There are so many interesting things do do between Melbourne and Warrnambool and back along the Great Ocean Road. Here are our top 10 recommendations for families.
The Great Ocean Road stretches from Torquay to Allansford and is 243km long. It was built by hundreds of returned soldiers from World War One, with construction starting in 1919. Thirteen years later a single gravel road from Lorne to Aireys Inlet was completed. The coastline is dotted with many beautiful beaches, but the seas can be treacherous. There have been more than 55 shipwrecks between Cape Otway and Point Lonsdale. I would suggest doing this trip as a loop over a few days to see everything it has to offer. Suggested Itinerary: Warrnambool-2 nights, Port Campbell-3 nights, Apollo Bay-1 night.
ACCOMODATION
There are many great Holiday Parks along the Great Ocean Road. Two parks we have stayed in are the Marengo Caravan Park near Apollo Bay (cabins cost around $250 p/n), and Discovery Parks Warrnambool, (cabins cost around $170 p/n). The beach at Marengo is nice for swimming and the tessellated rocks make for great rock-pooling.
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO ALONG THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD
1. Mount Noorat Crater Walk
Mount Noorat is on the way to Warrnambool and makes a great stop to break up the journey. It is a well preserved volcanic crater. Marvel at this smooth undulating 600m wide hole. Walk the rim and take in the vast views of surrounding farmland.
The walk begins through an access gate on Morack Street, off Glenormiston Road. It takes around 40 mins.
Camperdown Botanical Gardens
A hidden gem, these gardens are perched on the top of a hill, overlooking two lakes and farmland. To get there drive up Park Road and through the campground. It’s a great place to stop for a picnic lunch.
There’s plenty of shade to cool off after the crater walk and an excellent bbq area. These gardens border farmland, so don’t be surprised to see cows wandering by.
2. Beaches at Port Fairy and Warrnambool
Port Fairy is a quaint little town with a long stretch of beach. It has small waves and lifeguards.
Warrnambool
Where the Merri River meets the sea. If you have small children this is a great place for splashing about. There’s even a small cave to explore. On the other side of the pier there is also a surf beach.
3. Flagstaff Hill
You can easily spend a few hours at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. Step back in time to the 1870’s, where volunteers are dressed in-character and wander the cobbled streets. Learn about the shipwreck history of the coast and check out the many artefacts on display. Kids should attend a class at the local school and see how the older generation were educated. No laptops here, only blackboards and strict teachers. A family of 4 costs $50, Adults $19, Children $9. The Sound and Light show is an additional $80 for a family of four.
4. Horse Riding on the Beach
This was definitely the highlight of our most recent trip. I would highly recommend Rundell’s Mahogany Trail Rides in Warrnambool. We chose the 1.5 hour ride for $85ea, which takes you over the sand dunes and onto the beach. You are matched with a horse for your abilities, and the many staff accompanying you are friendly and encouraging. It felt very safe, with everyone walking and occasionally trotting until we reached the beach. In fact the biggest problem you’ll most likely encounter is trying to prevent your horse from stopping to eat everything along the way – even the seaweed! Apparently to horses, seaweed is like Salt & Vinegar chips! If you wish to canter along the shoreline you can, although it is only recommended for confident or experienced riders.
5. Port Campbell
It’s a good idea to break up the trip by staying in Port Campbell, which is also the closest town to the 12 Apostles. The NRMA Holiday Park has cabins for around $150 p/n. There is a small sheltered beach and some great walks. Go on the Discovery Walk. It starts from behind the Caravan Park and crosses the suspension bridge to traverse the clifftop.
6. Twelve Apostles Marine National Park
There are so many scenic opportunities along the coast. The unmissable ones are The 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, The Grotto and London Bridge. For the best photos I would suggest going in the morning. In the afternoons the wind can pick up and it gets very misty. London Bridge is great at sunset.
The 12 Apostles
These magnificent limestone stacks were named The 12 Apostles, because they stand tall and proud along the shoreline. But over the years the rough seas have eroded some of them away. Today only 8 Apostles remain.
Loch Ard Gorge
This beautiful cove is named after the clipper ship Loch Ard. As it battled a storm one night in 1878 it was blown off-course and ran into rocks off Muttonbird Island. It sank quickly. Only two people survived, Tom and Eva, both aged 18. Tom helped Eva to shore and they sheltered in a cave overnight. They were found by a local farmer the following day, who helped them climb the cliff to safety.
The Grotto
This enchanting cave-like formation has a mystical air about it. The calm pools of water reflect the light and the cliff behind is shrouded in a green creeping plant.
London Bridge (Arch)
London Bridge was completely joined before a fateful day in January, 1990. A couple had walked along its narrow mid-section when it collapsed, leaving them stranded, until a helicopter whisked them to safety. Today only the arch remains. This is a great place to catch a sunset.
7. Otways Foodie trail
We decided to support the local community by indulging in all things edible. We couldn’t resist an ice-cream from the Timboon Ice-Creamery. If ice-cream’s not your thing the whiskey distillery is just across the road. We did consider this, but it was 10:30am so we opted for a whiskey-flavoured ice-cream instead. Just seemed like the right thing to do.
Then we ventured to Apostle Whey Cheese and did some serious taste-testing. I can highly recommend the herbed feta and garlic flavoured cheeses. We finished by picking our own strawberries at BerryWorld. You can fill 2 punnets for $7 and eat as many as you like along the way.
8. Melba Gully Walk
This half hour walk will take you down into a dense forest of mossy trees and fern gullies, with a clear creek flowing at the bottom.There is also a lovely picnic area at the start of the walk and if you go at night you can see glow worms.
It was once a place where people came to marvel at a 300 year old giant Messmate tree, with a trunk that was 27 metres in width. Sadly, the tree fell in 2010, but you can still see its remains today.
9. Otways Waterfalls
To get to Hopetoun Falls it’s a bit of a drive from the main road, but once there it’s only a short 10 minute walk down to the waterfall. You can view this powerful 30 m waterfall from the upper platform or walk down to the base and get up close.
Triplet Falls is a 1 hour loop walk and has some unexpected features. Look for the mossy remnants of the old Timber Mill hidden beneath the forest ferns. There is an excellent viewing platform where you can sit and enjoy the three cascades.
10. Otway Zipline
The OtwayFly costs around $356 for a family of 4, which includes admission to the treetop walk. It starts with a 30 minute safety briefing, then takes around 2 hours to complete. This is a fun family activity, with great guides and an emphasis on safety. It’s nice to view the lush forest from the cloud stations, perched 30m above the ground. Each zipline has its unique features, but there are only around six and most were pretty short. It’s a good place to start if you’ve never done zip-lining, but probably not much of a challenge for more experienced thrill-seekers.
For more Victorian holiday ideas check out – Murray Riverboat – The Grampians – Wilsons Prom overnight hike