During your travel, you plan to visit the following-1) Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay, Victoria, Australia. There are a few towns along the way like Lorne, Apollo Bay and Port Campbell where you can stay or camp overnight. Great Ocean Road one-day itinerary. It has some of the best park guides in the area to teach you about the history of the volcano as well as local Aboriginal history. If youve hired a car youll most likely collect it at the airport. The Great Ocean Road was built as a memorial for soldiers of World War I and this timber arch commemorates them. Read more about taking a Melbourne to Phillip Island Tour. The Great Ocean Road Map of Best Things To See, 50 of the Best Attractions to see Great Ocean Road Stops, Activities and Attractions on the Great Ocean Road. Its a highlight of a Great Ocean Road itinerary! For the best panoramic views in Apollo Bay head straight forMarriners Lookout. - See 1,941 traveler reviews, 942 candid photos, and great deals for Melbourne, Australia, at Tripadvisor. Great Ocean Road Tours that offer the best itinerary and great sights within a day from Melbourne. On a clear sunny day and depending on the tide you can get pretty close. A little warning about the Penguin Parade: It is very touristy and professionally put together. 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. 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. Melbourne's two best day tours, Great Ocean Road & Phillip Island, with entrance to Melbourne Skydeck. The road driving distance between Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road is 446 Km. Adults: $119 $104 Online special! Mum, works 2- 3 days a week, Tues and Wednesday and Friday and has the children in daycare and . 5+. 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. Don't be an idiot. Any advice greatly appreciated! If you want to get off the beaten path like we did, do not be afraid to try one of those unlabeled dirt roads. DESTINATIONS AROUND THE WORLD: For more places to visit around the world, check out our Destinations page. 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. The Twelve Apostles marked the end of the most scenic of viewpoints but did not end our journey down the Great Ocean Road. Adelaide to Melbourne Drive Itinerary: Great Ocean Road Trip 5 Melbourne: 2-Hour City Highlights River Cruise. 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 Today, it is a spot for whale watching and a centre for learning about the aboriginal history. Both are amazing expressions of natural beauty and are worth checking out. From below the steps you can marvel at the 70m limestone stacks from up close and feel the power of nature. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 1. Drive Time: 30 minutes to Port Fairy, 4 hours to Melbourne. However, the Great Ocean Road is a hit at any time of the year and here is why . 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). 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. We love this place and even bought one of their horses a few years ago! These two areas are highly populated by local surfers, keen to ride their magnificent waves. Try out the walking trails, have a picnic by the sea, take in the scenic views, or go searching for Australian wildlife. Check out our Great Ocean Road tours. If you dont want to visit Warrnambool, drive from Melbourne to the 12 Apostles (over 2.5 hours). 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. Visit Great Ocean Road | Where untamed spirits create inspirational 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. We had a villa, a small, two bedroom cabin with a kitchen and ensuite bathroom. The Great Ocean Road definitely has some dangerous turns. 12. Guide to the Great Ocean Road, Victoria - Tourism Australia Curious Goose | The Grampians and The Great Ocean Road - a 4 day self This is a beautiful surfing and fishing town with heritage buildings that have wonderful eateries and accommodation. For a great post-drive meal check out theGeelong Boathousefor a classic fish & chips by the sea. Thats the word that can truly capture the essence of the Great Ocean Road in Australia. Great Ocean Road Tour 2 Days experience from Melbourne to Adelaide. Checking out the view of Bells Beach from the lookout. Wendy Report inappropriate content You will be bracing natural elements on this road trip and its best to dress accordingly. There is no dearth of viewpoints on the Great Ocean Road and Teddys Lookout is another magnificent spot added to the list. Melbourne to the Great Ocean Road - Best Routes & Travel Advice Iconic Animal Sightings. All the points of interest mentioned above are marked on the Great Ocean Road Map below. Sandstone cliffs plunging into the ocean, pillars of hardened sandstone sitting just offshore, all of this being pounded by some serious waves. 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. The perfect place for a Melbourne city escape. After the last couple of years, it seems everyone wants to be out and about and go travelling. The Great Ocean Road is a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Melbourne with dual lane highway conditions for most of the journey and excellent signposting. Starting and finishing in Melbourne, enjoy a self drive tour along Victoria's southwest coast. 