Through our stories and images we promote exciting off-the-beaten-path destinations and fascinating cultures as we go. And to get your fill of more art you can visit theGeelong Art GalleryandThe Heritage Center. You can try chocolate buttons for free as you enter and then browse the massive selection of treats including lots of unusual flavours.
But one of the most incredible Great Ocean Road attractions is just around the corner. We didnt find the drive difficult although it is very windy, which gets tiring after a while (especially if you get travel sick). You could then drive the Great Ocean Road at a more leisurely pace and spend the night in the Apollo Bay area before continuing back to Melbourne the next day. One of the best things to do here is take a walk out on thePort Fairy Wharves.
Great Ocean Road (6 mentions). Journey Time: 10 minutes from Port CampbellStop Time: 5 minutes.
Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. Journey Time: 5 minutes from Twelve ApostlesStop Time: 1 hour 35 minutes. Once youve had your fill, hop in the car for a quick drive and to the next and last destination of your road trip. most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. For a great post-drive meal check out theGeelong Boathousefor a classic fish & chips by the sea. Do allocate as much time as you can, thoughits a gorgeous part of the world with plenty to see.
You can follow a very similar itinerary to ours, but youll need to pack more in every day. Search for more options in Port Campbell here.
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. Its a casual, diner type place on the seafront strip thats known for its burgers.
On the way back to Melbourne, do some . thought of doing it in one day, but now will make a stop over and take two days.. Our first stop was just outside Torquay and was a slight detour off the Great Ocean Road. . I definitely recommend allocating a few hours to explore it all. We chose to drive back from Port Campbell to Melbourne via the inland route (3 hours) rather than continue on for the final section of the Great Ocean Road that ends just before Warrnambool. If you cant drive or only have a day available, this Great Ocean Road Day Tour is popular. Dinner, stay over night Friday 7am-Leave Lorne 9am- Arrive Barwon heads for sky dive then head back to Melbourne CBD, drop car off in city 2pm Check into hotel Sat & Sun Even better, its a non-profit enterprise that provides training and employment opportunities to people with mental and physical disabilities. This is where the exterior scenes of the familys lighthouse home were filmed! Total Distance: 1,121 km. For a shorter track check outMaits Restwhich will take you through a beautiful section of rainforest. Simon loved the cheese and vegetable pasty. Stop 1 Torquay We saw an adorable mother and baby koala!
. If youre looking to do a bit of waterfall chasing, this is a great place to find them! 11:00 am start in Melbournedrive for about 30 minutes, 11:30 am eat at Shadowfax Wines We loved the quiet location. Another worthwhile detour on the way to Port Campbell is Wreck Beach, but we didnt have the energy to stop. The current exchange rate is 1 AUD = 0.78 USD and 0.56 GBP. Beauchamp Falls wasnt on our original plan but ended up being my favourite stop of the day. If you had plenty of time, you might want to spend a night here as there are some beautiful beaches and waterfalls nearby.
Brekkie tacos, smoothie bowls and a full lunch menu to eat in or take away will please anyone visiting. 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.
Nearby youll find another popular waterfall, Triplet Falls (a one hour walk). Split Point Lighthouse is still a functioning lighthouse, so you can only go inside on a tour. Picking up and dropping off the car was quick and easy, and they are near Queen Victoria Market where you can pick up supplies for the trip. Journey Time: 15 minutes from Points South by the SeaStop Time: 15 minutes. . Great Ocean Road. The Arch is the first in a series of rock formations where you can stop for a quick look from viewing platforms. Join the adventures on our YouTube channel!
  • Journey Time: 4 minutes from The ArchStop Time: 20 minutes. 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. Its a fairly steep climb back up to the car park where there are toilets. Cant wait for the trip , Thanks Tracy. There are more motels than boutique hotels in the area. Plan your journey with our route planner.
    Its a lovely place for a short stroll. With the last day of your Great Ocean Road itinerary upon you, there is still so much to be seen and experienced. Established during early 19 th Century this town has come a long way, but it has also made a really good effort to stick to its roots. Cannon Hillis a great place to start if you want to get the lay of the land. Journey Time: 7 minutes from The GrottoStop Time: 20 minutes. By Ellie Schneider Surf at Bells Beach, walk among the 12 Apostles and sample wine in McLaren Vale on this five-day journey along Australia's dramatic south-east coastline. 288 km/179 miles, about 3.5 hours. What to expect Surf at world-famous Bells Beach. If possible, I recommend driving yourself and spending at least two nights on the road. Journey Time: 25 minutes from Twelve Apostles (15 minutes from Port Campbell)Stop Time: 1 hour 30 minutes. Avoid driving after dark as the roads are windy and unlit and theres the danger of hitting wildlife. We enjoyed our cone in the lovely gardens. There's a couple of fun things to see in the area including Battery Hill, an old fort, and a beautiful port . The drive from Melbourne to Lorne isn't particularly long, only around 2 hours all up. Turn off for this road just before you reach Apollo Bay. Sail through the clouds with only 1 other person for an up-close and personal adventure. When you continue down the road, the Cape Patton Lookout Point is a good place for views. How far is the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne?
    Book as far in advance as you can as it is very popular. Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Melbourne to Lorne. Stop 2 Point Roadknight, Anglesea The drive from . next trip! This means youll be driving on the ocean side of the road and will have the best views and easy access to the many viewpoints. We personally stayed there when we travelled across Australia, and highly recommend it. Hey! 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(!) And your Great Ocean Road route should not miss out on two other attractions nearby either. We also walked to the Gibson Steps, which took 15 minutes each way (you can also drive but parking is limited). If you are on a budget, the cheapest way to do a Great Ocean Road Trip is by camping. From your third and final spot it will only be around a 30 minute drive to your final destination, we recommend settling into your Lorne accommodation, then either relaxing or going for a wander around the quaint town of Lorne.
