Victoria 3 Day Classic Coast
Adventure Tours
Classic style? Sure! Departing from Melbourne and travelling all the way long to start your journey on the Great Ocean Road, you will have the opportunity to hug the steep coastline to Apollo Bay. Later on, we will hike down into Umpherstone Cave - the biggest sinkhole about. During the third day, instead of the main road, we do 40kms on a little-used dirt road through Coorong National Park amongst the sand dunes, lakes, tea tree groves and wildlife. These are just some highlights of the trip. Read the complete three exiting days and book now!
Day 1 - Melbourne to Port Fairy
Depart Melbourne 7.00am and travel via Geelong to Torquay, the start of the Great Ocean Road. Stretch your legs, breathe in the fresh Southern Ocean air and watch the surfers at the world famous Bells Beach. A little further, Lorne is a classic seaside resort nestled between mountains and sea. Driving the spectacular ‘twisty-snaky’ leg of the Great Ocean Road, we hug the steep coastline to Apollo Bay and an early lunch stop (cafes, bakery).
The Great Ocean Road then climbs the lush Otway Ranges to Melba Gully, where a walk leads through myrtle-beech rainforest to river cascades and a massive Otway Messmate tree. Back down on the coast is Port Campbell National Park and Australia’s most famous rock group, the 12 Apostles. One shipwreck further, Loch Ard Gorge has walks, lookouts, beaches, coves, caves and photo opportunities galore. Port Campbell village is followed by London Bridge, The Grotto, Bay of Islands and Tower Hill volcanic crater and lake - where koalas, kangaroos and emus roam free. Our overnight Port Fairy is a colonial time warp, founded 1834 (before Melbourne!). (D*).
Day 2 - Port Fairy to Robe
Beyond historic Portland we’ll detour, weather permitting, to Cape Bridgewater and the wild and beautiful Bridgewater Bay where a local, Joe, runs a zippy zodiac boat to seal colonies under the Cape, a total adventure for about $30 (45 mins). The village of Nelson on the scenic Glenelg River gets a quick stop. Across the state border is a land honeycombed by caves and underground rivers. The Blue Lake is a stunner. Hike down into Umpherstone Cave - the biggest sinkhole about.
The regional city of Mt. Gambier has several cafes handy for lunch. Later on, enjoy a cliff-top walk along the craggy coastline of Canunda National Park. The coast is studded with classic towns: Beachport on Rivoli Bay - and our overnight of Robe, dating fromthe 1840s with plenty of Georgian buildings. (BD*).
Day 3 - Robe to Adelaide
‘Larry’, one of Australia’s finest fi breglass creations rears up outside Kingston. Stroll Long Beach and jump up onto the Granites, whale-like rock formations. Instead of the main road, we do 40kms on a little-used dirt road through Coorong National Park amongst the sand dunes, lakes, tea tree groves and wildlife. Lose your shoes for a hike up the dunes.
The Coorong Wilderness Lodge is a project by local Aboriginal people - our hosts provide an Aboriginal ‘Bush Foods & Medicines’ walk and prepare lunch ($20 direct payment) with local ingredients (eg Coorong mullet). Afternoon sights include Lakes Albert and Alexandrina, pink salt lakes, a River Murray ferry crossing, expansive vineyards and the scenic Adelaide Hills. Arrive early evening. (B*).
About Adventure Tours Australia
Adventure Tours provides small group accommodated tours (hostel and motel options)to the hotspots of Victoria. Join a tour of the spectacular sights along the Great Ocean Road, hike the rugged trails of the Grampians National Park and get close to some of Australia’s distinctive wildlife at Wilsons Promontory. Take an extended touring package continuing onto the outback of the Red Centre and tropical Top End regions.
