It's a long story but.....As a late decision we are catching the Toll ferry across to Tassie and need to be in Melbourne Port at 2 pm on Thursday 9/10/14 we are now in Adelaide and I would like some fellow GN who has done the great Ocean road Ade To Melb. To help plan a good itinary ASAP! ( I know I'm not asking a lot hey?)
we are all packed up ready to head off as off Sat 4/10/14
really would appreciate some help here re distances and overnight camp sites etc.
Do you really need to go via the GOR now or can it wait till your return as it is a long drive and very windy if towing a van.
I would suggest you just come over by the Western HWY.
If GOR is a must now, perhaps, Mount Gambier, Warrnambool, Apollo Bay, Geelong, Melbourne. All nice spots. There are not many free camps though along GOR.
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Thanks for you replies,
We nont have to go via GOR but haven't done it yet and not sure when we will be able to do it again
Mike are there camp sites at the stops you mentioned?
Thanks appreciate it
Ok so it's on!
We now leaving on Sunday morn and will let you all know how we got on, we have 100 series land cruiser and a 22 ft jayco Westport
Shame the missus will be tagging along in the Yaris, will miss her instructions.... Richaaard watch that cliff edge..... Watch that cyclist..... What out your too near the edge... Blah blah blah ! Ha ha
I have conquered many South African passes and had some scary times doing the back old road over the french Alps down to Monte Carlo and along to st tropez have travelled 2.3 million Km's , so feel ok to do the GOR but will keep sharp
Depending on which way you decide to travel, a couple of camps for you to consider. Naracoorte:- Black ****atoo Bush Camp. Fantastic spot, was $8 pp per night earlier in the year.
If you are going to Mt Gambier, CP recommendation is Pine Country, however 40k's over the border is a free camp at Dartmoor. One of my favourite spots. Comes up as Fort O'Hare.
If you go the other way Hotspur there is nothing there, Heywood has a dump point.
Portland, there are a few freebies around there, however I have not used any of them. I did stay at Fitzroy River Camp between Portland and Warrnambool.
There is a fantastic spot after Warrnambool on the Terang Road called the Brucknell Scout camp. Good spot to stay for $10pn as a start to the GOR. From there on I am unfamiliar with campsites along the road as I have not done it in my MH, only in a car and motels.
Whichever way you decide, it is a beautiful trip and you will enjoy the scenery and what that part of the world has to offer. Certainly it is understandable why they call it the Shipwreck coast
Travel safe and enjoy.
Use Wikicamps app along with your camps book. Personallly I find Wikicamps more reliable.
-- Edited by shekon on Saturday 4th of October 2014 07:54:07 AM
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You can be assured of wind but going West to East it will probably be behind you. Though for easier access (with the van on) to viewing areas its best going east/west
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2009 Roma Elegance / 2013 Colorado. Permanent travellers 2011-2015 now just travel for 4-6 mths
What's all this rubbish about the GOR not being suitable for caravans? The road is a standard two lanes wide right through. It is used by semi-trailers. I question the competency of the drivers who make those pronouncements, particularly when you talk about not being able to view things as you travel or things like "it's best travelled from east to west. The road is of highway proportions for heavens sake.
If you are going to do the touristy thing along those roads you should only use the road for travelling, not sight seeing. Park your van in a camp spot or CP, then drive the road again to do your sight seeing. I feel it is irresponsible on roads like the GOR to not be concentrating on the road ahead. If you can spot a pull off spot big enough to take your rig then by all means stop, get out and have a look. What ever you do, don't rubber neck and try to navigate at the same time.
-- Edited by PeterD on Saturday 4th of October 2014 02:28:13 PM
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
What's all this rubbish about the GOR not being suitable for caravans? The road is a standard two lanes wide right through. It is used by semi-trailers. I question the competency of the drivers who make those pronouncements, particularly when you talk about not being able to view things as you travel or things like "it's best travelled from east to west. The road is of highway proportions for heavens sake.
If you are going to do the touristy thing along those roads you should only use the road for travelling, not sight seeing. Park your van in a camp spot or CP, then drive the road again to do your sight seeing. I feel it is irresponsible on roads like the GOR to not be concentrating on the road ahead. If you can spot a pull off spot big enough to take your rig then by all means stop, get out and have a look. What ever you do, don't rubber neck and try to navigate at the same time.
-- Edited by PeterD on Saturday 4th of October 2014 02:28:13 PM
Accidents looking for somewhere to happen and my name is not Happen.
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Good run Adelaide to Mount Gambia and had a good night at the Limestone coast caravan park, nice ensuite too. The night we arrived in Warnembool the winds pick up to just on 100ks/hr, and kept up pretty much all the way to Melbourne. The GOR was a great experience and yes was quite bumpy and potholes galore but all in all well worth it. At no point did I feel unsafe and our trusty Jayco Westport 22ft towed as usual fabulous, not to mention our 100 series land cruiser 4.5 lt big old thirsty beast but made light wor
our 2 night stay at Big4 in Apollo bay was excellent and great ocean view, and gave us a good discount for second night just $22.00 A lot of the road and views were so similar to the Garden Route in the eastern Cape in South Africa was quite strange! For us the highlight was the Otway tree top walk, must be amoung the best in the world a truly great experience and not to be missed, Our trip over to Tassie on the Toll freight ferry was actually pretty good, and if you need to get your Ute n caravan over to Tassie in a hurry, a bit expensive... He'll yea! Just under $2000.00 the spirit of Tasmainia ferry couldn't take us till after 16/11/2014 We can highly recommend going via Toll and the cabin we had was spacious clean and comfortable all the check in and off load took less than an hour at each end, including the full check we had from quarantine customs, but we were aware that no fresh fruit n veggies were allowed, Having arrived in Hobart after we took the scenic route down through the lakes district and what great hills and scenerythat road was, we are here for the next 11 days we checked in at the Big4 discovery park on the east derwent highway What a big let down! It's a massive cabin park with 6 caravan sites and the biggest van should be no longer than 12 foot the concrete slabs they provide has a 7' slop east- west and even using my highest blocks under the right side wheels we were not quite level!
Sorry guys you won't be seeing us again, not very friendly staff either and everyone claims not to know any question asked, On our second day in Hobart we found the floor wet under the sink! On investigation found the push in pipe on the Hot outlet of the boiler was leaking, checked on the net and gave Kings caravans a ring it was 09:30 lady answered and when I asked for spares department she replied sorry closed ring back on Monday when I explained this is quite urgent and I know the part I need.... Sorry can't help Then I rang Alan at A&K caravans wow what a difference! So helpful knew what I needed and had the parts in stock,
Did anyone know that most caravan manufactures do Not use the little inserts on the hot water push in pipes and as the pipe gets hot it gets soft and can collapse in leak, so for just one dollar I bought the pipe insert and fitted it job done, oh and by the way mr Kings caravan my wife bought accessories in excess of $150.00 during our visit to A&K caravans, Avida n Jurgens should be proud to have Alan at A&K representing their brands!
Other than that we all happy and again thanks to all who offered some advice re the GOR
it surly is one of those sections of road you have to do at least once in a lifetime!
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