446 Km - Distance from Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road 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! Less traffic on the road and more time to spend at stops. You also wont be getting a sunset picture of the 12 Apostles as it will be one of your first major stops. 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. The distance between Portland Ln to Mildura VIC 3500 is 542 Km by road. Campervan Hire Great Ocean Road - Melbourne to Adelaide - Camper Champ The Grotto is one of the most impressive sections of the coastline, and essentially a sinkhole. It's also possible to travel from Melbourne to Adelaide via the Great . Lorne Seabaths, Gym, inground Trampolines for kids, and more. An absolute must-do for anyone wanting one of the best views of this part of the Great Ocean Road is to book in for aTwelve Apostles Helicopter Ride. Michael Dahlstrom - Environment Editor - Yahoo | LinkedIn We parked at a small car park and were the only ones here. Finally, we made it to Bells Beach in Torquay, the end point of the Great Ocean Road. For a shorter track check outMaits Restwhich will take you through a beautiful section of rainforest. The same would not go for the rest of the Earth Trekkers. Mum, works 2- 3 days a week, Tues and Wednesday and Friday and has the children in daycare and . We are located almost at the end of the Great Ocean Road, about 4.5 hours from Melbourne. Most visitors to the Great Ocean Road travel from Melbourne, which is the nearest major city. 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. Premiered at Melbourne International Film Festival. Geelong - The second largest city in Victoria, it is about 30 mins from the beginning of the ocean road trip and worth visiting if you have time. Now 2 pillars are left standing above the sea and make for an impressive view inPort Campbell National Park. It offers easy transport options to Geelong and Torquay as well as plenty of car hire options. The Subaru Forester has been an exceptional ride on the trip on the Melbourne to Adelaide via Great Ocean Road trip - powerful, economical, spacious, and with loads of safety features built-in, making the long drives a comfortable experience. Forget all about the stress of driving, checking the GPS and creating an itinerary of your own! Happy travels. There are a few towns along the way like Lorne, Apollo Bay and Port Campbell where you can stay or camp overnight. While it is a large city the laid back beach vibe is very present here and you could wind up spending more time here than you planned. Starting and finishing in Melbourne, enjoy a self drive tour along Victoria's southwest coast. Located just outside of Geelong and only 45 minutes from Melbourne CBD, Avalon Airport is the closest airport to the start of the Great Ocean Road, being only a 35 minute drive from Torquay. Getting to the Great Ocean Road When to visit Experience the rugged beauty along the south-west coast of Victoria by setting off along one of the world's most scenic coastal drives. 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. The Great Ocean Road is the most famous coastal road in Australia and meanders along sheer limestone cliff tops, spectacular jutting headlands beside the edge of pristine beaches. Join our small group coastal adventure to the beaches, rainforests and more of the Great Ocean Road. Routing: Adelaide to Melbourne Duration: 5 Days Code: AD3 From AUD$690.00* per person, based on standard double/twin share accommodation. 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. So you may get lucky to lay your eyes on some of these cute local beach dwellers. The Ultimate Melbourne To Yarra Valley Tour | Discover The Best Wineries, Chocolateries and Delicatessens! They are now a part of a National Park and protected, and are the perfect destination to view the sunset. In 1932, the road was thrown open to the public and has since then become one of the worlds best road trip destinations. This is one of the best things, if not the best, that you can do in the state of Victoria in Australia. 2011-2023 distancesfrom.com. 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. Visit some of the valleys most impressive wineries, go on a skydiving experience and simply kick your heels and relax. Sometimes, Tyler and Kara feel like they will never be able to escape the attention of people curious about their blond hair. Returns: Approx 9:00pm. What is the distance between Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road? Note: This post contains affiliate links. 