Starting to plan a Great Ocean Road Adventure
Jul 23rd, 2009, 06:58 PM
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Starting to plan a Great Ocean Road Adventure
Hi All,
I am in the beginning stages of planning a trip down to the Great Ocean Road. We are American Ex-Pats currently living in Sydney, in our mid 40's and very active. Our interests are in seeing nature/wildlife, photography and outdoor adventure (hiking, quad biking, etc...). I also love little towns with quaint little shops
We're fairly flexible on timing...we're considering October/November timeframe and are planning on 7-10 days.
We would like to stop along the way and do some short day hikes...would Apollo bay be a good area for that? I'm considereing staying in that area for 2-3 nights so we can do some hiking in the area...is that a good idea, or is there somewhere better to do that.
Also, we are thinking of taking a couple of days and go to Kangaroo Island....is this allowing enough time for both? We don't want to rush things.
I've done some research, but am interested to hear some first hand accounts of great things to do and see along the way. i would also like some suggestions for accomodations in the $100-$200 per night price range. Any "hidden gems" out there that we need to seek out? I'd also love some suggestions for hikes along the way.
Thanks in advance for your input. I appreciate any and all responses
I am in the beginning stages of planning a trip down to the Great Ocean Road. We are American Ex-Pats currently living in Sydney, in our mid 40's and very active. Our interests are in seeing nature/wildlife, photography and outdoor adventure (hiking, quad biking, etc...). I also love little towns with quaint little shops
We're fairly flexible on timing...we're considering October/November timeframe and are planning on 7-10 days.
We would like to stop along the way and do some short day hikes...would Apollo bay be a good area for that? I'm considereing staying in that area for 2-3 nights so we can do some hiking in the area...is that a good idea, or is there somewhere better to do that.
Also, we are thinking of taking a couple of days and go to Kangaroo Island....is this allowing enough time for both? We don't want to rush things.
I've done some research, but am interested to hear some first hand accounts of great things to do and see along the way. i would also like some suggestions for accomodations in the $100-$200 per night price range. Any "hidden gems" out there that we need to seek out? I'd also love some suggestions for hikes along the way.
Thanks in advance for your input. I appreciate any and all responses
Jul 23rd, 2009, 07:09 PM
#2
Hi dkw -
It sounds like we have a lot in common. I'm an American expat living in Perth, similar age range and activity level.
We visited the GOR a few years back on our way to Tasmania. We based ourselves in Marengo, 2 km from Apollo Bay and took day trips from there as we had limited time. We loved the Colonial Cottages, and they're well within your price range:
www.colonialcottages.com.au
Here's a trip report I posted about our experience on the GOR, it might give you a few ideas:
http://www.fodors.com/community/aust...t-wild-tas.cfm
It sounds like we have a lot in common. I'm an American expat living in Perth, similar age range and activity level.
We visited the GOR a few years back on our way to Tasmania. We based ourselves in Marengo, 2 km from Apollo Bay and took day trips from there as we had limited time. We loved the Colonial Cottages, and they're well within your price range:
www.colonialcottages.com.au
Here's a trip report I posted about our experience on the GOR, it might give you a few ideas:
http://www.fodors.com/community/aust...t-wild-tas.cfm
Jul 23rd, 2009, 07:15 PM
#3
These links might be helpful as well:
http://www.greatoceanwalk.com.au/
http://www.visitvictoria.com/display...580C476A90000/
Sorry for the long URL, can't be bothered with Tiny URL at the moment.
http://www.greatoceanwalk.com.au/
http://www.visitvictoria.com/display...580C476A90000/
Sorry for the long URL, can't be bothered with Tiny URL at the moment.
Jul 23rd, 2009, 07:54 PM
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Thanks for the info Melnq8. Your trip report will be doing double duty for me, as the next trip in the works is going to be Tasmania!
Loved your photos on the World is Round....it seems we do have alot in common. My all time favorite destination is Grindelwald The hiking there is just amazing.
I'll be looking into colonial cottages...they look perfect!
Thanks again for the info.
Loved your photos on the World is Round....it seems we do have alot in common. My all time favorite destination is Grindelwald
The hiking there is just amazing.I'll be looking into colonial cottages...they look perfect!
Thanks again for the info.
