Great Ocean Road or Mornington Peninsula
Discussion
Will be spending a few days in Melbourne in November and would like to do a day trip away from the CBD. Currently undecided between the Great Ocean Road on a coach tour and renting a car to drive down to the Mornington Peninsula. Anyone care to discuss the pros and cons of each? GOR seems a 'must do' but I can't help thinking that it will just be a long time on a coach.
My patents did GOR on a coach and really enjoyed it. It was a full day though.
I've driven it (or parts of it) a few times and hate it. You don't get to see anything as a driver, and it is so busy and twisty it gets really tiresome.
Never been to the Mornington Peninsula, so can't help with it.
I've driven it (or parts of it) a few times and hate it. You don't get to see anything as a driver, and it is so busy and twisty it gets really tiresome.
Never been to the Mornington Peninsula, so can't help with it.
Mornington Peninsula is the better day trip, not to arduous drive from the city with plenty of eating options for lunch and plenty to see (Arthurs Seat, wineries, breweries, cheese, strawberry farms, hot springs) not to mention the scenery, you can also see the sea/coastline if you head south towards Flinders & Cape Schanck.
You could also think of doing a loop down via the Mornington Peninsula to Sorrento, ferry across the bay to Queenscliff and back via the Bellarine Peninsula (plenty to see there too).
The Ocean Road is more of an overnight trip to enjoy it (especially if you drive), the coach trip is a very long day (15hrs or so), but it is pretty spectacular.
You could also think of doing a loop down via the Mornington Peninsula to Sorrento, ferry across the bay to Queenscliff and back via the Bellarine Peninsula (plenty to see there too).
The Ocean Road is more of an overnight trip to enjoy it (especially if you drive), the coach trip is a very long day (15hrs or so), but it is pretty spectacular.
Jader1973 said:
My patents did GOR on a coach and really enjoyed it. It was a full day though.
I've driven it (or parts of it) a few times and hate it. You don't get to see anything as a driver, and it is so busy and twisty it gets really tiresome.
Never been to the Mornington Peninsula, so can't help with it.
Wait - the GoR, one of the best drivers roads in the country, is too twisty? I've driven it (or parts of it) a few times and hate it. You don't get to see anything as a driver, and it is so busy and twisty it gets really tiresome.
Never been to the Mornington Peninsula, so can't help with it.
Really?
Yeah, weekend is going to be busy, but a mid week or early morning run is just amazing. Such a brilliant road.
There used to be a car ferry ran from Hastings, near the top of the Mornington peninsula, across to Phillip Island, & the second best racing circuit in Oz. Could be worth a look. I presume it is still there.
What a pity they don't run the AGP at Phillip island or Bathurst, instead of that dinky little thing in the city.
What a pity they don't run the AGP at Phillip island or Bathurst, instead of that dinky little thing in the city.
Hasbeen said:
There used to be a car ferry ran from Hastings, near the top of the Mornington peninsula, across to Phillip Island, & the second best racing circuit in Oz. Could be worth a look. I presume it is still there.
What a pity they don't run the AGP at Phillip island or Bathurst, instead of that dinky little thing in the city.
Excellent call on that. Forgot all about that. What a pity they don't run the AGP at Phillip island or Bathurst, instead of that dinky little thing in the city.
http://www.searoad.com.au/
Jader1973 said:
My patents did GOR on a coach and really enjoyed it. It was a full day though.
I've driven it (or parts of it) a few times and hate it. You don't get to see anything as a driver, and it is so busy and twisty it gets really tiresome.
Never been to the Mornington Peninsula, so can't help with it.
I'm sorry, which website are we on? You hate the GOR, which is one of the best roads available for driving within the speed limit in this disgustingly over policed state, because you cant take in the scenery? Oh dearI've driven it (or parts of it) a few times and hate it. You don't get to see anything as a driver, and it is so busy and twisty it gets really tiresome.
Never been to the Mornington Peninsula, so can't help with it.
You can always stop if the scenery is that important to you.
I did the GOR over a weekend in a Maserati earlier this year. I have to say that I found it to be a little underwhelming.
I hope nobody will take offence when I say that it is only a good driving road by Australian standards, really it's not great. Scenery? Yes, it's nice, but the weather was a bit grey when I did it and I wouldn't say it's anything really special. It's probably one of those things where expectation plays a big role, if you came across it unexpectedly you would think that it was great, but if you are expecting it to be great it's a bit disappointing.
But if your comparison is between going somewhere in a coach or driving somewhere that's a no brainer, drive! I can't stand coaches.
I hope nobody will take offence when I say that it is only a good driving road by Australian standards, really it's not great. Scenery? Yes, it's nice, but the weather was a bit grey when I did it and I wouldn't say it's anything really special. It's probably one of those things where expectation plays a big role, if you came across it unexpectedly you would think that it was great, but if you are expecting it to be great it's a bit disappointing.
