243 kilometers and one special week. The unique landscapes and the motorhome experience might bring the Great Ocean Road to the top of your bucket list.
What is it?
The Great Ocean Road is a route that runs along the southeastern coast of Australia, starting in Melbourne and ending at Port Fairy.
That is the official route at least, but in this guide I’ll tell you about extended road, or as I call it: The Great Ocean Road Plus, which begins in Sydney [click here to see the Guide for new year in Sydney], passes through the Blue Mountains (impressive), continues with the original route and ends in a hidden town to later drop off the motorhome at the city of Adelaide.
One week is the perfect time to make this Plus road. It’s well enough time to do it relaxed and with no hurries, and it also suits perfectly with the motorhome’s pick up and drop off times and places. Even more for those who will begin exploring Australia from its most iconic city.
Motorhome
The best way to do the Great Ocean Road Plus is on a motorhome (or as aussies call them: campers). And one week is the perfect timing, picking it up in Sydney and dropping it off in Adelaide.
If you don’t intend to go to Sydney or the Blue Mountains you can directly pick it up in Melbourne, but know that you would be missing and amazing part of the trip.
There are a lot of motorhome hire companies:
These are some of them. Britz and Apollo are the ones that have the best reputation. We went with Britz and our experience was very good.
Prices will vary depending on the season and on which camper model you choose. We paid about $1000 Australian dollars for the basic model, for two people, for one week in high season.
You’ll find campsites along the entire route. Australia is incredibly well prepared for motorhome traveling.
Some campsites are more expensive than others, depending on the services they provide. There also some free campsites which only provide a toilet and tap water.
You should download the app “Campermate” which shows you all the campsites available with information on prices and services for each of them.
DAY 1: Blue Mountains
- Pick up motorhome early in the morning.
01:15 hs ride to Blue Mountains
- In Blue Mountains visit:
– Sublime Point Lookout
– Echo Point and the Three Sisters
– Katoomba Cascades
– Narrow Neck Lookout
– Cahills Lookout (best spot to watch the sunset) - Campisite
DAY 2: Day on the Road
- Wake up and watch the sunrise at Evans Lookout
- Breakfast in Blackheath
09:00 hs ride to Seymore (an beautiful scenic route through the Australian countryside. Watch out for kangaroos!)
- Campsite
DAY 3: Melbourne and More
- Early breakfast in Seymore
01:30 hs ride to Melbourne
- In Melbourne visit:
– Royal Botanic Gardens
– Southbank
– Degraves Street
– Chapel Street
– Lunch at Victoria’s Market
00:40 hs ride to Bells Beach
- Bells Beach (the beach where the events in the movie Point Break happen)
- Campsite
DAY 4: The Great Ocean Road
01:45 hs ride to Apollo Bay
- Apollo Bay
- Cape Otway (Koalas on the way!)
- Lavers Hill
- Twelve Apostles (watch sunset)
- Campsite
DAY 5: Everything’s Nearby
- Lord Arch Gorge
- Port Campbell
- London Bridge
- The Grotto
- Bay of Islands
- Warrnambool (whale watching between June and September)
- Port Fairy
- Campsite
DAY 6: The Beginning of The End
06:00 hs ride to Hahndorf
- Spend the evening strolling around the picturesque German town of Hahndorf
- Campsite
DAY 7: Everything Comes to an End
00:30 hs ride to Adelaide
- In Adelaide visit:
– Botanic Gardens
– Rundle Mall
– Adelaide Arcade
– Lunch at Central Market - Drop off motorhome