We can recommend a number of excellent companies who all use smaller buses which means more time at stops and more personalized experience. The total time you can expect to spend driving the Great Ocean Road and return, including stops, is at least 10 hours. 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. Check our. Youll also find theAustralian Surfing Hall of Famehere as well. And to get your fill of more art you can visit theGeelong Art GalleryandThe Heritage Center. Headout is building the future of how we experience our cities. Loch Ard Gorgeis the first attraction on the way, just a stones throw from the Twelve Apostles. 4 From Melbourne: Great Ocean Road Full-Day Trip. If you fancy trying your luck to spot some wildlife head out to nearbyLake Elizabeth. GREAT OCEAN ROAD Routing: Melbourne to Adelaide Duration: 5 Days Code: M01 From AUD$685.00* per person, based on standard double/twin share accommodation. 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. For those strapped for time, a visit to just Port Campbellwould allow you to see the best of the Great Ocean Road, skipping the monotonous winding roads between Port Campbell National Park and Melbourne. You can also find the distance from Portland Ln to Mildura VIC 3500 using other travel options like bus, subway, tram, train and rail. For more trail information in Great Otway National Park, visit thiswebsite. You can also find the flight distance or distance to fly from Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road. Read all of our articles in our Australia Travel Guide. Purchase tickets. Blazing Saddles Trail Rides, Aireys Inlet. Once youve had your fill, hop in the car for a quick drive and to the next and last destination of your road trip. 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. Day 1 - Drive to the Grampians National Park from Melbourne, visit McKenzie falls and stay overnight in the town of Halls Gap. Youll find them sitting up in the eucalyptus trees. 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. They will also add to the crowds at every one of your stops, so you want to beat them if you can. It takes about 75 minutes to drive to, depending on the traffic leaving Melbourne. For a shorter track check outMaits Restwhich will take you through a beautiful section of rainforest. Stevenson Falls, Triplet Falls, Little Aire Falls, andHopetoun Fallsare just a few of the many highlights here. Great Ocean Road starts at Torquay and finishes in Allansford. The Twelve Apostlesare one of the most amazing sights within Australia and its not hard to see why as you drive along the coast from Great Otway. The waves here were big, similar to US east coast waves just before a hurricane. 1st Stop: Torquay. How far is the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne? READ MORE: Be sure to plan your best trip to Australia by using our Australia Travel Guide! In this post, we cover the best spots to see along the way. This port city is the second-largest in the state of Victoria and overlooks the gorgeousCorio Bay. Note: This post contains affiliate links. You can also carry a pair of flip flops or sandals if you wish to dip your feet in the ocean at Loch Ard Gorge or any other beach enroute. From AUD$940.00* per person, based on [] The highlight of the Great Ocean Road are the Twelve Apostles. I highly recommended checking out Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve and Port Fairy. This often includes stopping at lookouts along the way. Here are a few budget Great Ocean Road tours you should consider. Live chat with local experts anywhere, anytime. Depending on the vehicle you choose to travel, you can calculate the amount of CO2 emissions from your vehicle and assess the environment impact. Departs: 7:00am. Carry a fast-drying towel, a bathing suit and a change of clothes to go swimming. Make sure you visit first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon for the best koala viewing times. Stops. Organized Tours from Melbourne To Great Ocean Road 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 four of us were ecstatic to be off those winding roads. Here we are, at another beach, and we have it all to ourselves. A total of 620 properties were sold via auction last . A drive between Melbourne and Adelaide via the inland route takes only 8 hours. Day 2 - Pinnacles Walk in the Grampians National Park and drive to Port Campbell on the Great Ocean Road to stay overnight. This will start your Ocean Road drive in the opposite direction as most others, avoiding the busy traffic. all things travel. Thats how were going to structure this post for you. I dashed out of the cave to higher ground, able to stay dry. In the shadow of the Otway ranges meeting Cape Otway is the Apollo Bay, midway of the Great Ocean Road. The cave was not very big, extending about ten meters back into the cliff from the opening. Your password has been reset successfully please login with new password. One of the most iconic road trips in all of Australia, if not the world, has got to be the Great Ocean Road drive. Most visitors to the Great Ocean Road travel from Melbourne, which is the nearest major city. 