Day 1: MELBOURNE
Spend Day in Melbourne at your leisure. Be sure to take in Chapel Street - fashion capital of Australia, discover rows of cafes along the Yarra Rivar at Southgate or enjoy a close-up encounter with sharks, stingrays, sea turtles and schools of colourful fish at the Melbourne Aquarium.
Overnight in Geelong
Day 2: GEELONG - BELLARINE PENINSULA
Geelong is packed with places to go and things to do. The city's cultural precinct includes one of Australia's best regional art galleries and modern live performance theatres. The waterfront is home to another major live theatre, housed within the university's city campus, and a discovery centre that documents the local history of one of the world's largest car-makers. Sport, too, figures high on the list, especially Aussie rules.
The Bellarine Peninsula is one of Victoria's most picturesque regions and a fun place to visit at anytime. Combining the best of bay, ocean and hinterland, the Peninsula has been a favourite with visitors for more than 100 years. Swim, surf, snorkel, dive, fish, play golf, relax with a good book … it's all part of the fabulous Bellarine Peninsula experience. Add friendly people and quaint villages, and you have the perfect holiday destination.
Overnight in Queenscliff
Day 3: APOLLO BAY - CAPE OTWAY
Apollo Bay nestles into the picturesque green foothills of the Otway Ranges. On the way to discovering this "paradise by the sea", you'll experience some of the Great Ocean Road's best scenery and the smaller holiday hamlets of Cumberland River, Wye River, Kennett River and Skenes Creek.
Rugged Cape Otway and surrounding areas contain some of the Great Ocean Road's most dramatic and awe-inspiring coastal and rainforest scenery. The cape is the most southerly point on the road and only a short drive from Apollo Bay. Sitting on the point of the cape is one of Australia's oldest lighthouses. Much of the cape also is a national park protecting unspoilt coastline, rainforest and a range of native animals. Head on back to Apollo Bay.
Overnight in Apollo Bay
Day 4: PORT CAMPBELL
While the coast is a must-see at anytime of year, it's at its peak when howling winds and huge Southern Ocean seas are giving it a pounding. Blowholes roar with spouting water and the sea boils around the stacks and cliff bases.
The mighty 12 Apostles are world-recognised icons of the Great Ocean Road. These giant rock stacks soar from the swirling waters of the Southern Ocean and are a central feature of the spectacular Port Campbell National Park that extends from Princetown to Peterborough.
The dramatic and imposing limestone cliffs that are the backdrop to the Apostles tower up to 70 metres, while the tallest of the rock stacks is around 45 metres high.
Overnight in Port Campbell
Day 5: WARRNAMBOOL
Few places can boast such a beautiful location as Warrnambool. Nestled into the rising contour of the coast amid green dairying countryside, the city overlooks the deep blue of the powerful Southern Ocean. On the shores of Lady Bay, the city has marvellous beaches on its doorstep, a thriving arts and events scene, offers fascinating coastal walks and idyllic rivers, one with cascading falls (Hopkins Falls).
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum is the ideal starting point for an exploration of Warrnambool and the Shipwreck Coast. The entire region is rich in maritime history, stemming from the days when passage by sea was the only form of access to the area.
Over 160 ships are believed to have come to grief along the Shipwreck Coast, with much of this history recounted in detail at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum, located in Merri Street, Warrnambool.
Overnight in Warrnambool
Day 6: PORT FAIRY - PORTLAND
Beautiful Port Fairy, one of Victoria's oldest ports, has retained much of its colonial architecture. You can discover more about this fascinating place by wandering its historic streets and around the harbour on the Moyne River where the local fishing fleet shelters. The town has safe swimming beaches, excellent walks and boasts a thriving arts and crafts community, with many galleries and studios to visit.
A scenic 400-metre walk to the eastern tip of Griffiths Island leads to the historic Port Fairy lighthouse, erected in 1859. The 11-metre bluestone tower - built by Scottish stone masons - stands over the rugged rocky shore where the Southern Ocean breaks.
Portland offers visitors a wealth of opportunities to explore rugged landscapes, discover a colourful history, get back to nature, surf some great waves, hoist a sail in a brisk wind, catch a fish, wander historic streets, dine on great food, or just relax and enjoy. Portland has beaches for swimming, surfing and other water-based activities, a fascinating waterfront, lighthouses and nearby towns to explore.
Overnight in Portland
Link up with South Australia Gourmet Food & Wine Tour
Link up with Victoria Grampians Tour
Or return to Melbourne back along the Great Ocean Road (it's worth another look!) |
