A total of 620 properties were sold via auction last . Depending on the vehicle you choose to travel, you can calculate the amount of CO2 emissions from your vehicle and assess the environment impact. It has great local produce, excellent surf beaches, and play parks for the kids to burn off energy. Turn off for this road just before you reach Apollo Bay. The Great Ocean Road (B100) is one of Australia's most famous touring routes. Let us help you get started with planning your Great Ocean Road itinerary. This iconic route stretches 243km between the towns of Allansford and Torquay, and the most well-known attraction on the Great Ocean Road has to be the Twelve Apostles limestone stacks. After the last couple of years, it seems everyone wants to be out and about and go travelling. 6 Melbourne: Werribee Open Range Zoo Admission Ticket. Day 3: Warrnambool to Port Fairy then Melbourne (or Adelaide) Distance: 30km to Port Fairy, then 312km to Melbourne. It is a rest stop on the Great Ocean Road and gateway to spectacular waterfalls and viewpoints. Adults: $119 $104 Online special! When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. However, the views arent affected by the bigger cityscape. The Ultimate Guide To Watch Phillip Island Penguin Parade. Its a small village, but Port Campbell is a nice place to stop for a snack and some fuel. 1st Stop: Torquay. Recommended Experiences Phillip Island: Penguin Parade Afternoon Wildlife Tour Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tour, Yarra Valley is mostly known for its wineries, but thats just one of its many treasures. We are Alesha and Jarryd, the award-winning writers and professional photographers behind this blog. These two areas are highly populated by local surfers, keen to ride their magnificent waves. You also wont be getting a sunset picture of the 12 Apostles as it will be one of your first major stops. How long does it take to drive 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. The Subaru Forester has been an exceptional ride on the trip on the Melbourne to Adelaide via Great Ocean Road trip - powerful, economical, spacious, and with loads of safety features built-in, making the long drives a comfortable experience. Discover the different regions and their world class surf breaks, local food & wine, magnificent coastal walks, beautiful rainforest trails and pristine beaches. 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. If that is not an option though, or you dont like the idea of driving on the wrong side of the road, there are plenty of excellent tours likethis onethat will take you to see all the sights including the Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell, Otway National Park and more. We personally stayed there when we travelled across Australia, and highly recommend it. Or Warrnambool, Camperdown, Geelong, Melbourne. If you're planning a self-guided tour, this could come handy. If your tour is on schedule you might find yourself some time for a swim. A drive between Melbourne and Adelaide via the inland route takes only 8 hours. An absolute must-do for anyone wanting one of the best views of this part of the Great Ocean Road is to book in for aTwelve Apostles Helicopter Ride. From AUD$940.00* per person, based on [] If you want to get the most of a day trip down the Great Ocean Road but do not want to self-drive, a bus tour will be the perfect option. While your stop here signals the end of your epic 3 day Great Ocean Road itinerary, youre now on to new and exciting things. The Grotto is one of the most impressive sections of the coastline, and essentially a sinkhole. Our personal recommendation for where we stay in Apollo Bay every time is The Apollo Apartment. Visit some of the valleys most impressive wineries, go on a skydiving experience and simply kick your heels and relax. Day 1 - Drive to the Grampians National Park from Melbourne, visit McKenzie falls and stay overnight in the town of Halls Gap. We drove from Adelaide to Portland, spent the night in Portland, and then drove the Great Ocean Road. 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. You might not be making any unscheduled stops to buy snacks. Just a few minutes west of the border you'll come across a beautiful pink salt lake. In front of us were walls of sandstone, giant waves crashing on the beach, and a rocky peninsula just waiting to be explored. Home to some of Australia's best-known surf beaches, Torquay marks the official beginning of the Great Ocean Road. Don't be an idiot. In 1932, the road was thrown open to the public and has since then become one of the worlds best road trip destinations. Other good breaks in addition to Bells Beach includeSan Juc, Winki Pop, Bird RockandSparrowsjust to name a few. Please note: this popular area is big and therefore the tour involves quite a lot of driving. 3 Melbourne: SEA LIFE Aquarium Entrance Ticket. The return distance between Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road is 446 Km. . Conveniently located a little ways from Port Campbell, these serviced apartments have great rooms, a gorgeous pool area and make for a great stopover. Made famous for theRip Curl Prohosted every Easter, Bells Beach is not only beautiful but a huge part of both Australian and surf culture. Some of the largest waves I have ever seen were crashing onto the rocks, sending up sprays of water at least thirty feet in the air. Built in 1848, it sits at the edge of the ocean almost 90m over the Bass Strait. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. While wandering around town youll surely spot a ton of street art, which is something Geelong is known for. Imagine free falling from the sky onto these gorgeous views? You don't have to miss out on this epic road trip just because you are short on time. This often includes stopping at lookouts along the way. 