Take the time to explore the diversity of this great coastal road in a relaxed and comfortable style. Discover the wildlife, coastal towns, ocean-view accommodation, beautiful food, rainforests, 12 Apostles and shipwreck history.
Led by expert guides, our Great Ocean Road two day itinerary is the most thorough and extensive available in the region. With boutique accommodation and restaurants included in the package, we take all the stress away so you can concentrate on having fun.
Our guests on this small group 2 day Great Ocean Road tour are picked up from their city hotel or Federation Square and we depart the city via the West Gate Bridge.
We travel through the vast volcanic plains en route to Geelong where you have time to stroll along the beautifully transformed waterfront.
The journey starts along the Great Ocean Road at Torquay, stopping at various places along the coast including Bells Beach and our delightful morning tea location.
Our focus then turns to Australian native wildlife as we observe Eastern Grey Kangaroos in the wild.
This is one of many opportunities to see and hear about our unique and unusual animals in their native habitat. Our journey then begins travelling the very scenic, cliff-hugging section of the Great Ocean Road. While winding our way along we stop to view sites such as the ‘Memorial Arch’ and tell you of the intriguing story of this incredible road.
Lorne is the largest of the seaside resorts, with its abundance of cafes and restaurants it is a perfect place for a lunch break. You may even find time to have a swim or do some shopping.
After lunch we cruise along the spectacular road, stopping at many scenic spots including Kennett River where we can see koalas and many colourful native birds in the wild.
Travelling through Apollo Bay we go into the Great Otway National Park.
We take you on a 1 km guided walk through a cool temperate rainforest gully to see the world’s tallest flowering plants, prehistoric trees and ferns and unique features such as ‘Yabbie Chimneys’.
We visit Apollo Bay before checking in to ‘Chris’s Restaurant and Villas’.
Your private self contained villa is set high on a hill overlooking the Southern Ocean. This amazing setting is a great place to relax and unwind for a couple of hours.
We have dinner tonight at the famous Chris’s at Beacon Point. This restaurant sits along side your villa and has magnificent views out to sea. The extensive menu using fresh local ingredients has something for everyone. A two-course dinner with full choice of the menu is included at this stunning and unique restaurant.
Small group Travel
Travel in a group of no more than 8 people. This allows us to use boutique accommodation and restaurants.
Avoid crowds
We have built unique itineraries that will show you the highlights of the region while avoiding mass tourism.
Lorne
The largest seaside resort visited, Lorne offers an abundance of cafes and restaurants, perfect for a relaxing lunch break. Optionally, take a swim or explore local shops.
Scenic Stops
Spot koalas at Kennett River and enjoy the vibrant avian life, then drive through Apollo Bay to enter the majestic Great Otway National Park.
Rainforest Exploration
Experience a guided 1km walk through ancient rainforests, home to the world’s tallest flowering plants and unique ecosystems.
Our second day on this Great Ocean Road tour 2 days starts with a continental breakfast at Chris’s. While looking over the coastline, we are also looking out for koalas, wallabies and kookaburras. A comprehensive breakfast buffet and great coffee makes this a perfect way to start another full day.
Our journey continues through the Otway Ranges and onto the Shipwreck Coast.
Our first stop is at Castle Cove overlooking the Aire river valley, where your guide will introduce you to the strong Aboriginal heritage of the region, with many tribes having lived prosperously along this coastline for thousands of years.
In the same area millions of years ago when Australia was part of the great southern land, Gondwana, dinosaurs were roaming the land. A unique find along the coast in 1987 uncovered important clues into the world’s prehistoric past.
We then venture on to the Shipwreck Coast wich includes the Iconic 12 Apostles and so much more.
The 12 Apostles are Icons of Australia’s natural beauty. We arrive as the stacks are lit with the morning sun making them perfect for photos and crowd free.
This is a bonus for taking a 2 day trip as the stacks are silhouettes in the afternoon and overcrowded. After hearing of the creation of the stacks and holding some of the limestone rock you can explore the boardwalks or brave a helicopter flight along the coastline (at your own expense).
We then visit ‘Loch Ard Gorge’, the site of the most famous 19th century Australian shipwreck. We retell the entire story from the calm voyage, the tragic wreck, the courageous survivors and their ultimate fate.
While hearing the tale you will be able to see and hold some original artefacts, photos and documents from the ‘Loch Ard’ contained in our treasure chests.
Port Campbell is our lunch stop for today. The small fishing village of just 350 is set in a beautiful natural port and has some wonderful cafes and restaurants for food and views.
After lunch we travel to a lesser known but highly impressive area of the Great Ocean Road west of Port Campbell. This section takes in London Bridge, Bay of Islands, Bay of Martyrs, and Boat Bay before our journey turns inland and travels through open farmland towards Melbourne arriving there around 6 P.M.
Our two day Great Ocean Road tour departs at 08:30 A.M. from Melbourne.
Pickups are available from all city hotels within Melbourne – ideal for travellers looking for a 2 day Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne with everything taken care of.
Passengers will be dropped at any Melbourne CBD location at 17:30 at the completion of the tour.
Accommodations and Meals
The tour includes one night in 3.5 – 4 star accommodation, a two-course dinner, and a continental breakfast.
Additional Notes
All entrance fees and guided experiences are included, ensuring a hassle-free journey filled with enriching experiences.
We include breakfast and dinner for each night on tour. Chris’s restaurant does a wonderful meal overlooking the ocean followed by a deluxe continental breakfast the following morning.
The Barn has one of the best steakhouses in Australia and it is to die for. They also do a cooked breakfast to kickstart the next day.
When we stay at the Royal Mail Hotel at Dunkeld at the foot of the Grampians, we include the degustation menu at ‘Wickens’. It is a celebration of food and creativity and should not be missed. A simple in room continental is all that is necessary the following day but a stop by the bakery on the way out of town is not unheard of.
We will do the GOR in a day if we cannot convince people to do the 2-day or 3-day options, but it is not something we promote nor recommend. It is such a long day of driving, and you are limited in what you can see and the amount of time at each place. It is better doing it in a small vehicle rather than a big bus but if you have the time, an extra day is certainly worth it.
