We leave Portsea on Nov 18 and aim to spend four days on the GOR and the road to Adelaide.

We wanted to stay at the lighthouse in Cape Otway but it is apparently booked (four months in advance!)

So we are looking for unique affordable places to stop in Apollo Bay/ Cape Otway/Port Campbell.

Also we are wondering if we should head up to the Grampians

Going in mid Nov.

Thanks

I wish I could update my post because I have considered the wondeful options people have recommended. So here's what we are planning:

Nov 17:
Portsea Hotel

Nov 18:
Drive from Portsea onto the GOR. Stop at either
1) Apollo Bay
2) Cape Otway
3) Port Campbell

There are so many different options and I'm a bit confused by them all! Would it be best to stop in Port Campbell?

Nov 19:
We hope to drive to Dunkeld and stay at the Royal Mail but haven't heard back from them yet.

Nov 20:
See the Grampians, hit Mt Gambier to see the blue lake on the way to Robe, overnight in Robe

Nov 21:
Wine Country - McLaren Vale? Barossa?

Nov 22:
Leave Adelaide at noon for Sydney

We stayed here in Apollo Bay and loved it

http://www.colonialcottages.com.au/

And more pics on our blog

http://lizandrichardsa.typepad.com/2...s/h_australia/

If you are thinking of going to the Grampians I would stay at Apollo Bay. The 12 Apostles are about 1 hr. 15 mins from AB and you could see the Otway Fly as well. If not Pt.Campbell splits the distances better. It is a small charming town with some accomodation (google) Incidentally I was in the GOR area last week with some UK relatives and there are plenty of Kangaroos in the wild at the Anglsea Golf Course (follow the signs) and Koalas at Kennett River. Elizabeth S recommendation is a good one if you choose AB but there are many B & B's of a good standard check www.visitvictoria.com or www.visitotways.com The Barossa is the premier wine region of Australia so don't miss it. A bit like Tuscany without the Castles & Hill towns ( I have lived at both places). You would enjoy the area and the wine of course. The restaurant at the Royal Mail at Dunkeld is considered the best country restaurant in Victoria and one of the best in OZ. The chef trained at El Bulli in Spain!

We also stayed at and enjoyed the Colonial Cottages. They're actually located in Marengo, which about 2 kms from Apollo Bay.

Make sure Port Fairy is on your 'must visit' list, if only for coffee and a walk along the river.

Check out some of the listings on this website. www.beautifulaccommodation.com/victoria/

I have stayed at B&B's on their listings about half a dozen times and have not been disappointed yet. What is written pretty well accords with what you get. You will see they have three separate listings under the GOR. I like Apollo Bay as a stopover point and likewise Port Fairy.

Good luck with the Royal Mail at Dunkeld. I haven't been there yet but still keep planning to go. The restaurant there won best Victorian Country Restaurant yesterday so they are probably being besieged at the present time.

Incidentally hi to Elizabeth S if you are still reading this post. I've not noticed your name for a while. I am off to Japan for a month in about three weeks time. I don't supppose you have any good recs for there as well. I still think fondly of the Arun Residence in BKK.

An extra thought puttakka. You don't mention how you are getting from Portsea over to the GOR. I hope you are considering take the car ferry from Sorrento over to Queenscliff. It will cut down the driving time a lot and is a much nicer way to do it - there is a pretty reasonable chance of spotting dolphins and seals on the way which is always nice too. Queenscliff itself is a lovely little town to wander around, a popular destination in itself.

Hi shandy! I don't come to this board as often but should!

We've never been to Japan so I'll be looking forward to your recommendations - have a great trip!

Thank you everyone for your suggestions!

We are taking the ferry from Portsea to the GOR and we booked one night at the Royal Mail.

Now are trying to figure out what to do for two days between that an Adelaide.

Well your initial itinerary of Robe & the Barossa is a good one although it's a fair distance between those two places. There is not much at Robe except it is a nice place for a stopover. The Blue Lake can be seen in 10 mins. You seem to be interested in wine areas and why not! Aussie wines are excellent. I would suggest one night at Mclaren Vale after the Grampians and one night in the Barossa before Adelaide. A night in the Adelaide Hills e.g. Hahndorf is also an option instead of Mclaren Vale. http://www.visitadelaidehills.com.au/accommodation.asp http://www.adhills.com.au/tourism/towns/hahndorf/

Thank you Down Under!!!! So should we skip Robe and Mt Gambier?

That is up to you, but personally I don't think there is much at either place and you can definitely do Dunkeld to McLaren Vale or Adelaide Hills in a day.