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. Planning a trip to Australia? The Great Ocean Road winds through picturesque locations that outdo one another in terms of visual extravaganza. Stock up on essentials, fill up the car, turn up the radio and head towards Apollo Bay! It takes travellers past world-class surfing breaks, through pockets of rainforest and calm seaside towns, and under koala-filled tree canopies. Day 1: Melbourne to Port Campbell We depart from Southern Cross Coach Terminal on Spencer Street at 8:30am before we commence this amazing 4 day, 3 night guided Great Ocean Road & Beyond Itinerary. . This was not anywhere near as scenic as Port Campbell National Park but was still worth seeing. One of the most adventurous things to do on the Great Ocean Road drive is to do a bit of scuba diving. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Once in Warrnambool, it doesnt take long to drive to Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve. We love this place and even bought one of their horses a few years ago! Forget all about the stress of driving, checking the GPS and creating an itinerary of your own! If youve hired a car youll most likely collect it at the airport. Maximum group size of 12 travellers with a reverse itinerary to beat the crowds at the 12 Apostles. If you don't want to take the ferry, you can also take the alternative route via Geelong by car, although the ferry crossing is much nicer. December to February is the best time to take a Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne. While your stop here signals the end of your epic 3 day Great Ocean Road itinerary, youre now on to new and exciting things. Less traffic on the road and more time to spend at stops. If you travel one way from Port Campbell to Melbourne (or vice versa), it is a 300 km journey. The two-way highway is scenic as it gets and covers iconic landmarks like the Twelve Apostles, Apollo Bay, and the Otways. We drove from Adelaide to Portland, spent the night in Portland, and then drove the Great Ocean Road. Experience the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne to Adelaide. Loch Iel (Pink Lake) The inland Melbourne to Adelaide drive takes around 5.5 hours from the Grampians. There were no surfers, really there was no one else here other than a few curious people like ourselves. Home; Timetables Train & coach timetables; Plan a journey The road winds through picturesque locations outdo one another in terms of visual extravaganza. Although most Great Ocean Road tours offer snacks they might be limited and since you are in for a long day its best to stock up on extra snacks and beverages for the road. Chasing waterfalls? Of all the fantastic destinations, the one that really draws travelers from across the world is a Great Ocean Road tour. Another fun way to get to the Great Ocean Road is by using the ferry service from Queenscliff and the Bellarine Peninsula to Sorrento and the Mornington Peninsula. An organized tour that takes care of your transportation will help you take the trip within a day. Memorial Arch (8am) Our first stop was the Memorial Arch, which is located just past the city of Torquay. 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. Yes, you can. Trust me, though, it'll be worth waking up early for. As one of the world's leading travel journalists, our content and adventures have been featured by National Geographic, Lonely Planet, CNN, BBC, Forbes, Business Insider, Washington Post, Yahoo!, BuzzFeed, Channel 7, Channel 10, ABC, The Guardian, and plenty other publications. Once you factor in viewpoints and short walks, expect this road trip to take one full day. It seemed like there was another amazing view every 400 meters, so we were jumping in and out of our car a lot. Read more about taking a day trip from Melbourne to Yarra Valley. Your story was very useful for us to plan our one day trip in March 2020 just before the corona virus outbreak. 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 These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. A few minutes down the road from Sherbrook West is a large car park with trails to various viewpoints. Would like to know what kind of still camera and lens you are using. Going up is going to be a task though! Truly a paradise, the area is a popular destination for water sports and recreation activities. Please enter your email address or username. FromWarrnambool Breakwaterall the way toLogans Beachthis is a great spot to take in the coastal views and even pass a little penguin breeding ground. Cannon Hillis a great place to start if you want to get the lay of the land. If you're planning your big Great Ocean Road trip from Melbourne, here are all the transport options that