Attractions on the way to the 12 Apostles?

[Kiwianabanana]

I'm planning a day trip to the Great Ocean road to check out the 12 Apostles. I live in East Melbourne and if anyone here has been there, what are some nice stopoff points to check out? Specifically wineries, animal farms or historic sites.

[Veefy]

Originally Posted by Kiwianabanana

I'm planning a day trip to the Great Ocean road to check out the 12 Apostles. I live in East Melbourne and if anyone here has been there, what are some nice stopoff points to check out? Specifically wineries, animal farms or historic sites.

http://www.greatoceanroad.com.au/Wine_Food/index.html

Always a good idea to call wineries ahead and see if they will be open (during winter/and or weekdays, some might have irregular opening hours).


It's a long day trip. Overnight somewhere would make it better IMHO especially if you want to enjoy local wine/beer/food in the evening..

[Daft_Munt]

Day trip on the Great Ocean Road, are you mad! It can be done but would be a rush and not very relaxing.

[dirtyd]

The Otway Fly is enjoyable.

[HeXa]

Originally Posted by Daft_Munt

Day trip on the Great Ocean Road, are you mad! It can be done but would be a rush and not very relaxing.

this.... unless you do it in summer when the days are much longer, a day trip is hectic if you want to include a decent amount of sight-seeing

if you must, get an early start and expect the 12 apostles to be the last thing you see in the afternoon. The inland direct roads back to Melb are boring except for some native forests/plantations (iirc) and 1-2 towns.

[Supplanter]

If you aren't traveling on a budget, nom here: http://chriss.com.au/home.html

[Mitch01]

Weekend will bring with it frustrating drivers and grey nomads with caravans and campers.

Couple that with only the day to do it and it's too rushed.

We stayed overnight at Anglesea when we did it.

Hopetoun Falls, Beauchamp Falls, and Carisbrook Falls all at Ottway National Park.

Make sure you take the cut through at the pine forest plantation if you love driving too .

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/pa...-national-park - Check that site before doing any bushwalking for closures.

The helicopter flyover at Twelve Apostles Car Park used to be pretty decent too (not sure if it's still there and any good though).

[HumbleBum]

Originally Posted by Daft_Munt

Day trip on the Great Ocean Road, are you mad! It can be done but would be a rush and not very relaxing.

Err..

You dont go up and back the ocean road, you can be at the WARNAMBOOL end of the ocean road in 2.5hrs from Melbourne. Leave early. Straight to Warnambool, via Colac. Then head back along the road (it actually works better against the traffic mostly.

I would also suggest a weekday. Weekends are just stupid.

Done it many many times.

Otway Fly is a waste of time, go look at the two waterfalls around the corner for a experience in nature.

If you were to stay overnight, I would look around Apollo Bay/Lorne.I drive there from Melbourne multiple times a year to take photos. If a day trip, its either the coast or the national park, you cannot do both.

[Daft_Munt]

Originally Posted by HumbleBum

Err..

You dont go up and back the ocean road, you can be at the WARNAMBOOL end of the ocean road in 2.5hrs from Melbourne. Leave early. Straight to Warnambool, via Colac. Then head back along the road (it actually works better against the traffic mostly.

I was just pointing out that it wouldnt be that enjoyable doing it in a day regardless of route. Generally I avoid Colac when heading to Warnambool, shorter in kms but busier road, I go via Mortlake. And thanks for letting me know of the retro console guy in Warnambool.

[bugayev]

Originally Posted by Daft_Munt

I was just pointing out that it wouldnt be that enjoyable doing it in a day regardless of route. Generally I avoid Colac when heading to Warnambool, shorter in kms but busier road, I go via Mortlake. And thanks for letting me know of the retro console guy in Warnambool.

I've done Melbourne -> Port Campbell and back in a day about eight times, it's perfectly doable.

[susmind]

Originally Posted by Kiwianabanana

I'm planning a day trip to the Great Ocean road to check out the 12 Apostles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Apostles_%28Victoria%29

Traditionally the limestone rock stacks were known as the Sow and Piglets until 1922(Muttonbird Island, near Loch Ard Gorge, was the Sow, and the smaller rock stacks the Piglets) after which it was renamed to The Apostles for tourism purposes. The formation eventually became known as the Twelve Apostles, despite only ever having nine stacks.

So really it's The Sow and Piglets.