One of the most adventurous things to do on the Great Ocean Road drive is to do a bit of scuba diving. While driving to Lorne we had our first Australian wildlife experiencean echidna crossing the road. Days: 5.
The three stops above are a good half-day trip, but if you have a full day you can continue on to Otway Fly Treetop Adventures where you can go zip lining (book ahead, $120) or walk above the trees on the elevated treetop walk ($25).
No Great Ocean road trip is complete without making a stop atMemoria Arch, which is less than 30 minutes from Torquay and a real highlight of the journey. Our last full day was dedicated to the Port Campbell National Park. Our road trip starts in Melbourne and our first destination is Lorne but since that's a little far, let's make a stopover in Geelong on the way. If you're planning a road trip to Lorne, you can research locations to stop along the way. Its a lovely place for a short stroll.
READ MORE: Be sure to plan your best trip to Australia by using our Australia Travel Guide! You could also fit them in on the previous day. Other lunch options are Movida which was recommended to us for tapas or The Swingbridge Cafe is right on the beach. We saw two koalasone sleeping (which they do for up to 22 hours a day) and one munching on leaves (which they do for the rest of the time). The Great Ocean Road (2 mentions) Highlights include the Telegraph Station, World War II Radar Bunker, whale viewing platform (we had no luck), and the lighthouse itself, which you can climb. The town of Port Campbell is in the middle of the park so you can take a break or have lunch there after visiting the eastern side (Twelve Apostles, Gibson Steps, and Loch Ard Gorge), before continuing west.
Road trip planner - Journey planner - Tourism Australia Journey Time: 1 hour from Apollo Bay or WongarraStop Time: 25 minutes.
Please read our. Journey Time: 5 minutes from Bay of Martyrs (20 minutes back to Port Campbell)Stop Time: 20 minutes. While all the cottages have superb views, I recommend requesting Cottage 1 as it has the best views down to Cape Patton. There is no direct connection from Melbourne to Lorne. Wye River is just over two hours drive from Melbourne via the M1. David & Marg. At the end of your Great Ocean Road itinerary, you can leave Port Fairy andhead back towards Melbourneon the M8 National highway to take on your next series of Aussie fun.
Check out Points South on Vrbo or compare prices on Booking.com. and answers related to Lorne. Check the latest prices of Anchors on Vrbo or on Booking.com. Journey Time: 10 minutes from Port CampbellStop Time: 1 hour 25 minutes.
This is a great place not only to catch some stunner views but also to watch the fisherman come in with their catch, which you likely can find in the restaurants in town. Get detailed, easy-to-follow driving or walking directions. Following the Otway Harvest Trail choose between local breweries, berry and fruit farms with quaint cafes, provedore grocers and restaurants a plenty. We were also planning to stop at Teddys Lookout on the way out of town, but visibility was so low we didnt bother. (In fact, we returned a month later to do just that!). We had a light lunch in the surprisingly good cafe housed in the Assistant Keepers Quarters with views of the lighthouse. There are a few options for pit stop number 3, which will time in perfectly with a late lunch.
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Beauchamp Falls wasnt on our original plan but ended up being my favourite stop of the day.
Next we stocked up on supplies at the Foodworks supermarket (theres no big supermarket in Port Campbell) and bought a snack from the Apollo Bay Bakery. 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. At Timboon Railway Shed Distillery you can do whisky tastings and tours, but its worth a visit even if you dont sample their wares.
5 Day Great Ocean Road Itinerary (Our Route), Where to Stay in Apollo Bay: Points South by the Sea, Where to Stay in Port Campbell: Anchors at Port Campbell, Search for more options in Port Campbell here, Check the latest prices of Anchors on Vrbo.
Park at the Kafe Koala and follow the crowds.
The large corner window seat is the perfect place to enjoy the views in winter, and for warmer weather, theres a large balcony with a table, chairs, and BBQ. Now youll be able to find the wreckage in shallow waters, which makes it great for divers to explore.
Melbourne to Lorne drive - plan a road trip US
Another worthwhile detour on the way to Port Campbell is Wreck Beach, but we didnt have the energy to stop. Find local inspiration and start planning your next road trip with our simple interactive journey planner. All prices quotes below are in Australian dollars. 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 . Many people visit the Great Ocean Road as a very long day trip from Melbourne on bus tours. 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. (I would have liked to stay longer but we were getting hungry for lunch as it was after 2pm). This lookout gives you the chance to see right out to sea and over the entire 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. 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.
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. It might not seem as impressive as the other stops from the viewing platform by the car park, but you can walk down to the beach for a scenic walk. Don't forget about exploring your own hometown with a staycation. From Beauchamp we drove back to Points South in about 45 minutes. If you only have time for one, follow the 900-metre-return Geology walk to the left of the car park which takes you to The Razorback, a massive rock formation. We stayed in a luxury cottage at Points South by the Seaand it was perfect.