melbourne to lorne via inland route
From Beauchamp we drove back to Points South in about 45 minutes.
Many people visit the Great Ocean Road as a very long day trip from Melbourne on bus tours.
Its most popular in summer (December to February) when you can enjoy the beaches. The drive from Melbourne to Lorne isn't particularly long, only around 2 hours all up. Below Ive included driving times between stops and how long we spent at each destination.
The ocean views are incredible and we could have happily spent all day curled up on the window seat with the fire roaring watching the waves crash down below. 21 Awesome Things to Do in Ipswich, Queensland (2023 Guide), The 21 Best Things to Do in Townsville [2023 Guide], MARIA ISLAND The Best Things to Do and Travel Tips [2023]. You can view the falls from the side and clamber on the rocks to see them from the pool below. Wye River is just over two hours drive from Melbourne via the M1. (In fact, we returned a month later to do just that!). TheKennett River Koala Walkis the perfect place to get your fix. Not even 15km from Apollo Bay is the incredibly lush and beautifulGreat Otway National Park. Where does the Great Ocean Road start and finish.
While your stop here signals the end of your epic 3 day Great Ocean Road itinerary, youre now on to new and exciting things. While you could drive it in the opposite direction, Port Campbell would be quite far to reach on the coastal route for your overnight stay, and its a fairly long drive from Apollo Bay to Twelve Apostles for an early morning visit. The Cape Otway Lightstation is a 15-minute (each way) detour from the Great Ocean Road and is the only place we visited with an entrance fee ($18.50), but its well worth it. Port Campbell is a tiny town, but its a great base for the Twelve Apostles.
We spent the first two nights in an incredible cottage overlooking the ocean at Points South by the Sea, a 15-minute drive before Apollo Bay. Journey Time: 20 minutes from ChocolaterieStop Time: 25 minutes. Winter (June to August) can be chilly, but youll have the chance to see whales, lower crowds, and can cosy up by the fire. Want to plan the trip back? Thanks.
Brekkie tacos, smoothie bowls and a full lunch menu to eat in or take away will please anyone visiting. It consists of three cottages on a 160-acre farm owned by Bryan and Joan. When you continue down the road, the Cape Patton Lookout Point is a good place for views. How far is the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne? Before making your way onto day number 3 of your adventure-packed Great Ocean Road trip youll be looking for a place to catch a good nights sleep. You can look down to the falls from a platform near the car park, but its better to walk down the steps to get a closeup view. The return walk took us 20 minutes and it is rather a steep climb back up. Jarryd, thank you for talking us along the Great Ocean Road, we are coming down from Brisbane mid April 2023 and plan to self drive it.
You have given us a great itinerary to get the best out of our trip.
Halfway along the Surf Coast walk its only around a 3km round trip from the town, up the point for amazing views over the town and ocean crashing below. First, fuel up at Caf Moby, a converted weatherboard house full of character and with foreshore views to boot.
I found holiday rental sites had the most interesting options and ended up booking two lovely cottages with stunning views. Stop for lunch in Campertown - try a local cafe or bring a picnic to eat in the Botanic Gardens; Explore Port Fairy, including the bookshops mentioned in this post, and stay the night . If you are looking for other ideas on places to visit in Victoria, see our guide to the best day trips from Melbourne. thought of doing it in one day, but now will make a stop over and take two days.. Via: Where should I stop along the way? Just down the road is Hopetoun Falls. As it's a fairly leisurely drive why not break up the short journey and enjoy the sights of the Victorian Surf Coast along the way. If you time it right, there are also history and bush tucker talks.
