Australian Great Ocean Road Self-Drive

• Rugged and stunning coastline of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road
• Bells Beach; Home to the famous international surfing event
• Apollo Bay – a seafood village embraced by tranquil beaches.
• Great Otway National Park & the 12 Apostles
• Port Fairy – Idyllic and quaint, it was awarded the world’s most liveable town in 2012.
• Opportunity to visit Naracoorte Caves World Heritage Site
• Kangaroo Island – Australia’s own Galapagos

Collect your rental vehicle and depart from the hustle and bustle of Melbourne towards the surf town of Torquay. Torquay is acknowledged as Australia’s surf capital, manufacturing surf boards, surf wear and equipment and is host to one of the major international surfing events each Easter – Bells Beach Surfing Classic.

Explore the tracks through the rainforest and the fern gullies through to Erskine Falls, where the eucalypt forests are home to kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, the occasional platypus and a host of bird life. As the Otway Ranges meet Bass Strait, the Great Ocean Road weaves into contours of steep cliffs overlooking the sea between Lorne and Cape Patton, hugging the coast all the way to Apollo Bay. The town of Apollo Bay was established when a whaling station was set up by the Henty family at Point Bunbury southeast of the town in the 1830’s. However, there was no permanent settlement until 1856 when the town became important in the timber trade. Timber was sawn, dragged to the beach and floated out to ships anchored in the harbour. Apollo Bay is now a popular stopover for cruising yachts and the whole area offers fine sailing. Beyond the charming estuarine villages of Wye River and Kennett River lies Cape Patton lookout, one of the greatest viewing points on the Australian seaboard.

Depart Apollo Bay and continue along the Great Ocean Road stopping at the Otway Ranges National Park along the way. Continue along Great Ocean Road and enter spectacular Port Campbell National Park that extends from Princetown to Peterborough. Along this stretch you will see the 12 Apostles, London Bridge, The Bay of Island and Loch Arch Gorge. The mighty 12 Apostles are world-recognised icons of the Great Ocean Road.

Continuing along the rugged coastline, you will pass the town of Warrnambool, before reaching the unique and idyllic fishing village of Port Fairy. Port Fairy is one of Victoria’s earliest ports and many homes and other buildings of last century have been preserved. Today, Port Fairy’s fishing fleet harvest crayfish and abalone. You can walk along the wharf on the pretty Moyne River where the fleet dock. Take the historic walk through Port Fairy’s streets and you’ll see the charming, fully restored cottages built by whalers and seamen. These are side-by-side with Georgian-style merchants’ homes, grand public buildings and several historic churches, hotels and a lighthouse.

After leaving Port Fairy, make your way north towards Halls Gap and into the ‘Grampians’, which will be your base for the next two nights. The scenic Grampians National Park is one of Victoria’s largest and most accessible National Parks. The 167,000 hectare park is home to the biggest collection of Koori rock art in the state, and is well known for its wildflowers, striking rock formations, 200 species of bird life, panoramic lookouts and well maintained network of 50 walking tracks. Plenty of opportunities to see both nature as well as a visit to the Living Aboriginal Culture Centre, that will provide an Indigenous perspective to your experience.

You will depart Victoria today and make your way over the border to South Australia and will be staying today in Naracoorte. Naracoorte is located in the heart of the Limestone Coast and the township is of Scottish heritage and comfortably blends the past with the present offering friendly hospitality, fresh local produce and fine wine. Well reccommended is a visit to the Naracoorte Caves National Park, which is South Australia’s only World Heritage site and contains the fossils of extinct mega fauna.

From Naracoorte continue to today’s destination of Victor Harbour. Located on the shores of Encounter Bay, Victor Harbor was a whaling and sealing depot in the 1830’s. The town boasts several historic buildings and a visit to Granite Island is interesting. There is a tramway that will take you across the causeway with the trams drawn by Clydesdales. A chair lift rises from the end of the causeway to the middle of the Island.

Today you will drive to the ferry departure point for Kangaroo Island. An experience in of itself, the ferry takes about 40 mins and brings you to the amazing Kangaroo Island or K.I as it is simply known. K.I is truly the land that time forgot and is an absolute highlight. Imagine an island with 500km of coastline that is surrounded with native bushland and teeming with wildlife, surrounded by pristine beaches. Then imagine enjoying this with local produce and great wines with majestic sunsets. K.I is truly a world apart and you will have plenty of time to explore the Flinders Chase National Park, Seal Bay Conservation Park as well as the possibility to visit some amazing local producers.

From K.I you will return by ferry to the mainland and drive back to Adelaide, where you will return the rental vehicle.

Dates are flexible so please make an enquiry and tell us a range of dates you are considering so we can check availability.

• Detailed self-drive itinerary with detailed day to day descriptions
• 8 nights accommodation
• 9 Day Hertz Group S Car Hire with Max Cover (zero excess)
• Breakfast; only where specified on the accommodation grid
• Return ferry transfer – Cape Jervis to Penneshaw for passenger and car under 5 metres.

• International and domestic flights
• All meals unless otherwise specified

Suitable for ages 18 to 80

This package does not cater for people under 18 years of age. Should you wish to book children, this would become a bespoke itinerary, which we would be happy to create for you, with applicable activities incorporated.