If you are looking for other ideas on places to visit in Victoria, see our guide to the best day trips from Melbourne. 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. 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. 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. Click the button below to explore more questions 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. The Arch is the first in a series of rock formations where you can stop for a quick look from viewing platforms. The Great Ocean Road is one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world.
15 minutes down the road from Kennett River is Wongarra, where we spent the next two nights at Points South by the Sea. Alternative Places to Stay Near Apollo Bay.
For most people, the trip willstart in Melbourneand can be done in a loop or a return journey. To get you fueled up for your last day head toBohemiaCafe & Barfor a takeaway coffee or a wicked and delicious breakfast. At night we loved snuggling on the comfy couch by the fireplace. 11:00 am start in Melbournedrive for about 30 minutes, 11:30 am eat at Shadowfax Wines Alternative Places to Stay in Port Campbell.
Port Campbell is a tiny town, but its a great base for the Twelve Apostles. 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.
The huge natural limestone arch was formed by erosion and you can see the power of the waves that caused it. You could continue down the coast, perhaps having a break in Port Campbell (Forage on Foreshore is a recommended cafe). 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.
Melbourne is a city renowned for its food, shopping, sporting culture and nightlife. What to expect Surf at world-famous Bells Beach. I include suggestions for shorter trips below.
It hugs the coastline with many twists and turns and stunning ocean views. You will pass the Twelve Apostles on the way to Port Campbell, but its very crowded mid-afternoon so we left it for the next morning. 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. Enter a city to drive through, or find all. And your Great Ocean Road route should not miss out on two other attractions nearby either. You can try chocolate buttons for free as you enter and then browse the massive selection of treats including lots of unusual flavours.
New South Wales
The ocean views are incredible and we could have happily spent all day curled up on the window seat with the fire roaring watching the waves crash down below. It was named after the clipper Loch Ard that was wrecked here in 1878. Turn off for this road just before you reach Apollo Bay. Split into colour-coded sections to help you find exactly what you are looking for quickly and easily, the map includes viewpoints and lookouts, campsites and campgrounds, the major towns and holiday destinations, waterfalls, beaches - even petrol stations(!) Another worthwhile detour on the way to Port Campbell is Wreck Beach, but we didnt have the energy to stop.
FromWarrnambool Breakwaterall the way toLogans Beachthis is a great spot to take in the coastal views and even pass a little penguin breeding ground. The iconic rock stacks were created by erosion of the limestone cliffs from the stormy Southern Ocean. Take the inland road via Colac and drive directly to Port Campbell (about 3 hours from Melbourne). Friday. The Great Ocean Road (2 mentions) Now 2 pillars are left standing above the sea and make for an impressive view inPort Campbell National Park.
The cottages are quite close together, so if you take a bath with the blinds up, you do have to trust your neighbours wont walk in front of your cottage (we had no issues).
The Cape Otway Lightstation is a 15-minute (each way) detour from the Great Ocean Road and is the only place we visited with an entrance fee ($18.50), but its well worth 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.
Griffiths Islandcan be accessed by a footbridge nearby to the wharf and is a great place to do a little bird watching.
Great Ocean Road Touring Route - Visit Victoria home
Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Melbourne to Lorne. Theres also a cafe if you just want a coffee or one of the tasty looking cakes.
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.
Youll find them sitting up in the eucalyptus trees. We were finished by 10.30am and returned to our hotel for a break before going out for lunch. Then back along the coast towards Melbourne, taking a small detour down to the cape otway lighthouse. Day 3: Warrnambool to Port Fairy then Melbourne (or Adelaide). Although officially the Great Ocean Road starts in Geelong, Melbourne is the ideal start to the trip as it provides the contrast of a big city with the quiet of the small towns dotted along the Great Ocean Road. You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving
Western Australia
We had two partly rainy days and the rest were sunny with varied temperatures. Our personal recommendation for where we stay in Apollo Bay every time is The Apollo Apartment. Anyone remember the 90s TV show Round the Twist? Now youll be able to find the wreckage in shallow waters, which makes it great for divers to explore.
Its a highlight of a Great Ocean Road itinerary! 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. Wear shoes that are comfortable for walking. You can't put 'Australia' and 'road trip' in the same sentence and not have the Great Ocean Road spring to mind. Cant wait for the trip , Thanks Tracy. Lorne is made for lunches. open-ended. But all the views are spectacular on this stretch of the Great Ocean Road Trip. 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. If you had plenty of time, you might want to spend a night here as there are some beautiful beaches and waterfalls nearby.
