The road passes through some fabulous towns and villages which add to the experience of the journey.  Virtually every meal has an ocean view, every stretch of the legs is a breath of fresh sea air.

Travelling by car from Melbourne

The Great Ocean Road is a 2-hour drive from the heart of Melbourne with dual lane highway conditions for most of the journey and excellent signposting.

Travel via the Princes Highway over the West Gate Bridge to the bayside city of Geelong. From here you can explore the beautiful Bellarine Peninsula or take the Surf Coast Highway to the famous surf town of Torquay. For over 400 kilometres, from Torquay to Nelson on the South Australian border, the Great Ocean Road provides some of the most impressive coastal scenery in Australia.

Alternatively, take the inland route by following the Princes Highway from Geelong to Warrnambool past rich farmland and picturesque country towns.

Things to See and Do

Experience a diverse array of things to see and do in the Great Ocean Road region from outdoor activities such as surfing, scuba diving and sea kayaking to arts, cultural and heritage attractions. Admire the stunning coastline on the Great Ocean Walk and enjoy fine dining, local winemakers and fresh produce along the way. Indulge in some relaxation therapy at an invigorating day spa or shop for local delicacies, surfing gear and collectibles. Join a tour group and see the famous 12 Apostles or take a self-guided drive along the spectacular Great Ocean Road.

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. The reef is less than half a kilometre offshore in some areas, such as Coral Bay.

you can either drive from Perth or fly to Exmouth and drive down the peninsula. There are many accommodation options ranging from bush camping to resorts. A favorite accommodation hot spot is the small town of Coral Bay where there are a number of caravan and camping parks, resorts and a youth hostel.

You can arrange all your tours from Coral bay or just relax and explore the area and the reef on your own.

Located 240 kilometres east of Darwin in Australia’s tropical north, Kakadu National Park is Australia’s largest terrestrial national park. Kakadu covers almost 20,000 square kilometres and is a place of enormous ecological and biological diversity. It extends from the coast and estuaries in the north through floodplains, billabongs and lowlands to rocky ridges and stone country in the south. These landscapes are home to a range of rare and endemic plants and animals, including more than one-third of Australia’s bird species and one-quarter of its freshwater and estuarine fish species.

Culture

Kakadu is considered a living cultural landscape. The traditional owners Bininj Mungguy have lived on and cared for this country for more than 50,000 years. Their deep spiritual connection to the land dates back to the Creation and has always been an important part of the Kakadu story.

World Heritage listing

The extraordinary natural beauty and ancient cultural heritage of this land was recognised internationally in 1981 when it was first inscribed on the World Heritage list. Further land was added to the listing in 1987 and 1992. In 2011, the Koongarra land, which had previously been excluded from the listing because of its potential uranium resources, was added to the Kakadu World Heritage Area following decades of lobbying by Koongarra’s senior custodian Jeffrey Lee. The land is now part of Kakadu National Park, protecting its significant cultural and heritage values for future generations.

Joint management

Today, the World Heritage-listed park remains well protected by a board of management, which has an Aboriginal majority representing the traditional owners. This arrangement showcases to the world how ‘joint management’ can combine ancient culture and modern practice.

Freycinet is a great place to go bird watching. You may be lucky enough to see a white-bellied sea-eagle gliding overhead or large Australasian gannet diving for food in the ocean.

 Freycinet National Park offers a wide variety of activities. Take a walk to the pass overlooking the perfectly shaped Wineglass Bay, trek the entire length of the Freycinet Peninsula on an three day walk or try less strenuous activities like beach strolls, swimming or wildlife spotting.

When visiting Hahndorf, the most striking features that greet visitors are the over 100 year old elm and plane trees that line the Main street and the original ‘Fachwerk’ buildings, many beautifully maintained or restored to original conditions.  While the town retains its strong German heritage, new, exciting and chic businesses have emerged adding to the atmosphere of a premium holiday destination.  Hahndorf has a unique ‘village feel’ about it and the Main Street is lined with eateries, souvenir and gift shops, clothing and leather goods and craft outlets and galleries.  There are two pubs offering authentic German fare and several cafes, restaurants and smallgoods outlets making Hahndorf an ideal place for a day out with family or friends.

