Along the way be sure to stop off at one of the small towns for a late afternoon-snack or coffee, or you can take a detour up to Ballarat for the night to learn about the gold rush. 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. Take the Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne to catch the best scenery and attractions. Cruising the Great Ocean Road is ranked amongst the top things to do in Australia. Apart from the trip distance, refer Directions from Portland Ln to Mildura VIC 3500 for road driving directions! 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. While Tyler and Kara tried to throw each other off of the sand dunes, Tim and I went exploring. Stevenson Falls, Triplet Falls, Little Aire Falls, andHopetoun Fallsare just a few of the many highlights here. Drive Along the Great Ocean Road. Day 3: Warrnambool to Port Fairy then Melbourne (or Adelaide). 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. Day 3 - Set of on the Great Ocean Road, staying overnight in the village of Lorne, halfway . Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. Other options include coming from Adelaide, so if this is you, just read the itinerary backwards. An alternative to this driving route is that you do it in the reverse order. If your tour is on schedule you might find yourself some time for a swim. I guess the quickest and easiest route from Portland back to Melbourne would be up to Hamilton then via the Glenelg Hwy to Ballarat then it is freeway on to Melbourne. To get you fueled up for your last day head toBohemiaCafe & Barfor a takeaway coffee or a wicked and delicious breakfast. 1. Dont feed the koalas or the parrots as they are in the wild and any feeding them our food will disrupt their natural behaviour. Bunyip Tours: Great Ocean Road - See 1,943 traveler reviews, 942 candid photos, and great deals for Melbourne, Australia, at Tripadvisor. We are Alesha and Jarryd, the award-winning writers and professional photographers behind this blog. 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. Don't be an idiot. The first destination is Bells Beach in Torquay, a famous location for surfers. Visit surf beaches, seaside towns, and national parks; and see rain forest, wild koalas, and towering waterfalls. Quest Warrnambool is the perfect place to do just that. Would like to know what kind of still camera and lens you are using. Adelaide to Melbourne via Great Ocean Road - how long? Make sure you book ahead though, as its not something you can just show up and do. It has great local produce, excellent surf beaches, and play parks for the kids to burn off energy. Poor Tim got hit hard by the wave, soaking his feet. It was nothing fancy but suited our needs for our family of four. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Returns: Approx 9:00pm. Great commentary. We are located almost at the end of the Great Ocean Road, about 4.5 hours from Melbourne. 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. This lookout gives you the chance to see right out to sea and over the entire city. If you want to get off the beaten path like we did, do not be afraid to try one of those unlabeled dirt roads. 8 Days or so of hiking from Apollo Bay to the 12 Apostles following the coastline with views and experiences not possible by car or bus. Live chat with local experts anywhere, anytime. For many people, the Great Ocean Road is a highlight when visiting Australia. Born to parents bit by the wander bug, Lakshmi calls her love for travel "hereditary and habitual". The total time you can expect to spend driving the Great Ocean Road and return, including stops, is at least 10 hours. Stunning photos. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. The four of us made our way over to the cave, dodging waves washing up onto shore with approaching high tide. Find out more here. In this post, we cover the best spots to see along the way. 1. The area has a forest of gum and eucalyptus trees which are the main food source of koalas. Not even 15km from Apollo Bay is the incredibly lush and beautifulGreat Otway National Park. It is essentially a sinkhole in a limestone stack and opens out to a view of the sea and cliffs beyond. All the while, Tyler and Kara were screaming with delight, laughing afterwards. Required fields are marked *. We want to book accommodation as we go . Youll find them sitting up in the eucalyptus trees. Over time it has been improved to create a peaceful and beautiful space to be enjoyed. It starts in Torquay and continues westward to Allansford. Things all of a sudden became a lot more exciting. The road winds through picturesque locations outdo one another in terms of visual extravaganza. The coastline is awesome. Great Ocean Road starts at Torquay and finishes in Allansford. Learn about the Best Things to Do in Melbourne and get a recap of our experiences here. Heavenly, right? You can also find the flight distance or distance to fly from Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road. Great Ocean Road one-day itinerary. 6 Melbourne: Werribee Open Range Zoo Admission Ticket. . Your story was very useful for us to plan our one day trip in March 2020 just before the corona virus outbreak. If you have the time, sample the delights near Warrnambool. If youd like to continue travelling Australia beyond the Great Ocean Road, you canhead northwest to Adelaide. Depending on the vehicle you choose to travel, you can calculate the amount of CO2 emissions from your vehicle and assess the environment impact. Hello Ive so enjoyed the magnificent stories of your world tours and the stunning photos. Wear comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking to do. 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 Most people start the Great Ocean Road drive from Melbourne to Torquay. 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. The first stop when driving the Great Ocean Road will beGeelong. If youre looking to do a bit of waterfall chasing, this is a great place to find them! The first to know about trending destinations, travel deals, tips and
