Great Ocean Road 5 Day Tour by Just Cruisin 4WD Tours

Tour Itinerary

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 motel

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 motel

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 (can also drop off in Melbourne)

CONTACT:

Phone: +61 8 83830962

Mobile: 0414 807 891

Email: cruisin2@tpg.com.au

Internet: www.justcruisin4wdtours.com.au