The Adelaide Hills produces some of the finest cold-climate wines, world-wide.  There are several Wineries and Cellar doors located at some of the most beautiful locations in or near Hahndorf offering wines and delicious meals prepared using the finest local ingredients.  Beerenberg, a pick your own fruit farm and the Farm Barn add to the attraction of the town.  The Cedars, former home of the renowned Australian landscape artist Hans Heysen is open to the public and the Hahndorf Academy, which exhibits the works of local artists and houses the new Visitor Information Centre is an essential location to visit to get into the spirit of Hahndorf.  Accommodation options in Hahndorf are plenty and range from the basic to the most modern and chic.  This makes Hahndorf the ideal gateway to a visit to the Adelaide Hills and surrounding regions including the Fleurieu Peninsula and Murray Riverland.   The versatile offering of Hahndorf means there is something for everybody.

While many visitors come to Hahndorf to get a glimpse of the past, Hahndorf is increasingly acknowledged for the modern and the chic and generally a trendy place to wine and dine or to hang out with friends.  Hahndorf has become a unique town where you can walk the past and taste the future.

For more attractions and events visit the Events page.  For detailed listings of businesses in and around Hahndorf, search the Businesses of Hahndorf.

Bar finds
Make a break from the mainstream, down alleys covered in stencil work, lightboxes and sculptures that seem to exist only to provide the address for quirky bars. Check out Bar Americano in Presgrave Place, Section 8 in Tattersalls Lane, Croft Institute in Croft Alley and Cherry Bar in ACDC Lane. Find other unassuming addresses that reveal themselves to be velvety jazz clubs and flashy wine bars, or bare-bone student hangouts and dimly-lit hideaways.

Old favourites
Never forget those tried and true laneways, favoured for their reliability. Meyer’s Place still hosts the eponymous bar plus no-fuss Italian amico Waiters Restaurant, while the Pellegrini’s welcome to Crossley Street is an institution. Hardware Lane, Degraves Street and Centre Place are vying to feed you and ensure you look the part.

Visual arts
On the off chance that a tiny laneway isn’t hiding a boozy dens or caffeine lairs, you’re likely to find colourful street art as part of the annual Laneway Commissions. See anything from neon animals in Cocker Alley to video installations in Manchester Lane and paste-ups in Westwood Place.

More secret art can be uncovered in the galleries that line Guildford Lane. Duck into the old red-brick furniture warehouses and printing suppliers and find lofts showcasing temporary exhibitions, video art at Screen Space, as well as independent art and exceptional opening parties at Utopian Slumps.

Somerset preening
Menfolk who give a hoot about the cut of their jib should make their way to Somerset Place and neighbouring Rankins Lane to Comeback Kid and Captains of Industry for streetwear, bespoke footwear, made-to-measure attire, and good grooming. Ride away with a takeaway coffee and custom wheels from The Little Mule Cycle Company & Cafe.

How to get there
By tram: Any tram along Swanston or Elizabeth streets.

Free Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle: Hop on and off at any of the 13 stops along the route. The complete trip takes approximately an hour and a half. The bus runs every 30 minutes between 9.30am and 4.30pm daily (excluding Christmas Day) and includes an on-board commentary.

The historical landing is celebrated by 1770 every year in May with the Captain Cook 1770 Festival. During the festivities, the town holds a reenactment of the landing which occurred on the 24 May 1770. There’s also a street parade, markets, live music and of course plenty of fresh sea food to consume. A major focus of the festival is to celebrate the local indigenous community.

Activities

1770 may be a small village however, there’s plenty to keep you entertained. The crystal clear waters make it a perfect location to visit the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef for snorkeling and scuba diving trips. You can also visit Lady Musgrove Island or the waters of Fitzroy Reef Lagoon.

It’s also the last stop travelling north where you’ll be able to catch a wave. You can explore further with a 4wd or with a kayak and there’s plenty of walks in the surrounding National Parks.

Alternatively, you can just find a quiet spot to sit and relax on an isolated beach. There’s plenty around.

Accomodation

You’ll find plenty of accommodation to suit your needs in either 1770 or in the larger town of Agnes Waters. There are a number of caravan parks, backpackers and resort style accommodation.
One of our favorites is Cool Bananas. Cool Bananas is famed for being a clean, cheap backpackers in Agnes Waters which offers those staying a friendly and safe environment along with plenty of organised activities. Click for more information.

You can search and book for more accommodation through bookings.com