Australia: Adelaide to Melbourne via Great Ocean Road

[Boyboy]

I lived in Adelaide for 6 years and regularly drove to Melbourne and Sydney. Even the first time I took Great Ocean Road, I regretted. Too long and too windy and too slow. But if you like that sort of thing...

 

Hmm.. interesting comments. i'll probably like it the first time, unless got one long line of tour buses in front of me

 

i like driving up n down camerons, genting. but this is probably different. besides, i'll be driving a mitsubishi outlander. so CG rather high, better corner slowly

[Chickenbackside]

Well, think of Cameron, then times 1000. Like never ending. Both me and my then girlfriend got car sick during that drive. Even if there is no long line of tour buses, you can't drive anywhere near quick anyway. There are just so many turns, so you're essentially driving at average speeds of 40-50kmh for a LOOOOOOONG time, constantly turning.

 

Especially when you're driving back from Melbourne, you're tired and just want to get to your hotel ASAP. I would suggest making an overnight stop on Great Ocean Road to take a break from the never ending tiring bends, if you wanna visit the 12 Apostles. That's what I did subsequently and it was much much better.

Edited February 11, 2009 by Chickenbackside

[Hiphiphoray]

Ya, agree those bends are kindof never-ending. I think it should be ok for him. Driving from Melbourne to port campbell. Quite straight forward drive.

 

Among the coastal towns, apollo bay is the nicest.

 

I drove as far as Portland and Cape bridgewater b4 turning north to Grampians. Can see ending sheep farms.

 

The return trip from ballarat to melbourne is the most boring...........was so sick of driving by then!!!!

Edited February 11, 2009 by Hiphiphoray

[Kezg1]

 

 

 

You wouldn't know the different if I cut up the "joey" (young roos) just like beef steak and cook for U...hmmm....of coz must marinate first....tried it first hand,hunting in the town of Coonabarabran(NSW) private property.....

[Leclair]

GOR has great coastal views but a lot of curvy roads so driving is very siong and slow and may take longer than one thinks.

 

young kids tend to puke.

 

12 apostles was nice.

 

Grampiens was good too.

 

But 5 days seemed a bit short.

 

enjoy the trip

 

 

[Hiphiphoray]

i'll be driving a mitsubishi outlander. so CG rather high, better corner slowly

 

Good that you choose a big comfortable car.

 

I drove the Ford Terrority 3.8ltr back then. Monster car!!! haha.

[Turtlekar]

Done that ride before during my uni days...think was 7-8 yrs ago....rule of thumb, stay alert throughout....alot of time, ppl may say stop as and when required, but this ride...i would say quite tough....it's actually easier to do from melbourne coming down to the GOR....I remember very clearly during then when my friend and i took off from adelaide at abt 6 am in the morning, it tooks us like 4-5 hours to just reach the coast....siong....then we had to go through the forestation at some point, that is even nightmare if u are doing it near the winter as dayfall comes early.....there is no street light, just the tiny road reflector plus your headlight going through the forestation....very very tiring....reason is u have to go through at low speed and very busy with your steering wheel and as well as concentrating on the road looking out for the blinkers.....this is my nightmare....we had 3 drivers rotating, and it took us like 2 days 1 nite to touch melbourne geelong.....

 

coming back from melbourne, we took the M1 highway...that one is good....easy...relax but be careful of TP especially during night...cannot see at all....hahaha....cos i got one $200 ticket....enjoy your ride there and drive really really safe....

[Mj79]

Hi,

 

Any one being to the East of Melbourne to places like Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula?? Cheers

[Hiphiphoray]

East side, ive been to puffing billy train ride, sunny strawberry farm and taken the car ferry from sorrento to queenscliff.

 

Overnite at Frankston.

 

Edited March 6, 2009 by Hiphiphoray

[Robo]

planning to do GOR, Grampians and Philip Island. got a total of 10 days (9 full days) to play with.

 

1 nite apollo bay, 2 nites Port Campbell, 2 nites grampians, then either 2 nites philip island, one night melbourne, or the other way around. i think maybe one nite on philip island cos we shd have enuff of wildlife by then

 

wondering whether the horse riding at grampians or apollo bay is worth trying or not. another thing i'm interested in is Hot Air Balloon ride at the Grampians. Dun mind spending a bit more for the unique experience like some other bro who sit hot air balloon in turkey n posted pix

 

the rest of the trip, mainly sightseeing, some hiking and photography.

 

i also got garmin GPS maps for australia, but also bought paper maps to serve as a backup. I'm damn kayu with directions at times.

 

if u have 10 days in melbourne. i suggest no need to use so many days travelling. philips island u can take a day to finish. to and fro from city if i didnt remember wrong is less than 200km. den my gf stays in the suburban to and from is around 2hrs. so from city is another 2hrs max, leave after lunch, den go beach play. den go see penguin parade den drive back just nice.