Jul 23rd, 2009, 09:14 PM
#5
You're very welcome dkw. I'm more of a Wengen and Murren person myself, but I've spent my share of time in Grindelwald. We were just in Switzerland this past April basing ourselves in Kandersteg, Zermatt and Lauterbrunnen. If you return to Switzerland, you should definitely visit Kandersteg - hiking nirvana.
I digress.
I've got a second trip report posted here on Tasmania, and oliverandharry recently posted one from their trip in May.
I digress.
I've got a second trip report posted here on Tasmania, and oliverandharry recently posted one from their trip in May.
Jul 24th, 2009, 02:08 AM
#6
Hello Dkw,
You've hit on one of my favourite places! I've worked & lived in Melbourne and love it. Now back in Sydney, I spend 3-4 days each October driving around different parts of Victoria and last year I discovered a couple of hidden gems. Portarlington & Barwon Heads.
Here's a route that might appeal to you.
Arriving in the morning .....From Tullamarine airport - take the the Mornington Peninsula road and on the way, stop off at Brighton Beach to see the beautifully decorated English style bathing boxes. Often in families for generations, these seldom change hands. Coffee? Make a stop in Brighton village.
Continue down the peninsula, past Mounts Martha & Eliza - lush, beautiful country & 'old money' villages, to Mornington.
Lunch: Right on the water ... "The Rocks" www.therocksmornington.com.au
Then down to Sorrento - take the car ferry to Queenscliff. Lovely old hotel "The Queenscliff" and other interesting architecture. Good fish & chip shop.
Now: Either go back towards Geelong (about 30 mins) and have a look at Portarlington. Very charming little spot. Then back to Barwon Heads.
OR .. proceed to Barwon Heads. As you come over the bridge, you'll notice some buildings on your left and a sign to the "Caravan Park". Here's the treasure! This is where the charming series "Sea Change" was filmed a few years ago. There are fabulous cottages, right on the water, and some behind but with water views for something like $100. Better, there's a VERY good restaurant just a few minutes walk along the path (it's the building you see closest to the bridge on the left). From your cottage, walk to the right and there's wonderful views from the bluff (usually pretty windy, so take a jacket).
From here you can continue along to Torquay, Anglesea, Lorne, Appollo Bay, Warrnambool (great marine museum) to another favourite .. Port Fairy. www.portfairy.com.au An old whaling village, it always feels to me as if time has stopped in the 1800s. About 3 hours from Barwon Heads without viewing stops. Good overnight stay, if it appeals to you.
Something the brochures don't tell you: The views are separated from the road in most places by sand dunes, so you need to allow time to pull into the numerous viewing bays in order to see those famous sights. The weather changes rapidly here so, irrespective of the season, take a wind jacket/parka with hood - it can be quite fierce. It's not known as the shipwreck coast for nothing.
Next day .. down to Portland and from there inland to Hamilton (v.good art gallery) and through to Ballarat (gold rush etc) and back to the airport.
I'd think 3-4 days would be good for this, but you can make it more or less, as the whim takes you.
My other tip for these short fly-drive trips: Take tea/sugar/salt/pepper/coffee in those tiny plastic bags from home. And a few extra bags + a green garbage bag. Go to the local charity shop in the first town you come to & buy the basics for a picnic set, handtowel, thermos. Then go to the supermarket & a plastic box to throw it all in .... $20 tops! When you're ready to go home, give it all to the charity shop in your final town. Easy, flexible, cheap ... sweet! And, you've done a good deed for someone else.
I hope you're enjoying your time here.
You've hit on one of my favourite places! I've worked & lived in Melbourne and love it. Now back in Sydney, I spend 3-4 days each October driving around different parts of Victoria and last year I discovered a couple of hidden gems. Portarlington & Barwon Heads.
Here's a route that might appeal to you.
Arriving in the morning .....From Tullamarine airport - take the the Mornington Peninsula road and on the way, stop off at Brighton Beach to see the beautifully decorated English style bathing boxes. Often in families for generations, these seldom change hands. Coffee? Make a stop in Brighton village.
Continue down the peninsula, past Mounts Martha & Eliza - lush, beautiful country & 'old money' villages, to Mornington.
