My second trip to Melbourne was a special one. Arriving on Wednesday night I worked with a colleague at her home office on Thursday & Friday. She lives about 40 minutes from our central MEL Airbnb in a small town called North Warrandyte.
It was an easy, beautiful drive with lots of signs for kangaroo crossing. One morning I pulled over to sit and enjoy my coffee on the Yarra River in Warrandyte. A cute township with shops & restaurants, I would love to come back and spend more time here.
My commute to her home got me excited for my weekend road trip with Mark and his friend from the States. We were headed to the famous ‘Great Ocean Road.’
A popular day or weekend trip from Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road runs from Torquay to Allansford. 243 kilometers long, it was built by WWI soldiers & is the worlds largest war memorial. Mainly a 2 lane road that hugs the coast, this is a scenic, windy route with tons of small towns and national park stops to see along the way.
2 hours southwest from Melbourne, or an hour and a half in the car later, we pulled over to take photos at the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch. It was a great place to stretch the legs and walk onto the beach at sunset. Beware of sand flies!
For the weekend we decided to stay at Surfside Backpacker in Apollo Bay. Another hour and 15 minute drive from the Arch, this hostel is about a 10 minute walk to town with ocean views. With a resident koala, free parking and a room for the 3 of us at only $60AUD each, it was a steal. Although it was an aged hostel, Robyn was an amazing host.
Saturday morning started with a hunch as the breakfast cafe noted in my Lonely Planet book was closed due to it being the off season. We decided to hit the road and headed westward through Great Otway National Park. Our first stop for gas and brunch was in Lavers Hill about 45 minutes away. Again we hit another road block in the itinerary, as the Lavers Hill Roadhouse & Tavern was also closed, but this time it was due to renovations. Missing out on some local craft beer saw us go back up the hill to eat at Blackwood Gully. A true Aussie Shop, we ate & took in the gorgeous hills around us.
Crossing the street to Yatzie’s Pancakes & Bird Cafe, we watched native parrots of 2 colorful species flying in and out for birdfeed.
Our next stop was a 40 minute drive to the Gibson Steps. On low tide you can descend down the 89 stairs and walk along the beach. Due to erosion however, the stairs were closed off. This is where the “Road” was getting busy with lots of cars and people sight seeing like us.
The Gibson Steps was also our first glimpse of the 12 Apostles, the main sight on the Great Ocean Road.
2 minutes down the road we pulled into the car park at Port Campbell National for the official 12 Apostle stop. A 15 minute walk leads you to a loop where you can view the magical limestone stacks. Although there are only 8 left, they are over 20 million years old and glisten at sunrise & sunset.
For a late lunch we decided to follow the 12 Apostles Food Artisans Gourmet Trail. This lead up north into the Corangamite Hinterland to Timboon. We were so impressed with this area we wish we had more time to spend there.
On our way back home to Apollo Bay we stopped at a few more sights on the Great Ocean Road. Doing a loop back around we headed East and our first sight was the London Bridge.
Most stops along the Great Ocean Road are quick. You pull into the carpark which is right off the road and have a short walk to the shore. Up until 1990 the London Bridge was a “double arch,” but due to erosion like the 12 Apostles it only has one. This is a magnificent sight to see the power of the ocean.
5 minutes away was The Arch. Not as impressive at the London Bridge, this was not as busy as other stops on the Great Ocean Road.
Our longest stop was at the Loch Ard Gorge. This was because there are a few trails you can choose from. We walked to the point where you can look back and see the beach below. Named after the ship that crashed, Loch Ard sank in 1878. The Great Ocean Road is also called “Shipwreck Coast.”
You can access the beach by some stairs. This was a very popular spot for visitors to set up a picnic and soak up some sun.
During our drive our eyes were peeled for koalas and kangaroos. We were quite disappointed to not see any, until we went to the Cape Otway Lightstation. Part of Great Otway National Park, this is a public road that leads to a private reserve. I was so impressed and glad we saved this for our Sunday activity as you definitely need at least 2 hours here.
On our way back to Melbourne we stopped at Kennett River as they have a large koala pod. We pulled over and saw a baby in the tree right away!
For lunch we stropped at Salt Brewery in Airleys Inlet and for a snack we got ice cream at Great Ocean Road Chocolatiere & Creamery just outside Torquay.
Minus things being closed for the off season, and cloudy, drizzly weather, we really enjoyed our time along ‘Australia’s Greatest Driving Experience’. Once you get to the main parts there are tons of things to see within 15 minutes of each other. There is so much to discover I would love to come back and do the entire journey on a weeks timeline.
TIP: Have a pocket size book of Australian wildlife so you can keep an eye out for birds and other small animals roaming around.
What do you want to see on the Great Ocean Road? Or what was your favorite spot?!