Last updated: 25 June 2023
Over dinner one night Russ came up with a “brilliant idea”. That we should set off on a last minute bucket-list trip before moving to London. Lets do the Great Ocean Road he says! Hesitant, I cave and agree to it.
In a lightning fast trip, we flew to Melbourne said farewell to some family members we hadn’t had time to see and hired a car to drive from Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road (GOR) and return the car to Sydney. All in the space of 3 days.
– If you haven’t picked up on the rookie mistake yet, you’ll get it soon enough. So let me explain.
Australia is a HUGE place. Any Aussie will tell you that, but even then sometimes we get fooled by our little blip on the map. Driving from Melbourne to do the GOR takes HOURS. We thought maybe an hour. #failure number one.
Already under the weather after being struck down with the flu we were feeling like death warmed up, but we had to power on. Its 275km or a supposed “2 1/2 hours” on a slow windy road from Geelong to Port Campbell and that doesn’t include the numerous photography stops for that “perfect shot”.
I couldn’t tell you how long it took us to drive it, but it felt like days. We finally made it to the Twelve Apostles lookout and raced to the edge to get photos because we knew we were losing daylight. Concerned with looming darkness, lacking in all the essentials like warm clothes, a torch or any clue of where we were going to spend the night, we took a few happy snaps and raced further along the coast line to see London Bridge.
We spent the night in Port Campbell and rose early to set off on our journey back to Sydney, we seriously failed to realise that driving from the Great Ocean Road back to Sydney you basically need to go back through Melbourne. #failure number two.
Rising early meant we had a bit of time and decided to take the opportunity to check out the Loch Ard Gorge on the way. We found the car park but spent a significant amount of time finding the look out and the stairs down to the sand. But well worth the effort! – A narrow opening to the sea between cliffs that just loom overhead making you feel tiny and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
Well worth the trek and definitely a tick off the bucket list but if you do it, plan it. Take the time to enjoy it and soak it up.
And for the record, we made it back from the Great Ocean Road to Sydney in 10 hours.
The Essentials
Melbourne to Great Ocean Road
Distance: 378 km (234 mi) – The scenic route.
Driving time: 5.5 hours – it’s a windy road along the coastline. Quicker more direct routes are available.
Insider tips: It can get unbelievably windy on the peninsulas and at lookouts. Pack prepared with jackets.
It’s Australia weather can change, bush fires happen and an ambulance might be hours away. No road trip should commence without adequate water and food as well as a phone (with service!) – try CDMA or use the Telco coverage maps (try Telstra, Optus or Vodafone) for an indication as to who services the area. And don’t forget to pack a first aid kit for stings, bites and burns.
Driving tips:
- Aussies drive on the left. Accidents happen on empty roads where drivers just forget and go back to what they know. Be alert.
- Great Ocean Road is a scenic tourist route. You can get back to Sydney/Melbourne quicker if you use the Freeway/Motorway. Consider driving one way and driving a different route back.
- Driving in Aus during dusk and dawn you will encounter wildlife. Be careful and drive with your lights on. When approaching slow down and honk your horn and they’ll likely move on. Report injured Wildlife in Victoria by phoning (+61) 1300 094 535.