The Grotto is one of the most impressive sections of the coastline, and essentially a sinkhole. Check out Points South on Vrbo or compare prices on Booking.com. Via: Where should I stop along the way? Relax and unwind in the seaside town of Lorne, attracting visitors for more than a century with its easy Mediterranean feel and charming scenery. We personally stayed there when we travelled across Australia, and highly recommend it. If wed had an extra night, wed have spent it at Points South by the Sea just so we could have a relaxation day in our cottage enjoying the view and local walks.
Theres a pull-down bed in the living room so the cottages can sleep up to four people. Both are natural, offshore stone archways. While all the cottages have superb views, I recommend requesting Cottage 1 as it has the best views down to Cape Patton. We stayed at Anchors at Port Campbellwhere there are three cottages on a farm a few kilometres inland from town. They are impossibly cute and fluffy and we couldnt quite believe they were real. Apollo Bay has plenty of spots for lunch and a big beach. 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. Particularly loved those places you stayed, will have to check them out.
If you happen to be road-tripping on the second Sunday of the month, check out the Birregurra Markets. Stop 2 Point Roadknight, Anglesea However, Loch Ard Gorge is still a stunning place for a swim. 375km of scenic winding roads along the southern ocean will take you through some of the countrys most beautiful UNESCO-listed landscapes.
Its rather a touristy experience as the tour buses stop here and the cafe sells bird feedthe colourful parrots are so tame they hop all over the tourists. We were back at our cottage by 2pm and had a two-hour break before heading out to explore the second section of Port Campbell National Park. We were also planning to stop at Teddys Lookout on the way out of town, but visibility was so low we didnt bother.
Tasmania
English . If it hadnt been raining so heavily, Im sure we would have stopped often for photos. But no need to rush. We stayed in one of the modern, luxury cottages at Anchors at Port Campbellon a farm a few kilometres inland from Port Campbell. We didnt find the drive difficult although it is very windy, which gets tiring after a while (especially if you get travel sick). Its a casual, diner type place on the seafront strip thats known for its burgers. Learn how your comment data is processed. Theres no real need to stop in Colac, but as the inland route back to Melbourne along the A1 passes through, we stopped for lunch. . As the area is popular with day tour buses from Melbourne, the Twelve Apostles are busiest in the afternoon.
Stop 1 Torquay
The Best Stops during a Melbourne to Adelaide Road Trip The current exchange rate is 1 AUD = 0.78 USD and 0.56 GBP.
Your Great Ocean Road itinerary may be coming to an end, but dont worry, youll finish up with a dreamy little visit toPort Fairy. At Timboon Railway Shed Distillery you can do whisky tastings and tours, but its worth a visit even if you dont sample their wares. 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. 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.
I recommend overnight stays near Apollo Bay and Port Campbell as we did. Cannon Hillis a great place to start if you want to get the lay of the land. Train operators V/Line Bus operators Gull Airport Service Public Transport Victoria V/Line Other operators Jayride Want to know more about travelling around Australia 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. Amongst the native eucalyptus trees is this surprising cluster of giant Californian Redwoods which were planted in the 1930s and are thriving. 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).
Hi Tracy, November is a beautiful time to travel the Great Ocean Road. Answer 1 of 3: Hi - I'm on a tour of Melbourne with 3 seniors and one 4 year.
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. The only exception is if you only have one day for the drive, which I explain below. Both are amazing expressions of natural beauty and are worth checking out. 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.
Im glad we bought plenty of food (and wine) as we did not want to go out for dinner. This gives you the opportunity to see the quieter countryside inland of vibrant rolling hills and farmlandyou could almost be in England. Subscribe, Home | Australia | The PERFECT Great Ocean Road Drive Itinerary (2023). We stayed in a luxury cottage at Points South by the Seaand it was perfect. There were a few people around then (and some photographers just leaving) but it was still quiet.
They are famous for their scallop pies but have plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. by calculating the distance from Melbourne to Lorne. We saw an adorable mother and baby koala!
I highly recommend visiting in the morning to truly enjoy it.
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 PERFECT Great Ocean Road Drive Itinerary (2023) - NOMADasaurus I found holiday rental sites had the most interesting options and ended up booking two lovely cottages with stunning views. Or get a full Melbourne to Lorne flight plan. As we were staying so close we were able to arrive early and easily take breaks between exploring different areas. The inland route is generally the quicker choice for these times. The cottages are modern and stylish with big windows to make the most of the views of the rolling green hills and ocean beyond. If you only have time for one, follow the 900-metre-return Geology walk to the left of the car park which takes you to The Razorback, a massive rock formation. If you are on a budget, the cheapest way to do a Great Ocean Road Trip is by camping.
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. Perfect write up, very helpful indeed, Appreciate your work guys, Cheers. 9am- Arrive Barwon heads for sky dive then head back to Melbourne CBD, drop car off in city . The downside of taking a tour is that youll never escape the crowds.
It should take you just under 3 hours to drive from Warrnambool back . 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.