I am not looking forward to the conclusion of your trek. Read more about taking a day trip from Melbourne to Yarra Valley. However, the views arent affected by the bigger cityscape. Great Ocean Road Tours that offer the best itinerary and great sights within a day from Melbourne. This dive spot is actually a ship that was wrecked off the eastern beach in Port Fairy in 1849. If you arent restricted to only 1 day, give yourself at least 2 days to do the Great Ocean Road drive. Bunyip Tours: See above for that. Head down to Main Beach for a swim, sunbathe or surf at Point Impossible or Rocky Point. 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. DESTINATIONS AROUND THE WORLD: For more places to visit around the world, check out our Destinations page. For those wanting to drive a bit further west, theres the historic harbour settlement of Portland which you can visit. Children: $99 $94 (3 - 15 years) Minimum age 3 years. This is one way to get away from other tourists. While Tyler and Kara tried to throw each other off of the sand dunes, Tim and I went exploring. If that is the case, you can head straight back to Melbourne after seeing the famous sites such as the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge and The Grotto. Wear comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking to do. Explore Victoria's Great Ocean Road on an all-day reverse tour Discover the region's history and culture with a knowledgeable local guide Get going early and enjoy a small-group experience that beats the crowds Experience London Bridge, 12 Apostles, Great Otway, and other sites National Park fees Live commentary on board Professional guide 639. Visit some of the valleys most impressive wineries, go on a skydiving experience and simply kick your heels and relax. The road covers a driveway of 243 km off the coast with pristine views of beaches, geological marvels, and rich forests. If you want to get off the beaten path like we did, do not be afraid to try one of those unlabeled dirt roads. In Portland we stayed at the Portland Holiday Village. And just for NOMADasaurus readers, if you use the Klook discount codeNOMADS10on the website when checking out, youll get $10 off your first booking! Stevenson Falls, Triplet Falls, Little Aire Falls, andHopetoun Fallsare just a few of the many highlights here. Premiered at Melbourne International Film Festival. Cant wait for the trip , Thanks Tracy. The Twelve Apostles marked the end of the most scenic of viewpoints but did not end our journey down the Great Ocean Road. Starting and finishing in Melbourne is how most people do the Great Ocean Road drive in 1 day. You also wont be getting a sunset picture of the 12 Apostles as it will be one of your first major stops. Visit surf beaches, seaside towns, and national parks; and see rain forest, wild koalas, and towering waterfalls. Today, it is a spot for whale watching and a centre for learning about the aboriginal history. The nearly 250 kilometre road encapsulates some of Australia's most iconic scenery and gives visitors the opportunity to get close to wildlife. On a clear sunny day and depending on the tide you can get pretty close. What is the road driving distance between Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road? The perfect place for a Melbourne city escape. 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. Have enjoyed your stories since departing Columbia almost a year ago. Featuring the major stops, seaside towns and villages along the Great Ocean Road including Torquay, Anglesea, Airey's Inlet, Lorne, Wye River, Kennett River, Apollo Bay, Port Campbell National Park, Port Campbell and Allensford; plus Warnambool and Port Fairy (as an extension to the official end of the Great Ocean Rd at Allensford.) In front of us were walls of sandstone, giant waves crashing on the beach, and a rocky peninsula just waiting to be explored. The Cape Otway lighthouse is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Australia and was rightly known as the Beacon of Hope. Join our small group coastal adventure to the beaches, rainforests and more of the Great Ocean Road. Bells Beach is known for hosting Rip Curl Pro, a world surfing competition. Dogs are permitted to join you in a vehicle driving along the length of the Great Ocean Road, even when the highway passes through areas of national park. Planning a trip to Australia? And your Great Ocean Road route should not miss out on two other attractions nearby either. If you're planning a self-guided tour, this could come handy. Theres so much to see and do, so you dont want to be left feeling rushed and tired at the end of your trip. Respect the speed limit. Your password has been reset successfully please login with new password. What kind of still camera/lens are you finding most helpful? You also get to enjoy free WiFi onboard, tea and snacks and relax in comfort between spots. Screened at CinefestOZ, Portland International Film Festival, Social Justice Film Festival (Seattle), St Louis International Film Festival, Mostly . Great post guys, you have inspired me to take a trip here when I finally get to Australia again! Just a few minutes west of the border you'll come across a beautiful pink salt lake. Along the way you'll stop by the border of Victoria and South Australia and a red line marks the exact spot. Melbourne's two best day tours, Great Ocean Road & Phillip Island, with entrance to Melbourne Skydeck. The direct route between these two locations is 142km, taking drivers around two hours to complete. Best Great Ocean Road Tours Save AU$10 on your Great Ocean Road Bus tours with this promo code. 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. Depending on the vehicle you choose to travel, you can calculate the amount of CO2 emissions from your vehicle and assess the environment impact. You don't have to miss out on this epic road trip just because you are short on time. Day 3: Warrnambool to Port Fairy then Melbourne (or Adelaide). Although i highly recommend visiting Warrnambool, you may not have the time to spend there. The return distance between Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road is 446 Km. Make sure you book ahead though, as its not something you can just show up and do. This is the most common Great Ocean Road route. To do this, leave Melbourne before 8am as most tours leave Melbourne city between 8am and 9am. It shows off sheer limestone cliffs, dairy farms and heathland, and gets you up close and personal with the crashing . Port Fairy offers great locations forscuba divingincludingThe Thistle. We drove from Adelaide to Portland, spent the night in Portland, and then drove the Great Ocean Road. 