1. Perfect write up, very helpful indeed, Appreciate your work guys, Cheers. Burrell has studied under expert chefs, including Tom Aikens in London, Monica Pope in Houston, and Tyson Cole. Have enjoyed your stories since departing Columbia almost a year ago. Check map and driving directions of your route which helps you find the destination easier. For more trail information in Great Otway National Park, visit thiswebsite. 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. 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. Screened at CinefestOZ, Portland International Film Festival, Social Justice Film Festival (Seattle), St Louis International Film Festival, Mostly . As Victorias 5th largest city, Warrnambool is a lot bigger than most of the seaside towns along the Great Ocean Road drive. What is the shortest road distance between Melbourne to Portland via Great Ocean Road? We spent forty five minutes here and during this time we did not see one other person. These tours are crafted to help you cover most of it in a short span of time, something you may not be able to do as a tourist in the city. 542 Km - Distance from Portland Ln to Mildura VIC 3500 The four of us were ecstatic to be off those winding roads. Our website uses cookies. From the car park, there is a short trail that will lead you right to the viewpoint where youll be gifted with the most incredible sweeping views of Apollo Bay and the coastline. Here at Port Campbell National Park, we spent over two hours hopping from scenic view to scenic view. Surf Culture at Australian National Museum of Surfing. 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. 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. And to get your fill of more art you can visit theGeelong Art GalleryandThe Heritage Center. Check, (2 hrs It was awesome having this place all to ourselves, being able to explore without anyone else around. Check out the Vline train & bus timetable to make your way between Geelong and Warrnambool. Guide to the Great Ocean Road, Victoria - Tourism Australia In this post, we cover the best spots to see along the way. Most of the people here were Chinese. Have a great time. Great Ocean Road & Beyond Melbourne to Adelaide (Single Traveller If youre looking to do a bit of waterfall chasing, this is a great place to find them! However, Loch Ard Gorge is still a stunning place for a swim. The Great Ocean Road is one of the world's most stunning coastal drives, winding along Australia's southern coast in Victoria (Australia).The undisputed highlight of the drive is the Twelve Apostles, but the Great Ocean Road leads past many more sights of interest, from bustling coastal towns like Lorne and Apollo Bay to the lush rain forests of Great Otway National Park. Soaring high above the limestone stacks youll get the best views of Victorias Shipwreck Coast. Recommended option Bus 3h 30m Touring the Great Ocean Road: Self-Drive Itineraries & Tips Cute Penguins - Bunyip Tours, Melbourne Traveller Reviews - Tripadvisor Wonderful experience - Reviews, Photos - Bunyip Tours - Tripadvisor Discover some of the best things to do in Melbourne. Our personal recommendation for where we stay in Apollo Bay every time is The Apollo Apartment. It has the most food options before Geelong, which is a further 1 hour drive away. The standalone arch was earlier connected to the coast with another such arch giving it the name London Bridge, but in 1990 the connecting arch fell down due to erosion. 34 mins), (3 hrs Our self-drive itinerary includes driving via Robe and Victor Harbour though a side trip to include The Grampians could be included. The Arch is a giant archway in the ocean, and London Bridge is the same but is more square instead of arched to it looks like a bridge. Adelaide to Melbourne via Great Ocean Road - how long? And your Great Ocean Road route should not miss out on two other attractions nearby either. Located less than 2 hours from Melbourne. However, when the winds pick up it is best to stay above the Grotto. You might even get a stretch of beach all to yourself, maybe for the best adventure of the day. BONUS Booking ahead of time ensures you wont miss out on the tour, and get the best price too! Torquay is also home to theSurf World Museumwith tons of history about the sport and its fame in Australia. Hi Tracy, November is a beautiful time to travel the Great Ocean Road. 