When traveling, our family is always looking for something off the beaten path and cheap. Something that makes us feel like we are the first ones to explore it and appreciate its uniqueness. There’s a bigger sense of adventure when there’s a feeling of discovering something no one else has, especially when you don’t have to fork over a few hundred dollars.
But when we decided to hire a campervan and drive from Sydney to Melbourne over a 10-day period in January, we accepted that this wasn’t going to be one of those adventures. In fact, it’s a hugely popular trip for foreign tourists and Australians alike. The Coastal Drive and the Great Ocean Road are probably two of the most traveled roads in the world.
But sometimes, there’s a reason why a place or an attraction is so popular, other than being accessible. The Coastal Drive and the shorter Great Ocean Road are such places, offering unbelievable experiences that will leave you and your kids wanting more, whether you spend four days or four weeks there.
The Coastal Drive runs more than 1,000 km from Sydney to Melbourne via a number of smaller seaside villages, each with their own unique characteristics and touches. It includes the Grand Pacific Drive, a windy 140 km stretch of road that hugs steep cliffs tumbling into the Pacific Ocean. The whole coastal drive takes in the magnificent Sea Cliff Bridge, an engineering marvel, as well as spectacular beaches, quaint seaside villages and many wildlife-viewing opportunities.
The Great Ocean Road, meanwhile, is a 250 km stretch that runs from Torquay to Allansford, along the coast south of Melbourne. It’s a beach bum’s paradise,
And incredibly, we did find a few out of the way surprises , for very little cost, where we felt like we had gotten away from the crowds and got that road less traveled feeling, albeit fleeting.
So here’s our top 10 list of must-sees when doing this trip with kids, both off and on the beaten path.
Mill Bay Boardwalk and Bar Rock Lookout in Narooma – Walk along the Narooma boardwalk just outside of town and gaze into the shallow waters and you might just spot some rays. Then, head out to Bar Rock Lookout to watch the fur seals. When you are on a tight budget, it beats paying the hundreds of dollars to take a boat to Montague Island. Having said that, Montague Island is home to thousands of fur seals, penguins, and seabirds due to the lack of predators. Some of the tours even provide the opportunity to snorkel or dive with the seals. Depending on the season, you might even spot a whale or two.
Bega Cheese Heritage Centre – Take a slight detour from the beaches and head inland to this quaint little museum with free entry that features the history of dairy farming in Australia. While Bega Cheese is one of Australia’s biggest brand names (it also owns Vegemite!), it still maintains its roots in this small rural town. In fact, Bega is still primarily an agricultural cooperative, partly owned by farmer-suppliers. If you are a terribly cruel parent, try fooling your children with Vegemite as a substitute for Nutella! Alternatively, you can treat them to locally-made ice cream.
Eden Killer Whale Museum – Probably one of the best small museums around. This museum focuses on the whaling industry but particularly on a group of killer whales that helped whalers catch other whales. The killer whales would signal the whalers onshore of the whale’s presence by making loud sounds and together they would hunt the baleen whale. The killer whales would get food while the whalers would get oil. The museum offers great exhibits, stories and a magnificent view of the ocean. You can apparently spot whales from the museum’s deck between September and November. The entry fee is only $10 per adult and $2.50 per kid (free for children under 5).
Lakes Entrance, Gippsland: Home to the Ninety Mile Beach coastline, if you’re in the mood for some fun in the golden sand, you’re likely to find it here. Winds are notoriously strong on the beaches facing Bass Straight, but the sand dune separating the straight from Gippsland Lakes offers some shelter for paddle sports such as canoe, kayak or stand-up paddling. If you are lucky, you may even spot the rare and endangered Burrunan dolphins swimming along the protected coves of Bullock Island. The lookouts just north of Rigby’s Island are worth the trip alone, while the pool at the Aquadome will keep the kids happy for hours on a rainy day.
Raymond Island – The best place to see koalas in the wild. And best of all, it’s free! In 1920, koalas in Victoria were becoming extinct so some were relocated to this residential island where they now thrive. As you walk along the streets of the neighbourhood, you’ll likely also see lorikeets, a variety of cockatoos and maybe even an echidna or two. You have to take a short ferry (free for pedestrians) to get across. It’s a good opportunity to get the kids to look into the water and check out the numerous jellyfish.
Tarra Bulga National Park: This was one of the highlights for us. The park located away from the beaches, but this temperate rainforest is magical and enough out of the way that there aren’t too many people walking around the short trails. It’s a perfect stop for a picnic and a hike among towering mountain ash trees and tree ferns. You may even see the hard to spot lyrebird, a great mimic with beautiful tail feathers.
Wilson’s Promontory National Park: Known locally as the ‘Prom’, this southernmost peninsula with its granite mountains offers a number of trails and beaches. There are no entrance fees to get in. You’re bound to see some kangaroos and other wildlife as well. Unfortunately it rained throughout our stay and we couldn’t take advantage of all the hikes. We did camp just outside of the ‘Prom’ at the Yanakie Caravan Park, where it was cheaper but the views were as beautiful as in the park itself.
Philip Island – Penguin Parade: This extremely popular attraction left us of two minds. Watching the Penguin Parade from the stands is somewhat disappointing, what with the elevated costs, the hundreds of people constantly standing and the light fading. But once the crowds start splitting, the boardwalk is the place to really catch the action. That’s where you can get real close to the Little Fairy Penguins. The kids (and adults) loved watching as they stumble back from gorging on fish to their nests. In addition, the Visitor Centre (which they are in the process of upgrading) is a great place to learn more about these little birds, while the boardwalk along the Nobbies just 3 km from the parade grounds is breathtaking.
Torquay and Bell’s Beach :Settle down on the beach or the cliffs to watch surfers catch a wave or ten, or join in the fun yourself. This is Victoria’s most famous surf spot and home to the longest surfing competition. And Torquay is a beautiful seaside village bursting with life. Score big with the kids at the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery in Bellbrae before indulging yourself at one of the many wineries in the area.
Great Otway National Park: Near the end of the Great Ocean Road, Cape Otway is best known for its lighthouse, which for early immigrants would be the first sight of land after months at sea from Europe, North America and Asia. We found it a great place for a history lesson, including Aboriginal history and culture. It’s also home to rainforests, rugged coastlines and probably one of our favourite camping spots: Bimbi Park (aka Cape Otway Camping and Caravan Park). This spot is tucked away into the forest, offering peace and quiet as well as possible koala sightings.
