Great Ocean Road

[Jace]

i've only recently started driving it properly.
i live in Geelong, so i'm going to take full advantage of that road while i can.
just hating having 1 merit point left.

[blue_na]

Did a run there on Saturday night.....actually Sunday morning, randomly decided at 2.30am it'd be a great idea.....i've got a couple of nice photo's....will post soon

Great drive, im learning the whole heal and toe thing slowly...lol

I did an 11pm run once, couldn't stand the oncoming headlights, and less visibility. Oncoming headlights probably wouldn't be much of an issue at 2.30, but still prefer having the daylight of a morning run at 5.30am.

[matt9111]

Yeah, headlights weren't an issue at 2.30am lol.

I like 5.30am runs, but there are to many cars on the road at that time. I've done the GOR about 10-12 times since May between 1-5am, and it seems if you go between about 1.30-4am there are no cars. I think i've only ever past 1 car and it was an NA headed the other way (towards geelong).

Also I think I drive better at night, I take in to much information in the day and lose concentration, my lines are just cleaner at night.

[Jace]

heading back towards lorne from apollo bay there's a turnoff that heads to birregurra and somewhere else i think that is probably the best bit of the entire otways.
tightest, windiest and quietest road i've been on, therefore the most fun.
can be pretty wet, and a lot of very blind corners, but it also has amazing views.

[CoffeeBoss]

Just posted in the VIC Weekly thread, my no.1 co-driver and I will be bring 'El Roadster' down in a fortnight (weekend of 14th/15th). How much time should we set aside for a GOR jaunt? We'll be located near the centre of town so unsure of travel time down there and back. Would probably do an early-early morning run or head down for an afternoon snack and return late. Suggestions from locals?

[wun911]

Takes about a day, leave early in the morning can reach apolo bay around mid day; have lunch then turn around and come back to the city.

[pcmx5]

Just posted in the VIC Weekly thread, my no.1 co-driver and I will be bring 'El Roadster' down in a fortnight (weekend of 14th/15th). How much time should we set aside for a GOR jaunt? We'll be located near the centre of town so unsure of travel time down there and back. Would probably do an early-early morning run or head down for an afternoon snack and return late. Suggestions from locals?

Sorry probably too late for you..Stay nearby get on the road early and drive from Geelong to Port Campbell without sightseeing, return and do the sightseeing After Apollo bay go inland and loop back to Lorne.via forrest.

If you get this giove me a ring ,0417562357, i am up to do it tomorrow,

Peterl

[CoffeeBoss]

Hey Peter, thanks for the tip off!

Unfortunately we may not get time for our GOR run this time around. But will advise if we can manage.

[Shauny]

I took the 5 for a spin down the GOR today.. I put the top down & headed off at 3 PM on a spur of the moment decision.
I took it fairly easy on the way down, I have only had the 5 for a bit over a week so I wanted to see how she would handle, and I haven’t been down the GOR since my younger motor bike ridding days.

I got stuck behind a few slow cars here and there but overall the traffic was not to bad,
I stopped at Apollo bay for a ciggie, and a guy parked next to me with his wife & kids took a photo of my, car, the trip home was pretty good with only light traffic here and there.
I drove the 5 harder on the way back and she handled beautifully, this car handles the corners sooo well, and surprisingly I dint see another MX 5 the whole trip.
I forgot just how much fun that road can be.
cheers.

[MEAN 1]

the GOR is a great drive or ride , i have been riding motorcycles all my adult life & regularly ride my motorcycle with mates on the GOR . but to my surprise my new MX5 is almost as much fun to drive as its to ride , the GOR is a top ride or drive ..

[JBT]

I'm looking at a run along this road from Portland on the way back from Natmeet 2010. It will be just after Easter, school holiday period etc.etc. so there could be lots of traffic. We may have up to 8 cars in company with us.

Is Portland to Warragul a bit of a big ask in daylight hours with a stop for a look at the Apostles and Cape Otway lighthouse? Would a less ambitious end point around the Laverton area be a better plan? Anyone with GOR experience please help.

[Col]

No worries JBT, if you leave Portland around 8am you'll spend the first 1.1/2hrs on pretty un-interesting roads before the GOR kicks in, then probably 20-30mins checking out the 12 Apostles. The run to Lavers Hill to Cape Otway is probably the best section of road [lots of twisty bits] allow 30-60mins at the lighthouse, then you're on your way to a decent coffee at Apollo Bay. If the traffic is crapping you off by the time you reach Lorne, then an alternative is to head inland via Deans Marsh, eventually reaching the Princes Hwy and on to Geelong. You're now about 2.1/2hrs from Warragul which I reckon you'll see at around 4pm.
Obviously there are many variations to this drive, but you will need to keep on the go a bit to make it a one-dayer.

Good luck & enjoy

Col

[JBT]

Thanks Col. That's very helpful.

[pcmx5]

JBT make sure you leave enough time (30 mins) to turn up Skene's Creek road just north of Apollo Bay. Either go up about 12klms and return to the GOR or if you are running short of time continue on to Geelong via Forrest.

The up and back trip is sensational,the mountains almost meet the sea so you have beautiful views back over the ocean on a terrific road.

Peter.

[JBT]

Thanks pcmx5, yes, I'd like to squeeze Skene's Ck Rd in while we're there. West Barwon Reservoir looks good for a picnic lunch too. I'm now just planning to go Portland - Geelong to leave more time for twisty diversions and rubbernecking.