  • There is a walking track around the island and on the most westerly point youll find a lovely little lighthouse and a pretty viewpoint too.
    Journey Time: 40 minutes from LorneStop Time: 15 minutes. Go on a culinary crusade via craft breweries and top regional restaurants on the short inland route back to Melbourne via Colac (below). From: Melbourne.
  • We did not want to leave, but Port Campbell made a much more convenient base for exploring the Twelve Apostles and surrounding attractionswere glad we had a full day and two nights here. What is a partial cave, archway and blowhole, The Grotto is definitely something to marvel at.
    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. Our final stops in the area were on the food trail. Journey Time: 1.5 hours from MelbourneStop Time: 10 minutes. Drive from Melbourne to Adelaide along one of Australia's most famous coastal routes.
    Theres also a small but well-equipped kitchen, a balcony with table and chairs, and a bathroom with an excellent shower and a spa bath with a view. Its a beautiful long sweep of sand that would be great for a walk. It's okay, you can start planning your I was originally looking for accommodation in Apollo Bay, but Im really glad we ended up 15 minutes outside of town in the hamlet of Wongarra. By the time we arrived it was pouring with rain, so we didnt see much and just had lunch at The Bottle of Milk.
    Expect to see beaches, waterfalls, forests, lighthouses, limestone formations, koalas, and if youre lucky, whales. Lorne is one of the most popular towns on a Great Ocean Road Trip. DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    We have been travelling the world together since 2008, with a passion for adventure travel and sustainable tourism. The best Great Ocean Road stops are in the Port Campbell National Park (including Twelve Apostles) so focus your time here. We stayed in one of the modern, luxury cottages at Anchors at Port Campbellon a farm a few kilometres inland from Port Campbell. Lorne to Melbourne drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip.
    If you decide to drive yourself, its best to drive in the opposite direction of our itinerary below. While driving to Lorne we had our first Australian wildlife experiencean echidna crossing the road. 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 5- Arrive at Lorne. To drive direct from the Melbourne CBD to Torquay, where the road officially starts, is 104km, or 1 hour and 20 minutes. Subscribe, Home | Australia | The PERFECT Great Ocean Road Drive Itinerary (2023). Take the inland road via Colac and drive directly to Port Campbell (about 3 hours from Melbourne). It was named after the clipper Loch Ard that was wrecked here in 1878. The return walk took us 20 minutes and it is rather a steep climb back up. Day 3: Warrnambool to Port Fairy then Melbourne (or Adelaide). You can also buy a toasted sandwich or cheese platter ($20). There are toilets here but not at Hopetoun Falls. We didnt bother stopping in Torquay where the Great Ocean Road officially starts, but you might want to visit if youre interested in surf wear. You can hike, surf, ride helicopters, follow gourmet food trails, wander seaside towns, and much more. Thats how were going to structure this post for you. We know what you mean by just taking your time and booking the day of but we would recommend booking in advance as it is so much busier now. If you have a full day in the area, a fun detour off the Great Ocean Road is to follow some of the 12 Apostles Gourmet Food Trail. Great Ocean Road (6 mentions) Make sure you check road conditions to double check the weather.
    The huge natural limestone arch was formed by erosion and you can see the power of the waves that caused it.
    Wear shoes that are comfortable for walking. The landscape varies depending on which route you take. Its a wonderfully scenic place with a beach below and crashing waves. Stop for lunch in Campertown - try a local cafe or bring a picnic to eat in the Botanic Gardens; Explore Port Fairy, including the bookshops mentioned in this post, and stay the night . 375km of scenic winding roads along the southern ocean will take you through some of the countrys most beautiful UNESCO-listed landscapes. The 20-metre falls crash over a ledge with a backdrop of lush ferns and the forest towering above.
    We spent four days self-driving the road from Melbourne, but you could follow our Great Ocean Road itinerary in two or three days if necessary (we had a fair amount of relaxation time). Or you can take the scenic route via the Great Ocean Road - it'll take you a lot longer and you'll probably want to break the trip up by staying a night or two or three along the way - but the scenery is worth it and there's so much to do along the way.
    There are beautiful countryside and ocean views and all the comforts you need including a well-equipped kitchen, spa bath, and gas log fire. This rock arch was once connected to the mainland until in collapsed in 1990 (leaving two tourists trapped but uninjured).
    They are set up studio style (best for a couple) with the large comfortable bed on a platform at the back and a sofa, armchair, and small dining table at the front. 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. We left at 10.30am and with the stops below arrived back in the city at 3.30pm. The Great Ocean Road (2 mentions) There was only one other person on the beach when we visited. The cottages are modern and stylish with big windows to make the most of the views of the rolling green hills and ocean beyond. We rented a car from the local company Advance Car Rental in Melbournea Toyota Corolla cost us $158 for six days. You can take a bus from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Lorne via Skybus Coach Terminal/Southern Cross, Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St, and Geelong in around 5h 11m. . The nearest major city is Melbourne and its a popular day or side trip from there (its where we visited from).
    Covering nearly 200 hectares, this park is one of the few Great Ocean Road highlights that is not a beach. This connects to the more distant, and much quieter, Living on the Edge walk (to the right of the car park) where you can see Muttonbird Island and enjoy more gorgeous coastal views. Road trip: Melbourne to Adelaide in 6 days.

    Make sure you visit first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon for the best koala viewing times.
    If you time it right, there are also history and bush tucker talks.
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