There is no direct connection from Melbourne to Lorne. The cottages are modern and stylish with big windows to make the most of the views of the rolling green hills and ocean beyond. You will pass the Twelve Apostles on the way to Port Campbell, but its very crowded mid-afternoon so we left it for the next morning. This means youll be driving on the ocean side of the road and will have the best views and easy access to the many viewpoints. Youll find them sitting up in the eucalyptus trees. To get you fueled up for your last day head toBohemiaCafe & Barfor a takeaway coffee or a wicked and delicious breakfast. Its most famous for the Twelve Apostles rock formations, but theres lots to see along the stunning Shipwreck Coast. Journey Time: 4 minutes from The ArchStop Time: 20 minutes. The Lightstation is open every day from 10am 5pm (except for Christmas Day), but if you arrive out of hours, you can still walk along the lovely coastal trail that starts by the car park. Follow the inland route if you are headed back to Melbourne for a shorter drive. Highlights include the Telegraph Station, World War II Radar Bunker, whale viewing platform (we had no luck), and the lighthouse itself, which you can climb. You can do this in one big day (its almost 600km direct), but we personally recommend breaking the trip up into 2 or 3 days, spending some time in Mount Gambier and Coorong National Park. We visited in mid-September (early spring) and there was frost on our car one morning, so tent camping is probably best in the summer. 15 minutes down the road from Kennett River is Wongarra, where we spent the next two nights at Points South by the Sea. They are full of handmade art and crafts and locally made treats to indulge in like jams, pastries, pickles and ice-cream.
Top Road Trips Stops: Torquay, Lorne, Great Otway National Park, 12 Apostles, Logan's Beach, Mount Gambier. Both are natural, offshore stone archways.
But one of the most incredible Great Ocean Road attractions is just around the corner. If youd like to continue travelling Australia beyond the Great Ocean Road, you canhead northwest to Adelaide. There is a walking track around the island and on the most westerly point youll find a lovely little lighthouse and a pretty viewpoint too.
We were back at our cottage by 2pm and had a two-hour break before heading out to explore the second section of Port Campbell National Park. There are also several wineries and breweries in the area worth stopping in at to pick something up to enjoy throughout the rest of your trip too. Check out Points South on Vrbo or compare prices on Booking.com. Journey Time: 1.5 hours from MelbourneStop Time: 10 minutes. There are a few options for pit stop number 3, which will time in perfectly with a late lunch. you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, Then, if you like, you can descend to the foot of the falls via a 30-minute hike.
You can also walk down the steps onto the beautiful beach.
Stop 2 Point Roadknight, Anglesea
The Twelve Apostlesare one of the most amazing sights within Australia and its not hard to see why as you drive along the coast from Great Otway. You need to park just off the road and then walk up the hill to the lighthouse. With great facilities, cozy apartment-style suites and great views from almost any room on site, this is your best choice if youd like a bit of space to stretch out after a big day of driving the Great Ocean Road. I definitely recommend allocating a few hours to explore it all.
And if you know Melbourne well, please help your fellow Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. We want to book accommodation as we go . Melbourne is a city renowned for its food, shopping, sporting culture and nightlife. Its barely even a hamlet, just a collection of houses and farms spread along the coast, but the bigger town Apollo Bay is only 15 minutes away.
Click the button below to explore more questions You could then drive the Great Ocean Road at a more leisurely pace and spend the night in the Apollo Bay area before continuing back to Melbourne the next day.
Our personal recommendation for where we stay in Apollo Bay every time is The Apollo Apartment.
After the last couple of years, it seems everyone wants to be out and about and go travelling.
Shadowfax Wines Jan Juc
No, the Great Ocean Road isnt particularly dangerous to drive, as long as you take proper precautions. Theres no real need to stop in Colac, but as the inland route back to Melbourne along the A1 passes through, we stopped for lunch. We left at 10am and arrived in Port Campbell at 2.45pm.
Bay of Martyrs is an overlooked spot thats perfect for escaping the crowds. The three stops above are a good half-day trip, but if you have a full day you can continue on to Otway Fly Treetop Adventures where you can go zip lining (book ahead, $120) or walk above the trees on the elevated treetop walk ($25). As Victorias 5th largest city, Warrnambool is a lot bigger than most of the seaside towns along the Great Ocean Road drive. Make sure you book ahead though, as its not something you can just show up and do. Continue on from this point as there are tons of Great Ocean Road attractions to come. drive for about 15 minutes 2:37 pm Great Ocean Road stay for about 1 hour and leave at 3:37 pm drive for about 24 minutes 4:01 pm arrive in Lorne driving 2 hours Change your route From: To: Alternate route Enter a city to drive through, or find all trips from Melbourne to Lorne.
