Victoria - Australia 2004 - page 577

2 The Great Ocean Road: One of the World's Most
Scenic Drives ™
Geelong: 75km (47 miles) SW of Melbourne; Torquay: 94km (58 miles) SW of Melbourne; Port Campbell
National Park: 285km (177 miles) SW of Melbourne; Peterborough: 200km (124 miles) SW of Melbourne
The Great Ocean Road—which hugs the coast from Torquay, and onwards
through Anglesea, Lorne, Apollo Bay, and Port Campbell, until it ends at Peter-
borough—is one of Australia's most spectacular drives. The scenery along the
106km (66-mile) route includes huge cliffs, ocean vistas, beaches, rainforests,
and some incredible rock formations. The settlements along the highway are
small, but they offer a number of accommodations choices.
The best way to travel along the Great Ocean Road is to drive yourself at a
leisurely pace, stopping off wherever your fancy takes you. The main attractions
are in the coastal Port Campbell National Park, so don't be surprised if you're
not overly impressed until you get there. If you are traveling on to Adelaide, you
could stop off for 1 night along the Great Ocean Road, and spend another night
in the Coorong in South Australia (see section 5, “The Coorong,” in chapter 10).
ESSENTIALS
ORGANIZED TOURS Melbourne Sightseeing ( & 03/9663 3388 ) offers a
bus trip featuring the highlights of the Great Ocean Road. Buses leave from
Melbourne daily at 8:15am and return at 8:30pm—a journey I wouldn't like to
attempt in a day. Tours cost A$97 (US$63) for adults—A$54 (US$35) if you
have a YHA card—and A$49 (US$32) for children. The trip can be stretched
out over 2 days with overnight accommodations; the price for the overnight trip
ranges between A$136 and A$170 (US$88-US$111) depending on where you
stay. Grayline Sightseeing Tours ( & 03/9663 4455 ) also has daily trips that
cost A$102 (US$66) for adults and A$51 (US$33) for children.
Another option worth considering is a 2-day excursion with Let's Go Bush
Tours ( & 03/9662 3969 ), which departs Melbourne every Wednesday and Sat-
urday. The trip is less rushed than others, and you get to stay in the company's
own house situated on the highest point of the Great Ocean Road. The trip costs
A$99 (US$64), including dinner, breakfast, and accommodations.
Wild-Life Tours ( & 1300/650 288 or 03/9747 1882; www.wildlifetours.com.
au) offers a 3-day Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne, including a visit to
The Grampians, for A$135 (US$88). The company also offers a 2-day trip from
Melbourne to Adelaide along the Great Ocean Road for A$129 (US$84) one-
way. Prices do not include accommodations or food. Inquire about discounts.
V/Line ( & 13 61 96 in Victoria, or 03/9619 5000) runs a combined train/
coach Coast Link service to Warrnambool, via Geelong, Lorne, Apollo Bay, and
Port Campbell. The train leaves Melbourne daily at 8:50am, and 12:40 and
6:08pm—but check before turning up—and then you transfer onto a bus at
Geelong. The bus tours the Great Ocean Road, stopping off at lookout points
(and for lunch) and then carries on to Warrnambool. The round-trip cost is
A$80 (US$52) for adults and A$39 (US$23) for children. Ask about family-
saver fares.
VISITOR INFORMATION Most places along the route have their own
information centers. If you're coming from Melbourne, stop at the Geelong &
Great Ocean Road Visitors Centre, Stead Park, Princess Highway, Geelong, VIC
3220 ( & and fax [phone]; www.greatoceanrd.org.au). You can book
accommodations here, which you should do in advance, especially in summer.