Toronto to Naracoorte via Great Ocean Road - Advice sought

Hi Didiaust,
I did this run from Kempsey NSW as far as Port Fairy VIC just west of Warnambool back in 06.
There are beach side van parks all the way along the planned route but some standouts in VIC are Mallacoota, Phillip Island, Sorento,

To avoid melbourne catch the vehicular ferry across Port Phillip Bay from Sorento to Queenscliffe then down to Lorne and stay at the Erskine River Caravan Park which is right beside the lagoon and a short walk to the ocean beach. Very nice little town too. Peterburough Warnambool or Port Fairy is as far as I know there but we have come back the other way and finished at Mt. Gambier which is another must see. I have yet to do the bit in between Port Fairy and Mt. Gambier.

Sounds like a month would be better for what you are considering.

5 days is a short time to be doing that run to Naracoorte as there is so much to see and do.
3 weeks would be my minimum for that run one way, given my experience in 06 and 07.
Even then we missed a lot.

Coming back there are several good places to free camp. Just west of Euston on the Murray heading toward Balranald you have Lake Bananee which is 876 in Camps Australia Wide 5. We were there in 07 and it was still being worked on. I can recommend that one. At Hay there is the Travellers Long Paddock which is right beside the 'Bidgee and seems a good spot but being close to town my present some problems from the yobbos.

Just north of West Wyalong there is the Marsden Rest area which is right beside the Newell but is a really good spot for an overnight stop and is well out of town. We stayed there and can recommend it also.

I would recommend you get Camps Australia, if you don't already have it, for your best chance of locating some good spots as it is easy to miss some good spots without it.

Hope I have been of some help.
Cheers, Bruce.

Hi Di,

Did a similar trip a few years ago but in reverse direction. Have written a few blogs about our trip, if you have a look at our blogs (click blogs button beside our signature) you may get some ideas.

Cheers,

Val

Many thanks Bruce & Val

Bruce we will actually be dricing through Kempsey but I put Toronto as our start off point as we will leave from Macksville and stay at the young blokes at Toronto. We can take as long as we want and we will if conditions are goo


Val Your blogs are wonderful . Can caravans stay atWye River and Blanket Bay

Any suggestions where to stay on the way into Melbourne- we thought we would get a very early start and miss the traffic so wondering where to stay

I now have a starting point

Di

Hi Di,

I'm presuming you are travelling down the NSW Coast. Through Gippsland great spots with Caravan Parks on the coast include Mallacoota, Marlo, Lakes Entrance, Bairnsdale, Eagle Point and Inverloch. Do the ferry crossing as mentioned above. Wye River has a caravan park. I think there is a a big 4 there.It's very touristy along the GOR so you won't have any problems finding a caravan park.

If you wanted some quiet and sleepy little sea side towns try Seaspray, Port Albert or Peterborough. Also, Princeton and Nelson if you get that far West.

Enjoy!

TJ...