375km of scenic winding roads along the southern ocean will take you through some of the countrys most beautiful UNESCO-listed landscapes. They are famous for their scallop pies but have plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.
That way you can travel at your own pace, avoid the crowds, and have more time to enjoy the many Great Ocean Road attractions beyond the Twelve Apostles. One of Victoria's most scenic drives, Great Ocean Road provides plenty of exciting pit stopsexplore the surfing town of Bells Beach, discover the waterfalls of Lorne, zipline through the Otway Ranges, and visit The Twelve Apostles rock formations. There are two viewing platforms to admire London Bridge a short walk from the car park.
If wed had an extra night, wed have spent it at Points South by the Sea just so we could have a relaxation day in our cottage enjoying the view and local walks.
Now 2 pillars are left standing above the sea and make for an impressive view inPort Campbell National Park. There are signs reminding you along the road as tourists driving the wrong way is a common problem. I include suggestions for shorter trips below. The views of the town and coastline are superb. If it hadnt been raining so heavily, Im sure we would have stopped often for photos. Day 1: Melbourne to Apollo Bay Distance: 195km Drive Time: 3 Hours Sightseeing Time: 5 Hours For most people, the trip will start in Melbourne and can be done in a loop or a return journey.
Avoid driving after dark as the roads are windy and unlit and theres the danger of hitting wildlife. Its also a fantastic place if you are looking to see some native Australian wildlife. Then tuck into a delicious dinner at the Salty Dog Fish & Chippery along the beachfront, the perfect way to end a day of exploring. Theres also a cafe if you just want a coffee or one of the tasty looking cakes.
Cannon Hillis a great place to start if you want to get the lay of the land. It would also be tempting to continue down past the end of the road to Warrnambool or Port Fairy for a night and visit the nearby Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve for a chance to see koalas, kangaroos, and emu in the wild. The Grotto is unlike any of the other rock formations in the area. The 20-metre falls crash over a ledge with a backdrop of lush ferns and the forest towering above. The Great Ocean Road is one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world. Keep an eye open as you wander the trails for koalas up in the trees and beautiful native birds soaring around too. The Ultimate Melbourne to Sydney Road Trip Itinerary Our itinerary will take you through the most iconic towns and cities, the rugged Phillip Island, the small town of Walhalla, the beautiful Wilsons Promontory, and onto the vast Kosciuszko National Park.
Apollo Bay is a gorgeous seaside village, located at the entry to the Otways, and without a doubt is one of the most scenic and picturesque stops on our Great Ocean Road drive. The nearest major city is Melbourne and its a popular day or side trip from there (its where we visited from). Amongst the native eucalyptus trees is this surprising cluster of giant Californian Redwoods which were planted in the 1930s and are thriving. Your Great Ocean Road itinerary may be coming to an end, but dont worry, youll finish up with a dreamy little visit toPort Fairy. Nearby youll find another popular waterfall, Triplet Falls (a one hour walk).
Journey Time: 10 minutes from Bells BeachStop Time: 30 minutes. Sat & Sun There are plenty more accommodation optionsin Apollo Baysearch on Vrbo for holiday rentals or Booking for hotels, motels and B&Bs. Get the reverse directions for a You could also fit them in on the previous day.
If you have an extra night, you could add it to either of those locations depending on your interestsApollo Bay is nearer forests and waterfalls and Port Campbell is nearer the Twelve Apostles and many other beautiful coastal rock formations. This budget-friendly hostel has dorms and private rooms and its in the centre of town with a fantastic roof terrace. Explore the best of Australia and find your perfect getaway.
Conveniently located a little ways from Port Campbell, these serviced apartments have great rooms, a gorgeous pool area and make for a great stopover.