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. Born to parents bit by the wander bug, Lakshmi calls her love for travel "hereditary and habitual". The cave was not very big, extending about ten meters back into the cliff from the opening. It shows off sheer limestone cliffs, dairy farms and heathland, and gets you up close and personal with the crashing . In Portland there's time for panoramic coastal views from the Cape Nelson Lighthouse, before a scenic drive through dense pine plantations to our lunch venue in the . Access a more in-depth look at the popular local sport at the Australian National Surfing Museum, too. Stock up on essentials, fill up the car, turn up the radio and head towards Apollo Bay! Most take this road trip to visit the iconic Twelve Apostles but fall in love with the grandeur of nature. This isnt a big deal though as you will still have great views of the scenery either way. Like I mentioned before, covering all of these in a day may be a long shot, hence plan for a 2 day Great Ocean Road trip. The cliffs over the beach offer gorgeous views of the swells coming in from the Southern Ocean. Grab some coffee and stroll the foreshore. Our journey ended an hour and a half later, finally at Melbourne. The Great Ocean Road is one of the most epic road journeys you can go on across the world! To drive direct from the Melbourne CBD to Torquay, where the road officially starts, is 104km, or 1 hour and 20 minutes. 3. You don't have to miss out on this epic road trip just because you are short on time. A dormant volcanic crater, Tower Hill is full of Australian wildlife (koalas, kangaroos, emus to name a few) and has lush wetlands and bush. Portland | Discover the many attractions of PortlandGetting Here - Portland If you're planning your big Great Ocean Road trip from Melbourne, here are all the transport options that could get you there. Theres so much to see and do, so you dont want to be left feeling rushed and tired at the end of your trip. Recommended Experiences Yarra Valley Full Day Gourmet Tour Skydive Yarra Valley Tandem Freefall. I am using a Canon 5D Mark iii with a 20-70 mm lens. This stone archway once formed a natural bridge over the gorge, but unfortunately collapsed almost a decade ago. Great Ocean Road Tour 2 Days experience from Melbourne to Adelaide. After the last couple of years, it seems everyone wants to be out and about and go travelling. 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. 2 From Melbourne: Great Ocean Road and Wildlife Tour. The first to know about trending destinations, travel deals, tips and Includes: 4 nights' accommodation, 5 days unlimited km use of a compact sized car and fully detailed itinerary with local and regional maps. 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. A sandy trail took us down to a beach. The Perth to Adelaide Drive (via the Nullarbor Plain) 3,700 km | 16 days Swim with dolphins, climb the giant Gloucester Tree, camp among . 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. The Great Ocean Road spans 200 kilometers, from Port Campbell in the west to Torquay in the east. We can recommend a number of excellent companies who all use smaller buses which means more time at stops and more personalized experience. Distance: 507km / 7 hours roundtrip. This was not anywhere near as scenic as Port Campbell National Park but was still worth seeing. TheForeshore Promenadeis a great place for a stroll as well and stretches on for about 6 km. Just prepare yourself for a full day with an early start and late(ish) finish. If you're planning to visit the Great Ocean Road, here's all that you should squeeze into your itinerary. Enjoy the iconic Penguin Parade on Phillip Island, hand feed kangaroos and wallabies at Moonlit Sanctuary, visit the famous Brighton Beach boxes and more on a day trip from Melbourne to Phillip Island. See above for that. - Bunyip Tours, Melbourne Traveller Reviews In Portland we stayed at the Portland Holiday Village. Turn off for this road just before you reach Apollo Bay. Most tour buses will leave between 8am and 9am, so try and leave before then. 5 Melbourne: 2-Hour City Highlights River Cruise. The first destination is Bells Beach in Torquay, a famous location for surfers. Dont start counting them though, because there are only seven you can count! We recommend Rental Cars, which has the largest range of vehicles for the best value on the market. Make sure you book ahead though, as its not something you can just show up and do. Not for the faint hearted, Gibson steps are a set of 86 steep steps that head down from the cliffs to the beach near the twelve apostles. Great Ocean Road travel guide Trust me, though, it'll