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Great Ocean Road Victoria-ROad trip planning?

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jp9094:
Hi all,

Especially our Australian members. I am visiting the grandkids in Melbourne March/April 2024. I have rented a BMW r 1200 GS for 4 days and 3 nights. Pickup on a Monday at noon in South Melbourne and returning it at noon that Thursday.

My question is : should I ride to the end of the road via the Inland route (2 1/2 hours) for the first night stop or ride to the 12 Apostles via the Ocean Road  (M 100) with a 4 1/2 hour travel time the 1st night. If I do that, I will ride to the end of the road and return overnighting at Apollo Bay for the second night.

If anyone has any experience or advice I am very willing to listen to it!

TIA

Burt:
Hi JP, 

I rode the GOR two months ago.  After arriving from northern Victoria we stayed in Warrnambool, so rode in an easterly direction, jumped on the ferry at Queenscliff and stayed that night in Healsville.  However during our trip it was wet and windy.  I can report that the speed limit is back to 80km/hr. 

If you are coming out of Melbourne then the Princess Hwy to Geelong is a relatively easy and open road and a good place to acquaint yourself with riding on the correct side of the road.  If you have the GS then probably a good idea to ride the GOR in both directions, especially if coming from so far away.  It will give you a greater appreciation that way.  Stay in Warrnambool but make sure you book accommodation as some of the motels are being refurbished.  We rode around for a while to get one as a lot are booked out with various work contractors. 

We stopped at London Bridge and The Arch, then whilst at the 12 Apostles decided to push on as we had to catch the ferry at 3:00pm.  It is a major stop but lots of parking with a large shop, etc.  It was quite windy, as I mentioned before.  We gave Cape Otway a miss but maybe next time.  Apollo Bay was our lunch stop with a huge popular bakery and public toilets.  This is where the tourist buses stretch their legs. 

From there to Anglesey is where the twisty bits are and it is now 80km/hr limit which is suitable.  North eastern Victoria is where the mountains are and the rest is relatively flat.  Lots of history there, vineyards up north along the Murray River. 

North of Healsville has some great roads.  If you can ride the Reefton Spur (C511 - 18kms) just east of there, you will thank me later.  Oh, and buy the HEMA maps when you get here.  They are about the best ones around and petrolspy.com.au is your friend. 

I should be riding east Gippsland early March so our paths won't cross, as I live a lot further north. 

You will be there for the start of the Aussie Rules (AFL) season, so try and get along to a game at the MCG.  It is Australia's premier and most historic sports ground. 

jp9094:
Hi Burt,

Thanks for the info! I lived in Western Australia for more than 25 years, so have experience riding on the "wrong" side of the road. I arrive 3 weeks before the trip so should be acclimatized before I pick up the bike. It sounds as if going directly to the end of the road first, than making my way back to Melbourne may be the way to go. I am having the accommodation organized by a tour company, but need to let them know in advance. For now the plan is : 1st day MEL-WAR and overnight (I pick up the bike in the afternoon). 2nd Day WAR-APOLLO Bay and overnight. 3rd Day APP- TORQUAY. Then return MEL for noon return of M/C.

What thinks you?

TIA,

Burt:

So, you're nearly an Aussie then? 

For the times you have allocated in your first message, when thinking about them they are very generous, so you could extend the trip or spend a lot of time looking around, although I am sure you want to ride and not sight see. 

Options I see are:
1.  Ride inland to Warrnambool and head further west to Portland or to Mount Gambier in SA and then stay at Warrnabool that night
2.  Ride the GOR to Warrnambool, stay there the night and ride the GOR in the opposite direction the next day
3.  Ride to Warrnambool via the inland route (choice of two) then on to Appolo Bay and stay the night there.  This way you will have a
     chance to stop and view the local stop off points.  The following day head home or the next stage.

From there, you could catch the ferry across the heads from Queenscliff to Sorrento and either head to Phillip Island or Wilsons Promontory.  The ferry was $45 and took about 40 minutes. 

Next option would to stay in Healesville and ride some of the local roads.  It is very pretty through there but the accommodation and fuel are expensive. 

Two or three would be my choices.  However, I am used to riding 8 to 10 hour days in the saddle and think nothing of it but you may be different. 

Feel free to ask further questions and there are sure to be social media and at least two websites about the GOR.  Oh, and watch out for speed cameras as they tend to go on the nominated speed, although we did not really see any as we mainly travelled in the sticks and bypassed the populated areas. 

Burt:
Bump. 

Did you end up making the trip? 

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