could get you there. hi guys my husband and l are going to drive the great ocean road in early November. To enlarge the map, click the top right icon and it will open up, full screen, in a new tab. What kind of still camera/lens are you finding most helpful? With the last day of your Great Ocean Road itinerary upon you, there is still so much to be seen and experienced. Lorneis the closest town from the arch and a great spot to grab some lunch atBottle of Milk, use the facilities and continue on towardsKennett River. Hugging the ocean on one side, the other side of the road changes its landscape from lush rainforest-clad mountains to volcanic plains. While Tyler and Kara tried to throw each other off of the sand dunes, Tim and I went exploring. 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. Port Fairy offers great locations forscuba divingincludingThe Thistle. Follow our journey in real time on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. Most of the people here were Chinese. TheForeshore Promenadeis a great place for a stroll as well and stretches on for about 6 km. You will want to try and get ahead of as many tour buses as you can. Its not nearly as scenic to do it this way, but it does save you about 50 km and one hour of driving. The sea enters the area through a narrow opening between two rock pillars. Today, at 4 pm, with clouds and a cold breeze, it did not look like much to us. DESTINATIONS AROUND THE WORLD: For more places to visit around the world, check out our Destinations page. Continue on from this point as there are tons of Great Ocean Road attractions to come. Day 3: Warrnambool to Port Fairy then Melbourne (or Adelaide) Distance: 30km to Port Fairy, then 312km to Melbourne. It was nothing fancy but suited our needs for our family of four. To drive direct from the Melbourne CBD to Torquay, where the road officially starts, is 104km, or 1 hour and 20 minutes. What is the return distance between Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road? The Grotto is multiple geological formations rolled into one and is one of the most spectacular points to view the coast. The Animal Condition (Feature Film) 2010 - Jun 20177 years. Start your 3 day Great Ocean Road itinerary with a lazy morning in Torquay. 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. Not too far down the coast is an iconic must-visit stop on any of the Great Ocean Road drives,Torquay, known for its epic surf beaches. Taking an organized bus tour from Melbourne to the Great Ocean Road is the best way to experience the best of the pictursque route from the comfort of your bus. 3. Check out the Vline train & bus timetable to make your way between Geelong and Warrnambool. Wealso have information on a great hike in Kings Canyon and a recap of our experience in the Red Centre of Australia. Check, (2 hrs In 1932, the road was thrown open to the public and has since then become one of the worlds best road trip destinations. 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 perfect place for a Melbourne city escape. Stretching 641 km, this route will take you from Melbourne to Warrnambool and back in about nine hours - that means you'll be treated to changing landscapes and plenty of different scenery! They finish at either the 12 Apostles or Warrnambool, and then drive back to Melbourne. BONUS Booking ahead of time ensures you wont miss out on the tour, and get the best price too! 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. Tyler and Kara joined us, took a look around, and then went back to their game. 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. Things all of a sudden became a lot more exciting. Take the Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne to catch the best scenery and attractions. Bells Beach is a paradise for surfers; it is the location of the legendary annual Rip Curl Surfing competition. From Melbourne to Torquay (the first town on the Great Ocean Road), it will take you about 1.5 hours. Make sure you book ahead though, as its not something you can just show up and do. Melbourne - This is usually the starting point when planning an itinerary for Great Ocean Road. Cant wait for the trip , Thanks Tracy. Due to crashing waves over millennia, saltwater and erosion there are now only 8 limestone stacks remaining out of 12. 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. 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. 