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. It's also possible to travel from Melbourne to Adelaide via the Great . Stock up on essentials, fill up the car, turn up the radio and head towards Apollo Bay! The Email id you have Entered is not Registered With us. We are located almost at the end of the Great Ocean Road, about 4.5 hours from Melbourne. Private Great Ocean Road tour. If you are spending a night while on the road, the best coastal towns to rent a motel are Anglesea, Lorne, Apollo Bay and Around the Otway National Park. Melbourne Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges Gippsland Great Ocean Road Phillip Island Attractions More top attractions Sovereign Hill History & heritage Strike it rich with a day out in 1850s Ballarat and pan for gold, ride in a horse-drawn carriage and relive the Eureka Rebellion with sound and light. The first destination is Bells Beach in Torquay, a famous location for surfers. Apart from the trip distance, refer Directions from Portland Ln to Mildura VIC 3500 for road driving directions! The Animal Condition (Feature Film) 2010 - Jun 20177 years. The Great Ocean Road winds through picturesque locations that outdo one another in terms of visual extravaganza. Grab some coffee and stroll the foreshore. 6 Melbourne: Werribee Open Range Zoo Admission Ticket. Check map and driving directions of your route which helps you find the destination easier. December to February is the best time to take a Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne. Tyler and Kara, since they were shorter, were able to retreat to the far depths of the cave, keeping their feet dry. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. Now 2 pillars are left standing above the sea and make for an impressive view inPort Campbell National Park. These two areas are highly populated by local surfers, keen to ride their magnificent waves. Loch Iel (Pink Lake) The inland Melbourne to Adelaide drive takes around 5.5 hours from the Grampians. The Great Ocean Road spans 200 kilometers, from Port Campbell in the west to Torquay in the east. Heavenly, right? Youll also find the end of theGreat Ocean Walkhere, which allows you to get some stunning coastal views from a boardwalk before taking to the beach to see these immense stacks from the ground. 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. If you're planning your big Great Ocean Road trip from Melbourne, here are all the transport options that could get you there. Drive Time: 30 minutes to Port Fairy, 4 hours to Melbourne. Discover. A little warning about the Penguin Parade: It is very touristy and professionally put together. If you have the time, sample the delights near Warrnambool. However, if you only have 1 day to work with, then here are some suggestions to save yourself time. We have been travelling the world together since 2008, with a passion for adventure travel and sustainable tourism. It takes about 75 minutes to drive to, depending on the traffic leaving Melbourne. Sandstone cliffs plunging into the ocean, pillars of hardened sandstone sitting just offshore, all of this being pounded by some serious waves. 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. You can buy Great Ocean Road Tours online which would cover your itinerary and tickets for attractions. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Starting from Torquay, this route takes you through beautiful seaside towns and rain forests as you follow the winding road along the exquisite coastline. An alternative to this driving route is that you do it in the reverse order. Walk up near the Grey River Road and you will find koalas lounging on the trees. Most of the highlights are located around Port Campbell. Read all of our articles in our. For the best panoramic views in Apollo Bay head straight forMarriners Lookout. It takes travellers past world-class surfing breaks, through pockets of rainforest and calm seaside towns, and under koala-filled tree canopies. 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. What used to be a swamp was reclaimed and turned into these pretty gardens in 1858. The waves here are huge and come fast and furious, making this area a great surfing spot. The Great Ocean Road is an adventurers' perfect medley; expect breathtaking natural wonders, charming restaurants serving oh-so-delicious fare and vast wilderness dotted with native wildlife and jaw-dropping vistas. Bunyip Tours: Cute Penguins - See 1,941 traveler reviews, 941 candid photos, and great deals for Melbourne, Australia, at Tripadvisor. The distance between Portland Ln to Mildura VIC 3500 is 542 Km by road. The starting point of the Great Ocean Road that's closest to Melbourne, Torquay, is 64 miles (103 km) from the city. 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. 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. An organized tour that takes care of your transportation will help you take the trip within a day. Home to some of Australia's best-known surf beaches, Torquay marks the official beginning of the Great Ocean Road. 3 Melbourne: SEA LIFE Aquarium Entrance Ticket. It sounds daunting but it's going to be broken down into very manageable chunks. BONUS Booking ahead of time ensures you wont miss out on the tour, and get the best price too! Depart Melbourne and travel over the West Gate Bridge through the vast volcanic plains en-route to Geelong. The Great Ocean Road definitely has some dangerous turns. It is a popular stop for photographs with the name of the road and the plaque. It can be done. 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. For just a moment though, it was neat peering out at the waves and the coastline from this unique vantage point. Things all of a sudden became a lot more exciting. There were no surfers, really there was no one else here other than a few curious people like ourselves. The Twelve Apostles are giant limestone stacks jutting out of the ocean that form one of the most recognizable landscapes in Australia. Dont feed the koalas or the parrots as they are in the wild and any feeding them our food will disrupt their natural behaviour. We can recommend a number of excellent companies who all use smaller buses which means more time at stops and more personalized experience. Some people do this as a very long day trip from Melbourne while others can take as long as a week, stopping at towns along the way, leisurely enjoying the beaches, wineries, and historic towns along the way. There are 2 main routes to reach the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne - an inland road that follows the Princes Highway from Geelong to Warrnambool, or drive over the West Gate Bridge and along the Bellarine Peninsula or Surf Coast Highway. Whether you're a history buff, foodie, nature lover or adventurer get ready for a great weekend. But one of the most incredible Great Ocean Road attractions is just around the corner. Here are a few budget Great Ocean Road tours you should consider. You could drive the main highlights of the Great Ocean Road (from the Bay of Islands to the Twelve Apostles), and then drive to Melbourne on highway A1. Did you know: The Great Ocean Road is the worlds largest war memorial, and was built by returning servicemen from World War I.
