Great Ocean Road and the Southern Ocean Drive: Your Guide to Connecting Two Epic Road Trips
Ah, the Great Ocean Road. What a name. What a drive! Once you’ve been, it’s easy to see why it’s one of Australia’s most popular destinations for international and domestic tourists alike.
FUN FACT: Did you know that the Great Ocean Road is the world’s longest war memorial? The road itself was built as a memorial for all those who lost their lives in World War I, and was constructed between 1919 and 1932, with more than 3,000 returned service people working on its construction.
But after the Great Ocean Road adventure ends, it’s just natural for tourists to want to keep the fun going. What better way to extend your holiday than to start another road trip: this time, along the Southern Ocean Drive in South Australia.
We’ve compiled this guide to help you bridge the gap between the end of the Great Ocean Road in Allansford, Victoria (just east of Warrnambool), and the start of the Southern Ocean Drive just 2.5 hours away, a bit past the Victorian / South Australian border in Mount Gambier, South Australia.
So here they are, your top four recommendations to break up the quick trip from the end of the Great Ocean Road to the start of the Southern Ocean Drive!
Spot the luck of the Irish in Koroit, Victoria: When you think of all things Irish, you probably don’t think of Victoria, Australia right away. But you may be surprised to learn that Koroit happens to be one of our country’s most complete examples of an early Irish settlement. Even though it is mostly known for the exploits of its European settlers, the name Koroit is derived from the Koroitch Gundidj, the Indigenous people who occupied the area for thousands of years. The historic village is worth a visit to brush up on both colonial and Indigenous history. If you happen to be travelling in late April or early May, you’ve already hit the jackpot — because you’ll get to experience the Koroit Irish Festival.
Port Fairy, Victoria: It’s hard to find an Australian seaside town that’s more adorable than Port Fairy, Victoria, which is well known for the annual Port Fairy Folk Festival that takes place each year in March. For any other time of year, we recommend a drive around the quaint downtown and a stop into The Farmer’s Wife Cafe, which you can find hidden and tucked down a little laneway. Last time we were there, we sat next to the loveliest couple in the outdoor seating area. Delicious brekky plus a warm and welcoming chat? Now that’s a recipe for success in our guidebook.
Portland, Victoria: Is your camera ready? Another picturesque spot awaits you in Portland, Victoria. If you’re nuts about all things rail, tram and / or cable cars, be sure to enjoy a ride on the Portland Cable Tram. For more family friendly fun, check out Portland Strawberries. While they are not a “pick your own” farm, you can enjoy beautiful fresh strawberries from their family farm from late October to early May.
Mount Schank / Pareen: Bookending your journey on the Great Ocean Road, you’ll find us, Mountain Path Meadows, and our “igloo” glamping accommodations. At the bottom of Mount Schank, just north of Port MacDonnell (which happens to be the rock lobster capital of South Australia!) Experience major #VolcanoVibes and be the only of your friends to have slept in a dome at the foot of a heritage-listed dormant volcano. Talk about once in a lifetime! We plan to open in October 2022, so give us follow on social media for details on how to book.
Once you’ve made it to Mount Schank, the team over at SouthAustralia.com have compiled a helpful map to guide your journey along the Southern Ocean Drive. (Though we think it would be great if they recognised dual naming, to acknowledge the Indigenous names of places!)
Have you driven both the Great Ocean Road and the Southern Ocean Drive? Have any recommendations we should add to our guide? Send us a message on Instagram or Facebook to let us know what we’re missing.