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. A great photo op spot, this is one of the most photographed spots along the Great Ocean Road. With great facilities, cozy apartment-style suites and great views from almost any room on site, this is your best choice if youd like a bit of space to stretch out after a big day of driving the Great Ocean Road. We still had a long ways to go. Dont feed the koalas or the parrots as they are in the wild and any feeding them our food will disrupt their natural behaviour. Many travelers continue on to Warrnambool and Adelaide or up to the Grampian Mountains while others are returning to Melbourne. Before making your way onto day number 3 of your adventure-packed Great Ocean Road trip youll be looking for a place to catch a good nights sleep. Let us help you get started with planning your Great Ocean Road itinerary. You will receive a link to create a new password via email. The first to know about trending destinations, travel deals, tips and All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. Find out about other waterfalls in the Otways. December to February is summer, March to May is autumn, June to August is winter and September to November is spring. Surf Culture at Australian National Museum of Surfing. Bunyip Tours: Cute Penguins - See 1,940 traveler reviews, 941 candid photos, and great deals for Melbourne, Australia, at Tripadvisor. This will help you make the most of your time so you can see the things that matter to you. 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. Your Great Ocean Road itinerary may be coming to an end, but dont worry, youll finish up with a dreamy little visit toPort Fairy. But one of the most incredible Great Ocean Road attractions is just around the corner. If you really want a unique perspective though, and love a bit of adventure, how does skydiving over the 12 Apostles sound? 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. All the points of interest mentioned above are marked on the Great Ocean Road Map below. You might even get a stretch of beach all to yourself, maybe for the best adventure of the day. These two areas are highly populated by local surfers, keen to ride their magnificent waves. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. Sandstone cliffs plunging into the ocean, pillars of hardened sandstone sitting just offshore, all of this being pounded by some serious waves. We spent forty five minutes here and during this time we did not see one other person. Melbourne to Apollo Bay 187 km/116 miles, about 3 hours Ease into your roadtrip with the leisurely drive from Melbourne to Torquay, just over an hour's drive. Melbourne To Phillip Island Tour: A Complete Guide For A Perfect Day Trip, We've served 15 million+ guests and we are here for you, All You Need For An Epic Great Ocean Road Tour From Melbourne, Happy customers across 10,000+ experiences, 5,000+ verified reviews with 90% excellent score, Featured and recommended by the best brands, Have a question? We enjoyed our travels on the Great Ocean Road, the area of Port Campbell National Park being the highlight of the day. On a clear sunny day and depending on the tide you can get pretty close. Next, we got off the beaten track, taking an unnamed dirt road towards the shoreline. 5 Day Great Ocean Road Itinerary: Day 1 - Melbourne to Lorne Setting out on the first section of the Great Ocean Road will take you from the Victorian capital of Melbourne to the coastal town of Lorne. The Great Ocean Road winds through picturesque locations that outdo one another in terms of visual extravaganza. 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. It can be done. Your email address will not be published. The Great Ocean Road is a 243-kilometre (151-mile) route located along the coast of Victoria in southeastern Australia. After passing through Port Campbell, youll pass by The Arch and London Bridge. What is the distance between Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road? Required fields are marked *. PLACES TO GO IN AUSTRALIA: Spend some time in Sydney, go wine tasting in Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, explore Uluru and the Red Centre of Australia, visit Melbourne, go snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, and dont miss Tasmania, one of our favorite places in Australia. Although i highly recommend visiting Warrnambool, you may not have the time to spend there. Covering nearly 200 hectares, this park is one of the few Great Ocean Road highlights that is not a beach. Adelaide to Melbourne via Great Ocean Road - how long? Learn about the Best Things to Do in Melbourne and get a recap of our experiences here. Planning a trip to Australia? We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products, and regularly review these. And just for NOMADasaurus readers, if you use the Klook discount codeNOMADS10on the website when checking out, youll get $10 off your first booking! But you may not have that luxury of time. Burrell has studied under expert chefs, including Tom Aikens in London, Monica Pope in Houston, and Tyson Cole. Thousands of visitors flock here for summer and for festivals during the year, including the world famous Folkie. Don't be an idiot. Passing the iconic 12 Apostles and other amazing natural features carved into the expansive coastline the Great Ocean Road is a road trip to remember. No, the Great Ocean Road isnt particularly dangerous to drive, as long as you take proper precautions.