be worth waking up early for. This is just because we really want to show you the best bits of the beautiful Great Ocean Road! Adults: $119 $104 Online special! Route: Melbourne-Twelve Apostles return, via B100 (Great Ocean Road) Highlights: Torquay, Bells Beach, Lorne, Apollo Bay . The Twelve Apostles are giant limestone stacks jutting out of the ocean that form one of the most recognizable landscapes in Australia. For those strapped for time, a visit to just Port Campbellwould allow you to see the best of the Great Ocean Road, skipping the monotonous winding roads between Port Campbell National Park and Melbourne. Duration: 5 Days Prices From: US$ 699 Trip Type: Self-Drives, Tailor-made Travel Ideas Australia See Trip Details Great Ocean Road Tours that offer the best itinerary and great sights within a day from Melbourne. Stevenson Falls, Triplet Falls, Little Aire Falls, andHopetoun Fallsare just a few of the many highlights here. Adelaide to Melbourne via Great Ocean Road - how long? You can also use the share icon and share it on Facebook. 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? Subscribe, Home | Australia | The PERFECT Great Ocean Road Drive Itinerary (2023). But all the views are spectacular on this stretch of the Great Ocean Road Trip. Continue on from this point as there are tons of Great Ocean Road attractions to come. It is summer and it is simply beautiful on the road! Its definitely worth pulling over to read the history of the road as well as getting that classic holiday snap. Cute Penguins - Reviews, Photos - Bunyip Tours - Tripadvisor Live chat with local experts anywhere, anytime. For those wanting to drive a bit further west, theres the historic harbour settlement of Portland which you can visit. A little warning about the Penguin Parade: It is very touristy and professionally put together. Chasing waterfalls? Book Great Ocean Road Tours & Tickets in Melbourne Today - Viator This port city is the second-largest in the state of Victoria and overlooks the gorgeousCorio Bay. Going up is going to be a task though! We still had a long ways to go. While the Great Ocean Road covers a ton of coastline, this national park is a gem located more on the inland route. Adelaide to Melbourne Drive Itinerary: Great Ocean Road Trip Whether you are travelling with family, friends or a school group, our Great Ocean Road Private Tour is the best way to explore this scenic coastline. 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). It is a popular stop for photographs with the name of the road and the plaque. Apollo Bay is a popular place, so make sure you have booked your accommodation ahead of time. To get you fueled up for your last day head toBohemiaCafe & Barfor a takeaway coffee or a wicked and delicious breakfast. Click on any of the numbers on the map of The Great Ocean Road to read all about the attraction. Bunyip Tours: Cute Penguins - See 1,940 traveler reviews, 941 candid photos, and great deals for Melbourne, Australia, at Tripadvisor. Tip: Beat the tour buses to avoid the traffic and crowds. Many travelers continue on to Warrnambool and Adelaide or up to the Grampian Mountains while others are returning to Melbourne. The sea enters the area through a narrow opening between two rock pillars. The drive offers plenty of places to stop off and explore. And just for NOMADasaurus readers, if you use the Klook discount codeNOMADS10on the website when checking out, youll get $10 off your first booking! Just a few minutes west of the border you'll come across a beautiful pink salt lake. If you have limited time and can only do it in 1 day, then dont stress. If you're planning on the West Gate Bridge route, take the Princes Highway over the bridge and travel along the Bellarine Peninsula or the Surf Coast Highway to the famous surfing town of Torquay. Rent a campervan and go on an adventure. Of all the fantastic destinations, the one that really draws travelers from across the world is a Great Ocean Road tour. Wealso have information on a great hike in Kings Canyon and a recap of our experience in the Red Centre of Australia. This is a rare opportunity to work for a minimum of 3-6 months and with a start date late April. Melbourne to Great Ocean Road: Self Drive Tour - 5 Days ULURU: In our Guide to Uluru and Kata-Tjuta, learn how to get here, what to do, and how to plan your time. Drive from Melbourne, via the Princes Highway, straight to Warrnambool (over 3 hours drive). Great Ocean Road & Melbourne itinerary and attractions Day 1: Arriving in city of