Great Ocean Road

DAY 1

ALBURY WODONGA - TORQUAY MONDAY 17TH FEBRUARY 2025
Welcome aboard Martins touring coach for departure from Lavington Shopping Centre Griffith Road 7.30am, Albury Railway Station 7.45am, Wodonga Plaza Smythe Street 8.00am and Wangaratta Coles Perry Street 8.50am for our five day tour to the Great Ocean Road. Follow the Hume Freeway bypassing Melbourne and arriving for lunch at the Altona Sports Club. This afternoon we visit National Wool Museum with its many displays dealing with the arts of shearing, wool cleaning, classing, pressing and dispatching. From here its not far to Torquay and our overnight accommodation.
Accommodation: The Sands Resort, Torquay Ph: (03) 5273 5526

DAY 2

THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD TUESDAY 18 TH FEBRUARY
Australia’s Great Ocean Road is known as one of the most dramatic coastal drives in the world. The coastline, although extremely dangerous for the early sailors, is absolutely spectacular. Leaving our hotel, we pass through The Great Otway National Park and arrive in Lavers Hill for our lunch stop, then pass through Winkypop and see the famous Bells Beach, continuing by Aireys Inlet on our way to Lorne for our morning stop. Our touring follows the stunning coastline through Wye River, Skenes Creek and Apollo Bay, then moves away from the coast, as we pass The Great Otway National Park and arrive in Lavers Hill for our lunch stop. After a bite to eat here we spend our afternoon looking at the best vantage points in the area known as the Shipwreck Coast. Stopping at Gibsons Steps, the Twelve Apostles, followed by Loch Ard Gorge, we veer away from the coast at Port Campbell and arrive in Warrnambool late afternoon.
Accommodation: Best Western Olde Maritime (3 nights) Warrnambool Ph: (03) 5561 1415

DAY 3

WARRNAMBOOL WEDNESDAY 19TH FEBRUARY
This morning we will meet our local guide for a sightseeing tour of Warrnambool where gardens are a feature. The Warrnambool Botanic Gardens were planned by William Guilfoyle. He later became a director of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne. We also take a look at the Fletcher Jones Gardens and have some free time to look through the Fletcher Jones Market. This afternoon we visit the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. Supported by the local community this delightful complex authentically recreates the appearance, atmosphere and activities apparent in a small coastal port during the 50 years prior to 1900. It presents and preserves material, artefacts and vessels relating to Australia’s early maritime museum. Tonight, we relive that era with the Light and Sound performance – “Tales of the Shipwrecked Coast”. 

DAY 4

PORT FAIRY & PORTLAND THURSDAY 20TH FEBRUARY
This morning we depart Warrnambool and take a sightseeing drive through the Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve on our way to Port Fairy. Here we meet a local guide who will enlighten us to the inside stories of Port Fairy before following the coast to Portland, Victoria’s first permanent white settlement.  It is built on Portland Bay which is the only deep water port between Adelaide and Melbourne. We make our way to the Portland Cable Tram Depot for an inspection of the depot museum with all the fabulous vintage cars and memorabilia and enjoy lunch here before we hop on board for our tram tour which takes one of the most scenic tram tracks in Australia. The track runs along Henty Beach, giving a close-up view of a working, natural deep-water harbour, before climbing to the cliff top giving panoramic views of the harbour and Portland Bay. It then passes alongside the historically significant 'ploughed field' on the way to the World War II Memorial Lookout Tower.  The trams used are restored saloon cars and an exact replica of a grip car. While cable trams were originally propelled by gripping underground cables, Portland's trams are driven by a concealed diesel engine in an original and otherwise authentic cable tram. Our touring this afternoon concludes at the Maritime Discovery Centre. The museum’s permanent display documents the region’s maritime history including whaling, shipwrecks and the local fishing industry. The centrepiece of the museum is the 1858 Portland lifeboat, famous for its role in the ‘Admella’ rescue of 1859. The lifeboat is one of the oldest remaining unrestored, intact vessels in Australia.

DAY 5

WARRNAMBOOL – WODONGA / ALBURY FRIDAY 21ST FEBRUARY
We farewell Warrnambool this morning and make our way to Bendigo. We have free time to purchase lunch and have a quick look around town before heading back to Albury.

TOUR COST

$2360.00 Per Person Twin/Double Share
$2532.00 Single Supplement

INCLUDES

Coach travel for duration of tour
Accommodation on basis as booked
Meals as indicated on itinerary
Entrances to atttractions as per itinerary

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner