Peterborough, Australia
Total driving time from AirBnB MEL to Petersborough approximately 4 hr and 30 min
Cheaper fuel stops include Torquay, Apollo Bay and Warrnambool (avoid Lorne and Port Campbell).
Plan:
6:30 AM leave MEL
8:15 Arrive Aireys Inlet
8:45 Arrive at Lorne
- Eat Breakfast
- Koala Spotting (Sharps Campground)
- 10:00 Drive to Erskine Falls -- return to Lorne by 11:00
11:30 Arrive at Kenneth River
11:45 Drive to Apollo Bay -- Arrive 12:15ish
- Lunch at Apollo Bay (till 13:15)
13:30 Arrive at Maits Rest Rainforest Walk (20 min walk)
14:00 Drive to Cape Otway Light House (Arrive by 14:25)
14:45 Drive to Peterborough (Arrive by 16:15ish)
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March 9 Get up and leave around 7:00 - 7:30
- Gibson Steps (22min): good view of 12 Apostels
- 12 Apostles (2min): viewpoint
- Loch Ard George (5 min): Tom and Eva Lookout
- The Arch (16 min): viewpoint
- London Bridge (3 min): viewpoint
- The Grotto (5 min): viewpoint
- Bay of Martyrs (9 min): viewpoint
- Bay of Islands (4min): viewpoint
- Childers Cove (21 min): nice beach similar to Loch Ard George and less crowded
- Port Fairy (1 hour): cute town, eat fish
Option: Griffith Island Circuit (2.9km/34 min).
Eat at: The Farmers Wife Harvest Cafe -- good GF/Vegan options
Option to visit: https://www.basaltwines.com.au/wine/ -- also does food
Drive back to Peterborough at the latest 12:30 PM (1 hr drive)
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March 10
Drive from Peterborough to Beech Forest (1hr 25 min):
- Hopetoun Falls 0.6 km (15 min)
- Redwood Otways 0.8 km (10 min) 4WD (according to Dominik)
- Beauchamp Falls 2.7 km (48 mins)
- Triplet Falls 1.77 km (33 mins)
Drive to MEL (2 hr 30 min) option to stop in Geelong (1hr 30 min) for food.
All options:
Stops:
- Torquay (1hr 25): Beach town, not much to see/do but maybe coffee?
- Bells Beach (13 min): Famous Surfing Town
- Point Addis Boardwalk (7 min): Picture/5 min walk around
- Aireys Inlet (22 min): Panorama at the light house
- Eastern View near Aireys Inlet has the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch (picture spot).
- Lorne (22 min): coffee, stroll, hike -- Koala spotting at Sharps Campground
6 min drive (one way) to allenvale carparke to see phantom falls (3.5 km walk)
12 min drive (one way) to Sheoke picknic area -- 1hr 32 min hike to Lower
Kalimna Falls [not super impressive]
12 min drive (one way) to Sheoke picnic area -- 1hr 15 min hike to Henderson
Falls or
14 min drive one way (one way) to Erskine Falls Parking -- 22 min hike to
Erskine Falls. This one actually has pretty good reviews and is by far the
easiest option.
4 min drive (one way) to Teddy's lookout: viewpoint.
- Kenneth River (30 min): Koala spotting -- Grey River Road
- Cape Patton Lookout (7 min): view/picture
- Apollo Bay (1 hr drive): Stroll, eat fish
Option:
Wildlife Wonders Sanctuary -- 75 min tour (59 AUD pp)
Marriner's lookout (when you drive into Apollo Bay)
- Maits Rest Rainforest Walk (17 min): 20 min boardwalk through the rainforest
Detour: Beech Forest
- Hopetoun Falls 0.6 km (15 min)
- Redwood Otways 0.8 km (10 min)
- Beauchamp Falls 2.7 km (48 mins)
- Triplet Falls 1.77 km (33 mins)
- Cape Otway (36 min detour, one way): lighthouse and koala spotting along Cape Otway Road
Many hike options: e.g. Crayfish Bay to Cape Otway: 6.28km (1.5 hours)
- Gibson Steps (1hr): good view of 12 Apostels
- 12 Apostles (1hr): viewpoint
- Loch Ard George (5 min): Tom and Eva Lookout
- The Arch (16 min): viewpoint
- London Bridge (3 min): viewpoint
- The Grotto (5 min): viewpoint
- Petersborough (6 min)
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March 9
Option: 9:00 AM Skydive (429 AUD pp)
- Bay of Martyrs (4 min): viewpoint
- Bay of Islands (4min): viewpoint
- Childers Cove (21 min): nice beach similar to Loch Ard George and less crowded
- Port Fairy (1 hour): cute town, eat fish
Option: Griffith Island Circuit (2.9km/34 min).
Eat at: The Farmers Wife Harvest Cafe -- good GF/Vegan options
Option to visit: https://www.basaltwines.com.au/wine/ -- also does food