Pickup offeredSee the meeting and pickup details below
Overview
Join a micro-group of just 8 guests for a relaxing, rewarding and stimulating tour full of scenic diversity. Our 3-day Great Ocean Road tour is perfectly split between beach and mountains. You'll spend the first day and a half on the Great Ocean Road before travelling north into the mountains. It is almost like two separate tours as both regions command your full attention. The Great Ocean Road has different scenery around every corner and is full of life and movement. The Grampians is calmer and more quiet and offers some incredible viewing and walking experiences as well as being very rich in Aboriginal culture and rock art. The aim is to provide our micro groups with compelling but relaxed itineraries matched with unique and wonderful accommodation and dining experiences. Your guide will bring the tales of shipwrecks and explorers to life by the help of original artefacts from Loch Ard. Stay in ocean and mountain view villas and enjoy dinner at award winning restaurants.
What's included
Micro-group of up to 8 guests
Hotel pickup and drop-off
2 nights accommodation
National Park fees
Dinner
Breakfast
Live commentary on board
Transport by air-conditioned minivan
Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Lunch
What to expect
Day 1: Melbourne - Skenes Creek
Geelong
20m
You are picked up from their city hotel or Federation Square and we quickly depart Melbourne via the West Gate Bridge. We travel through the vast volcanic plains on route to Geelong where you have time to stroll along the beautifully transformed waterfront.
Great Ocean Road
7h
We start our journey along the Great Ocean Road at Torquay, stopping at various places along the coast including Bells Beach. 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. After lunch in Lorne, the largest of the seaside villages, we cruise along the spectacular road, stopping at many scenic spots including Kennett River where we might see koalas and many colourful native birds in the wild. We visit the township of Apollo Bay before checking in to our accommodation
Day 2: Skenes Creek - Dunkeld
Mait's Rest
40m
We take you on a 1km 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
40m
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 (own expense).
Loch Ard Gorge
40m
You 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.
45m
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 (the famous bridge that collapsed when tourists were still on it), Bay of Islands, Bay of Martyrs, and Boat Bay
Tower Hill
30m
Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve sits in a large volcanic crater. It is one of Victoria's most fascinating and significant geological formations. The first National Park in the state where we drive down into the crater and if lucky we may have the chance to see Koalas, Kangaroos and Emus
Port Fairy
20m
This picturesque town was voted the most liveable town in the world in 2012!
Day 3: Dunkeld - Melbourne
Halls Gap
45m
Our third day starts with an incredibly scenic drive along the Wonderland and Mt William Ranges through to Halls Gap in the heart of the Grampians NP
Grampians National Park
4h · Admission ticket included
Our day includes a few short walks at Baroka Lookout, Reid’s Lookout and McKenzie Falls as well as visits to ‘Brambuk’ Aboriginal cultural centre
Bunjil's Shelter
20m
This rock painting site is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural sites in south eastern Australia
Ballarat
30m
You will visit the gold mining township of Ballarat, once one of the richest towns in the world
Meeting and pickup
Meeting point
End point
Pickup details
Melbourne CBD hotels only or outside Vibe Savoy Hotel Melbourne, 630 Lt Collins Street. Adelaide
Additional information
Specialized infant seats are available
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Cancellation policy
If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
