Itinerary
Day 1: Melbourne - Port Campbell
Stop At: The Great Ocean Road, Great Ocean Road, Torquay, Victoria 3231 Australia
The Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage listed 243-kilometre stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Allansford.
Duration: 18 hours
Pass By: Kennet River Koala Walk, Grey River Road, Kennett River, Victoria 3234 Australia
A whistle stop to spot a Koala - Have your cameras at the ready!!
Pass By: Blanket Bay Road, Cape Otway, Great Otway National Park, Victoria 3221 Australia
Great Otway National Park is in southern Victoria, Australia. It covers rugged coastland, beaches and the mountains of the Otway Ranges. Waterfalls dot the park, including the 3 cascades of Triplet Falls. Boardwalks lead through temperate rainforest at Maits Rest. The 1848 Cape Otway Lightstation perches on cliffs overlooking Bass Strait. Great Ocean Walk leads through the park to the Twelve Apostles rock formations.
Pass By: Great Ocean Road and Beyond, Melbourne, Victoria Australia
The Great Ocean Road is divided into three distinct sections, the Surf Coast, Otway Ranges and the Shipwreck Coast.
We allow ample time to explore all three sections. We start the journey along the Great Ocean Road at Torquay (Surf Coast). This stretch of coast presents the first of countless photo opportunities, as we encounter stunning coastal views and lookouts and visit such places as the famous Bells Beach. Turn your gaze inland and see incredible native Australian wildlife including the Eastern Grey Kangaroos as they graze in the wild.
Our journey continues as we travel the impressive and scenic cliff-hugging section of the Great Ocean Road.
The itinerary includes visiting sites such as the ‘Memorial Arch’ and hear the intriguing story of this incredible road, before arriving in Lorne, the largest of the seaside townships with its abundance of shops, breath in that sea air as we stop for a stroll and photographs.
From Lorne, we continue along this spectacular road, and the Wye river region where we stop for lunch at the Wye River Cafe which overlooks the sea. Once lunch is done we continue along this iconic road visiting many scenic spots including The Kennett River where you can spot koalas and many colourful native birds in the wild. Travel through Apollo Bay and into the Great Otway National Park (Otway Ranges). Here we offer a guided walk through a cool temperate rainforest gully to see the world’s tallest flowering plants, prehistoric trees and ferns and many other unique features.
Our next stop on the itinerary is undoubtedly one of the most iconic vistas within Australia and truly representative of Australia’s natural beauty, the 12 Apostles.
We arrive as the stacks are bathed in the afternoon sun making them perfect for photos. After hearing of the creation of the stacks and holding some of the limestone rock, explore the boardwalks or brave a helicopter flight along the coastline (at own expense). Visit ‘Loch Ard Gorge’, the site of the most famous 19th century Australian shipwreck.
Accommodation for the first night is the small fishing village of Port Campbell, nestled in a beautiful natural port and has some wonderful cafés and restaurants for dinner (at own expense) and views.
Accommodation: Southern Ocean Villas (or similar)
Meals: Lunch
Stop At: Great Ocean Road Memorial Archway, Great Ocean Rd 689/721 Great Ocean Rd, Lorne, Victoria Australia
The Memorial Arch makes for a great first stop as we begin our journey as it marks the start of the Great Ocean Road. Our guests love to capture the start of their Great Ocean Road and Beyond adventure with a photo. The arch was built in 1939, to commemorate the returned Soldiers of World War 1 who famously built the Great Ocean Road. In 1983 the original arch had to be replaced when bush fires set it ablaze however the original sign still sits on the top of the arch, for all to see.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Blanket Bay Road, Cape Otway, Great Otway National Park, Victoria 3221 Australia
Walk in a temporate rain forest - The Great Otway National Park stretches from Torquay through to Princetown and up through the Otways hinterland towards Colac. The park features rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, rock platforms and windswept heathland. In the north, the park features tall forests, ferny gullies, magnificent waterfalls and tranquil lakes.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Lunch: Enjoy lunch at the Wye River cafe overlooking the ocean
Accommodation included: Southern Ocean Villas / PArk View Apartments Port Campbell
Day 2: Port Campbell - Port Fairy
Stop At: Loch Ard Gorge, Great Ocean Road Port Campbell National Park, Victoria 3269 Australia
Walk down on to the beach of Loch Ard Gorge, dip your toes in the water and snap some fabulous photos! Loch Ard Gorge is named after the clipper ship Loch Ard which ran aground nearby
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: London Bridge, west of Port Campbell on Great Ocean Road, Port Campbell, Victoria 3269 Australia
Originally named because of its similarities to its namesake -London Bridge is an offshore natural arch formation in the Port Campbell National Park, Australia. The arch is a significant tourist attraction along the Great Ocean Road near Port Campbell in Victoria. This stack was formed by a gradual process of erosion, and until 1990 formed a complete double-span natural bridge.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road & Booringa Road, Port Campbell, Victoria 3269 Australia
Beat the crowds!! Our tour itinerary allows guests to visit these iconic stacks bathed in the morning sunlight. Their colours are spectacular - Cameras ready!
