You can go to the arms that you once knew...
The Great Ocean Road (specifically the Twelve Apostles) has been on my bucket list for at least ten years. It started when I went on my first trip to Victoria, piqued when I moved to Melbourne, and finally came to fruition this week.
When Jetstar offered $70 return flights to Avalon, I decided the bestie and I needed to bite the bullet and book them before any more of the apostles crumbled into the ocean. I hired a car and found a base hotel in Lorne for three nights.
The bestie initially couldn't get time off work, so I invited Kylie instead. When Nomi eventually was approved, we decided on a trio trip (it would have been a quartet if Rache had been able to come).
We all did a half day of work on Wednesday then met at the airport to have a late lunch and cheeky beverage to kick off our mini break. Upon arriving at Avalon (to a pretty great sunset), we picked up our car and began the journey to Lorne. The ninety minute drive was almost entirely in the dark and we missed out on the picturesque seaside drive, but enjoyed the winding roads and tall trees.
Our host (Mel) met us at in the hotel carpark (after getting and staying in touch throughout the day) and I can honestly say we have never met someone more warm, welcoming, friendly, or funny when checking in to a room.
She had upgraded us to the Paris room, which had a balcony and more prospect, not to mention the spa bath, massive television, coffee/hot chocolate pods, full kitchen, DVD player (plus a drawer full of DVDs), bottle of wine and chocolate. As if that wasn't enough, we arrived back on our second night to find a goodie bag with two more bottles of wine, coffee pods, hot chocolate sachets, soaps, etc..
Being lucky enough to have such acquiescing travel companions meant I had free reign on planning our days and I went for broke:
- Cape Otway Lighthouse
- The Arch
- Loch Ard Gorge
- The Grotto
- London Bridge
- Twelve Apostles
- Apostle Whey Cheese
- Gorge Chocolates
- Gibson's Steps
- Sheoak Falls
- Splitrock Light Station
I allowed plenty of time for stops, photos, and detours, but our days were filled with driving adventures, then we were back in time to enjoy our Parisian themed hotel room.
We went out for a nice dinner on the first night, made tacos in on the second night, and spent our third (and final) dinner having fish and chips on the beach. Our other meals were a mixture of planning and opportunity (Lorne café breakfast, baked goods on the road, devonshire tea by the light station).
The beauty of this road and the sights along the way cannot be overstated. From the lush green pastures to the dense forest to the incredibly clear turquoise water along the south coast, it is spectacular. Every photo looked like a postcard and I snapped at least fifty per day.
This seems to be the year Nomi and I chose to travel with different people (Rache in May, Parker/Paul in June, Kyles in September) and it's been excellent. Each one of them have been very different but very easygoing companions and it's so nice to expand our holiday buddy list.
Our experience was so great that we've decided to make Lorne our annual mini getaway destination.
When Jetstar offered $70 return flights to Avalon, I decided the bestie and I needed to bite the bullet and book them before any more of the apostles crumbled into the ocean. I hired a car and found a base hotel in Lorne for three nights.
The bestie initially couldn't get time off work, so I invited Kylie instead. When Nomi eventually was approved, we decided on a trio trip (it would have been a quartet if Rache had been able to come).
We all did a half day of work on Wednesday then met at the airport to have a late lunch and cheeky beverage to kick off our mini break. Upon arriving at Avalon (to a pretty great sunset), we picked up our car and began the journey to Lorne. The ninety minute drive was almost entirely in the dark and we missed out on the picturesque seaside drive, but enjoyed the winding roads and tall trees.
Our host (Mel) met us at in the hotel carpark (after getting and staying in touch throughout the day) and I can honestly say we have never met someone more warm, welcoming, friendly, or funny when checking in to a room.
She had upgraded us to the Paris room, which had a balcony and more prospect, not to mention the spa bath, massive television, coffee/hot chocolate pods, full kitchen, DVD player (plus a drawer full of DVDs), bottle of wine and chocolate. As if that wasn't enough, we arrived back on our second night to find a goodie bag with two more bottles of wine, coffee pods, hot chocolate sachets, soaps, etc..
Being lucky enough to have such acquiescing travel companions meant I had free reign on planning our days and I went for broke:
- Cape Otway Lighthouse
- The Arch
- Loch Ard Gorge
- The Grotto
- London Bridge
- Twelve Apostles
- Apostle Whey Cheese
- Gorge Chocolates
- Gibson's Steps
- Sheoak Falls
- Splitrock Light Station
I allowed plenty of time for stops, photos, and detours, but our days were filled with driving adventures, then we were back in time to enjoy our Parisian themed hotel room.
We went out for a nice dinner on the first night, made tacos in on the second night, and spent our third (and final) dinner having fish and chips on the beach. Our other meals were a mixture of planning and opportunity (Lorne café breakfast, baked goods on the road, devonshire tea by the light station).
The beauty of this road and the sights along the way cannot be overstated. From the lush green pastures to the dense forest to the incredibly clear turquoise water along the south coast, it is spectacular. Every photo looked like a postcard and I snapped at least fifty per day.
This seems to be the year Nomi and I chose to travel with different people (Rache in May, Parker/Paul in June, Kyles in September) and it's been excellent. Each one of them have been very different but very easygoing companions and it's so nice to expand our holiday buddy list.
Our experience was so great that we've decided to make Lorne our annual mini getaway destination.