The lake views here are stunning and if youre lucky you might even be able to lay your eyes on a platypus or two. This is the only Great Ocean Road Map you will ever need. Walk back down to the base of the bluff to enjoy relaxing on the beach for a while. For more information on routes and trails visit the websitehere. You could continue down the coast, perhaps having a break in Port Campbell (Forage on Foreshore is a recommended cafe). Sail through the clouds with only 1 other person for an up-close and personal adventure. While the Great Ocean Road covers a ton of coastline, this national park is a gem located more on the inland route. For a shorter track check outMaits Restwhich will take you through a beautiful section of rainforest. After the gorge youll pass the town of Port Campbell. Our first stop was just outside Torquay and was a slight detour off the Great Ocean Road.
The sun doesnt set behind the arch but the cliffs look beautiful in the glowing light. You can try chocolate buttons for free as you enter and then browse the massive selection of treats including lots of unusual flavours. We stayed in one of the modern, luxury cottages at Anchors at Port Campbellon a farm a few kilometres inland from Port Campbell. Beach. RACQ's Trip Planner allows you to find places, get directions or plan your next road trip.
open-ended. Relax and unwind in the seaside town of Lorne, attracting visitors for more than a century with its easy Mediterranean feel and charming scenery.
DAY 1 Drive: Melbourne > Geelong > Lorne (2-2.5 HRS) It's time to head out! If youre a hiker more than a surfer, youll be in for a treat with theSurf Coast Walk 44km of trails that connect Torquay toAngelseaandAireys Inletalong the coast. Itll take longer than you think due to the many curves and places youll want to stop to take a photo or visit an attraction. Its a lovely place for a short stroll. From there you could continue the loop back down to the Great Ocean Road via Lavers Hill. If youre looking to do a bit of waterfall chasing, this is a great place to find them! At the end of your Great Ocean Road itinerary, you can leave Port Fairy andhead back towards Melbourneon the M8 National highway to take on your next series of Aussie fun.
By the time we arrived it was pouring with rain, so we didnt see much and just had lunch at The Bottle of Milk.
Picking up and dropping off the car was quick and easy, and they are near Queen Victoria Market where you can pick up supplies for the trip.
If you are wondering the best direction to drive the Great Ocean Road, I recommend driving it from east to west, starting in Torquay. Stop 3 Otway Harvest Trail
We had 4 nights and 4.5 days on the road trip and it was a good amount of time to see the Great Ocean Road highlights, although we could easily have spent longer. From the car park its a short walk to a viewpoint of the beach surrounded by cliffs. Back on the Great Ocean Road, the next section is quite different as it follows a more inland route and alternates sections through the forest with vibrant green rolling hills and farmland with fields of cows and sheep.
You can drive the entire length of the Great Ocean Road in one long day (about 8 hours return), but we recommend splitting the journey up into a few days.
Looking for ideas for more destinations within driving distance of Melbourne? What is a partial cave, archway and blowhole, The Grotto is definitely something to marvel at. nev-tagAustralianev-tagMelbournenev-tagVictoria Erin, Heading on a road trip along the Great Ocean Road soon, so great article to read. You have to walk down 400 steps to get to the beach where you can see the remains of shipwrecks. Required fields are marked *. The inland route via Ballarat and Bordertown is faster, but the Great Ocean Road is an incredible experience.
Despite the name, there are only seven stacks (there were eight when they named it). They have cheaper compact cars and you can drive the route in any vehicle. Quest Warrnambool is the perfect place to do just that. If you are on a budget, the cheapest way to do a Great Ocean Road Trip is by camping. to double check the weather. Anyone remember the 90s TV show Round the Twist? The homemade scones and vegetarian korma pie were delicious, and the cakes looked tempting.
. The gas log fire kept us warm. Stay the night in Warrnambool or head back towards Melbourne. Split Point Lighthouse is still a functioning lighthouse, so you can only go inside on a tour. Do allocate as much time as you can, thoughits a gorgeous part of the world with plenty to see.
