More questions about the Great ocean road
Jan 2nd, 2014, 02:18 PM
#1
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More questions about the Great ocean road
Hi All:
Finalizing our plans for our trip this year and am still stumped on the GOR. We are flying out of Cairns June 9, 2014 and heading to Melbourne. We do not check into our apartment until the 11th of June. Check in time is flexible. I wanted to fly to Melbourne (which airport, I saw Songdocs comment about a second Melbourne airport) and get a rental car and head toward the GOR. I am thinking we could take the quick route south to GOR and then come back towards Melbourne the next two days. Do you think this is enough time? How much do you think we could see at this time of year?
Again, I appreciate your help.
Finalizing our plans for our trip this year and am still stumped on the GOR. We are flying out of Cairns June 9, 2014 and heading to Melbourne. We do not check into our apartment until the 11th of June. Check in time is flexible. I wanted to fly to Melbourne (which airport, I saw Songdocs comment about a second Melbourne airport) and get a rental car and head toward the GOR. I am thinking we could take the quick route south to GOR and then come back towards Melbourne the next two days. Do you think this is enough time? How much do you think we could see at this time of year?
Again, I appreciate your help.
Jan 2nd, 2014, 02:52 PM
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The other airport is at Avalon, much closer to the GOR than Melbourne but with far fewer flights in and out.
If you get out of Cairns early on the 9th you could certainly get to the GOR that day. You could stop at Torquay or Lorne that night , drive the GOR to Warrnambool the next day, stay the 10th in Warrnambool ( or if you don't want to go that far just stop in Apollo Bay) and then take the inland route ( Mortlake, Lismore etc 3 1/2 hrs) back to Melbourne on the 11th.
Be aware that the GOR road will be very cold in June but I think that's when the rugged coastline is at its best.
If you get out of Cairns early on the 9th you could certainly get to the GOR that day. You could stop at Torquay or Lorne that night , drive the GOR to Warrnambool the next day, stay the 10th in Warrnambool ( or if you don't want to go that far just stop in Apollo Bay) and then take the inland route ( Mortlake, Lismore etc 3 1/2 hrs) back to Melbourne on the 11th.
Be aware that the GOR road will be very cold in June but I think that's when the rugged coastline is at its best.
Jan 4th, 2014, 06:50 AM
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Take your woollies, avidcook. My word, Cairns to the Great Ocean Road in June? You will drop from 28C to 8C and be there for the winter solstice.
Tullamarine is your airport, Avalon is only for budgets and regionals.
From Tullamarine you head west for the GOR, but don't flee too quickly. Dawdle around Torquay and Bells and Winkie Pop, as some of the best surf swells through Bass Strait will be happening, and some of the best surfers will be having fun like they have been here at Merewether this weekend.
How much time do you have? At least a fortnight along the GOR for sure, but stretch to a month down to Victor Harbour and across to Kangaroo Island.
Even that won't be enough. Eyre Peninsular, Port Lincoln, the Bight, the West...the Australian coast never ends.
Tullamarine is your airport, Avalon is only for budgets and regionals.
From Tullamarine you head west for the GOR, but don't flee too quickly. Dawdle around Torquay and Bells and Winkie Pop, as some of the best surf swells through Bass Strait will be happening, and some of the best surfers will be having fun like they have been here at Merewether this weekend.
How much time do you have? At least a fortnight along the GOR for sure, but stretch to a month down to Victor Harbour and across to Kangaroo Island.
Even that won't be enough. Eyre Peninsular, Port Lincoln, the Bight, the West...the Australian coast never ends.
Jan 5th, 2014, 05:13 PM
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We spent 4 and a half days on the Great Ocean Road and enjoyed every minute of it.Too many people just do a quick drive to Lorne( which we found too touristy) and then turnaround.Do yourselves a favor and drive all the way to the end staying at several towns to savor the beauty of this area.
Jan 8th, 2014, 09:07 AM
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Thank you all for your replies. I will digest this information with a map. So, it looks like Tullamarine is our airport. I haven't booked flights in Australia so I have flexibility. Wanted to leave Cairns on the 9th and head straight to Torquay or Lorne that day. Long travel day, but that is okay. Yes, I know it will be cold and that is fine with us! Maree, the only set in stone is our flight back to the states from Sydney on the 18th. We do have an apartment rented in Melbourne beginning the 11th but that could be pushed back on night I think. I guess the question is 2 or three nights on GOR. I do want to explore the Melbourne area and all it has to offer. Should I book my hotels now? I would think being winter there would be vacancy.
Thanks all!
Thanks all!
Jan 8th, 2014, 10:31 AM
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There are no direct flights from Cairns to Avalon, so that pretty much makes the decision for you as to which airport to fly to (Tullamarine).
Deathstar flight is at 10.35 am, arriving at 2 pm (and later flights at 2.20 pm and 8.05 pm)
Virgin is at 1 pm, arriving 4.25 pm
Qantas is at 1.40 pm, arriving at 5.05 pm
Sunset is at 5.07 pm. Tullamarine to Lorne is about 150 kms / 2 hours. Unless you want to drive in the dark, the JQ flight at 10.35 am is the only choice. Any opportunity to move up the apartment rental by a couple of days and then put the GOR trip at the end of your Melbourne visit, rather than at the beginning?
Deathstar flight is at 10.35 am, arriving at 2 pm (and later flights at 2.20 pm and 8.05 pm)
Virgin is at 1 pm, arriving 4.25 pm
Qantas is at 1.40 pm, arriving at 5.05 pm
Sunset is at 5.07 pm. Tullamarine to Lorne is about 150 kms / 2 hours. Unless you want to drive in the dark, the JQ flight at 10.35 am is the only choice. Any opportunity to move up the apartment rental by a couple of days and then put the GOR trip at the end of your Melbourne visit, rather than at the beginning?
Jan 11th, 2014, 01:47 PM
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tt7, thanks for that suggestion. I will make sure I book the 10:30 am flight. I need to get that done this weekend. I think I am sticking to the plan to head straight to GOR from Melbourne on the 9th. My head is alread swimming from making these plans. (oh, I hope I am not making a mistake not taking your advice). Thank you for the heads up about when it gets dark. We do not want to drive in the dark on the left hand side of the road! Again, I appreciate all the help from my fodors friends!
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