Stay and route options for the GOR
 

Hi,

we are doing a 3 day 2 night raod trip on the great ocean road in november. wanted to take your opinions on the stops to take on the trip. from our readings and research we have the following options. please let us know which one would be better (scenic, serene and a generally more relaxing option). we would also appreciate if you can mention any known options for stay at these place. many thanks!

Option 1:

1. adelaide-robe: Overnight in Robe
2. robe- port campbell: Overnight in Port Campbell
3. port campbell-melbourne

Option 2:

1. adelaide-mount gambier: Overnight in Mount Gambier
2. mount gambier- port campbell: Overnight in Port Campbell
3. port campbell-melbourne

the options we have researched are:
For Robe: Lakeview Motel or BEST WESTERN Melaleuca Motel & Apartments
Port Campbell: Parkview Apartments or Portside Motel
mount gambier: The Barn Accommodation or Mid City Motel

cheers

Mt Gambier is lovely, I don't think there is much at Robe to hold you for very long. The Coastal Road in SA is not as dramatic as in Vic, but the bird life is very good.

Be sure to stop for a little while at the Woakwine Cutting.
http://www.wattlerange.sa.gov.au/web...g_Brochure.pdf

Port Campbell is a great place to stay if you like glow worms. About 30 or so minutes drive away is the Melba Gully part of the Otways National Park. Along the walking trail that follows the creek are thousands of glow worms. Obviously you have to go at night, Making Port Campbell the logical choice. It also means that you can watch the coastal scenery change colour with the sunset.

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/ass...elba-Gully.pdf

thanks Peter. this helps. we were also leaning towards Mt Gambier, but just that robe as a stop point would have made the trip much even. We will surely explore woakwine as you suggest. looks lovely.

thanks!

Cheers

I assume that for the first two days, you're planning on "taking your time"? Much of the three day trip is not the Great Ocean Road - only a part of your third day is, as the GOR extends from somewhere between Warnambool/Port Campbell on the west and Torquay (south of Geelong) on the east. I would think you're much more likely to want to stop, see the sites (Twelve Apostles, Otway National Park etc. etc.) on your third day -- which will make for a long day to get from Port Campbell to Melbourne.

I've never done the drive from Adelaide but unless there are particular places you want to see/go on the way from Adelaide, I'd be inclined to get as far as possible on day one, perhaps to Warnambool. If you take the inland route, that's probably about 6 - 7 hours (A8/A66, via Mt. Gambier). You then have two days for the GOR and time for plenty of stops on the way. That would suggest Warnambool to perhaps Apollo Bay on day two, and then Apollo Bay to Torquay and then on to Geelong and Melbourne on day three.

There's nothing very scenic from Adelaide to Warrnambool and I would agree with the previous poster that your best bet would be to get to Warrnambool on Day 1. That way you get two days on the GOR.
You could stop in Mt Gambier for afternoon tea & check out the Blue Lake (there's not a lot more to see). Warrnambool has plenty of places to eat & stay and then you could have a leisurely drive to Apollo Bay the following day with stops at Lochard Gorge etc on the way.
You'll have some time in the Otways as well then and it's a very pretty area in November because it's so green.