15 years ago Save Would appreciate any advice for how long it would take to drive from Adelaide to Melbourne via the Scenic Ocean Road. You also get to enjoy free WiFi onboard, tea and snacks and relax in comfort between spots. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. Finally, we made it to Bells Beach in Torquay, the end point of the Great Ocean Road. . However, if you only have 1 day to work with, then here are some suggestions to save yourself time. I highly recommended checking out Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve and Port Fairy. 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. Our website uses cookies. 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. For more trail information in Great Otway National Park, visit thiswebsite. 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. Covering nearly 200 hectares, this park is one of the few Great Ocean Road highlights that is not a beach. Made famous for theRip Curl Prohosted every Easter, Bells Beach is not only beautiful but a huge part of both Australian and surf culture. Adults: $119 $104 Online special! Through our stories and images we promote exciting off-the-beaten-path destinations and fascinating cultures as we go. The Memorial Arch (youve probably seen photos of people standing underneath it) symbolises the start of the road. Check out our Great Ocean Road tours. The distance between Portland Ln to Mildura VIC 3500 is 542 Km by road. Start your 3 day Great Ocean Road itinerary with a lazy morning in Torquay. Get outdoors on bushwalking, surfing and mountain biking expeditions or take the cultural route through galleries, museums and heritage attractions. Best Great Ocean Road Tours Save AU$10 on your Great Ocean Road Bus tours with this promo code. Starting and finishing in Melbourne is how most people do the Great Ocean Road drive in 1 day. The Obelisk sits atop a rugged coastline, which is rapidly being eroded by the harsh elements. It seemed like there was another amazing view every 400 meters, so we were jumping in and out of our car a lot. It is summer and it is simply beautiful on the road! 2 From Melbourne: Great Ocean Road and Wildlife Tour. Join our small group coastal adventure to the beaches, rainforests and more of the Great Ocean Road. If you fancy trying your luck to spot some wildlife head out to nearbyLake Elizabeth. Walk up near the Grey River Road and you will find koalas lounging on the trees. It shows off sheer limestone cliffs, dairy farms and heathland, and gets you up close and personal with the crashing . The Great Ocean Road in Victoria is a world-famous, Australian National Heritage-listed site along the Sydney to Melbourne drive. December to February is the best time to take a Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne. From Portland, we drove 2 hours (160 km) to get to Port Campbell, the start of the Great Ocean Road. The lake views here are stunning and if youre lucky you might even be able to lay your eyes on a platypus or two. 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. A little warning about the Penguin Parade: It is very touristy and professionally put together. Read all of our articles in our Australia Travel Guide. I dashed out of the cave to higher ground, able to stay dry. Once in Warrnambool, it doesnt take long to drive to Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve. Road trip: Melbourne to Great Ocean Road 277km Beach Culture Benefit Slip on your driving gloves and set off for a run down one the world's most celebrated and breathtaking roads. The perfect place for a Melbourne city escape. The drive offers plenty of places to stop off and explore. The direct route between these two locations is 142km, taking drivers around two hours to complete. Purchase tickets. 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. There were no surfers, really there was no one else here other than a few curious people like ourselves. From AUD$940.00* per person, based on [] You can also use the share icon and share it on Facebook. After the gorge youll pass the town of Port Campbell. In front of us were walls of sandstone, giant waves crashing on the beach, and a rocky peninsula just waiting to be explored. TheKennett River Koala Walkis the perfect place to get your fix. Our ultimate destination being Kangaroo Island. For the best panoramic views in Apollo Bay head straight forMarriners Lookout. Reserve your spot here. There is no dearth of viewpoints on the Great Ocean Road and Teddys Lookout is another magnificent spot added to the list. Dont start counting them though, because there are only seven you can count! Things to do in Melbourne Day Trips from Melbourne Great Ocean Road Tour From Melbourne. For those who love to drive and are comfortable in driving outside the city and through a variety of terrain it is a paradise waiting to be explored. 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.