5 Day Great Ocean Road Australia Self Drive Tour Highlights
Lorne • Apollo Bay • Cape Otway •
Shipwreck Coast • Twelve Apostles • Robe
• Coorong National Park • Barossa Valley
• Travel the full length of the spectacular Great
Ocean Road, one of the world's legendary
scenic drives
• Visit the lighthouse at Cape Otway, from where
the old telegraph cables used to link Tasmania
• Stand in awe at the magnificent rock
formations known as the Twelve Apostles
• Learn how the 'Shipwreck Coast' got its name
with a visit to Loch Ard Gorge
• Take in the vistas of sand dunes and saline
coastal lagoons in Coorong National Park
• Enjoy wine-tasting in the Barossa Valley before
arriving into Adelaide
Day 1: Melbourne – Lorne/Apollo Bay
(185 km / 115 miles / 2 hours 20 minutes driving time to Apollo Bay
OR 140 km / 87 miles / 1 hour 50 minutes to Lorne)
Travel around the shores of Port Phillip Bay to Torquay,
the start of the Great Ocean Road and recognised as
the surfing capital of Australia. Kick back here a while
to absorb the laid-back atmosphere, then follow the
coast road to the picturesque town of Lorne, or
onwards along the spectacular stretch to Apollo Bay.
Standard: Comfort Inn Lorne View, Lorne. Superior:
Mantra Erskine Beach, Lorne. Boutique: Captain's at
the Bay, Apollo Bay (incl. breakfast)
Day 2: Lorne/Apollo Bay – Port Fairy
(194 km / 120 miles / 2 hours 30 minutes from Apollo Bay OR 239
km / 149 miles / 3 hours from Lorne)
Departing from either Lorne or Apollo Bay this
morning, travel along the Great Ocean Road to Port
Campbell. This scenic coastline has been described as
one of the most beautiful and breathtaking drives in
the world, and we're not going to argue. Stop to see
the lighthouse at Cape Otway, before reaching the
most dramatic part of the route, the 'Shipwreck Coast'.
Here, you'll see the Loch Ard Gorge, the broken arch
of London Bridge and the amazing rock formations of
the Twelve Apostles - huge stone pillars carved over
time by the power of the sea. Drop into charming Port
Campbell for a while and continue via Warrnambool to
Port Fairy for an overnight stay. Standard: Comfort Inn
Port Fairy. Superior: Hearn's Cottages. Boutique:
Oscar's Waterfront Hotel (incl. breakfast)
Day 3: Port Fairy – Robe
(321 km / 199 miles / 4 hours driving time OR 516 km / 320 miles /
6 hours 30 minutes via The Grampians)
Today, there is a choice of routes, the shorter drive will
take you via Portland along the coast directly to Mount
Gambier, and then on to Robe. The longer route will
mean an early start and a scenic drive through the
Grampians National Park and onto Halls Gap.
Highlights within the Grampians include Mt Victoria
Lookout and McKenzie Falls. From here, return to
Dunkeld, and then onto Mt Gambier and Robe.
Standard: Best Western Maleleuca. Superior: Robe
House (incl. breakfast). Boutique: Honeyfield House
Day 4: Robe – Barossa Valley
(356 km / 222 miles / 4 hours 30 minutes driving time)
After breakfast, continue to Kingston and travel towards
Adelaide, travelling along the Coorong National Park
skirting Lakes Albert and Alexandrina. Stop for a while in
Mannum, one of the oldest towns on the mighty
Murray River, a former trading post with an historic and
lively past. The Barossa Valley, where you'll spend the last
night of this self-drive holiday, is one of Australia’s most
famous wine-producing areas. It is a warm and intimate
place of charming old towns, many of which display a
Germanic influence, with vineyards spreading across
undulating hills in well-tended, precise rows. Standard:
Barossa Motor Lodge. Superior: Novotel Barossa Valley.
Boutique: The Louise (incl. breakfast)
Day 5: Barossa Valley – Adelaide
(67 km / 42 miles / 50 minutes driving time)
There is plenty of time today to explore the Barossa
Valley, which produces some of the very best wines in
Australia. Some of the most famous wineries of the
region are Yalumba, Orlando, Penfolds and Seppelts.
Some wineries are still run by members of the same
families that established them last century. This
afternoon, travel south through Gawler to Adelaide,
the capital of South Australia, known as the ‘City of
Churches’. Your tour comes to an end on arrival,
though your car has been booked until tomorrow
morning. It should be returned by the same time it was
picked up on day one to avoid additional charges.
Please note this self-drive tour is also available in the opposite
direction, commencing in Adelaide.
Prices Include
• 4 nights’ accommodation on a room-only basis
unless specified
• Avis car rental for the tour duration, with the same
inclusions / exclusions as detailed on page 16. We’ve
included a compact car on our ‘Standard’ tour, an
intermediate car on our ‘Superior’ tour, and a full-size
car on our 'Boutique' tour
• Self-drive kit, including maps and instructions