You can then drive back to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road route and choose the stops you are most interested in. After passing through Port Campbell, youll pass by The Arch and London Bridge. We had lunch and found the vegetarian options a bit limited if you didnt want cheese, but the food gets good reviews from meat-eaters. We personally stayed there when we travelled across Australia, and highly recommend it. We also walked to the Gibson Steps, which took 15 minutes each way (you can also drive but parking is limited). Have a great time. There are striking cliffs and rock formations, easy coastal walks, and interesting history. This gives you the opportunity to see the quieter countryside inland of vibrant rolling hills and farmlandyou could almost be in England.
Kennett River is known as one of the best spots on the Great Ocean Road to see koalas, and it didnt disappoint. If you have limited time you could skip this one (we preferred London Bridge), but its only a quick stop. Take in the beauty of the 12 Apostles. Reserve your spot here. Plan your journey with our route planner. All prices quotes below are in Australian dollars. For a view worth getting out of the comfort of your car for, your next stop is Point Roadknight in Anglesea. This lookout gives you the chance to see right out to sea and over the entire city. Each cottage feels very private and has outstanding ocean views. Train operators. We visited in early spring (mid-September) and while we werent going to do any swimming, it was good walking weather. If possible, I recommend driving yourself and spending at least two nights on the road. You can tackle the Great Ocean Road in one long day, or break it up over a few days, which is what we suggest doing. The Twelve Apostles are by far the most famous sight on the Great Ocean Road.
Its a fairly steep climb back up to the car park where there are toilets. Thats how were going to structure this post for you. 5 Day Great Ocean Road Itinerary (Our Route), Where to Stay in Apollo Bay: Points South by the Sea, Where to Stay in Port Campbell: Anchors at Port Campbell, Search for more options in Port Campbell here, Check the latest prices of Anchors on Vrbo. Visit 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge. Or you can take the scenic route via the Great Ocean Road - it'll take you a lot longer and you'll probably want to break the trip up by staying a night or two or three along the way - but the scenery is worth it and there's so much to do along the way. At Timboon Railway Shed Distillery you can do whisky tastings and tours, but its worth a visit even if you dont sample their wares.
What used to be a swamp was reclaimed and turned into these pretty gardens in 1858. David & Marg. Simon had a reusable coffee cup but wished hed had a larger flask for our early start at Twelve Apostles (the kiosk there doesnt open until 10am).
3.1 Set off from Melbourne early 3.2 Stop in Torquay 3.3 Visit Bells Beach 3.4 Great Ocean Road sign 3.5 Stop in Lorne for lunch 3.6 Erskine Falls 3.7 Sunset at the Twelve Apostles 3.8 Sleep in Apollo Bay 4 Great Ocean Road itinerary - Day 2 4.1 Hopetoun Falls 4.2 Triplet Falls 4.3 Otway Fly Treetop Adventures 4.4 Gibson Steps 4.5 Loch Ard Gorge
At night we loved snuggling on the comfy couch by the fireplace.
Your email address will not be published. Another worthwhile detour on the way to Port Campbell is Wreck Beach, but we didnt have the energy to stop. Despite staying close to Apollo Bay, we loved our cottage so much that we didnt visit the town until our way out. Dinner, stay over night. The quieter location meant we could really enjoy the natural beauty of the area.
One of the best things to do on the Great Ocean Road is going out for a paddle at some of the most famous surf beaches in Australia. Many people also continue inland to the Grampians National Park, a fantastic hiking and wildlife location, before returning to Melbourne via the old gold mining town of Ballarat.
They are impossibly cute and fluffy and we couldnt quite believe they were real. Journey Time: 5 minutes from Bay of Martyrs (20 minutes back to Port Campbell)Stop Time: 20 minutes.
What to expect Surf at world-famous Bells Beach.