Lunch: Right on the water ... "The Rocks" www.therocksmornington.com.au
Then down to Sorrento - take the car ferry to Queenscliff. Lovely old hotel "The Queenscliff" and other interesting architecture. Good fish & chip shop.
Now: Either go back towards Geelong (about 30 mins) and have a look at Portarlington. Very charming little spot. Then back to Barwon Heads.
OR .. proceed to Barwon Heads. As you come over the bridge, you'll notice some buildings on your left and a sign to the "Caravan Park". Here's the treasure! This is where the charming series "Sea Change" was filmed a few years ago. There are fabulous cottages, right on the water, and some behind but with water views for something like $100. Better, there's a VERY good restaurant just a few minutes walk along the path (it's the building you see closest to the bridge on the left). From your cottage, walk to the right and there's wonderful views from the bluff (usually pretty windy, so take a jacket).
From here you can continue along to Torquay, Anglesea, Lorne, Appollo Bay, Warrnambool (great marine museum) to another favourite .. Port Fairy. www.portfairy.com.au An old whaling village, it always feels to me as if time has stopped in the 1800s. About 3 hours from Barwon Heads without viewing stops. Good overnight stay, if it appeals to you.
Something the brochures don't tell you: The views are separated from the road in most places by sand dunes, so you need to allow time to pull into the numerous viewing bays in order to see those famous sights. The weather changes rapidly here so, irrespective of the season, take a wind jacket/parka with hood - it can be quite fierce. It's not known as the shipwreck coast for nothing.
Next day .. down to Portland and from there inland to Hamilton (v.good art gallery) and through to Ballarat (gold rush etc) and back to the airport.
I'd think 3-4 days would be good for this, but you can make it more or less, as the whim takes you.
My other tip for these short fly-drive trips: Take tea/sugar/salt/pepper/coffee in those tiny plastic bags from home. And a few extra bags + a green garbage bag. Go to the local charity shop in the first town you come to & buy the basics for a picnic set, handtowel, thermos. Then go to the supermarket & a plastic box to throw it all in .... $20 tops! When you're ready to go home, give it all to the charity shop in your final town. Easy, flexible, cheap ... sweet! And, you've done a good deed for someone else.
I hope you're enjoying your time here.
Jul 24th, 2009, 06:33 PM
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Are you planning on driving all the way from Sydney dkw in own vehicle and then back? or flying to Melbourne and thinking of a one way hire to Adelaide and then flying back?
For if the former, you'll certainly have your time cut out in even ten days and even taking most direct routes to Melbourne and return from Adelaide.
Even flying into Melbourne and hiring a car, you would really want closer to the ten days not to be rushing too much if you want to include Kangaroo Island.
But if doing a fly/hire, Jetstar fly into Avalon which is closer down to Geelong and you could hire from there to start out for the GOR, heading around for Port Arlington and Queenscliff that way being a lot shorter than heading back into the CBD from Tullamarine and down the Mornington Peninsula [and area that deserves more time just for itself].
Time wise you would probably be best to head for Adelaide after the GOR/Princess and Southern Highways region to dispose of the car hire and use flights or bus/ferry to get over to Kangaroo Island or take a tour ex Adelaide.
Of course you may also want to consider spending a day/night at Halls Gap/Grampians as against following the coast more, a fair hike inland from just before Port Fairy [and yes a lovely small village - has a great Folk Musical festival Victorian Labor Day W/E each year] and should be wildflower season and countryside will have recovered a bit from Bushfires a few years back, it looking a bit sorry for itself in places shortly after when I drove through to Adleide from Sydney taking back ways a couple of years ago.
If sticking closer to the coast, you have the Princess Margaret Rose Caves close to Vic and SA borders - http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1proce....cfm?place=216
After Mount Gambier [Volcanic Lakes] if you want the coast towns of Beachport and Robe, you'll head off the Princess Highway on to Southern Highway I think it is called and whilst Robe is by far the larger of the two towns with a few quaint shops etc., nice place to overnight, do pop into Beachport, a very small place but a nice stretch of coast and there's a small lake or kets say a pond just on edge of town, not connected to sea on surface but water percolates through from memory and it is seven times the salt content of ocean - I was considering to try out how much easier it may have been to float but July weather made a chicken of me.
Nice pub there too for a counter lunch to make it a lunch stop if wanting to.
