GREAT OCEAN ROAD 5 DAY TOUR
See the natural coastal wonder of the Great Ocean Road, the Coorong wetlands, Mount Gambier and the Limestone coast, Tantanoola and Naracoorte Caves, Warrnambool and the ship wreck coast, Apollo Bay and the Coonawarra wine region.
Day One
Depart Adelaide at 9am for Mount Gambier, travelling via the South Eastern Freeway to Murray Bridge then on to the Princess Highway.Travel along the Coorong wetlands area, an inland sea of shallow lagoons where the River Murray meets the sea to Kingston South East. At Kingston visit the Analemmetic Sun Dial (one of only eight in the World). After lunch continue to Mount Gambier visiting the South East towns of Robe, Beachport, Millicent and Tantanoola. At Tantanoola visit the Tantanoola Caves (at own expense).
Overnight historic Mount Gambier Gaol.
Day Two
Today visit the Little Blue Lake, Allendale East Sinkhole, Dingley Dell (restored cottage housing personal effects of the Australian Poet Adam Lindsey Gordon), Port MacDonnell to see the Petrified Forest, where the Southern Ocean once used to be. After lunch travel along the coastline to Ewin Ponds and Piccannie Ponds. Next stop is Nelson for a cruise on the Glenelg river. Explore this premium waterway of high limestone cliff gorges in comfort cruising to the spectacular Princess Margaret Cave (at own expense, if time permits).In the afternoon head to Warrnambool and the region known as the Shipwreck Coast, so called for the number of ships that came to grief in the surrounding waters (more than 1,500 ships have foundered and only 500 wrecks have been discovered).
Overnight Warrnambool.
Day Three
After breakfast discover more about the history of ship wrecks in the area at the Warrnambool Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum. This life size village reflects the atmosphere of a coastal Port in the 19th Century where many of the original buildings can be seen. An optional helicopter flight is available (at own expense) from the Warrnambool breakwater.
Depart for Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road travelling through Port Campbell, Lavers Hill and the Otway National Park. It is along this section of the Great Ocean Road that the flat coastal plains end in a series of vertical cliffs, caverns, archways, blowholes and offshore rock stacks.
See the spectacular rock formations of the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, The Grotto, London Bridge, Sentinel Rock and the Blow Hole. Climb to the top of Tower Hill for magnificent ocean views of Warrnambool and surrounds. Visit Cape Otway Lighthouse in the Otway National Park, first operated in August 1848.
Overnight Apollo Bay.
Day Four
Two tour options available today.
Option One: Depart Apollo Bay at 9am approximately and travel to Lorne. Visit Erskine Falls, Henderson Falls and Won Wondah Falls. Return to Mount Gambier via the Great Ocean Road.
Option two: Travel inland to the Great Ocean Road hinterland, a region of contrasts from lush temperate forests to massive volcanic plains, soaring cliffs, rugged mountains giving way to rolling hills with pine plantations, wide expanses of farmland around ancient landmarks from blunted caps of extinct volcanoes to floating islands and massive lakes.
See the mysterious floating islands in a pool at Stony Rises just past Colac. Stop at Laura Lookout for wonderful views of the lakes district. Overnight Mount Gambier Gaol.
Day Five
Today depart at 9am approximately for return journey to Adelaide, travelling via the Coonawarra wine region. Sample local wines en route and visit the Naracoorte Caves World Heritage area and Bool Lagoon wetlands area.
Follow the Dukes Highway to Murray Bridge then continue on to Adelaide via the South Eastern Freeway, arriving at 6pm.
Includes:
- Pick up within the inner Adelaide metropolitan area by arrangement.
- Five days 4WD touring.
- Four nights twin share accommodation.
- Breakfast on day two, three, four and five.
- Dinner on day one, two, three and four.
- Morning and afternoon tea.
Excludes:
- All other meals, unless specified in itinerary.
- Admission to attractions, unless specified in itinerary.
- Mobile phone calls, souvenirs, optional tours and personal items.