But if your comparison is between going somewhere in a coach or driving somewhere that's a no brainer, drive! I can't stand coaches.
I guess if you can put up with a coach trip then the GOR would be a good choice. If you prefer to drive then Mornington Peninsula / PI would be a great day out, (my profile picture is taken from the road up to Arthur's Seat).
Its only about an hour to drive from the peninsula to Philip Island, probably 1 1/2hrs back to the city from PI.
Its only about an hour to drive from the peninsula to Philip Island, probably 1 1/2hrs back to the city from PI.
Need to try and look at it from a tourist point of view, i.e. which has more to see and do. Unfortunately as much as I love driving, if we chose the Mornington peninsula, I am likely to be in a low class rental car. If we do GOR, then I think the coach trip is the best option, as driving it sounds tiresome especially in a small rental car and not knowing where all the best stops are.
wilbo83 said:
Need to try and look at it from a tourist point of view, i.e. which has more to see and do. Unfortunately as much as I love driving, if we chose the Mornington peninsula, I am likely to be in a low class rental car. If we do GOR, then I think the coach trip is the best option, as driving it sounds tiresome especially in a small rental car and not knowing where all the best stops are.
One person thinks it tiresome. I've had fun along it in a Hyundai Getz.
The Mornington Peninsular is good as well. But no matter which way you go, you'll have 50kms of tedious surbuban sprawl before you get out of Melbourne.
For a day trip out at a relaxed pace I'd be saying head down the peninsula, with the new freeway it's a very easy drive out of the CBD - Monash freeway out to Eastlink, down Eastlink to the Peninsula link and then down that till you hop off at Arthurs Seat bypassing all the stop/start suburban sprawl.
From there the drive up Arthurs seat is very nice, couple of good lookout points to stop off at and when you get to the top you're perfectly placed to head down towards Red Hill to stop at one of the wineries for lunch (Tucks Ridge or Morning Sun in Main Ridge would be my picks for lunch with a view or T'Gallant for pizzas and live music). Nice countryside up there and loads of little galleries, chocolate/cheese/etc around to stop off at.
Then you could either head down towards Sorrento around the bay, or back up on the coast road which although speed limited is a nice drive especially on the twisty bits between Dromana and Mornington.
I wouldn't do the Grt Ocean Rd unless you either have a few days to take your time and enjoy it properly or a fun car to take down there for a very early morning blast. And even then for a morning blast my personal preference is to head up into the Dandenongs or towards Mt Donna Buang for better driving roads without the speed traps.
Cheers,
Al
From there the drive up Arthurs seat is very nice, couple of good lookout points to stop off at and when you get to the top you're perfectly placed to head down towards Red Hill to stop at one of the wineries for lunch (Tucks Ridge or Morning Sun in Main Ridge would be my picks for lunch with a view or T'Gallant for pizzas and live music). Nice countryside up there and loads of little galleries, chocolate/cheese/etc around to stop off at.
Then you could either head down towards Sorrento around the bay, or back up on the coast road which although speed limited is a nice drive especially on the twisty bits between Dromana and Mornington.
I wouldn't do the Grt Ocean Rd unless you either have a few days to take your time and enjoy it properly or a fun car to take down there for a very early morning blast. And even then for a morning blast my personal preference is to head up into the Dandenongs or towards Mt Donna Buang for better driving roads without the speed traps.
Cheers,
Al
Jader1973 said:
Sorry, but just because it has "great" in the name doesn't mean it is.
If I wanted to go for a pleasant drive GOR is not a road I'd consider.
I have managed to see everything I wanted to as a solo driver, and just pulled over when something really caught my eye. I wouldn't consider it on sunny weekends, holidays or summer. But apart from that it is a lovely drive and personally I though a lot of it was not windy enough (but hey, not everything can be compared to Stelvio If I wanted to go for a pleasant drive GOR is not a road I'd consider.
). Getting off the GOR and heading inland towards the treetop walk had some truely challenging roads. Twisty, narrow, damp but good fun for k after k.if you are drivein the GOR go up to Skeens creak and back again, its a side road on the city side of apolo bay.
if you are doing the mornington penisular, recomend the area around red hill. "ten minuets by tractor" is one of my favorits, the strwabery farm is also a good stop. normally grab a bottle of pino, some fresh strawberries and find a nice tree to sit under for a while.
if you are doing the mornington penisular, recomend the area around red hill. "ten minuets by tractor" is one of my favorits, the strwabery farm is also a good stop. normally grab a bottle of pino, some fresh strawberries and find a nice tree to sit under for a while.
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