Melbourne: Great Ocean Rd/Mornington Peninsula/Yarra Valley

[Mockngbrd]

Couple of weeks ago, took a 2 week holiday to Melbourne. Loved it lots.
While on holiday, we also did a 5 day Great Ocean Road/Mornington Peninsula Road trip.
Car we rented was a Nissan Pathfinder, 3.5L V6 (also found in the 350Z / G35 skyline) mated with a CVT. 

Road trip day 1
> Started out in Melbourne CBD (Southbank airbnb), after breakfast.
> Short stops to view sights at Torquay, Angelsea, Aireys Inlet
> Lunch at Lorne
> Erskine Falls
> Short stops to look for Koalas at Kennett River Holiday Park
> Airbnb at Apollo Bay (& dinner)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Road trip day 2
> Airbnb at Apollo Bay (breakfast at Hello cafe)
> Maits Rest rainforest walk
> Cape Otway lightstation
> Gibson Steps
> 12 Apostles
> Loch Ard Gorge
> Port Campbell for lunch
> London Bridge
> Bay of Islands
> Camped at London Bridge for 1 hr after sunset (in the bitter cold) to look at penguins but nothing in sight! 
> High tailed it back to Apollo Bay for dinner before the PUB kitchen closes at 9pm (made it at 830!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 23, 2016 by Mockngbrd

[Mockngbrd]

Road trip day 3
> Airbnb at Apollo Bay (breakfast at Hello cafe)
> Went to look for Koalas again at Kennett River Holiday Park (It was much better weather, so we spotted quite a few)
> Grabbed a drink and toilet break at Lorne
> Queenscliff for ferry to Sorrento (Mornington Peninsula)
> Mornington Peninsula town center for lunch
> Look for beach boxes 
> Check into Airbnb at Mornington Peninsula
> Dinner in town center

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Road trip day 4
> Airbnb at Mornington Peninsula (breakfast at Commonfolk coffee)
> Visit various winerys/vineyards

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 23, 2016 by Mockngbrd

[Mockngbrd]

Road Trip day 5
> Airbnb at Mornington Peninsula (breakfast in town center)
> Murray's Lookout / Arthur's Seat Road
> Blowhole Track
> Winery (Foxey's hangout) for lunch
> More wineries
> Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation park
> Back to Melbourne City / check in Airbnb in town
> Return car 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 23, 2016 by Mockngbrd

[Mockngbrd]

A week after that, we rented a Smart Fortwo and did a Yarra Valley daytrip, basically just visited the winerys after breakfast in town.
 

 

Edited August 23, 2016 by Mockngbrd

[Wt_know]

can a rented car in Melbourne drive to Tasmania

going in Nov and thinking whether take the Spirit of Tasmania ferry or budget airline

[Mockngbrd]

  On 8/23/2016 at 4:26 AM, Wt_know said:

can a rented car in Melbourne drive to Tasmania

going in Nov and thinking whether take the Spirit of Tasmania ferry or budget airline

 

Best to check with your rental co first. I think most dont allow 

Edited August 23, 2016 by Mockngbrd

[Wt_know]

ok. probably take jetstar to hobart ... easier

just leceh to load/unload bulky luggages

Edited August 23, 2016 by Wt_know

[Stratovarius]

Nice. Did TAS and MEL a few years back. Love it. But my great ocean road trip is too rush. May go back next year to explore more.

Still confused with the keeping left on right turn in Melbourne city. Blur.

[Mockngbrd]

  On 8/23/2016 at 5:57 AM, Stratovarius said:

Nice. Did TAS and MEL a few years back. Love it. But my great ocean road trip is too rush. May go back next year to explore more.

Still confused with the keeping left on right turn in Melbourne city. Blur.

Yea, the hook turns. I tried to do one, got horned at cos too slow :(

[Piyopico]

I did more or less the same route more than ten years ago.

 

Seems the 12 apostles left with a handful now. It was more than 10 back then I remember.

I went in Autumn and already find it cold.........

 

Tasmania. Such a nice destination. Hope to go there soon but only I drive so very taxing.

[Jman888]

  On 8/23/2016 at 4:26 AM, Wt_know said:

can a rented car in Melbourne drive to Tasmania

going in Nov and thinking whether take the Spirit of Tasmania ferry or budget airline

 

take a night ferry to Tasmanisa then rent a car from there better and cheaper, that was what we did 25 years ago!

[Hiphiphoray]

Wooooo.....nice!

 

I did a similar route back in 2005.

 

Drove on the entire GOR as far as portland halls gap ballarat then back to mel.

Edited August 23, 2016 by Hiphiphoray

[radiographer]

awesome pics, TS, and i believe more awesome experience. i went to melb a few months back and drove along GOR, but parts of it were closed due to forest fire. your pics made up for what missed 

[Spurman]

I did in may.

 

Rented a kia carnival from apex.

 

Day 1. Go melbourne city jalan a bit. Then go torquay and had a farm stay.

 

Day 2. Start of gor. Got go bells beach. Apollo bay makan. 12 aposotles. Lonch etc. Stayed at port campbell.

 

Day 3. Drive to ballarat. Go visit sovereign hill which was a let down though. And also go lake wanderwale.

 

Day 4. Drive to yarra. Pick some fruits as well. Did wine tasting. Etc. Hehe... this is the area i stayed 2 nites. Healesville..

 

Day 5. Go see puffing billy but no ride. Also go danegong valley for a while also. Hehe. Also go chocolate someting. And strawberries picking. Oh. B4 that go healesville zoo.

 

Day 6. Drive down to phillip island. Go makan at the pekican place at san remo.

Then go into island. Got see churchill island see cows. See goats. Etx. Nice scenery that place. Then go see koala santuary n finally penguins at nite.

 

Day 7. Drive to mornington penisula. Etc and finally back melbourne.

 

Day 8. Melbourne and back home

Hehe

[Beanoyip]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BywRBGjR84I

 

Melbourne has always have nice drives.. I think most ppl would do the Great ocean road, Morrington, but if you have a chance, try the Great Alpine Road, it's much more scenic. This was one of my Alpine drive up the mountains.. recommended for car lovers :)

Edited August 23, 2016 by Beanoyip

[Trex101]

Another great scenic place to drive will be at Kangaroo island, South Australia.

 

From Melbourne to Mount Gambier “blue lake”

Granite island, Victor Harbor

Kangaroo Island

Grampians National Park

Edited August 24, 2016 by Trex101

[Dleodleo]

  On 8/23/2016 at 3:28 AM, Mockngbrd said:

A week after that, we rented a Smart Fortwo and did a Yarra Valley daytrip, basically just visited the winerys after breakfast in town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How much did you spend?

 

Is it easy to drive in Melbourne?

 

[Mockngbrd]

  On 8/24/2016 at 2:33 AM, Dleodleo said:

How much did you spend?

 

Is it easy to drive in Melbourne?

 

Car rental was about $110 a day with full coverage insurance, we got a corporate rate, so we were able to get the big SUV. Airbnb a night was average around $150-$200. 

 

Driving in Melbourne is quite easy, not much more difficult than SG. Just have to be careful of speed limits when in the city and on highways. My friends who stay there say traffic junctions hav speed cams too. Speed limit in city generally is 40km/h, if lucky you get 50km/h. 

 

Out in the countryside, just be more aware of your surroundings. 

 

I actually gunned it in some sections of countryside and hilly roads on the return leg. (I was looking out for the speed cams on the initial drive up) but do it at your own risk. They don't play around with any allowance on speed if you get caught.