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. Via: Where should I stop along the way? I cant recommend Points South enough.
New Zealand
These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. 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. DestinationsPhotographySustainable TourismAdventure Travel, Adventure ToursStart a BlogTravel TipsSitemap, 2023 NOMADasaurus | Peak Evolution Media, The PERFECT Great Ocean Road Drive Itinerary (2023). Highlights include the Telegraph Station, World War II Radar Bunker, whale viewing platform (we had no luck), and the lighthouse itself, which you can climb. The inland route via Ballarat and Bordertown is faster, but the Great Ocean Road is an incredible experience. If you have an extra night, you could add it to either of those locations depending on your interestsApollo Bay is nearer forests and waterfalls and Port Campbell is nearer the Twelve Apostles and many other beautiful coastal rock formations. Walk back down to the base of the bluff to enjoy relaxing on the beach for a while.
The large corner window seat is the perfect place to enjoy the views in winter, and for warmer weather, theres a large balcony with a table, chairs, and BBQ. Its most famous for the Twelve Apostles rock formations, but theres lots to see along the stunning Shipwreck Coast. The homemade scones and vegetarian korma pie were delicious, and the cakes looked tempting. After the gorge youll pass the town of Port Campbell. 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. thought of doing it in one day, but now will make a stop over and take two days..
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. 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 . READ MORE: Be sure to plan your best trip to Australia by using our Australia Travel Guide! Dinner, stay over night. The ocean views from almost everywhere in the cottage (including the bed) were just amazing.
The drive from Lorne to Apollo Bay is the most scenic section of the Great Ocean Road.
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. Its a fairly steep climb back up to the car park where there are toilets.
Melbourne airport to the 12 Apostles to Lorne? - Tripadvisor We stayed in a luxury cottage at Points South by the Seaand it was perfect.
Along the way you can sample cheese, whisky, beer, chocolate, fudge, strawberries (in summer), ice cream, and olives from local producers.
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. We are Alesha and Jarryd, the award-winning writers and professional photographers behind this blog.
The Grotto is unlike any of the other rock formations in the area. The drive from Melbourne to Lorne isn't particularly long, only around 2 hours all up.
Melbourne to Lorne drive - plan a road trip open-ended. Make sure you visit first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon for the best koala viewing times. Gradually caves were formed, then arches, and when they collapsed the rock stacks stood alone, isolated from the shore.
Western Australia
The road up into the forest is even windier than the coastal route and narrow in parts. There were a few people around then (and some photographers just leaving) but it was still quiet. Again thank you. Get detailed, easy-to-follow driving or walking directions. Our last full day was dedicated to the Port Campbell National Park.
Most of the time I was fine in my Allbirds wool runners, but I was glad for hiking shoes on the muddy trails to the waterfalls in Great Otway National Park. 288 km/179 miles, about 3.5 hours.
Get the reverse directions for a Check the latest prices of Anchors on Vrbo or on Booking.com. We were finished by 10.30am and returned to our hotel for a break before going out for lunch. If youd like to continue travelling Australia beyond the Great Ocean Road, you canhead northwest to Adelaide. There are some short trails you can follow, but we didnt have time to go far. For more information on routes and trails visit the websitehere. If you fancy trying your luck to spot some wildlife head out to nearbyLake Elizabeth. There are striking cliffs and rock formations, easy coastal walks, and interesting history. We liked the brie and pepper havarti (sadly they dont have storage space for cheddar). We arrived at our accommodation at 4.40pm.
This rock arch was once connected to the mainland until in collapsed in 1990 (leaving two tourists trapped but uninjured). The three stops above are a good half-day trip, but if you have a full day you can continue on to Otway Fly Treetop Adventures where you can go zip lining (book ahead, $120) or walk above the trees on the elevated treetop walk ($25). Nearby youll find another popular waterfall, Triplet Falls (a one hour walk). 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. If you're planning a road trip to Lorne, you can research locations to stop along the way. From the car park its a short walk to a viewpoint of the beach surrounded by cliffs. For more trail information in Great Otway National Park, visit thiswebsite. We left at 10.30am and with the stops below arrived back in the city at 3.30pm. One of the best things to do on the Great Ocean Road is going out for a paddle at some of the most famous surf beaches in Australia.
They are set up studio style (best for a couple) with the large comfortable bed on a platform at the back and a sofa, armchair, and small dining table at the front.
Make sure you book ahead though, as its not something you can just show up and do. We rented a car from the local company Advance Car Rental in Melbournea Toyota Corolla cost us $158 for six days. This is where the exterior scenes of the familys lighthouse home were filmed! This dive spot is actually a ship that was wrecked off the eastern beach in Port Fairy in 1849. Relax and unwind in the seaside town of Lorne, attracting visitors for more than a century with its easy Mediterranean feel and charming scenery. Lorne is made for lunches. If youve hired a car youll most likely collect it at the airport. Anyone remember the 90s TV show Round the Twist? However, you can take the train to Geelong, take the walk to Geelong, then take the bus to Lorne Visitor Centre/Great Ocean Rd. 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. 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. Head forEastern Beachfirst.