 

grampians and portcambell quite near each other can be squeeze into 2 days.1 day in grampian and 1 day in port campbell. rest of the days go shopping. there is so many nice and big factory outlets there at super cheap price. bought a past season esprit shirt for just A$10. at night can go crowns and play play, weather cold just order some shots. all super cheap. less than $5.

 

u might wanna consider taking a 900km drive thru hume highway to sydney if u have the time and stamina. i didnt try before thou. but would love to try one day.

 

love melbourne super lots. think i might move there one day.

[Mj79]

Going for 8 full days to Melb.. Plan to go GOR, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island in the East in 2 months time.. Going into winter time but still not cold enough for skiing in the mountain.. Plan for 1 day per location outside Melb city.. hope is not too rush as not intend to go far along GOR, just stop at Port Campbell and back to Melb using inland route..

 

Most pple seems to tour ard the west.. but saw in Natas fair that the Australian is introducing these 3 places in the East which form a triangle.. Beside Phillip Island, the other 2 places seem very relax, go for wine tasting and horse riding along the beach.. Main purpose is to relax and not too rush so likely will just make some free plays over in Melb..

[Carndablues]

Going into winter time but still not cold enough for skiing in the mountain..

 

Skiing in Oz is crap, I just came back from Niseko in Hokkaido....one word, MAGIC!

 

Will try Furano next year.

 

Too bad you're going to Melbourne in winter, if it was spring or summer, I would recommend you go to Studley Park and rent a little rowboat and spend an afternoon rowing down the Yarra, really quite luverley!

 

You might want to attend an Aussie Rules game, the Aussie crowds are always fun.

 

You can try iceskating at the Myer Music Bowl, if it's still open....

 

Piping hot chips outside the Queen Vic market is always a treat on a cold winter's morning....or potato cakes, equally good!

[Robo]

Going for 8 full days to Melb.. Plan to go GOR, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island in the East in 2 months time.. Going into winter time but still not cold enough for skiing in the mountain.. Plan for 1 day per location outside Melb city.. hope is not too rush as not intend to go far along GOR, just stop at Port Campbell and back to Melb using inland route..

 

Most pple seems to tour ard the west.. but saw in Natas fair that the Australian is introducing these 3 places in the East which form a triangle.. Beside Phillip Island, the other 2 places seem very relax, go for wine tasting and horse riding along the beach.. Main purpose is to relax and not too rush so likely will just make some free plays over in Melb..

 

for skiing u can try gg to mt bulla or falls creek. jun jul aug should be a good time

[Mj79]

Too bad.. I'm going in mid May.. will give a miss to the snow...

[Hiphiphoray]

if u have 10 days in melbourne. i suggest no need to use so many days travelling. philips island u can take a day to finish. to and fro from city if i didnt remember wrong is less than 200km. den my gf stays in the suburban to and from is around 2hrs. so from city is another 2hrs max, leave after lunch, den go beach play. den go see penguin parade den drive back just nice.

 

grampians and portcambell quite near each other can be squeeze into 2 days.1 day in grampian and 1 day in port campbell. rest of the days go shopping. there is so many nice and big factory outlets there at super cheap price. bought a past season esprit shirt for just A$10. at night can go crowns and play play, weather cold just order some shots. all super cheap. less than $5.

 

u might wanna consider taking a 900km drive thru hume highway to sydney if u have the time and stamina. i didnt try before thou. but would love to try one day.

 

love melbourne super lots. think i might move there one day.

 

Bro BoyBoy oredi come back from Mel liao.

 

[Hiphiphoray]

Going for 8 full days to Melb.. Plan to go GOR, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island in the East in 2 months time.. Going into winter time but still not cold enough for skiing in the mountain.. Plan for 1 day per location outside Melb city.. hope is not too rush as not intend to go far along GOR, just stop at Port Campbell and back to Melb using inland route..

 

Most pple seems to tour ard the west.. but saw in Natas fair that the Australian is introducing these 3 places in the East which form a triangle.. Beside Phillip Island, the other 2 places seem very relax, go for wine tasting and horse riding along the beach.. Main purpose is to relax and not too rush so likely will just make some free plays over in Melb..

 

8 days i think its enough for philip island to see the pengiuns. GOR for the experience and top it off with grampian will be good. Reserve 2 days in mel go Queen Victoria market, St. Kilda Beach, city sight-seeing can liao. Got time go Crown Casino try your luck. haha.

Edited March 6, 2009 by Hiphiphoray

[Hiphiphoray]

for skiing u can try gg to mt bulla or falls creek. jun jul aug should be a good time

 

Mt. Buller quite far up north of Mel........not so worth to drive there.

[Hiphiphoray]

I would recommend you go to Studley Park and rent a little rowboat and spend an afternoon rowing down the Yarra, really quite luverley!

 

Hrrrrr....i hope u know the Yarra river is containmated by the sewage system. Thats why if u notice carefully, nobody swims in it. Didnt the ppl there tell u ?