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, 105 Lake View Rd, Tower Hill, Victoria 3283 Australia
Amazing Aboriginal Interpretation, bush tucker, Australian wildlife and boomerang throwing. A real highlight of our Great Ocean Road and beyond tour.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: The Port Fairy & Region Visitor Information Centre, 4 Bank St Railway Place, Port Fairy, Victoria 3284 Australia
Port Fairy is a coastal town in south-western Victoria, Australia. It lies on the Princes Highway in the Shire of Moyne, 28 kilometres west of Warrnambool and 290 kilometres west of Melbourne, at the point where the Moyne River enters the Southern Ocean
Duration: 14 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast: Enjoy Breakfast at the Alcove Cafe - top quality food, lots of choice and real country town hospitality
• Lunch: Enjoy a wonderful picnic lunch at Tower Hill reserve
Accommodation included: Victoria Apartments - Port Fairy
Beautiful 4 star en suite accommodation
Day 3: Port Fairy - Naraccorte
Stop At: The Blue Lake, John Watson Drive, Mount Gambier, South Australia 5290 Australia
The Blue Lake is a large, monomictic, crater lake located in a dormant volcanic maar associated with the Mount Gambier maar complex. The lake is situated near Mount Gambier in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia, and is one of four crater lakes on Mount Gambier maar.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Umpherston Sinkhole, Jubilee Highway East, Mount Gambier, South Australia 5290 Australia
Created in 1886, this sunken garden includes viewing platforms, benches, sculptures & walking paths.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Petticoat Lane, Penola, South Australia 5277 Australia
A Hidden treasure this unique corner of Penola, Petticoat Lane still retains original cottages and gardens enabling the visitor to experience the 19th Century .
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Mary Mackillop Heritage Centre, 362 Albert St, Melbourne, Victoria 3002 Australia
A place of inspiration and vitality, manifests and promotes the spirit and charism of Saint Mary MacKillop, Australia's first Saint
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast: Rebecca's Cafe - Top quality produce, lots of choice and real country town hospitality
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Accommodation included: William MacIntosh Motor Lodge
Day 4: Naracoorte - Adelaide
Stop At: Naracoorte Caves National Park, 89 Wonambi Rd, Naracoorte SA 5271, Australia
Naracoorte Caves National Park is a national park near Naracoorte in the Limestone Coast tourism region in the south-east of South Australia. It was officially recognised in 1994 for its extensive fossil record when the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List,
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Bremerton Wines, 14 Kent Town Rd, Langhorne Creek SA 5255, Australia
Bremerton Wines & Bremerton Vineyards are part of the Willson family owned company, Bremerton Vintners Pty Ltd, in the geographical region of Langhorne Creek in South Australia. Langhorne Creek is unique in that it sits on the rich soil of the Bremer River flood plain and is known as a cool climate region, relatively disease free and a producer of exceptionally high and consistent quality fruit. Fresh cool evening breezes from Lake Alexandrina provide a microclimate of mild to warm summer days and cool evenings, perfect for the long ripening of the grapes producing intense and sought after cool climate flavours.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Coonalpyn Silos, Dukes Highway Viterra Silos, Coonalpyn, South Australia 5265 Australia
Simply spectacualar!! - The biggest works of art you will ever see!!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: The German Village Shop Hahndorf, 32 Mount Barker Rd, Hahndorf SA 5245, Australia
Hahndorf is a small town in South Australia. Settled by 19th-century Lutheran migrants, it’s known for its original German-style architecture and artisanal food. Hahndorf Academy is home to the German Migration Museum, tracing local history. North of town, the Cedars houses the studio and art of German-born landscape painter Sir Hans Heysen.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Mount Lofty Summit Road, Crafers, South Australia 5152 Australia
Catch your first glimpse of Adelaide from Adelaide's highest peak - Mount lofty Lookout
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Lunch: Enjoy a wonderful platter lunch in the Bremerton winery
• Breakfast: Relaxed start to the day with continental breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.