Its never a bad idea to visit this iconic coastal drive – here’s why we think you should tour the Great Ocean Road in winter!
If you are planning a visit to Melbourne this winter and are wondering what tour’s you should take – we’ve got good news! All of our Melbourne day tours run during winter and we’d be very happy to welcome you onboard.
The Great Ocean Road is our most popular tour – and it’s a great location to visit in winter time. If you are thinking this iconic coastal drive is only good in summertime – we’re here to convince you otherwise.
Read on to see our top 5 reasons you should take a Great Ocean Road tour in winter.
5 Reasons why you should tour the Great Ocean Road in winter
1. Avoid the crowds
If you travel along the Great Ocean Road with us in winter you will avoid the crowds! What’s better than having a scenic lookout all to yourself, or getting the perfect picture without people in the background? We do our best to avoid the crowds at all times of the year, but it’s no secret, the Great Ocean Road is a busy place in summertime.
In winter we still visit all our regular stops You can enjoy a 12 Apostles tour, visit picturesque cities and townships and soak up the history of sites like the Loch Ard Gorge. You’ll see epic waves along the Surf Coast, warm up with a hot lunch in Apollo Bay, and feel the power of nature along the stunning Shipwreck Coast.
2. Witness a wild Southern Ocean
Winter is when the big swells arrive along Victoria’s coastline. The Surf Coast section of the road, which you will drive first on tour, benefits from these swells. As its name suggests, its the perfect place to witness surfers in action. The winter swells bring impressive waves to a coastline renown for its surf beaches and culture.
When you reach the Shipwreck Coast in the afternoon, you’ll witness even rougher seas – that has made this coastline infamous for sailors. The Shipwreck Coast features some of the Great Ocean Road’s most iconic locations. Witnessing large waves rolling in from the Southern Ocean, you’ll be quick to see how the 12 Apostles limestone stacks were formed. Standing in Loch Ard Gorge with waves crashing against the cliffs, you can imagine the tragic ending of the shipwreck the gorge was named after.
3. Spot whales along the Great Ocean Road in winter
Winter is the time when whales migrate from the Antarctic to the warm waters around Australia. They do this to give birth to their young in warmer waters before they travel back down south. This means winter is the best time to witness whales in our great Southern Ocean.
Humpback whales have been known to make the journey past the Great Ocean Road coastline and all the way to the north of Australia. Southern Right Whales make the same journey but not as far – there are a number of ‘nurseries’ along Victoria’s coastline. Both types of whales a can be spotted from lookout points along the Great Ocean Road in winter. Particularly June / July is when they are making their way north.
4. Sunset at the Shipwreck Coast
In the winter months the sun sets earlier in the day – around the time we are finishing up our Great Ocean Road tour at the Shipwreck Coast. You might just finish your day with a spectacular sunset over the iconic limestone cliffs and rock formations.
The Shipwreck Coast is home to the famous 12 Apostles rock formations, Loch Ard Gorge – named after an infamous shipwreck – and Gibson Steps, where you can descend the cliff to the beach. These scenic locations look even more spectacular when the sun dips low in the sky and lights up the cliff faces. If it’s a cloudy day, the sun setting brings beautiful colours across the sky.
5. Heated bus with driver
Touring the Great Ocean Road in the comfort of our heater 24 seater bus, with you own tour guide is the way to go in winter. No need to waste time hiring a car and trying to navigate the road yourself. Your driver will meet you at your inner city pick up location and you can relax for the day while you are entertained, informed and chauffeured to all the best stops along the road.
Your driver will tell you about the history and culture of the Great Ocean Road region, with some great music, stories and no doubt some laughs throughout the day. We’ve picked out some fantastic locations to visit on our tour – check out what our tour includes to see for yourself!
What our Great Ocean Road Tour includes
- Enjoy morning tea on the picturesque beaches of Victoria’s Surf Coast
- Scenic drive along the Great Ocean Road
- See the Twelve Apostles in Port Campbell National Park
- Visit the Loch Ard Gorge, the site of the Loch Ard shipwreck
- See koalas in their natural habitat in the eucalyptus forests of the Kennett River township
- Visit the charming coastal township of Apollo Bay
- Take a walk through rainforest and towering eucalyptus trees at Maits Rest
- Take lunch stop in the scenic coastal town of Apollo Bay
- Stop at the Memorial Arch and other scenic lookouts for photo opportunities
- Descend the steps at Gibsons Beach to view the impressive cliffs from sea level
What to pack for a winter visit to the Great Ocean Road
- Jacket, scarf and beanie – most of the stops are outdoors, so be sure to rug up for this tour
- Your camera – to capture some amazing photo opportunities
- Money for lunch – you have choice of tasty winter-warmer meals to choose from in Apollo Bay
- A sense of adventure – there is so much to explore along this famous coastline, and winter is a great time to do it
Other Melbourne tours to take in winter
If you want the Great Ocean Road tour and more – we’ve got you covered with some great winter tour options. Wine tasting or hot springs anyone?
Yarra Valley Gourmet Tour
For food and wine lovers, the Yarra Valley wine region is the place to indulge. Just 45 minutes from the city you can explore the wineries, taste award-winning wine and taste the local produce of this famous region. Join our tour to taste wines, cheese, chocolate and more – as well as indulge in a gourmet winery lunch. You won’t regret your decision as you sip wine by an open fireplace, explore art-filled cellar doors and indulge in a chocolate tasting.
Mornington Peninsula Hot Springs
Soaking in hot mineral pools is the perfect winter activity on our Peninsula Hot Springs tour. Escape the chilly air, and sink into the hot pools to relax. The award-winning Peninsula Hot Springs has more than 70 experiences including hot pools, reflexology walk, Turkish spa, massage showers and more. Once you are well and truly relaxed, you can spend the afternoon soaring above the trees on the Arthurs Seat Eagle gondola and tasting locally-made chocolates.
If one tour is not enough for your visit to Melbourne in winter – you’ve got options to choose from! All of our tours run year round and we’d be very happy to answer any questions you might have about travelling on our tours in winter.
Written by: Leah Furey – Digital Content Coordinator @gowest.com.au