ADELAIDE TO MELBOURNE VIA THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD 5 DAY TOUR
Day One
Depart Adelaide approximately 9:00AM for Mount Gambier via the South Eastern Freeway where we join the Princes Highway at Murray Bridge. We travel along the Coorong (A Wetland of International Importance, the Coorong and the adjoining Lower Murray Lakes stretch from the mouth of the Murray to north of Kingston. Less than 3 kilometres wide, it is an Inland Sea of shallow lagoons). At Kingston South East we visit the Analemmetic Sun Dial (one of only eight in the world).
After lunch we head to Mount Gambier visiting the South East towns of Robe, Beachport, Millicent and Tantanoola. At Tantanoola we visit Tantanoola Caves (own expense).
Overnight Mount Gambier Jail, which was built in 1866 and used up to 1995.
(Motel accommodation is also available.)
Day Two
We visit Little Blue Lake, Allendale East sinkhole, Port Macdonnell (where we see The Petrified Forest, when the Southern Ocean was at the continental shelf and trees covered the coastline).
After lunch we travel along this magnificent coastline to Ewin Ponds and Piccannie Ponds. Nelson is our next stop, where we enjoy a cruise on the Glenelg River viewing the magnificent high limestone cliffs of the gorge whilst exploring this premium waterway in comfort, to the spectacular Princess Margaret Rose Cave. (Own expense, if time permits).
Port Fairy is our destination this afternoon. This region is known as the Shipwreck Coast for the number of ships that came to grief in the surrounding waters (more than 1500 ships foundered along this coastline - only 500 have been discovered). These wrecks can be recounted in detail in Warrnambool's Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum .
Overnight Port Fairy.
Day Three
After breakfast we head to The Grampians spending the day exploring this magnificent region. Overnight Port Fairy .
Day Four
After breakfast we head to Warrnambool where we visit the Warrnambool's Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum (optional). This life-size village reflects the atmosphere of a coastal port in the 19th Century. A walk around will enable you to enjoy the array of buildings, including the original lighthouse keepers' cottage privy, chart room/common school, two operating lighthouses, the coastal fortification and the flagstaff from which the site derived its name. An option this morning is a helicopter flight (own expense) from the Warrnambool breakwater.
Leaving Warrnambool, we head toward Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road travelling through Port Campbell, Lavers Hill, Otway National Park and Apollo Bay. It is along this section of the Great Ocean Road the flat coastal plains terminate in a series of vertical cliffs, caverns, archways, blowholes and offshore rock stacks. It is here we see the spectacular rock formations of The Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, The Grotto, London Bridge, Sentinel Rock and The Blow Hole. The Blow Hole is a large hole about 350 metres inland from the cliffs. Waves rush into it through a tunnel from the sea, the entrance to which can be seen from the cliffs.
At Lavers Hill we visit Tower Hill. It is believed to have been formed 30,000 years ago by a volcanic eruption. Violent explosions created a shallow crater 11 kilometres in circumference, which now holds a lake. A climb to the Tower Hill peak offers spectacular views of the ocean, Warrnambool and surrounding farmland. From Lavers Hill we visit Cape Otway Lighthouse in the Otway National Park. The lighthouse has been a valuable navigational aid since its light first operated in August 1848. The light, at a height of 91 metres, has a range of 38 kilometres in clear weather. We now make our way to Apollo Bay for over night stop.
Day Five
Depart Apollo Bay approximately 9:00AM and head to Lorne where we visit Erskine Falls, Henderson Falls and Won Wondah Falls. Melbourne is our destination via Geelong.
Includes:
- Accommodation (single)
- Breakfasts days 2 ,3,4 &5,
- Dinner days 1, 2,3 & 4
- Morning & afternoon teas,
- Pick up/drop off at your accommodation.
Excludes:
- All other meals, unless specified in itinerary.
- Admission to attractions, unless specified in itinerary.
- Mobile phone calls, souvenirs, optional tours and personal items.
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