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. 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. Would like to do it in 3 days, 2 nights lodging and still see a few things. To save even more time, you can cut out Warrnambool completely from your drive. The cliffs over the beach offer gorgeous views of the swells coming in from the Southern Ocean. Discover. However, Loch Ard Gorge is still a stunning place for a swim. I am using a Canon 5D Mark iii with a 20-70 mm lens. Children: $99 $94 (3 - 15 years) Minimum age 3 years. Its also a fantastic place if you are looking to see some native Australian wildlife. Check our. Located less than 2 hours from Melbourne. Explore the cool temperate rainforest of the Great Otway National Park, waterfalls on Great Ocean Road, best viewpoints, koalas, and wildlife. 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. There is no dearth of viewpoints on the Great Ocean Road and Teddys Lookout is another magnificent spot added to the list. Starting from Torquay, this route takes you through beautiful seaside towns and rain forests as you follow the winding road along the exquisite coastline. However, if you're short on time and want to cover a good portion of the Great Ocean Road, signing up for an organized trip from Melbourne will come handy. 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. Director, editor and producer of feature documentary about animal welfare in farming. Soaring high above the limestone stacks youll get the best views of Victorias Shipwreck Coast. You will be bracing natural elements on this road trip and its best to dress accordingly. It offers easy transport options to Geelong and Torquay as well as plenty of car hire options. The Twelve Apostles are giant limestone stacks jutting out of the ocean that form one of the most recognizable landscapes in Australia. Lookout on the ocean from May to September as you might spot Whales! 50 Things to do and see along the Great Ocean Road as a PDF Ebook. It is a popular stop for photographs with the name of the road and the plaque. A walkway just outside Lorne offers views of the ocean lapping up the mouth of the Saint George River and the Bass Strait. While the Great Ocean Road covers a ton of coastline, this national park is a gem located more on the inland route. It starts in Torquay and continues westward to Allansford. Read our detailed blog to know all about Skydiving in Melbourne and book your Great Ocean Road skydive. It can be done. Many travelers continue on to Warrnambool and Adelaide or up to the Grampian Mountains while others are returning to Melbourne. Tyler and Kara, since they were shorter, were able to retreat to the far depths of the cave, keeping their feet dry. Happy travels. The waves here are huge and come fast and furious, making this area a great surfing spot. Stock up on essentials, fill up the car, turn up the radio and head towards Apollo Bay! Cannon Hillis a great place to start if you want to get the lay of the land. The total time you can expect to spend driving the Great Ocean Road and return, including stops, is at least 10 hours. An alternative to this driving route is that you do it in the reverse order. 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. A great photo op spot, this is one of the most photographed spots along the Great Ocean Road. It was another spot that was cool to see, even if it was just for a few minutes. The gorge has been named after a ship Loch Ard ran aground nearby and the rock pillars are named Tom and Eva after the only two survivors. The standalone arch was earlier connected to the coast with another such arch giving it the name London Bridge, but in 1990 the connecting arch fell down due to erosion. Trust me, though, it'll be worth waking up early for. But all the views are spectacular on this stretch of the Great Ocean Road Trip. 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. Have enjoyed your stories since departing Columbia almost a year ago. 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. 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. Even in Australia, Tyler and Kara were getting a lot of stares, this time from Chinese tourists. Thanks Natalie Seltz Towson, MD. Head forEastern Beachfirst. The highlight of the Great Ocean Road are the Twelve Apostles. Visit surf beaches, seaside towns, and national parks; and see rain forest, wild koalas, and towering waterfalls. After a late arrival intoWarrnambool,youll want to see a few of the sights the city has to offer. 2011-2023 distancesfrom.com. The Email id you have Entered is not Registered With us. A large wave crashed on shore, quickly heading towards our cave and where we thought we would be safe. Where does the Great Ocean Road start and finish. Getting stuck behind tour buses will add to your travel time. Located just outside of Geelong and only 45 minutes from Melbourne CBD, Avalon Airport is the closest airport to the start of the Great Ocean Road, being only a 35 minute drive from Torquay. During your travel, you plan to visit the following- 1) Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay, Victoria, Australia Recent Melbourne distance calculations Distance from Melbourne to New York , United States Distance from Melbourne to Canberra via Albury NSW 2640 Port Fairy offers great locations forscuba divingincludingThe Thistle. And your Great Ocean Road route should not miss out on two other attractions nearby either. One of the best walking tracks to visit here isMelba Gulleywhich is full of gorgeous giant fern trees and home to glow worm caves, which are best seen after dark. How far is the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. One of the best things to do here is take a walk out on thePort Fairy Wharves. What is the shortest road distance between Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road?