If you're going to be driving your own car and still intend on doing Kangaroo Island, taking own vehicle you might as well take ferry over Murray River at Wellington and head down through Strathalbyn wine country [some awful looking land in places] and on through Victor Harbour where you can either walk across the long bridge for some nice trails over Granite Island or take a horse drawn carriage there, been operating for something like a 100 years or so.
Nice town VH and whilst crossing the bridge, keep an eye out for sting rays that cruise about there.
For if the former, you'll certainly have your time cut out in even ten days and even taking most direct routes to Melbourne and return from Adelaide.
Even flying into Melbourne and hiring a car, you would really want closer to the ten days not to be rushing too much if you want to include Kangaroo Island.
But if doing a fly/hire, Jetstar fly into Avalon which is closer down to Geelong and you could hire from there to start out for the GOR, heading around for Port Arlington and Queenscliff that way being a lot shorter than heading back into the CBD from Tullamarine and down the Mornington Peninsula [and area that deserves more time just for itself].
Time wise you would probably be best to head for Adelaide after the GOR/Princess and Southern Highways region to dispose of the car hire and use flights or bus/ferry to get over to Kangaroo Island or take a tour ex Adelaide.
Of course you may also want to consider spending a day/night at Halls Gap/Grampians as against following the coast more, a fair hike inland from just before Port Fairy [and yes a lovely small village - has a great Folk Musical festival Victorian Labor Day W/E each year] and should be wildflower season and countryside will have recovered a bit from Bushfires a few years back, it looking a bit sorry for itself in places shortly after when I drove through to Adleide from Sydney taking back ways a couple of years ago.
If sticking closer to the coast, you have the Princess Margaret Rose Caves close to Vic and SA borders - http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1proce....cfm?place=216
After Mount Gambier [Volcanic Lakes] if you want the coast towns of Beachport and Robe, you'll head off the Princess Highway on to Southern Highway I think it is called and whilst Robe is by far the larger of the two towns with a few quaint shops etc., nice place to overnight, do pop into Beachport, a very small place but a nice stretch of coast and there's a small lake or kets say a pond just on edge of town, not connected to sea on surface but water percolates through from memory and it is seven times the salt content of ocean - I was considering to try out how much easier it may have been to float but July weather made a chicken of me.
Nice pub there too for a counter lunch to make it a lunch stop if wanting to.
If you're going to be driving your own car and still intend on doing Kangaroo Island, taking own vehicle you might as well take ferry over Murray River at Wellington and head down through Strathalbyn wine country [some awful looking land in places] and on through Victor Harbour where you can either walk across the long bridge for some nice trails over Granite Island or take a horse drawn carriage there, been operating for something like a 100 years or so.
Nice town VH and whilst crossing the bridge, keep an eye out for sting rays that cruise about there.
Jul 25th, 2009, 04:36 PM
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Thanks everyone for your great responses. Sooo much to figure out
I wish we had time to drive the whole way....we're from Detroit, so there's nothing we like better than a big long road trip!!
We are planning on flying either to Melbourne or Adelaide and renting a car (one way). I still have to check out whether the drop off fees are different depending on direction. That may steer us to our starting point.
I really appreciate all the info and will post back with rough itinerary soon.
I wish we had time to drive the whole way....we're from Detroit, so there's nothing we like better than a big long road trip!!
We are planning on flying either to Melbourne or Adelaide and renting a car (one way). I still have to check out whether the drop off fees are different depending on direction. That may steer us to our starting point.
I really appreciate all the info and will post back with rough itinerary soon.
Jul 25th, 2009, 05:38 PM
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I'd be surprised if drop off fees would be significantly different and likely not at all as most major car hire firms have depots in all Capitals.
www.drivenow.com.au will give you an idea of hire costs.
Flying in and out of Melbourne is also likely to be cheaper than an open jaw ticket and www.tigerairways.com.au have cheap tickets between Adelaide and Melbourne, and not too much more with other carriers - www.webjet.com.au to find best.
www.drivenow.com.au will give you an idea of hire costs.
Flying in and out of Melbourne is also likely to be cheaper than an open jaw ticket and www.tigerairways.com.au have cheap tickets between Adelaide and Melbourne, and not too much more with other carriers - www.webjet.com.au to find best.
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