Last time, you played golf with Kangaroos, went for a bushwalk, and marvelled at the ocean views from the Otway lighthouse. Now it’s time for DAY 2 of your Melbourne road trip.

Day Two – Apollo Bay to Port Fairy

189km/117 miles, about 3 hours

After a good night’s rest, follow the Great Ocean Road back to the Otway National Park.

Head to the Otway Fly Tree Top Walk. This treetop canopy walkway is the longest and tallest of its type in the world. Here, you can try a zip line tour.

After a good morning rush from the walkway, get back on the Great Ocean Road and arm yourself with a camera. Trust me, there’s nothing like the glistening coastline leading to the seaside town of Port Campbell.

12 Apostles

From the famous 12 Apostles to lookouts with stunning views around Loch Ard Gorge, to even a helicopter tour if you’re willing to go all fancy, you won’t have a shortage of Instagram worthy moments and hiking trails to conquer.

Head back to the Great Ocean Road and continue west to Warrnambool. There’s so much to do and see around the maritime capital. Catch a glimpse of the magnificent blue whales schooling their calves offshore. Walk, run, ride, and dip your toes around the picturesque parks, gardens, and beaches in the pristine Southern Ocean area. Explore the awe-inspiring art galleries, antique shops, and markets for an incredible feast for the eyes and maybe a few cool, quirky trinkets and souvenirs.

When all the excitement starts to make you famished, you’ll have an array of restaurants, bars, and cafes to choose from, all featuring fresh local produce. If you want a taste of the amazing local products, head to one of the local vineyards and (more importantly) Cheeseworld. Trust me on this. It’s all amazing.

road trip to melbourne

From Warrnambool, it’s time to drive to Port Fairy. But first, take an easy 15 minute drive at the turn-off to Tower Hill State Game Reserve. If you loved the Koalas by Kennet River, you’ll see more of them, with emus, kangaroos, snakes, and waterbirds roaming freely on the lake-filled craters and hills by the reserve’s walking tracks.

Port Fairy

After a long, exciting day of Vitamin Sea and ecotours, it’s time for you to re-energize and rest at the charming fishing village of Port Fairy. Don’t worry if you don’t get to see most of it by this time because you’ll have plenty of exploring time tomorrow morning.

For now, you can relax your tired muscles at the Port Fairy Daily Spa and then dine at one of the local restaurants, bars, or cafes. You might want to have the full experience by dining and staying at Victoria’s oldest inn, the Merrijig Inn. Sumptuous modern Australian food, attached to a charming country-style B&B. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Remember that you’ll be driving for long hours so you’re going to need a reliable car. If you can’t bring your own, no worries. Melbourne doesn’t have a shortage of great car rentals in Melbourne to hire from. Just make sure to book ahead so you can get better rates. 

This is Part Two of a three-part article series called 3 Day Road Trip in Melbourne.