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. 639. Travellers' Guide To Great Ocean Road - Wiki Travel Guide - Travellerspoint Melbourne to Great Ocean Road - 4 ways to travel via train - Rome2rio Visit surf beaches, seaside towns, and national parks; and see rain forest, wild koalas, and towering waterfalls. 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). A walkway just outside Lorne offers views of the ocean lapping up the mouth of the Saint George River and the Bass Strait. Great Ocean Road & Beyond Melbourne to Adelaide (Single Traveller 50 Things to do and see along the Great Ocean Road as a PDF Ebook. 10 secret must-stop places on the Great Ocean Road - Australia ThePort FairyBotanical Gardensare a lovely spot for an afternoon walk and to admire the plants and flowers. Dont start counting them though, because there are only seven you can count! For many people, the Great Ocean Road is a highlight when visiting Australia. The direct route between these two locations is 142km, taking drivers around two hours to complete. Start your 3 day Great Ocean Road itinerary with a lazy morning in Torquay. Along the way you'll stop by the border of Victoria and South Australia and a red line marks the exact spot. Stunning photos. Head down to the Moyne River and stretch your legs along the wharves. This will start your Ocean Road drive in the opposite direction as most others, avoiding the busy traffic. What is a partial cave, archway and blowhole, The Grotto is definitely something to marvel at. Live chat with local experts anywhere, anytime. Loch Ard Gorge is a breathtaking natural formation just a short distance from the 12 apostles. The waves here were big, similar to US east coast waves just before a hurricane. Whether you are travelling with family, friends or a school group, our Great Ocean Road Private Tour is the best way to explore this scenic coastline. The colors are vivid, the sun is out and the water is ideal for water sports and activities, but it is also the busiest time of the year. 30 mins), 446 Km - Distance from Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road, FAQ about Distance from Melbourne to Portland, The driving distance from Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road is, Directions from Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road, map from Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road, Travel time from Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road, Distance from Melbourne to New York , United States, Distance from Melbourne to Canberra via Albury NSW 2640, Distance from Melbourne to Canberra via Albury New South Wales, Distance from Melbourne to Canberra via Orbost. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. Day 3 - Set of on the Great Ocean Road, staying overnight in the village of Lorne, halfway . Next, we got off the beaten track, taking an unnamed dirt road towards the shoreline. The Great Ocean Road is one of Australias great drives. Drive from Melbourne, via the Princes Highway, straight to Warrnambool (over 3 hours drive). We could not get too close to the edge or else we would risk being pulled into the ocean by a rogue wave. This stone archway once formed a natural bridge over the gorge, but unfortunately collapsed almost a decade ago. There are also several wineries and breweries in the area worth stopping in at to pick something up to enjoy throughout the rest of your trip too. The road curves quite a lot and if you suffer from motion sickness carry anti-nausea medication or chew on citrusy candy to keep it in check. The Great Ocean Road from Melbourne - 1-Day Itinerary Youll also find the end of theGreat Ocean Walkhere, which allows you to get some stunning coastal views from a boardwalk before taking to the beach to see these immense stacks from the ground. Whether you're a history buff, foodie, nature lover or adventurer get ready for a great weekend. If you have the time, sample the delights near Warrnambool. Melbourne real estate: Full list of sales, auction results for February We still had a long ways to go. We personally stayed there when we travelled across Australia, and highly recommend it. Note: This post contains affiliate links. Geelong - The second largest city in Victoria, it is about 30 mins from the beginning of the ocean road trip and worth visiting if you have time. Great Ocean Road - Bunyip Tours, Melbourne Traveller Reviews - Tripadvisor Over time it has been improved to create a peaceful and beautiful space to be enjoyed. It can get quite chilly in winter and autumn, bring your warm clothes and it is always quite windy so keep a windcheater, scarf or cap handy. The driving distance from Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road is 446 km. This is the most common Great Ocean Road route. Further along, you will find verdant bush where koalas nest and then onto the lush rainforests with spectacular waterfalls and native wildlife. After the gorge youll pass the town of Port Campbell. Not even 15km from Apollo Bay is the incredibly lush and beautifulGreat Otway National Park.