{"id":25276,"date":"2013-07-31T17:04:02","date_gmt":"2013-07-31T07:04:02","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/?p=25276"},"modified":"2020-05-21T14:18:59","modified_gmt":"2020-05-21T04:18:59","slug":"melbourne-and-the-great-ocean-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/melbourne-and-the-great-ocean-road\/","title":{"rendered":"Road trippin’: Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Beginning in one of Australia\u2019s trendiest cultural hubs, this road trip will take you down the Victorian East Coast to the famous Twelve Apostles and Port Fairy, and then back again to finish off with a coffee on Degraves Street. Oh so Melbourne!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Stats:<\/strong><\/p>\n

5 days \/ 4 nights<\/p>\n

Drive distance = 664kms<\/p>\n

Travel time = Just under 9 hours<\/p>\n

Key roads = M1, B100<\/p>\n

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Day One \u2013 Geelong, Torquay & Lorne<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Pick up your wheels<\/a> in Melbourne (Tullamarine or the CBD), bundle in your road trip mates and hit the road.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re going to need some great sing-a-long tunes for the drive ahead. Scroll to the bottom of the itinerary to find the lastminute lovelies\u2019 Spotify<\/a> playlist of today\u2019s hottest indie hits.<\/p>\n

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Let\u2019s go!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Begin with an easy drive along the M1<\/strong> to Geelong, Victoria\u2019s second largest city. Just one hour from the CBD, Geelong is home to some great cafes and waterfront parks. Take advantage by stopping in at Cafe Go<\/a> on Bellerine Street and filling your tummy with hot coffee and delicious brekkie. (We recommend the Persian eggs with Meredith goats\u2019 cheese and dukkah. Yuuuuum!) Then wander on down to Eastern Beach and take some snaps of the quirky bay walk bollards that call Geelong home. There are over 100 bollards installed along Geelong\u2019s waterfront that chronicle the city\u2019s past and present, including lifesavers and footballers.<\/p>\n

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Next stop is Torquay, approximately 30 minutes south of Geelong along the B100<\/strong> (Great Ocean Road), and home to the famous Bells Beach. Find a park and get into your cossies because you\u2019re going to be experiencing Bells Beach first hand with a two hour surfing lesson<\/a>. Catering for amateurs and pros, the lesson will be taken by a fully qualified instructor who will teach you the ins and outs of how to ride the perfect wave, man.<\/p>\n\"<\/a>\n

After your surfing lesson, jump in the car, pop on some tunes and continue along the B100<\/strong> (GOR) to Lorne. This leg of the drive will take you along the beautiful coast, past Anglesea, Fairhaven and Aireys Inlet. Make sure you pull over in at least one of these suburbs and appreciate the view. These spots are great for seeing wildlife, including kangaroos and seals who are soaking up the sun, so keep your eyes peeled.<\/p>\n

Lastminute lovely Louise raved about her stay at Mantra Lorne<\/a>. Read her review here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Book a Lorne hotel<\/a><\/p>\n

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Day Two \u2013 Erskine Falls, Cape Otway, Port Campbell<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Good morning! Lorne has some pretty special eateries located on the main strip. We suggest heading to Ovenhouse<\/a>, situated in the main cafe area, for some great brekkie options that will put some oomph into your morning.<\/p>\n

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Kick back and relax, go for a swim, and take in the surroundings before pulling on your runners because Erskine Falls is on the agenda and it\u2019s quite a climb. A short drive from the centre of Lorne, the hike will take around three hours and you\u2019ll cover 15 kilometres (round trip). Once you reach the falls, the somewhat arduous clambering will be worth it, with spectacular views of Erskine Falls cascading over one of the highest drops in the Great Otway National Park.<\/p>\n

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Upon completion, your next stop is Apollo Bay. Just under an hour away, Apollo Bay is an easy drive further along the coast. Like Lorne, Apollo Bay is close to the Otway National Park. Why not take a walk through the canopy of the rainforest, along the Otway Fly Treetop Walk<\/a>? It\u2019s a must-do if you want to experience the rainforest from above and meet some friendly forest inhabitants.<\/p>\n

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Next up, Port Campbell is on the schedule, so get some food in your belly and get ready for a drive. Home to the famous Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell is less than two hours away, but take it slow to appreciate the full experience.<\/p>\n

Once you arrive, it\u2019s probably just about night time so check into a hotel in Port Campbell\u2019s centre and get a good night\u2019s rest. Sweet dreams!<\/p>\n

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Book a Port Campbell hotel<\/a><\/p>\n

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Day Three \u2013 Port Campbell & The Twelve Apostles, Bay of Islands Coastal Park, Port Fairy<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Up and at ’em! Get ready to spend some serious sight-seeing time in Port Campbell National Park. Within the National Park you\u2019ll find tourist sites that include Loch Ard Gorge and of course, the jewel in the crown of Port Campbell, the Twelve Apostles.<\/p>\n

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Take some snaps and spend a moment appreciating your jaw-dropping surrounds. All of the sites can be seen within a few hours.<\/p>\n

When you\u2019ve taken more photos than you thought possible, set your sights on Port Fairy, a small coastal town located just over one hour away along the Great Ocean Road. Keep an eye out because you\u2019ll head straight past the beautiful Bay of Islands coastal park, a 32 kilometre long reserve that\u2019s home to secluded beaches, rock stacks, red limestone cliffs and plenty of animal life. Stop here for a while to appreciate the park\u2019s lush offerings.<\/p>\n

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Next up: Port Fairy. A charming fishing village, Port Fairy boasts wide streets lined with 19th century cottages, great Norfolk pines and old stone churches.<\/p>\n

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There are plenty of things to do in Port Fairy, including getting some fresh air and walking around the stunning conservation area, checking out the busy fishing port and taste testing the local cafes. Rebecca\u2019s Cafe & Ice Cream Shop<\/a> is a must-visit.<\/p>\n

Rest your weary head this evening at a Port Fairy hotel. Clonmara Bed & Breakfast<\/a> is one to track down for some classic country-style sleeping and home-style dining.<\/p>\n

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Want to sample more of Port Fairy’s accommodation gems? We don’t blame you. Find more Port Fairy hotels here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Day four\/five \u2013 Melbourne<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Today you\u2019ll embark on a drive back to Melbourne on the A1<\/strong> motorway.<\/p>\n

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Make some stops along the way for great roadside eateries and sights including the Colac Botanic Gardens and the Winchelsea Tea Rooms & Cafe<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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When in Melbourne, make sure to eat some fantastic food<\/a>, drink some great coffee<\/a> and spend a few hours checking out the shops. Head to Chapel Street for a range of great boutique stores, to Bridge Road for outlet shopping, or to Bourke Street for a combination of the two. Either way, you\u2019ll be able to scratch your shopping itch.<\/p>\n

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Day one not enough? Book yourself into a Melbourne hotel<\/a> and spread the Melbourne love over two days. lastminute.com.au lovely Nicole highly recommends The Olsen<\/a> in South Yarra and the Novotel<\/a> in the CBD. Check out her reviews for foodie tips and things to see and do!<\/p>\n

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You’ve got to be in it to win it! Get entering here.<\/a><\/h3>\n