But all the views are spectacular on this stretch of the Great Ocean Road Trip. The only exception is if you only have one day for the drive, which I explain below. The Arch is the first in a series of rock formations where you can stop for a quick look from viewing platforms. It was named after the clipper Loch Ard that was wrecked here in 1878. 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. 1115km. to double check the weather. The Great Ocean Road is one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world. Find local inspiration and start planning your next road trip with our simple interactive journey planner. Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation 11:00 am start in Melbournedrive for about 30 minutes, 11:30 am eat at Shadowfax Wines 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. Reserve your spot here.
Road Trip | Adelaide to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road: Warrnambool A Great Ocean Road Backpackers Guide: Lorne to Port Fairy Do allocate as much time as you can, thoughits a gorgeous part of the world with plenty to see. You can take a bus from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Lorne via Skybus Coach Terminal/Southern Cross, Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St, and Geelong in around 5h 11m. Covering nearly 200 hectares, this park is one of the few Great Ocean Road highlights that is not a beach. Apollo Bay is a popular place, so make sure you have booked your accommodation ahead of time. Once youve had your fill, hop in the car for a quick drive and to the next and last destination of your road trip. While there is a 230 kilometres direct inland route from Melbourne to the 12 Apostles, a longer scenic day trip along the Great Ocean Road is a much more interesting option.
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. You can then drive back to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road route and choose the stops you are most interested in.
Answer 1 of 3: Hi - I'm on a tour of Melbourne with 3 seniors and one 4 year. Its a beautiful drive but slow going. 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 There is no direct connection from Melbourne to Lorne. Stop 1 Torquay 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.
I was originally looking for accommodation in Apollo Bay, but Im really glad we ended up 15 minutes outside of town in the hamlet of Wongarra. Both routes meet in Lorne, which is 15 minutes from Wye River. They have cheaper compact cars and you can drive the route in any vehicle.
There are a few options for pit stop number 3, which will time in perfectly with a late lunch. From Beauchamp we drove back to Points South in about 45 minutes. 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. 15 minutes down the road from Kennett River is Wongarra, where we spent the next two nights at Points South by the Sea.
Dinner, stay over night Friday 7am-Leave Lorne 9am- Arrive Barwon heads for sky dive then head back to Melbourne CBD, drop car off in city 2pm Check into hotel Sat & Sun
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. The cottage is very well-equipped and Bryan is a fantastic host who goes out of his way to help you make the most of your stay and share his tips for the area.
We stayed in one of the modern, luxury cottages at Anchors at Port Campbellon a farm a few kilometres inland from Port Campbell.
Another good stop in Aireys Inlet is Fairhaven Beach. Great Ocean Road (6 mentions).
The Ultimate Great Ocean Road Trip: From Melbourne to Adelaide - NeedaBreak Best Road Trips: Melbourne to Adelaide (Insider Guide for 2023) Have a great time.
At 8.30am we had it entirely to ourselves.
I definitely recommend allocating a few hours to explore it all.
Particularly loved those places you stayed, will have to check them out.
If you are on a budget, the cheapest way to do a Great Ocean Road Trip is by camping. One of the most iconic road trips in all of Australia, if not the world, has got to be the Great Ocean Road drive. You can try chocolate buttons for free as you enter and then browse the massive selection of treats including lots of unusual flavours. and answers related to Lorne. 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 . 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. The gas log fire kept us warm. 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 5- Arrive at Lorne. The Lightstation is open every day from 10am 5pm (except for Christmas Day), but if you arrive out of hours, you can still walk along the lovely coastal trail that starts by the car 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. Learn a little about the surfing history of the town at the Surfworld museum, and if youve brought your board along with you a paddle at Famous Bells Beach, home of the Rip Curl Pro, is a must do. Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Melbourne to Lorne.
Journey Time: 4 minutes from The ArchStop Time: 20 minutes. What used to be a swamp was reclaimed and turned into these pretty gardens in 1858. English . We loved it so much we returned a month later for a few days to do nothing but relax and enjoy the view.
375km of scenic winding roads along the southern ocean will take you through some of the countrys most beautiful UNESCO-listed landscapes. If you had plenty of time, you might want to spend a night here as there are some beautiful beaches and waterfalls nearby. Established during early 19 th Century this town has come a long way, but it has also made a really good effort to stick to its roots. There was only one other person on the beach when we visited. Its a small platform and we were lucky that we got to take a few photos before three tour buses arrived. 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. 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. Let us help you get started with planning your Great Ocean Road itinerary. It starts in Torquay, which is 105km (65 miles) from Melbourne, and continues westward along the coast to finish at Allansford near Warrnambool.
The drive from .
Now 2 pillars are left standing above the sea and make for an impressive view inPort Campbell National Park. The Great Ocean Road drive is 243km (151 miles) long.
