Slow Ocean Road Cycle Tour

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Melbourne (transfer to Murnane Bay) to Port Campbell

   Your Great Ocean Road Bicycle Tour starts at Southern Cross Station – bikes and luggage will be loaded into the support vehicles and set off to Murnane Bay, at the far end of the Great Ocean Road. Arriving early afternoon, you will get the bikes out and before you know it you will be cycling the world-famous Great Ocean Road. The grandeur of the Bay of Islands is stunning with sheer cliffs of limestone and rolling surf that will awaken your senses and fill you with exhilaration as you ride the scenic 40km (24.8mi) to Port Campbell in the heart of this shipwreck coast. Along the way there are some stops well worth pulling over for – The Grotto, London Bridge and The Arch are all spectacular. Tonight you will get to know each other as the group shares an evening meal in a lovely restaurant with magnificent views over the sheltered Port Campbell Bay as the sun sets on day one of your Great Ocean Road experience.
   

   • 24.9 miles
   • Accommodation in Port Campbell
   • Lunch and Dinner
2. Day 2Port Campbell to Apollo Way

   Today you'll ride the best section of this part of the GOR which begins as you cycle out of Port Campbell rising above the cliffs to the unforgettable view and golden colors of Loch Ard Gorge and then the legendary Twelve Apostles Marine National Park. This is truly one of the most iconic locations in Australia and you will have plenty of time for photos in front of the famous rocks before you pedal on past Princetown where the road leaves the coast for a while, cutting across Cape Otway.
   
   Here you will have a stop for morning tea at the wildlife park before transferring to Lighthouse Road and pedal on a lovely descending ride through Koala habitat until you reach the famous Cape Otway Lightstation. After a guided tour and a picnic lunch, you will transfer to the accommodation in Apollo Bay via the gorgeous Maits Rest Rainforest Walk where you can also enjoy meandering through the greenery. Apollo Bay is a hub of activity on the coast known for its great seafood, excellent bakery and wonderful location. Tonight we enjoy a group dinner at a favourite local Italian restaurant.
   

   
   

   • 24.9 miles
   • Accommodation in Apollo Bay
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
3. Day 3Cape Otway to Apollo Bay

   After breakfast, transfer to the beautiful Turtons Track. This 18km scenic ride is stunning and the km’s will disappear as you pedal onwards, surrounded by ancient trees towering above. Coming out of the deep greenery you find yourself at the township of Beech Forest where you can take part in some great activities in the Otway Forest.
   

   The Otway e-bike tour is a fun 7.5km cruise through the forest on fat tyre ebikes, which will be a real highlight. While the Otway Fly has a stunning elevated treetop walk with gorgeous views and will be the stop for lunch. After a busy day, we transfer back to Apollo Bay where you will have the late afternoon to relax, explore the town or even walk a bit of the renowned Great Ocean Walk. Dinner tonight is at your own choice and expense, with plenty of great options along the main street.

   • 16.2 miles
   • Accommodation in Apollo Bay
   • Breakfast and Lunch
4. Day 4Apollo Bay to Lorne

   The fresh morning air awakens your senses as the wild seas smash against the rocks below. This stretch of the Great Ocean Road is squeezed between massive vertical cliffs and thunderous waves and is considered the most scenic of the journey. Get into your rhythm and keep pushing as you take it all in; the hang gliders overhead, breathtaking views all around and koalas making their home in the gum trees. The epic scenery is punctuated by small inlets and villages like Wye River and Kennett River before your overnight stop in Lorne finds you in a lovely resort with options for plenty of activity or plenty of relaxing. Stroll down to the beach, play some tennis, have a swim or indulge in a massage – it’s all right here.
   

   • 28 miles
   • Resort in Lorne
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
5. Day 5Lorne to Queenscliff

   This is it – the last section of the Great Ocean Road! The best part is from Lorne to the Memorial Arch where you can read about the road’s fascinating history and construction stories and get your photo taken by the famous GOR sign.
   

   Morning tea is at the seaside hamlet of Aireys Inlet where we load the bikes and head to the famous Bells Beach where you can check out the swell and watch some surfers carving up the waves, then on through to Torquay. Saddle up again here for a nice ride to lunch at the pretty village of Barwon Heads where we finish cycling for the day.
   

   Queenscliff is our overnight stop – a charming and cosy historic seaside village on the Bellarine Peninsula, with its elegant Victorian-era hotels, stately churches and quaint fishermen’s cottages. Tonight we get together to celebrate your journey along the Great Ocean Road, enjoying some laughs, stories and a nice dinner and drinks before heading to bed ready for your final day tomorrow.
   

   • 23 miles
   • Accommodation in Queenscliff
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
6. Day 6Queenscliff (ferry to Sorrento) to Mornington

   Starting with an early morning ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento, you will ride the southern end of the Mornington Peninsula - long stretches of sandy, flat, calm, safe and sparkling bayside beaches and foreshore; smattered with colourful bathing boxes used predominantly for Melbournite's summer camping holidays and holiday homes.

   The section between Safety Beach and Mornington, our final leg, is almost a mini GOR - the view from your finish at Schnapper Point down onto the Marina, Yacht Club and vast expanse of Port Philip Bay (with Melbourne clearly visible in the distance) is nothing short of spectacular. Take it all in riding at your own pace but be sure to stop at Mornington where you will have the final lunch together and transfer all cyclists back to Melbourne.
   

   
   

   
   

   • 24.9 miles
   • Breakfast and Lunch