Dinner, stay over night Friday 7am-Leave Lorne 9am- Arrive Barwon heads for sky dive then head back to Melbourne CBD, drop car off in city 2pm Check into hotel Sat & Sun
Youll also find theAustralian Surfing Hall of Famehere as well. While all the cottages have superb views, I recommend requesting Cottage 1 as it has the best views down to Cape Patton. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the Stevenson Falls, Triplet Falls, Little Aire Falls, andHopetoun Fallsare just a few of the many highlights here. most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. For more trail information in Great Otway National Park, visit thiswebsite. Get detailed, easy-to-follow driving or walking directions. The sun wasnt quite high enough to illuminate the stacks, but an hour later it was, and there were even fewer people around.
Find local inspiration and start planning your next road trip with our simple interactive journey planner. We walked all of the trails except for the furthest section between Broken Head and Sherwood Estuary and walked a total of 6km (3.7 miles).
Having your own vehicle is highly recommended so you can really explore all the things to see on the Great Ocean Road, as it really is one of the Australias top destinations. Again thank you. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 12:30 pmdrive for about 51 minutes, 1:22 pm Jan Juc Along the way be sure to stop off at one of the small towns for a late afternoon-snack or coffee, or you can take a detour up to Ballarat for the night to learn about the gold rush. We did not want to leave, but Port Campbell made a much more convenient base for exploring the Twelve Apostles and surrounding attractionswere glad we had a full day and two nights here.
stay for about 1 hour and leave at 2:22 pmdrive for about 15 minutes, 2:37 pm Great Ocean Road by calculating the distance from Melbourne to Lorne. Journey Time: 10 minutes from Port CampbellStop Time: 1 hour 25 minutes. 8am-fly in, pick up car, drive to 12 apostles (inland route) 12.30- visit 12 Apostles, lunch ect, 2.30-Back on the road 5- Arrive at Lorne. You need to head down to the lower viewing platform to appreciate it, which is a 700-metre return walk with stairs from the car park. Lorne is one of the most popular towns on a Great Ocean Road Trip. Happy travels. Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Melbourne to Lorne.
English . We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products, and regularly review these. The Twelve Apostles are reached by a five-minute walk from the car park, where theres also a visitor centre, toilets, and a kiosk (which doesnt open until 10am). ThePort FairyBotanical Gardensare a lovely spot for an afternoon walk and to admire the plants and flowers. If you only have time for one, follow the 900-metre-return Geology walk to the left of the car park which takes you to The Razorback, a massive rock formation. The trip from Adelaide to Melbourne takes around 8 hours if you go the inland route.
document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Built in honour of the 3,000 soldiers who worked on this stretch of road after WWI, there is now also a sculpture there to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the arch. Im glad we bought plenty of food (and wine) as we did not want to go out for dinner. We saw an adorable mother and baby koala! However, Loch Ard Gorge is still a stunning place for a swim. The road up into the forest is even windier than the coastal route and narrow in parts.
Theres also a small but well-equipped kitchen, a balcony with table and chairs, and a bathroom with an excellent shower and a spa bath with a view. Other lunch options are Movida which was recommended to us for tapas or The Swingbridge Cafe is right on the beach. One of the best walking tracks to visit here isMelba Gulleywhich is full of gorgeous giant fern trees and home to glow worm caves, which are best seen after dark.
We were also planning to stop at Teddys Lookout on the way out of town, but visibility was so low we didnt bother. Languages. Other good breaks in addition to Bells Beach includeSan Juc, Winki Pop, Bird RockandSparrowsjust to name a few. Simon loved the cheese and vegetable pasty. Its rather a touristy experience as the tour buses stop here and the cafe sells bird feedthe colourful parrots are so tame they hop all over the tourists. and answers related to Lorne. Seeingthe Twelve Apostlesfor yourself should be at the top of your Australian Bucket list, no matter the weather. Lorne is made for lunches. These unique and adorable local animals call this spot home and have been known to use the lake as a nesting ground when having babies so best to keep your eyes peeled. We have been travelling the world together since 2008, with a passion for adventure travel and sustainable tourism. We chose to drive back from Port Campbell to Melbourne via the inland route (3 hours) rather than continue on for the final section of the Great Ocean Road that ends just before Warrnambool.
