Melbourne Travel Forum

Hi,
We are a family of 4 (all Adult) from Malaysian. We need a comment from Melbourne/Victorian or Australian people regarding my itinerary. I had made a booking on the accommodations and car rental together with GPS already. You can kindly suggest any recommended activities to us. If driving, is the parking available easily at location mentioned below? and what is the average parking rate per hour?

Day 1,July 25 (5.00am): Drive from Melbourne airport to Apollo Bay (190km). Stop by along the Great Ocean Road for sunrise (what time is the sunrise during winter?). Check-in early at Apollo Bay Backpackers' Lodge, cook for breakfast and packed lunch. Without wasting any time, straight to Twelve Apostles at Port Campbell (another 92km driving). If had enough time, stop by at Otway Fly Treetop Walk.

Day 2, July 26 (6.00am): Drive from Apollo Bay to Phillip Island (325km). Passing thru' Lorne and Torquay. Stop by at any surfing shop (if open). Estimated time to arrive at A Maze N Things Phillip Island is around noon. Visit Penguin Parade, Koala Conservation Centre and Churchill Island.

Day 3, July 27: Drive as early as we can from Phillip Island to Lake Mountain Alphine Resort (190km). Take a sStandard 90 Minute Ski Lesson with Equipment cost AUD34/person. Spend the whole day here because we never experience the snow before. Later at late evening, drive to melbourne city and check-in at Melbourne International back. (AUD24pp/night)

Day 4, July 28: Today's plan is to go to Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne River Cruise (AUD29pp), Federation Square, Melbourne Museum and St. Kilda (for sunset)

Day 5, July 29: Today's plan is to go to Melbourne Sentral, Royal Botanic Garden, Street Art : Yarra River Gallery, Royal Exhibition Building and melbourne zoo. Return car at 11.00pm at d airport

Day 5, July 30: at 00:45, fly to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. End of our journey

sunrise in Melbourne on 25th July:07:27am sunset-17:27 ie 10h 00m 36s of sunlight ( Great O.R. should be slightly later)
you can bookmark http://www.timeanddate.com/ which gives much more than time of sunset and sun rise around the world. You are going to be busy on the road in the first few days.
Safe driving...de p.

Hi,
You will certainly be busy driving. If you got the distances and travel times off a gps or google mapping then add extra time from Airport to Apollo Bay as the Great Ocean Road is twisty with many bends and you need to drive slowly to be safe and also to see everything.

On the way back to Phillip Island don't go through Melbourne as it will be too far and slow but take the car ferry from Queenscliffe near Geelong to Sorrento on the Mornington Penninsula and then up and across to South Gippsland and Phillip Island.
Have you booked into the ski lesson as there have been bushfires in the Lake Mountain area but there is plenty of snow there now.

Any further questions - I will be happy to research and get back to you.

Cheers
Peter

Thanks Peter and Pedroswift. As this is our first time driving in Australia, yes for sure we will be extra careful. The thing I worried is the animal passing the road suddenly. At first I’m thinking of taking the ferry from Queenscliffe to Sorrento but from my research, the cost will be higher (need to pay the expensive ferry fare inclusive car) and the time taking will be longer because of the ferry fixed schedule and ferry slow moving. Am I right? Please correct me if I’m wrong. That’s why we decided to drive all the way from Apollo bay to Phillip Island. I believe the road is fine and much bigger than what we have in Malaysia. I haven’t booking the ski lesson yet because it is Friday (hoping not many people) and it’s depending on the weather, whether we can drive up to ski resort that day. If not possible, we will change our plan to Puffing Billy Train.

Hi again,
You do need to be careful about kangaroos, wallabies or wombats running across the roads but mainly only at night, late afternoons and early mornings in the country areas where trees are close to the roads.

The drive from Apollo Bay to Phillip Island via Melbourne is about 330km and will take a straight 5 hr drive which means you will get there in time for the penguins which come in after dark. The drive using the ferry will only be a little shorter and you are correct the ferry is costly.

The roads here are very good to all the places you are wanting to go to.

From Phillip Island you will not need to go back through Melbourne to get to Lake Mountain as it will be about a 200 km drive taking 3.5 hours through some very nice countryside. So you will want to leave early to get most of the day on the mountain (which is really high hills rather than very steep mountains) Your drive will take you to Healesville were there is a great native animal sanctuary then over the majestic Black Spur to Marysville (which was almost totally destroyed by bushfires in February but is now open for the ski tourists) it is then a 20 minute drive on the Woods Point/Lake Mountain road to the Resort.
Check out this website for all the information www.lakemountainresort.com.au

Check out www.puffingbilly.com.au for information on the PB train

Cheers Peter

Guys
Peter has really been helpful here. I will suggest that bring extra warm clothes for Philip Island and YES, a-maze n things is a fantastic place. A real highlight, make sure you take the time to visit. I dare you to do "the drop" :). The Koala park is across the road so if you have time, include this. Have fun guys.

Peter