Most visitors to the Great Ocean Road travel from Melbourne, which is the nearest major city. Stevenson Falls, Triplet Falls, Little Aire Falls, andHopetoun Fallsare just a few of the many highlights here. A softUsvista Inc. venture! Turn off for this road just before you reach Apollo Bay. The Memorial Arch (youve probably seen photos of people standing underneath it) symbolises the start of the road. Bunyip Tours: See above for that. Starting from Torquay, this route takes you through beautiful seaside towns and rain forests as you follow the winding road along the exquisite coastline. Further along, you will find verdant bush where koalas nest and then onto the lush rainforests with spectacular waterfalls and native wildlife. Rare Role On Australia's Great Ocean Road - Portland | Jobrapido.com No, the Great Ocean Road isnt particularly dangerous to drive, as long as you take proper precautions. We are Alesha and Jarryd, the award-winning writers and professional photographers behind this blog. This is the most common Great Ocean Road route. Just a few minutes west of the border you'll come across a beautiful pink salt lake. Most people start the Great Ocean Road drive from Melbourne to Torquay. Director, editor and producer of feature documentary about animal welfare in farming. A dormant volcanic crater, Tower Hill is full of Australian wildlife (koalas, kangaroos, emus to name a few) and has lush wetlands and bush. For the best panoramic views in Apollo Bay head straight forMarriners Lookout. If you're planning a self-guided tour, this could come handy. - See 1,941 traveler reviews, 942 candid photos, and great deals for Melbourne, Australia, at Tripadvisor. Once in Warrnambool, it doesnt take long to drive to Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve. After the Twelve Apostles, continue along the Great Ocean Road towards Port Campbell. 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 Last week, 1156 properties were scheduled to be auctioned in Melbourne. Live chat with local experts anywhere, anytime. Best way from Portland to Melbourne - Melbourne Forum 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. 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. If you really want a unique perspective though, and love a bit of adventure, how does skydiving over the 12 Apostles sound? This is one of the best things, if not the best, that you can do in the state of Victoria in Australia. Continue on from this point as there are tons of Great Ocean Road attractions to come. Burrell received her first James Beard nomination for "Best Chef: Texas" in 2020 and . As Victorias 5th largest city, Warrnambool is a lot bigger than most of the seaside towns along the Great Ocean Road drive. 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 drove from Adelaide to Portland, spent the night in Portland, and then drove the Great Ocean Road. Walk up near the Grey River Road and you will find koalas lounging on the trees. 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. This was not anywhere near as scenic as Port Campbell National Park but was still worth seeing. The direct route between these two locations is 142km, taking drivers around two hours to complete. 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. Thats how were going to structure this post for you. And to get your fill of more art you can visit theGeelong Art GalleryandThe Heritage Center. 542 Km - Distance from Portland Ln to Mildura VIC 3500 We recommend Rental Cars, which has the largest range of vehicles for the best value on the market. We want to book accommodation as we go . Griffiths Islandcan be accessed by a footbridge nearby to the wharf and is a great place to do a little bird watching. Deep lush valleys, sky-high rainforests, stunning waterfalls and tons of walking tracks make it a great spot to get off the beach and still be in nature. 375km of scenic winding roads along the southern ocean will take you through some of the countrys most beautiful UNESCO-listed landscapes. Tip: Beat the tour buses to avoid the traffic and crowds. Your email address will not be published. The Great Ocean Road spans 200 kilometers, from Port Campbell in the west to Torquay in the east. Melbourne to the Great Ocean Road - Best Routes & Travel Advice The official limit on the B100 (the Great Ocean Road) is between 80-100km per hour; in towns between 50-70km/h, and when there is traffic and during busy periods, as low as 30km/h. Things to do in Melbourne Day Trips from Melbourne Great Ocean Road Tour From Melbourne. Hugging the ocean on one side, the other side of the road changes its landscape from lush rainforest-clad mountains to volcanic plains. Jump out of a plane at 15,000 feet above the ground and get the best, most exhilarating views of the entire coastline. For a shorter track check outMaits Restwhich will take you through a beautiful section of rainforest. The Perth to Adelaide Drive (via the Nullarbor Plain) 3,700 km | 16 days Swim with dolphins, climb the giant Gloucester Tree, camp among . By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Adults: $119 $104 Online special! READ MORE: Be sure to plan your best trip to Australia by using our Australia Travel Guide! Great Southern Touring Route, Road trips and itineraries, Victoria All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. Find out more and plan your adventure. BONUS Booking ahead of time ensures you wont miss out on the tour, and get the best price too! Its also a fantastic place if you are looking to see some native Australian wildlife. Its a highlight of a Great Ocean Road itinerary! can include Port Fairy and more coastal towns. I am not looking forward to the conclusion of your trek. Yes. Of all the fantastic destinations, the one that really draws travelers from across the world is a Great Ocean Road tour. However, if you only have 1 day to work with, then here are some suggestions to save yourself time. 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. Our particular itinerary starts in Melbourne and finishes in Port Fairy over 3 days, and is the exact route we have personally done numerous times. Did you know: The Great Ocean Road is the worlds largest war memorial, and was built by returning servicemen from World War I. One of the most adventurous things to do on the Great Ocean Road drive is to do a bit of scuba diving. After passing through Port Campbell, youll pass by The Arch and London Bridge. While wandering around town youll surely spot a ton of street art, which is something Geelong is known for. 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. 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. 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. 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. Torquay is also home to theSurf World Museumwith tons of history about the sport and its fame in Australia. It offers easy transport options to Geelong and Torquay as well as plenty of car hire options. You can also find the distance from Portland Ln to Mildura VIC 3500 using other travel options like bus, subway, tram, train and rail. Respect the speed limit. Less traffic on the road and more time to spend at stops. TheForeshore Promenadeis a great place for a stroll as well and stretches on for about 6 km. Here we are, at another beach, and we have it all to ourselves. 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. Do you think that will be possible that time of year or do we have to book in advance ? A Melbourne road trip to Adelaide via the Great Ocean Road can be done over 5 days, easily seeing the best of the Ocean Road highlights. For most people, the trip willstart in Melbourneand can be done in a loop or a return journey. 50 Things to do and see along the Great Ocean Road as a PDF Ebook. Check map and driving directions of your route which helps you find the destination easier. Loch Ard Gorge is a breathtaking natural formation just a short distance from the 12 apostles. Seeingthe Twelve Apostlesfor yourself should be at the top of your Australian Bucket list, no matter the weather. 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. Check, (2 hrs Plan ahead and give yourself at least 1 full day. The Grotto is one of the most impressive sections of the coastline, and essentially a sinkhole. Warrnambool railway station - Wikipedia The Great Ocean Road from Melbourne - 1-Day Itinerary The area has a forest of gum and eucalyptus trees which are the main food source of koalas. From here you are well on your way to having covered a ton of ground. 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. Would like to do it in 3 days, 2 nights lodging and still see a few things. Born to parents bit by the wander bug, Lakshmi calls her love for travel "hereditary and habitual". This is a stop that not a lot of tourists know about, so you can avoid the crowds and see and experience more than most people would on their Great Ocean Road trip. The route of 243 KM stretches from Torquay to Allansford in Victoria state. The four of us were ecstatic to be off those winding roads. We set off from the city at 6am. There is no dearth of viewpoints on the Great Ocean Road and Teddys Lookout is another magnificent spot added to the list. 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.