B_and_B

For those of you who have seen our post seeking itinerary help for our upcoming trip to Australia and New Zealand in early November, I am now trying to break down each possible location as to things to do.

Therefore, I am looking for good day tour companies (small group) for a short visit to Melbourne. I have seen websites for A Tour With a Difference, www.atwad.com.au and Melbourne's Best Day Tours, www.melbournetours.com.au, as well as AATKings but the latter seem to be on large buses. We are interested in a city tour, Great Ocean Road tour (sadly only 1 day), and perhaps a Phillips Island tour or Healesville Sanctuary/Yarra Valley tour.

Would welcome your suggestions on tour companies, as well as places to day tour out of Melbourne.

Thanks .

Orlando_Vic

APT http://www.aptouring.com.au/content....ment_ID=105942 has some good day tours from Melbourne including a (long) 1-day Great Ocean Road tour.

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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

KayF

I found quite a few companies on the Visit Victoria website. Key in 'day tours' on the search area on www.visitvictoria.com and you will find lots of information.

Kay

B_and_B

The other possibility is for us to rent a car, and would like your advice, suggestions on that vs. day tours. We were thinking we might like to spend more than one long day tour on the Great Ocean Rd. by doing a self-drive, as well as drive to Phillip Island. Would ppreciate your thoughts.

shandy

Certainly renting a car would give you a lot more flexibility.

If you do so I would suggest that you first drive down to Phillip Island which could be via Yarra Valley/Healesville if you want. As you don't need to be there until late afternoon for the penguins you will have the time. See the penguins in the evening and stay on the island that night.

The next morning drive around to Sorrento on Port Phillip Bay and catch the car ferry over to Queenscliff. If you are lucky you will get to see some dolphins on the way over - not at all unusual to spot them. You could then have lunch at Queenscliff. It is a nice little town for a wander around nut you may prefer to keep going in order to save some time. From there drive to Anglesea which is the start of the GOR and drive through to Lorne and spend the night there. The following day continue the GOR to Port Campbell or Warrnambool. From either of those you can then take the inland road to come back to Melbourne. It is only about 4 hours to return from Warrnambool via the inland route.

Obviously this trip would entail two nights out of Melbourne. I'm not sure whether you have enough flexibility in your time schedule for this. If you only have time enough for one night away, I would be inclined to drop Phillip Island and just do the GOR. In that case, I would stay in Apollo Bay the first night rather than Lorne. It is also quite a lot of driving on the day (but easily doable) that you go from Phillip Island to Lorne - perhaps more than you are willing to do.

As to tour companies, I can't recommend any. As a local obviously I drive myself. If you really want to do both the GOR and Phillip Island in the minimum of time a tour bus is the way to do it in 2 separate trips. Incidentally, the Half-Tix ticket shop at the Melbourne Town Hall often has the major tour bus trips at a discounted price, but of course that means leaving the decision to the last minute which you may not like. I also tend to think they are probably for the major operators with the larger buses.