For my 32nd birthday, Nadia and I took a day tour down the Great Ocean Road, which is a "273km stretch of road along the South Eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Warrnambool".
After some research, and a visit to the Melbourne Visitor Centre at Federation Square, we decided to go with AAT Kings's 'Great Ocean Road with Helicopter Ride' tour. This 12-hour tour leaves from Melbourne at 8am; stops at Bells Beach, Torquay, Apollo Bay, Port Campbell, The Twelve Apostles, and a few other places in between; and gets back to Melbourne a little before 8pm. It includes a lunch stop at Apollo Bay and a Helicopter Ride around the Twelve Apostles.
The day started out slightly overcast and, by the time we got to Apollo Bay, it was windy and it had started to rain. That wasn't a major problem -- though it made taking pictures a little more complicated! -- and we had a great time nonetheless.
The scenery were brilliant -- though we're told it's better in summer -- and the helicopter ride was spectacular. I took a video of the chopper ride and will post it up here once I've edited it.
What made the trip particularly enjoyable was our driver, Les, who gave an excellent tour commentary and joked and chatted with us at our rest and photo stops. Overall, I was most impressed with AAT Kings and would recommend them to anyone else who wants to go on a tour around Australia.
I've uploaded some photos from this trip to my Picasa Web Albums page. Take a look and let us know what you think.
[Also see: Official Great Ocean Road website]
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| From Great Ocean Road |
After some research, and a visit to the Melbourne Visitor Centre at Federation Square, we decided to go with AAT Kings's 'Great Ocean Road with Helicopter Ride' tour. This 12-hour tour leaves from Melbourne at 8am; stops at Bells Beach, Torquay, Apollo Bay, Port Campbell, The Twelve Apostles, and a few other places in between; and gets back to Melbourne a little before 8pm. It includes a lunch stop at Apollo Bay and a Helicopter Ride around the Twelve Apostles.
 |
| From Great Ocean Road |
The day started out slightly overcast and, by the time we got to Apollo Bay, it was windy and it had started to rain. That wasn't a major problem -- though it made taking pictures a little more complicated! -- and we had a great time nonetheless.
The scenery were brilliant -- though we're told it's better in summer -- and the helicopter ride was spectacular. I took a video of the chopper ride and will post it up here once I've edited it.
 |
| From Great Ocean Road |
What made the trip particularly enjoyable was our driver, Les, who gave an excellent tour commentary and joked and chatted with us at our rest and photo stops. Overall, I was most impressed with AAT Kings and would recommend them to anyone else who wants to go on a tour around Australia.
I've uploaded some photos from this trip to my Picasa Web Albums page. Take a look and let us know what you think.
[Also see: Official Great Ocean Road website]