If you cant drive or only have a day available, this Great Ocean Road Day Tour is popular. We have been travelling the world together since 2008, with a passion for adventure travel and sustainable tourism. When you continue down the road, the Cape Patton Lookout Point is a good place for views. For more experienced surfers, and those looking to set foot onto a world-renowned surf beach, head toBells Beach. Days - 1, 2 & 3 - Melbourne CBD. . They are full of handmade art and crafts and locally made treats to indulge in like jams, pastries, pickles and ice-cream. After passing through Port Campbell, youll pass by The Arch and London Bridge. These unique and adorable local animals call this spot home and have been known to use the lake as a nesting ground when having babies so best to keep your eyes peeled. because there's an entire community of travelers talking Through our stories and images we promote exciting off-the-beaten-path destinations and fascinating cultures as we go. One of the best things to do here is take a walk out on thePort Fairy Wharves. Go on a culinary crusade via craft breweries and top regional restaurants on the short inland route back to Melbourne via Colac (below). Our final stops in the area were on the food trail. Theres also a cafe if you want a longer break. We saw an adorable mother and baby koala! 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. 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. 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. Youll also find theAustralian Surfing Hall of Famehere as well. 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.
Start early, drive Melbourne > Geelong > Colac > 12 Apostles; this inland route is much faster. 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). The trip from Adelaide to Melbourne takes around 8 hours if you go the inland route. This map shows the best things to see on the Great Ocean Road drive. Turn off for this road just before you reach Apollo Bay.
Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Lorne - 5 ways to travel via - Rome2rio Click the button below to explore more questions After the last couple of years, it seems everyone wants to be out and about and go travelling. The 20-metre falls crash over a ledge with a backdrop of lush ferns and the forest towering above. 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. Its a small village, but Port Campbell is a nice place to stop for a snack and some fuel. RACQ's Trip Planner allows you to find places, get directions or plan your next road trip. David & Marg. Benefit.
Great Ocean Road 2-Day Itinerary: The BEST Self Drive Itinerary The lake views here are stunning and if youre lucky you might even be able to lay your eyes on a platypus or two.
New South Wales
You could continue down the coast, perhaps having a break in Port Campbell (Forage on Foreshore is a recommended cafe). If you want an even better view of the Twelve Apostles, you can take a helicopter ride over them. Not even 15km from Apollo Bay is the incredibly lush and beautifulGreat Otway National Park. Drive from Melbourne to Adelaide along one of Australia's most famous coastal routes. Torquay is also home to theSurf World Museumwith tons of history about the sport and its fame in Australia. Many people visit the Great Ocean Road as a very long day trip from Melbourne on bus tours. Despite the name, there are only seven stacks (there were eight when they named it). There are beautiful countryside and ocean views and all the comforts you need including a well-equipped kitchen, spa bath, and gas log fire. To drive direct from the Melbourne CBD to Torquay, where the road officially starts, is 104km, or 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Stevenson Falls, Triplet Falls, Little Aire Falls, andHopetoun Fallsare just a few of the many highlights here. If you are wondering the best direction to drive the Great Ocean Road, I recommend driving it from east to west, starting in Torquay. So you may get lucky to lay your eyes on some of these cute local beach dwellers. Stop 1 - Torquay The official start of The Great Ocean Road, Torquay is a town with an ingrained surfing culture.
Book Lover's Guide to the Great Ocean Road - Babbling Books
7am-Leave Lorne . They are famous for their scallop pies but have plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.
Melbourne to Lorne - 4 ways to travel via train, bus, night bus, and car Takinga surf lessonis a sure-fire way to have you feeling confident on the board and in the water if you havent tried the sport before. trip dates & more! stay for about 1 hour and leave at 3:37 pmdrive for about 24 minutes, Shadowfax Wines Day 3: Warrnambool to Port Fairy then Melbourne (or Adelaide). On the way back to Melbourne, do some . If you want one of the best views in Geelong, grab a seat on theSkyWheel. 5- Arrive at Lorne. You have given us a great itinerary to get the best out of our trip.
They are happy for you to wander the property to see the horses, chickens, pigs, and sheep. A round trip from Melbourne to the 12 Apostles travelling along the Great Ocean Road will take your travel . 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 can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, As the area is popular with day tour buses from Melbourne, the Twelve Apostles are busiest in the afternoon. Journey Time: 10 minutes from Bells BeachStop Time: 30 minutes. No, the Great Ocean Road isnt particularly dangerous to drive, as long as you take proper precautions. Back on the Great Ocean Road, the next section is quite different as it follows a more inland route and alternates sections through the forest with vibrant green rolling hills and farmland with fields of cows and sheep. 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. We didnt do this but tours take place every half an hour from 11am until 1.30pm for 3045 minutes and cost $10. However, the views arent affected by the bigger cityscape. The Twelve Apostles are by far the most famous sight on the Great Ocean Road. You can tackle the Great Ocean Road in one long day, or break it up over a few days, which is what we suggest doing. Lorne is one of the most popular towns on a Great Ocean Road Trip. 9am- Arrive Barwon heads for sky dive then head back to Melbourne CBD, drop car off in city . Beach. We had two partly rainy days and the rest were sunny with varied temperatures. Soaring high above the limestone stacks youll get the best views of Victorias Shipwreck Coast. Next we stocked up on supplies at the Foodworks supermarket (theres no big supermarket in Port Campbell) and bought a snack from the Apollo Bay Bakery.
Melbourne to Adelaide in 6 days | Road trips | Holiday Finder - NRMA