lucybell1

Hello all- i have been learning so much reading all these posts. my hubby and i are planning a last minute trip to austalia in late sept. (i am an airline employee so don't have to worry about last min airfare.) we will have about 7 full days there. is it realistic to spend a few days in sydney and then drive the GOR? should we fly from SYD to Melbourne and get a car there and then fly from Adelide back to Sydney to catch our flt home? any thought on the weather in mid-late sept? can i just figure out the hotels when i get there? my only other austalia trip was diving along the Queensland coast so this is a whole new direction for me. would love love love to see kangaroo island but i think it's too much time and money to try to squeeze into this trip, do you all agree? i don't know how long (hrs/ days) a leisurely drive along the GOR takes. thanks for any tips.

lucybell1

Hello again- while i'm waiting for responses to my original post i continue to read everything i can about the GOR. to tell the truth i only just decided yesterday to plan this trip for this sept so i'm scrambling to learn all i can. (still have to convince my hubby as he's leaning toward europe because it feels more familiar to him.) first place i looked was on this trusty site and that's when i first heard of the GOR. now i'm fascinated as it really appeals to my senses. i've visited the official GOR website but still can't seem to get any idea what type of time to allow for really enjoying the drive. do most people break it up by staying overnight?

had been wondering what area to combine w/ sydney for our one week and this sounds like nice fit. still open to other ideas, just thought best to limit myself to a couple focal points.

we have 7 full days. it's not ideal but better than not going at all. i'd want to spend at least 3 in Sydney??
we love relaxed driving trips w/ spontaneous detours.we love soaking in local scenery, culture, people and history of both small towns & big cities. enjoy moderate hiking, beaches, wildlife viewing, fresh seafood. we try to seek out diverse experiences within a trip.
we're experienced, adaptable travelers- at home w/ fine dining & hotels but just as happy camping or staying at little mom&pop motels and eating at local hangouts. the idea of combining the glorious scenery and small towns of the GOR with a vibrant city like Sydney sounds like a terrific way to spend a week. i just need advice on timing and logistics.
(however i'm also wondering about the Blue Mountains...)
as i said i'm an airline employee so that gives me unusual flexibility. we're coming from U.S. on a flt in/out Sydney, but then once in Oz i can fly in/out of sydney, melbourne, adelaide in any order or combo..whatever would make most sense.
other main ?'s: weather to expect in 3rd wk of sept? can i be spontaneous and find lodging as i go or do i need to book everything in advance? or maybe just book the first couple of sydney nights? is there a preferred direction to drive GOR or doesn't matter? i am grateful and eager for help.

Bokhara2

Hi Lucybell 1,

Yes, you can see Sydney and drive the Great Ocean Road to Adelaide in 7 days. Melbourne - Adelaide is about 1,000km and takes 13-14 hours if you drive stright through so, yes, most people stay 1 or 2 nights along the way to enjoy it.

If you Google "Driving Directions", you can input various points along the way and get an idea of times etc.

My suggestion for 7 days would be:

Sydney: 3 days (2 Syd, 1 Blue Mts)
fly to Melbourne: Melbourne 1 day
Drive Melbourne - Adelaide via GOR: 2-3 days

If you can fly home from Adelaide, you might add a day there or in Melbourne.

You asked about campervans on another thread. I think with your limited time, you would be better in a car (cost/ease of driving in unfamiliar areas/accommodation options).

BTW, it works better if you put all your questions under the one thread.
That way, anyone reading will easily be able to see your overall planning & thoughts.

Late September is school holidays (generally last week of Sept - 2nd week of Oct). You should be ok without booking ahead for accommodation, just may need to be a little flexible in the more popular areas. Stay in the local 'pub' here & there. They will offer good value basic accommodation, sometimes with ensuite, more usually with bathroom separate.

Bokhara2

September is the beginning of Spring in Australia.

Here's Adelaide's chart from 2007

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/20...2.200709.shtml

LizzyF

Have you been to North Queensland and areas around the GBR? Because weather up there would be preferable to the GOR. What about the Northern Territory which is really the last frontier. You said that you drove in Queensland but not where you drove.
I personally am not a fan of the GOR because I do not think it is an International destination - its nice, but not that nice to forego other places in Australia which are unique.

LizzyF

Ooops - hit the wrong button. If you would like to see Kangaroo Island then you do have heaps of time. You could fly to Adelaide and rent a car there, drive to Kangaroo Island, or at least the ferry to Kangaroo Island and then see it yourself. You could also do the wineries and perhaps Wilpena Pound.

lucybell1

Thanks everyone for the great input. LizzyF, my other trip there was DIVING (not driving) along the Queensland coast. Spent 3 wks meandering btwn Brisbane, Towns ville, Magnetic Island, Cairns and even out to Lizard Island in FNQ - not a single reservation made in advance. Amazing trip but that was with an old boyfriend and now i'm planning a trip w/hubby and NOT a diving trip this time around.

It can be so hard when there are so many wonderful spots to decide btwn and you only have one wk and want to make the best choices.

Perhaps that's a good idea staying in Sydney area and doing daytrips. The idea of staying OUT of airports the whole week sounds terrific. I was just worried it might be too limiting. But I;m not familiar with this southern highlands area so i will research that tonight.

On the other hand Bokhara2's sample itin was intriguing. I like the idea of spending a day/night in Melbourne as i've never been there and it sounds like a good contrast to Sydney. We do really enjoy driving along rugged, dynamic coast lines and exploring small, funky towns and it sounded like the GOR had quite a bit of that.

Oh, and the idea of staying at a pub sounded fun too!

I'll admit there is a tiny voice somewhere in my head saying i should postpone this trip til next year and allow myself the pleasures of researching/planning and anticipating it over the next yr. i would love to go at the perfect
time of year but because i fly standby as an airline empl. i do best going slightly off season.

thanks again so much.

Bokhara2

Lucybell, if I could get super cheap airline flights, I'd just do it! Grab the 7 days & have a mini-adventure. I see what you're saying about a better researched trip later ..... but did you ever postpone something and then it didn't happen?

Go with your impulse, just get in a car, meander along, see the sights,find somewhere interesting to eat, stay in a funky old 'pub' for $50.

So what if you're exhausted at the end of the 7 days & sleep all the way home? Bet you'd be smiling snorers

If you don't already have a good map of Australia, I'd recommend you get one ASAP - and do use the websites to get an idea of distances & driving times. If you do go the GOR route, you need to allow extra time to go off the road to see the dramatic shore line because it's obscured by sandhills.
On that road, Port Fairy is one of my favourite towns.

I like Lizzy's idea of the NT too. You could easily spend a couple of days in Darwin, then go to Kakadu, Litchfield etc. Really, it depends on the things that appeal to you & your husband.

Melbourne's a great city, and from it there is very easy access to the vineyards of the Yarra Valley - and lovely areas like Mornington Peninsula, Gippsland. You could easily spend a week down there.

It will be cooler in Melbourne, and their gardens (like everyone else's) should be in full Spring bloom at the end of September.

lucybell1

Thanks for the encouragement, Bokhara2. It's true that airline employees often have a different mindset about spur of the moment, less-than-ideal-conditions-traveling because we don't have to make that sometimes HUGE financial commitment/investment just to get ourselves over there. On the other hand nothing is really for sure til that plane takes off so plans for the week have to remain fairly fluid. I'm having fun with the idea of sort of planning it- sort of winging it!