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Great Ocean Road Discovery

from £789 excluding flights

  • 7 nights
  • Year round
Home Destinations Australasia Australia Great Ocean Road Discovery

Highlights

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See the Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road

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Explore the rainforests of Great Otway National Park

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Discover beaches, sand dunes and epic coastal scenery

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Keep an eye out for koalas & kangaroos

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Explore fishing villages and working harbours

Why this trip...

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Explore at leisure

With the route, transport and accommodation sorted, each day offers the freedom to explore

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Tailor made

This itinerary can be tailor made to suit you and is intended to give you a guideline of what is possible in a given timeframe

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Stay in great locations

This holiday features accommodation in incredible locations

Overview

The Great Ocean Road is undoubtedly one of Australia’s most popular and scenic driving routes. Natural highlights include the Twelve Apostles, London Bridge and Elephant Rock.

This self-drive itinerary incorporates overnight stays at a number of the coast’s charming towns and villages, each with its own unique history to share. Learn about the early whaling bases, the frenzied goldrush of the 1850s, and the dramatic maritime history of this treacherous stretch of coast, or search for the region’s current inhabitants, including wallabies and penguins. Numerous highlights await, but the greatest of these will be the breathtaking backdrop of one of the most spectacular coastal drives in the world.

On arrival in Melbourne you will be met and transferred to your city centre hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

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Pick up your rental car and commence your drive via Lorne to Apollo Bay, a scenic little fishing port boasting some magnificent beaches. There are two museums in town, the Bass Strait Shell Museum which features a huge display of shells from all around the world, along with information on shipwrecks that have occurred off this treacherous coastline, and the Historical Museum which has thousands of photographs showcasing the area’s shipping history. A steep and narrow road will take you to Mariners Lookout east of town, where a short walk leads to spectacular views of the township and the coastline.

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Spend the day exploring Cape Otway at your leisure. A short drive from Apollo Bay, the Otway Ranges and Otway National Park offer desne rainforest, thunderous waterfalls and lush fern gullies. Take a treetop walk along the Otway Fly for breathtaking views or visit mainland Australia’s oldest lighthouse at Cape Otway. The Cape Otway Lightstation was built in 1848 and perches 90 metres above the Bass Strait. It is fondly nicknamed the ‘Beacon of Hope’.

Continue west along the Great Ocean Road to Port Fairy. Today you’ll discover the region’s best known natural attractions – the iconic rock formations of the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge which stand just offshore as you approach Port Campbell. Further along the coast at Warrnambool is a clifftop viewing platform which offers excellent whale watching opportunities. Between late May and August each year, southern right whales return from Antarctica to give birth here at a spot known as Logans Beach Whale Nursery. Travel on to Port Fairy, a seaside resort and fishing port at the mouth of the Moyne River, for an overnight stay.

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Follow the coast road via Portland to Mt Gambier – you may choose to detour to visit Mt Richmond National Park, or the spectacular seascapes of Cape Nelson. Mt Gambier is located on the slopes of an extinct volcano and has two famous attractions, the Blue Lake and the Cave in the centre of the city. The lake is famous for its change of colour from winter grey to intense blue in November each year. It remains blue until late March, and aside from its beauty, is the city’s source of domestic water.

Depart Mt. Gambier along the Princes Highway to the town of Millicent, from where you can make your way back to the coast for the scenic drive to Robe. The Port of Robe was originally founded in 1847 and gradually grew, exporting wool and horses. Nearby Little Dip Conservation Park, 4km to the south, is well worth a visit.

Follow the road along the edge of Coorong National Park and through the prolific wine-producing regions of McLaren Vale and Hahndorf. If time permits you may like to detour to Mt. Lofty, from where you can enjoy views over Adelaide before making your way into the city for an overnight stay.

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Your Great Ocean Road adventure ends today as you return your rental car and depart Adelaide.

Accommodation Options

With a wide choice of accommodation in Australia, we can mix and match different grades and styles to suit your personal preference – from hotels, motels and self-catering apartments to boutique B&Bs and idyllic lodges in stunning locations.

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Prices and Departures

Price from £789 excluding flights

Airfares start from around £730 per person and are quoted separately to the holiday price. When enquiring, our Travel Specialists will provide the best fare possible from your preferred airline / airport.
Note: Airfares tend to be cheaper the earlier you book.

What's Included

  • Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
  • Car rental throughout
  • Arrival transfer from airport to hotel
  • 24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
  • No surcharge guarantee
  • Full financial protection

This itinerary starts from £789 per person, based on 2 sharing a room in standard accommodation, and vehicle rental with GPS.

Prices may vary depending on departure date, or should you prefer alternative categories of accommodation or vehicle size. Please contact us for a detailed quote based on your preferred travel dates, vehicle category and style of accommodation, or to tailor this itinerary.

Tailor made trips

As independent destination specialists, we are able to tailor make holidays to suit you, be that customising the itineraries shown on this website or creating something bespoke.

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Travelling sustainably

We believe travel is about finding the right balance between minimising our impact on the environment and broadening minds through new experiences and cultural interaction.