TheForeshore Promenadeis a great place for a stroll as well and stretches on for about 6 km. Bunyip Tours: Cute Penguins - See 1,940 traveler reviews, 941 candid photos, and great deals for Melbourne, Australia, at Tripadvisor. However, if you only have 1 day to work with, then here are some suggestions to save yourself time. It's also possible to travel from Melbourne to Adelaide via the Great . The Great Ocean Road Tour covers pristine beaches, geological marvels, and rich forests on your way. 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]. Last week, 1156 properties were scheduled to be auctioned in Melbourne. Now 2 pillars are left standing above the sea and make for an impressive view inPort Campbell National Park. 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. Due to crashing waves over millennia, saltwater and erosion there are now only 8 limestone stacks remaining out of 12. Grab some coffee and stroll the foreshore. The iconic spots and landmarks on the Great Ocean Road can be covered within a day as it is stretches for only about 243 Km (151 miles). The Great Ocean Road was built as a memorial for soldiers of World War I and this timber arch commemorates them. Visit some of the valleys most impressive wineries, go on a skydiving experience and simply kick your heels and relax. We still had a long ways to go. Here's all you need to know about taking a Great Ocean Road Tour From Melbourne - itinerary, best tours, highlights and quick hacks. From Portland, we drove 2 hours (160 km) to get to Port Campbell, the start of the Great Ocean Road. Check out our Great Ocean Road tours. 5 Day Melbourne to Adelaide via Great Ocean Road - Visit WA Online There are 4 ways to get from Melbourne to Great Ocean Road by train, 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. Guide to the Great Ocean Road, Victoria - Tourism Australia Conveniently located a little ways from Port Campbell, these serviced apartments have great rooms, a gorgeous pool area and make for a great stopover. It has great local produce, excellent surf beaches, and play parks for the kids to burn off energy. 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. 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. Getting to the Great Ocean Road When to visit Experience the rugged beauty along the south-west coast of Victoria by setting off along one of the world's most scenic coastal drives. 6 Melbourne: Werribee Open Range Zoo Admission Ticket. For a shorter track check outMaits Restwhich will take you through a beautiful section of rainforest. During your travel, you plan to visit the following-1) Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay, Victoria, Australia. The Great Ocean Road spans 200 kilometers, from Port Campbell in the west to Torquay in the east. Burrell received her first James Beard nomination for "Best Chef: Texas" in 2020 and . The Great Ocean Road is the most famous coastal road in Australia and meanders along sheer limestone cliff tops, spectacular jutting headlands beside the edge of pristine beaches. I could not imagine trying to swim out past these waves, just to catch one right back to shore. For most people, the trip willstart in Melbourneand can be done in a loop or a return journey. The coastline is awesome. It can be done. The Great Ocean Road is a 243-kilometre (151-mile) route located along the coast of Victoria in southeastern Australia. Check our. Find out more, Along with so many natural attractions to experience, the Ocean Road also has activities to keep visitors on a self-drive tour busy for days. The Great Ocean Road tour allows you to witness the spectacular surf coast of Torquay and Lorne, with their sandy white beaches and curling waves. You dont have to miss out on this epic road trip just because you are short on time. 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. Some people do this as a very long day trip from Melbourne while others can take as long as a week, stopping at towns along the way, leisurely enjoying the beaches, wineries, and historic towns along the way. Yes, you can. V/Line - Regional public transport for Victoria - Plan trip/buy tickets The lake views here are stunning and if youre lucky you might even be able to lay your eyes on a platypus or two. 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. Built in 1848, it sits at the edge of the ocean almost 90m over the Bass Strait. A road trip along the Great Ocean Road & Grampians National Park is a trip where you feel small in the universe. The total distance you can expect to drive is over 600 km. 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. In this post, we cover the best spots to see along the way. Most visitors to the Great Ocean Road travel from Melbourne, which is the nearest major city. Its a small village, but Port Campbell is a nice place to stop for a snack and some fuel. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products, and regularly review these. 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. Read 1 review. 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. Hello Ive so enjoyed the magnificent stories of your world tours and the stunning photos. 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. Turn off for this road just before you reach Apollo Bay. Note: This post contains affiliate links. The road covers a driveway of 243 km off the coast with pristine views of beaches, geological marvels, and rich forests. It takes 3 day to drive through the Great Ocean Road and to see all the attractions on the way. The official length of the Great Ocean Road is around 243 km/ 151 miles. Recommended option Bus 3h 30m A lot of people will finish the day in Warrnambool and spend the there, as it is the largest town along the Great Ocean Road. