Melbourne Travel Forum

Hi ,
We are two families visiting Melbourne later this month. I've always finalised by travel plans only after taking tips from this forum, so gotta couple of queries this time too. We will be in Melbourne just for a couple of days and want to do the great ocean road drive.....

1) We have just one day for the great ocean road drive and cannot have an overnight trip. In that case, would it be better for us to take a tour or just do the drive by ourselves??

2) If a tour is better, which tour company is the best. We would like to see the apostles also in our day trip. What would be cost of the tour? Should we book online or is it better to do the booking of this tour after reaching Melbourne??

3)We will be staying at St. Kilda...any suggestions on how to spend our second day sightseeing??

Thanx a million to all of you in advance!!

Rgds,
Nazima.

what kind of thing do you like to do???

do you want to check out the art galleries and museums or go up the rialto tower or go to the victoria market or do a tour tyo see the penguins at Phillip Island?

a good start is to catch the free tram that does a city loop - it's a brownish maroon shade

or go to the tourist info office at federation square and ask them to steer you to what you might enjoy

You really can't do justice to the GOR in a one day drive or tour. If you really want to do the GOR then I'd suggest dropping staying in StKilda and instead enjoy the GOR with an overnight stop in Apollo Bay. Self drive would be a cheaper option for you all.

If you really want to do the GOR I would suggest to do a day tour.
This way you will see it, even if it is just a glance:)
The coaches are of good standard and it will be comfortable, not driving and hurrying along the way. Sometimes we just have to do this as time is a factor.
aatkings.com.au is one that does it and have a good repertation.

As for a day in Melbourne, well there is lots to do and I suggest you wear good walking shoes and start early:)
As Jen hamentioned the free Tram ride is excellent as it stops at different places and you can jump off and on as you like.
I think the Museum is wonderful.
A walk along South Bank area and maybe a short boat trip along the river, these are at Southbank.
Federation Square is worth a look see, I think it's great.
The Art Gallery is also worth a visit.
Docklands has the big wheel you can have a ride on ( tram stops near here) and also lots of cafe's to have a coffee, plus retail outlets there as well.
A walk around the city area, just taking in the atmosphere is fun.
If you aren't too exhausted you could take the kids to Luna Park, which is in St Kilda, it opens some nights, not sure what nights:)
There is also the aquarium, which the tram stops outside of, this is a good thing for kids to see.
Melbourne offers lots, have a fun filled day:)

I wouldn't do the Phillip Island thing, as you will miss out on the Melbourne day experience.

>Docklands has the big wheel you can have a ride on

That won't be operational for at least 12 months - Melbs biggest white elephant (worked for 2 months - sort of - then parts buckled in the extreme heat in Feb and is now closed down, to be taken down and re-built)

Oh dear, what a money machine that will be!!!
I was lucky to get a ride on it in Jan.

I just got back from my trip to Melbourne and I drove the Great Ocean Road. I did the drive in one day and it can be done....but, I agree that an overnight stay half way down the road would be better. The drive takes about 4-5 hours one way (I drove it a bit faster :) ) and you still have to account for the drive back which can be about 3-4 hours if you drive inland. If you drive, be sure to start early in the morning so that you can account for multiple stops along the way. One option is to actually drive the road in reverse. Go from Geelong to Port Campbell via the A1 and then drive back up to Geelong along the coastal road. The reason: You can get to the 12 Apostles quicker and not have to worry about the time factor when you are driving. I passed some nice scenery including a lighthouse because I wanted to make sure I got to the 12 Apostles at a decent time. Once I was driving down the road, I wish I would have done it in reverse. I like the driving option because you control when you want to stop and look etc. With a tour, you will be on their schedule.