During my time in Sydney, my father came to pay me a little visit. We had a whole week to travel together, so we decided to go on what is called the most beautiful road in the world, that is to say, the Great Ocean Road.
The Great Ocean Road is the coastal road that starts in the west of Melbourne, Victoria and goes all the way to Adelaïde, South Australia. It’s one of the most scenic trips in Australia, because of the ocean view you have all the way and the several attractions down the road.
DAY 1 | MELBOURNE – APOLLO BAY
The morning was quick, and we did not want to stay too long in Melbourne, because it was going to be a long day of driving. We headed to St Kilda where the car rental was located.
And there we go, the first kilometers of our road trip! We were both very excited to see what this scenic road looks like, and very happy to discover a bit of the countryside. See you soon, Melbourne!
After two hours of driving, we finally made our way to the beginning of the Great Ocean Road, and the first glimpse we had over the ocean was magical.
That was it, the fabulous road of Australia that everyone is talking about. On our way, we made random stops to admire the beach. It seemed to me endless, and also we felt like we were alone in the world… So peaceful.
Once again, what would be Australia without lighthouses? We’ve been to the one in Aireys, and the view is really worth it.
We arrived at Apollo Bay just before the night. I have to say that the last kilometers of the road was pretty stretchy, so it’s better to avoid this part at night. Once in Apollo Bay, we did not have much choice on where to have dinner… So the pizzas of the local pub did the job pretty well!
DAY 2 | APOLLO BAY – PORT FAIRY
This day was the most scenic of our trip… we had so many stops to make, so we woke up early to be sure we had all the time needed. The beach in Apollo Bay was a mirror of the sky… how beautiful.
Our first stop of the day was only 30 minutes away from Apollo Bay: the MAITS REST RAINFOREST WALK of Great Otway national park. It’s only 30 minutes, and you really need to do it. You feel like you are in a tropical jungle the whole time.
After this morning walk, we were ready for our next stop… Cape Otway Lighthouse. Apparently, it’s the oldest one in Australia, and it played a great role in WW2. You have to make a little détour to get there, and the entrance is not free. But overall, we were happy to go. On our way back, we spotted a few koalas up in the big trees.. And that was amazing.
Then, we drove all the way to… the 12 Apostles! The most famous attraction of the Great Ocean Road. Even if there are only 9 left, they create such an intention because of their proximity. And believe me, it’s really beautiful to see. Doing the Great Ocean without seeing this spot would be meanless.
Our last stop is a bit less known down there, but it’s really worth seeing: Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve. It used to be a volcano that is now off, and where the wildlife of the surrounds has set up their home. And guess what? This was the first time that I had seen a kangaroo from very close.
The end of the day was there, and it was time for us to reach our very cute hotel in Port Fairy, after another amazing day.
DAY 3 | PORT FAIRY – ROBE
We started the day with a little running around Griffiths Island in Port Fairy, and it was fabulous. To get to see such landscapes while practicing sport, it is just the perfect combo. Plus, there was no one there to disturb our peace.
Then, we packed our stuff to get back on the road. We went to the Discovery Bay Marine national park, to see the lighthouse (again?) of Cape Nelson and the famous Bridgewater blowholes. It is a nice spot to stop and enjoy a little picnic, before heading to the long trip to Robe.
We arrived in Robe in the late afternoon, and our motel was just by the lake, which was pretty cool for the view. We had dinner in Robe, there are a few nice restaurants that you can definitely try!
DAY 4 | ROBE – ADELAIDE
Again, we did a little running that morning along the great beach of Robe, since the sun was out. The beaches of Robe are really wide and amazing, so if you stop there make sure you go and have a look.
We took the road early in the morning to make sure we can arrive at Adelaide before dawn. We did not make a lot of stops that day, but we drove through Coorong National Park. I don’t think there is much to see there, but it’s really nice to admire the countryside while driving.
We also had lunch in a small town by a lake (I can not remember the name) and I recommend having a picnic with this beautiful lake view.
We arrived in Adelaide right before dinner. There is not much to do in this city, but honestly, the restaurants are really good on certain streets. Check the advice on tripadvisor, and your dinner is settled!
DAY 5 | KANGAROO ISLAND
I have to say that this day was the best of our road trip, and at the same time the most expensive. At first, we wanted to stop by Kangaroo Island on our way to Adelaide. But since the ferry was really expensive for the car, and there is basically nothing there, we chose the excursion option to be hassle-free. We decided to book our tour with Sealink from Adelaide, and as you can imagine, the day started pretty early.
First, I did not manage to sleep on our way to Kangaroo, and I did not regret it because i had the chance to see the beautiful landscapes of South Australia!! So open your eyes!
We arrived at Cape Jervis to take the ferry around 9am. The ferry is the most expensive in Australia, by the way. And after 45 mn of sailing, we finally arrive on Kangaroo Island.
The guide started to explain a few things about the island on the fact that there are only two policemen on the island, or the danger of driving by night there.
Our first stop was the seals’ beach, where we had the chance to see some seals all along the beach. It was pretty cold and pretty windy so we did not stay much longer there, but they were really cute all together.
Then, we had lunch at a nice Cafe with a nice salad buffet that we all enjoyed, perfect to have some energy for the afternoon.
The second stop of the day was in a Koala Sanctuary, in the west part of the island. Did you know that originally, 18 koalas were brought on the island, and now they have around 50 000??? It was great to see the koalas in their natural habitat, and from very close. If you love animals, this one is for you.
After the walk along the sanctuary, we went to the most scenic point of Kangaroo Island, the Remarkable Rocks. It is really pretty and nothing really compares to this.
Last stop before heading back to the ferry: the Remarkable Arch. And I let you admire the pictures for this one.
It was already the end of this beautiful day. We took the ferry back to Cape Jervis, then we were driven back to Adelaide.
DAY 6 | MORNING IN ADELAIDE
Last morning of our holiday.. As I said before, there is not much to do in Adelaide. But something I definitely recommend there is the Central Market! You can find great products fro, all around the world, especially French fine food. It’s really a nice market to stop by.
That was it.. After 6 beautiful days driving and exploring Victoria and South Australia, it was time to get back to work, and for my dad to come back to France. This road trip created great memories, and I can say with confidence that the Great Ocean Road is part of one of the prettiest roads in the world. Don’t miss your appointment with the vast sea which borders Australia, the peace will leave you speechless.
Thanks for the adventure dad!
OFF THE ROAD 