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. However, Loch Ard Gorge is still a stunning place for a swim. What To Know About The Top Chef World All-Stars Contestants A little warning about the Penguin Parade: It is very touristy and professionally put together. Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia - Visit Victoria home Great Ocean Road Itinerary 3 Days - Melbourne To Adelaide Drive Griffiths Islandcan be accessed by a footbridge nearby to the wharf and is a great place to do a little bird watching. Like I mentioned before, covering all of these in a day may be a long shot, hence plan for a 2 day Great Ocean Road trip. The coastline will be on the left side of the bus for Great Ocean Road tours starting from Melbourne, so if the bus seats are not pre-booked you can try to catch a window-seat on the left side. 12. Bells Beach is Australias premiere surf spot, a spot also labeled by some as the best surfing destination in the world. From the car park, there is a short trail that will lead you right to the viewpoint where youll be gifted with the most incredible sweeping views of Apollo Bay and the coastline. Day 3 - Set of on the Great Ocean Road, staying overnight in the village of Lorne, halfway . Apart from the trip distance, refer Directions from Portland Ln to Mildura VIC 3500 for road driving directions! 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. We spent forty five minutes here and during this time we did not see one other person. - See 1,941 traveler reviews, 942 candid photos, and great deals for Melbourne, Australia, at Tripadvisor. 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. Lorne is a picturesque town set between Loutit Bay and the Otway National Park, it is where the bush meets the ocean. Torquay is also home to theSurf World Museumwith tons of history about the sport and its fame in Australia. The driving distance from Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road is 446 km. How Much Does It Cost to Experience Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road in The route of 243 KM stretches from Torquay to Allansford in Victoria state. Visit surf beaches, seaside towns, and national parks; and see rain forest, wild koalas, and towering waterfalls. The Ultimate Melbourne To Yarra Valley Tour | Discover The Best Wineries, Chocolateries and Delicatessens! The whole trail is about 15km, but your best chances for spotting the cute indigenous animals are about 6km in atGrey River. ULURU: In our Guide to Uluru and Kata-Tjuta, learn how to get here, what to do, and how to plan your time. To save even more time, you can cut out Warrnambool completely from your drive. Premiered at Melbourne International Film Festival. Stops. Located less than 2 hours from Melbourne. Drive from Melbourne, via the Princes Highway, straight to Warrnambool (over 3 hours drive). 1 Day Great Ocean Road & 12 Apostles Tour $104 Stunning photos. An alternative to this driving route is that you do it in the reverse order. Join the adventures on our YouTube channel! The Great Ocean Road is one of the world's most stunning coastal drives, winding along Australia's southern coast in Victoria (Australia).The undisputed highlight of the drive is the Twelve Apostles, but the Great Ocean Road leads past many more sights of interest, from bustling coastal towns like Lorne and Apollo Bay to the lush rain forests of Great Otway National Park. 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). For many people, the Great Ocean Road is a highlight when visiting Australia. If you arent restricted to only 1 day, give yourself at least 2 days to do the Great Ocean Road drive. Phillip Island: Penguin Parade Afternoon Wildlife Tour, Autumn (March to May): Cooler weather and fewer tourists, Winter (June to August): Whale watching season, cheaper accommodation and few tourists, Spring (September to November): Flowering season, perfect for visiting the Otways, mild weather and fewer crowds. This would end up being our favorite part of the day. Covering nearly 200 hectares, this park is one of the few Great Ocean Road highlights that is not a beach. The worlds largest war memorial is built along the road whose story began in 1919 when World War I heroes returned home and started building a memorial for their martyrs. We had a villa, a small, two bedroom cabin with a kitchen and ensuite bathroom. 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. If that is the case, you can head straight back to Melbourne after seeing the famous sites such as the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge and The Grotto. There is also a plaque on the left side of the road which serves as a memory for the soldiers. Dogs are permitted to join you in a vehicle driving along the length of the Great Ocean Road, even when the highway passes through areas of national park. 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. Maximum group size of 12 travellers with a reverse itinerary to beat the crowds at the 12 Apostles. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. Having your own vehicle is highly recommended so you can really explore all the things to see on the Great Ocean Road, as it really is one of the Australias top destinations.