Geelong for overnight before GOR?

Old Nov 19th, 2009, 07:58 PM
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Geelong for overnight before GOR?

Less than a month before we leave... Getting down to the final details of the trip now. So here is another question - we arrive in Melbourne after 5pm on 29/12 from Cairns. Next day, we leave for a 2-day trip on the GOR (thanks for all your help Fodorites!). Overnight stay is in Apollo Bay. Should we just head to Geelong for the overnight stay or be in Melbourne? We do have two full days in Melbourne before we leave. Thanks...
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Old Nov 19th, 2009, 09:34 PM
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Hi Minsin,

I'd head down to Geelong, or better still go a little further to Portarlington, which is a charming little village on the coast (about an hour to Geelong and another 45 mins to Portarlington). Or Queenscliff, which has a couple of lovely old hotels and is very pretty. You'd be on your way to the GOR as soon as you get up then.

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&s...74&ie=UTF8&z=9

It's an easy run down to Geelong and either of the other two and at 5pm, you'll have at least 2 1/2 to 3 hrs of daylight (daylight saving here, except Queensland, until end of March).

Last year on a similar trip, I stayed at:

* The Ol' Duke, Portarlington: http://www.theolduke.com.au/

* Queenscliff Hotel -http://www.queenscliffhotel.com.au/index.html

* Barwon Heads Caravan Park http://www.barwoncoast.com.au/barwon...-caravan-park/
This is a gem, located immediately on your left as you cross the bridge. Lovely cottages along the foreshore and a good restaurant, which is what you see jutting out over the water as you cross the bridge. Last year the cottages were about $100.

Returning to Melbourne, a nice loop is to take the car ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento and drive back to the city via the Mornington Peninsula. http://www.searoad.com.au/

Cairns then this ... aaahhh ... GBR to GOR
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Old Nov 20th, 2009, 07:36 PM
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I would also skip Geelong and suggest Torquay as another option. A lovely town right on the beach and the GOR and if you don't know the area, quite easy to find.
www.greatoceanroad.org
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Old Nov 25th, 2009, 01:44 AM
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Just to add to your dilemma think about Anglesea which is 30 minutes out of Geelong at the start of the GOR . A pretty little town with some simple motels .
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Old Nov 25th, 2009, 02:41 AM
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Thanks for all the suggestions. I could do another 30-40 mins more out of Geelong for a pretty place...
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Old Nov 28th, 2009, 08:21 PM
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Minsin, I would skip Geelong becuase you will be able to zoom round the ring road which is a saving of a good 15 minutes minimum in itself and missing out on 36 sets of traffic lights - I love it.

However although, Portarlington and Queenscliff are lovely places I enjoy visiting, in terms of doing the GOR I would give them a miss. You will simply be adding extra driving time the next morning as they are quite a detour from the GOR. There won't be any time saving, you might as well have stayed in Melbourne.

Torquay has plenty of options of where to stay. Anglesea as mentioned has only a couple of places and one of the two motels is undergoing extensive renovation. At the present time I don't see how they are going to be anywhere ready by Christmas time. There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts at Anglesea, Port Roadknight and Airey's Inlet if you do a google search but B&B's generally don't want a one night only booking, especially at that time of the year.

In fact, your problem may well be getting a one night booking anywhere in these very popular Christmas/New Year destinations. Check out wotif.com.au and lastminiute.com.au. There won't be any bargains at that time of the year but may be a quick way of working out what places still have vacancies. Of course, not all accommodation providers are listed on those services but it is a start.
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Old Nov 29th, 2009, 10:02 PM
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Shandy, thanks for your suggestions. I have already run into the problem of booking only for one night...I will continue to look into options in Torquay - might get some last minute cancellation. In the meantime, I have booked a room in Melbourne...
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