Melbourne Australia. Melbourne to Adelaide 2 Day Tour (Single Room) - kilroy.net 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.) DestinationsPhotographySustainable TourismAdventure Travel, Adventure ToursStart a BlogTravel TipsSitemap, 2023 NOMADasaurus | Peak Evolution Media, The PERFECT Great Ocean Road Drive Itinerary (2023). The property at 36 Braemar Street sold for $6 million by private sale. If you want one of the best views in Geelong, grab a seat on theSkyWheel. Carry a fast-drying towel, a bathing suit and a change of clothes to go swimming. Before you set off on your adventure though, you should know how long the road is and how long it takes to drive. Wear comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking to do. 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. Kms. Over time it has been improved to create a peaceful and beautiful space to be enjoyed. Tip: If youre hungry on the drive back to Melbourne, stop at Colac for food. Yes, you can. Home to some of Australia's best-known surf beaches, Torquay marks the official beginning of the 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). Melbourne to Great Ocean Road | Road trips | The NRMA Hugging the ocean on one side, the other side of the road changes its landscape from lush rainforest-clad mountains to volcanic plains. The route of 243 KM stretches from Torquay to Allansford in Victoria state. Checking out the view of Bells Beach from the lookout. From AUD$940.00* per person, based on [] Drive Along the Great Ocean Road. Head down to the Moyne River and stretch your legs along the wharves. An alternative to this driving route is that you do it in the reverse order. But that does not take away from the impressive views at all. Warrnambool railway station - Wikipedia However, if you're short on time and want to cover a good portion of the Great Ocean Road, signing up for an organized trip from Melbourne will come handy. From Melbourne to Torquay (the first town on the Great Ocean Road), it will take you about 1.5 hours. Today, it is a spot for whale watching and a centre for learning about the aboriginal history. 12. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. From Melbourne: Great Ocean Road Full-Day Guided Trip You can drive the entire length of the Great Ocean Road in one long day (about 8 hours return), but we recommend splitting the journey up into a few days. The whole trail is about 15km, but your best chances for spotting the cute indigenous animals are about 6km in atGrey River. 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. 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. Its a small village, but Port Campbell is a nice place to stop for a snack and some fuel. The Obelisk sits atop a rugged coastline, which is rapidly being eroded by the harsh elements. Great Ocean Road & Grampians Road Trip | Apollo Campervans AU Great Ocean Road Itinerary 3 Days - Melbourne To Adelaide Drive It was nothing fancy but suited our needs for our family of four. It is a rest stop on the Great Ocean Road and gateway to spectacular waterfalls and viewpoints. Learn about the Best Things to Do in Melbourne and get a recap of our experiences here. If you have a registered account with us,then we have sent you an email to reset your password. This dive spot is actually a ship that was wrecked off the eastern beach in Port Fairy in 1849. However, the Great Ocean Road is a hit at any time of the year and here is why . The Great Ocean Road winds through picturesque locations that outdo one another in terms of visual extravaganza. No, the Great Ocean Road isnt particularly dangerous to drive, as long as you take proper precautions. Covering nearly 200 hectares, this park is one of the few Great Ocean Road highlights that is not a beach. Home; Timetables Train & coach timetables; Plan a journey The landscape varies depending on which route you take. Join the adventures on our YouTube channel! We would appreciate some advice for an itinerary driving from Melbourne to Cape Jervis via the Great Ocean Road visiting Phillip Island and Kennett River where we may hopefully see some Koalas, on the way. FromWarrnambool Breakwaterall the way toLogans Beachthis is a great spot to take in the coastal views and even pass a little penguin breeding ground. Do you think that will be possible that time of year or do we have to book in advance ? 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. Due to crashing waves over millennia, saltwater and erosion there are now only 8 limestone stacks remaining out of 12.