Perhaps less well-known than many of the other great road trips of the world, the Great Ocean Road is a spectacular route that hugs the snaking seaside along the wild and windswept Southern Ocean in Australia. As you drive, you’ll see craggy cliffs, deserted beaches, soaring bluffs, lush green countryside, and epic wildlife.
Itinerary insights
Melbourne | Lorne | Apollo Bay | Port Fairy | Mount Gambier | Adelaide
From £2,965 per person
Among the highlights of this marvellous itinerary, heading to the Kennett River near Lorne and looking up into the trees to spot wild koalas ranks pretty high. You will also visit the glorious viewpoints of the 12 Apostles between Apollo Bay and Port Fairy. And if you have more time, you can incorporate the Barossa Valley and taste some of the region’s delicious wine.
Accommodation during your trip is in three- to five-star properties, including quaint guesthouses where you might meet wild kangaroos and wallabies. You’ll fly to Melbourne via Doha with Qatar Airways. In Melbourne you’ll stay at The Langham, a beautiful luxury option oozing timeless elegance, for three nights, giving you plenty of time to explore this fabulous city.
Among our favourite things to do in Melbourne is find amazing places to eat – the farm-to-table scene is strong here, and you can also try out First Nations cuisine and ingredients in venues such as Big Esso by Mabu Mabu. For further exploration of indigenous aboriginal culture, visit The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia to see local art from the past and present day and the Koorie Heritage Centre which celebrates the culture of the First Peoples of Southeastern Australia.
Hit the road
Before you leave Melbourne, you’ll pick up your Suzuki Balen and drive to Lorne, where you’ll spend two nights in the central Cumberland Lorne Resort with its mix of contemporary and nostalgic seaside charm. Lorne sits in the middle of the surf coast stretching from Torquay to Cape Otway, with both gentle waves for beginners and competition swells, plus a museum on the history of surfing.
Next up is Apollo Bay, an unspoilt hamlet halfway along the Great Ocean Road, with lovely views and plenty of birds and other wildlife to keep a lookout for – including the occasional koala right outside the front door of your base for two nights: Captain’s at the Bay. With only 12 rooms, this is a charmingly and intimate modern B&B. Within an hour’s drive of Apollo Bay are waterfalls, the Otway Fly Treetop Adventures (a 600 metre-long, 25-30 metre-high elevated walkway through the rainforest), and world-class hikes for different levels.
You’ll carry on to Port Fairy, an arty coastal town known for its antique stores and art and craft shops, and for its opportunities to see native animals in the wild, from southern right whales and dolphins to kangaroos and emus. You’ll stay at the Clonmara Country House & Cottages for two nights – relaxing rustic accommodation with soothing spa baths and roaring fires.
Mount Gambier is your next stop, for one night. You’ll stay at Colhurst, an iconic boutique property built in 1878, as you explore this cosmopolitan city with its award-winning restaurants and its world-class natural attractions, including the Blue Lake/Warwar.
Your fabulous trip will end in Adelaide, with two nights at the Majestic Roof Garden Hotel – where you can sit out on the seventh floor absorbing the views over the Adelaide Hills and the city’s East End – and the chance to see all the attractions of South Australia’s cosmopolitan coastal capital, including the Art Gallery of South Australia and the South Australian Museum.
To book your Great Ocean Road trip, contact your Travel Counsellor today.
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