Scenic routes: The Great Ocean Road
I visited Melbourne (a detailed article about Melbourne will be out soon!) with family in mid-August 2024 which was the tail-end of the winter season in Australia and I particularly enjoyed touring the Great Ocean Road. My family and I enjoy hassle free touring which means joining day tours rather than curating self-drives. Best of all, we get to interact with travellers of different nationalities by joining a tour.
The tour:
We booked the tour through Klook – one of my favourite travel websites to book tours – and it consisted of a full day tour with an early-morning pickup at our hotel and stops along the way for breakfast, lunch, and an early dinner, before returning to the city center at around 8.30pm. Checkout and book the tour using this link! https://affiliate.klook.com/redirect?aid=114850&aff_adid=1230352&k_site=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.klook.com%2Fen-US%2Factivity%2F89623-great-ocean-road-12-apostles-day-tour-melbourne%2F
Tips for a wonderful tour:
#1: Use every stop along the way to stretch your legs – the tour bus is a small, cozy one which meant tall people like me were folded up during the ride.
#2: Bring your own stash of snacks – during the pitstop for breakfast, there were other tourists and locals buying breakfast at the same stalls. If you add the time you need to also visit the toilet and stretch your legs, you’d realise you don’t have much time to queue for food. So, just bring your own!
That said, if you have some spare time, don’t miss out on a freshly brewed coffee from the local cafes! As a café and coffee enjoyer myself, I’d say Melbourne coffee does hit pretty good!
#3: The stop at Kennett River was not as interesting in my opinion, as we didn’t spot any koalas in the trees, and it was a long, uphill path which had no clear markers. I’d recommend having a snack during that stop to save your energy for the later parts of the trip.
#4: Wear durable shoes – the walk through the Rainforest Walk is no walk in the park (pun intended!). While it’s definitely do-able for any able-bodied person, I’d recommend you to wear durable shoes as some of the trails are slightly uneven/slippery.
#5: Don’t just visit the 12 Apostles – we paid for a helicopter ride along the coast to view other landmarks which are further out, such as The Arch, The Sentinel, and “London Bridge”. The 25-minute ride set us back AUD 195 per person – but it was so worth the experience. For one, the helicopter pilot provides a detailed explanation of each landmark; another huge benefit is you get to see ALL12 Apostles without the crowd AND more.
Expenses (per person, based on August 2024 exchange rates):
Full day tour: USD 120 (approx.. SGD 160 / AUD 200)
Breakfast (pastries + coffee): AUD 17 (approx.. SGD 15)
Snacks (bought from the supermarket the night before): AUD 7 (approx.. SGD 5)
Lunch (fish burger + fries + soft drink): AUD 27 (approx.. SGD 24)
Helicopter ride (not part of the tour): AUD 195 (approx..SGD 160)
Gratuities for the tour guide/driver: AUD 20 (approx.. SGD 16)
Total costs: SGD 380 (Without helicopter ride: SGD 220)
Final thoughts:
Beyond the scenic drive and stunning attractions, I’d like to draw attention to the underlying natural conservation efforts by the Melbourne city. Australia’s wildlife and stunning landscapes cannot be taken for granted – these are the fruits of a concerted effort by the country to preserve nature. So, before you fall asleep when the guide starts talking about Australia’s conservation efforts – take a moment to appreciate the efforts that have preserved the scenery and nature for which you’ve travelled the world over.
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