on this road trip and its best to dress accordingly. It is essentially a sinkhole in a limestone stack and opens out to a view of the sea and cliffs beyond. Depart from Melbourne in the morning, and begin your Great Ocean Road journey. From Portland, we drove 2 hours (160 km) to get to Port Campbell, the start of the Great Ocean Road. If youve hired a car youll most likely collect it at the airport. Apart from the trip distance, refer. If youre looking to do a bit of waterfall chasing, this is a great place to find them! 375km of scenic winding roads along the southern ocean will take you through some of the countrys most beautiful UNESCO-listed landscapes. A drive down the road will take you through magnificent landscapes of the white surf hitting the golden beaches, where the limestone stacks and arches weather the powerful ocean. Depart Melbourne and travel over the West Gate Bridge through the vast volcanic plains en-route to Geelong. 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. The first stop when driving the Great Ocean Road will beGeelong. Sail through the clouds with only 1 other person for an up-close and personal adventure. Read more about taking a Melbourne to Phillip Island Tour. This was not anywhere near as scenic as Port Campbell National Park but was still worth seeing. In the shadow of the Otway ranges meeting Cape Otway is the Apollo Bay, midway of the Great Ocean Road. Get outdoors on bushwalking, surfing and mountain biking expeditions or take the cultural route through galleries, museums and heritage attractions. Bunyip Tours: Cute Penguins - See 1,941 traveler reviews, 941 candid photos, and great deals for Melbourne, Australia, at Tripadvisor. On a clear sunny day and depending on the tide you can get pretty close. Soaring high above the limestone stacks youll get the best views of Victorias Shipwreck Coast. 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. This is one way to get away from other tourists. Its a lot of driving. The Ultimate Guide To Watch Phillip Island Penguin Parade. It is a beast to carry around with me everyday but I love the photos get with it.

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