Great Ocean Road and Other Places
Great Ocean Road
Stop Press: Itinerary Change
Due to a number of factors, and after consultation with those who have booked for the trip, we have decided to shorten the itinerary, dropping the South Australia components of the planned trip.
The planned trip will now be:
8-15 October, 2023
Due to the need to confirm hotel bookings, bookings for this trip must close on 14 August, 2023. If you wish to join the run please contact organisers and we will provide details of accommodation you will need to book for yourselves
Travelling the Great Ocean Road in an open top sports car is a bucket list item for many people. Getting there and back can open up many more wonderful experiences.
Overview
The tour will take 8 days, starting in Narooma and ending at Cooma. Note: It will be possible to join tour at Bombala coffee stop. The first two days will largely be driving, albeit along the scenic route which will get us to the real start of our adventure at Sorrento.
At a more leisurely pace, starting with a ferry across Port Philip Bay, we will spend two days exploring the sights along the Great Ocean Road. We will then commence our return journey through Victoria’s Grampians National Park. Finally, we will spend a day in Ballarat, visiting Sovereign Hill before the return journey through the foothills of the Victorian High Country and along the Murray River Valley to Cooma in the Snowy Mountains.
Registration
A number of people have provided an expression of interest and they will be given first opportunity to book. There is an absolute limit of six cars for the trip, dictated by accommodation availability. Bookings will be accepted in the order received via the “Book Now” button. A wait list will be created for any excess bookings.
Detailed itineraries will be provided to the successful registrants.
Accommodation
Reservations have been made at all planned stopovers. Details of accommodation and booking requirements will be given to all successful registrants allowing individual bookings. Note that at some establishments there is a variety of accommodation at varying prices. Group bookings have been made in the name of the MX5 Club.
Participants will need to confirm their individual bookings.
Costings
We have made some rough costings for the tour.
Accommodation – Approx $1300 depending on standard of room selected.
Fuel – Distance covered will be approx. 2350 Kms. At 7 l/100Km and $2 a litre, cost would be approx. $320
Tours, Entry Fees, Ferry etc Sorrento ferry (car + 2) $87;
Food – Consider whether café breakfasts or a bowl of muesli will be your choice. Lunch will sometimes be picnic oriented and dinners will be oriented to bistro style establishments, or use of motel provided BBQ facilities.
There are many ways to execute a trip such as ours, from organised bus tours, caravans and campers or even a convoy of SUVs.
A large part of this adventure and the spirit of the experience is travelling light in an open top sports car with limited carrying capacity. Some of us have done such a trip and overcome the challenge of packing only the essentials and washing clothes overnight or at multi day stops along the way.
The organisers prefer that you plan to use your MX5 but please advise if special needs require planning to travel in a vehicle other than an MX5.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Sunday 8 October – Narooma to Metung via Bombala, Cann River. Distance 415 Km, Driving time 5 hours.
Day 2 – Monday 9 October – Metung to Sorrento via Sale, Foster, San Remo, Mornington. Distance 403 Km, Driving time 5 hours.
Day 3 – Tuesday 10 October - Sorrento to Apollo Bay via Torquay (Bell’s Beach), Lorne, Wye River. Distance 150 Km, Travel Time 4.5 hours, includes a ferry trip costing $87 (car and two passengers)
Day 4 – Wednesday 11 October - Apollo Bay to Portland via Warrnambool, Port Fairy. Distance 278 Km, Travel Time 4 hours. Detour to Cape Otway
Day 5 – Thursday 12 October – Portland to Ballarat via Halls Gap and Grampians National Park. Distance 321 Km Travel time 3.75 hours. Sightseeing around Halls Gap.
Day 6 – Friday 13 October – Ballarat – day excursion to Sovereign Hill. Options include Eureka Museum, Tram Museum.
Day 7 – Saturday 14 October - Ballarat to Beechworth via Daylesford, Seymour, Mansfield, Glenrowan. Distance 418 Km Travel time 5 hours
Day 8 – Sunday 15 October -Beechworth to Cooma via Corryong, Cabramurra, Adaminaby. Distance 334 Km Travel time 4.25 hours. Farewell Dinner in Cooma. End of trip. Independent travel home.
