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After suffering through an ‘Antarctic vortex’ and one of the coldest winters in decades, the sun is finally breaking through in Melbourne and we’ve all become a bit like crazed moths to a very welcome flame.
We were one of the lucky few Australian states to have a public holiday at the start of October for the AFL Grand Final (aka one of the greatest days to be in sport-mad Melbourne), and as soon as we heard the temperature would be 26c we gathered up our cameras and jumped in the car to explore the Great Ocean Road. A world-renowned coastal masterpiece, the Great Ocean Road really is the ultimate in day trips from Melbourne; a perfect mix of world class surf breaks, old growth rainforest, misty waterfalls, sheer cliffs, sleepy seaside towns and endless incredible views.
There’s so much to see and do it’d be easy to spend a week exploring the region – and many do – but when you only have one day (like we did), making the most of your 24 hours is essential.
No day trip ends well if it doesn’t start with a hearty breakfast, and the bottle of milk in Lorne is where the good stuff’s at – if you can make it through a few stomach rumbles in the couple of hours from Melbourne! tbom is perfectly situated along the main drag, with lots of tables outside so you can soak up the sun and scenery.
The Great Ocean Road boasts some of the most spectacular waterfalls in Victoria.
Erskine Falls: 9km north of Lorne, this is the perfect place to relax on a warm day; mist from the 30m high waterfall keeps the area cool, there’s lots of shade courtesy of the large surrounding tree-ferns, and plenty of boulders in the shallow river flow to sun yourself or dip a limb in from.
Hopetoun Falls: In the Great Otway National Park, these falls are well worth the detour from the main coastal road. If you’re a photography enthusiast, this is the perfect spot to set up your camera for some long-exposure snaps. Mind your step though – the rocks are slippery little things!
Splitpoint Lighthouse: You’ll spot ‘The White Queen’ with her red cap as you come around the bend into Aireys Inlet. Probably best known as the filming location for the iconic Aussie 90s kids TV show ‘Round the Twist’, the lighthouse also holds its own as a striking figure against the cliffs and tumbling surf of Aireys. Take a walk out to the lookout for views down to Fairhaven!
Getting to everything all within a day – with time to stop off to stretch your legs, have a dip, take photos, eat, and even relax – is a delicate artform. Remember each and every one of these gorgeous sites are within one days return journey, so take each day as it comes. What you don’t get to this time will motivate another day away soon…
Getting to the 12 Apostles and back in a day is admittedly a bit of a stretch, but when you finally lay eyes on those huge limestone stacks rising out of the beach you’ll forget how long the drive felt. The area is now a major tourist attraction, so try and get there as early as you can to avoid the bus loads of tourists. Better yet, take a helicopter flight and get the best seat in the house.
If crowds and noise aren’t your thing, head a little further to the equally stunning Loch Ard Gorge (the site of the Loch Ard shipwreck), and enjoy a beautiful view back along the coastline towards the 12 Apostles.
Words and photography by Mark and Miranda, two Australian adventure, nature and travel freaks – in the nicest way! From discovering local trails to hiking in Tanzania, they document their experiences through photography and writing on The Common Wanderer. A great read and plenty of ideas for inspiring your next weekend away.
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HOMECAMP Ts&Cs
Welcome to Homecamp. This website is owned and operated by Homecamp and if you purchase from us you are subject to our terms and conditions. You should read these conditions carefully prior to purchase, as placement of an order implies your acceptance of them.
RETURNS
Homecamp wants you to feel completely satisfied with your purchases made online. For any reason an item is not what you expected - the wrong colour, size or you've simply changed your mind - it can be returned for an exchange or full refund.
Please note that an item will only be accepted for exchange or credit note under the following conditions:
• The item is unused, unworn and in brand new condition with packaging intact and the original labels attached.
• A copy of a valid receipt is included with the return.
• The item is returned within 14 days of the receipt date.
Please note that all conditions must be strictly adhered to in regards to returns and exchanges and that exchanges will not be accepted under any conditions if you fail to meet these requirements.
We always inspect our goods to ensure our highest quality standards are met. Many of our products are made from natural products such as wood, canvas and leather. Any variations or marks naturally occurring in these materials are intended. If, however, you receive faulty or incorrect items, we will gladly pay the postage costs for a replacement. If the reason for the return is a ‘change of mind’, then this must be shipped and handled at your own cost.
If you wish to return something, please email [email protected] with your original order number and reason for return.
RETURNS ON SALE ITEMS
We have a NO RETURN ON SALE ITEMS policy.
MISPLACED ORDERS
If for some reason your parcel does not arrive within a reasonable time please contact us on [email protected] and we will track it for you.
PRIVACY POLICY
Any personal information that you provide to us including your name, address, telephone number and email address will not be released, sold or rented to any entities or individuals outside of Homecamp.
ORDERING
All prices are listed in Australian Dollars (AUD) and include 10% Goods and Service Tax (GST). Orders will be processed in Australian Dollars (AUD) only and we do not accept payments in other currencies. We accept payment for goods via major credit cards or PayPal and all your information is securely transferred through an SSL encrypted connection provided by eWay. Goods will be shipped promptly once full payment is received. We reserve the right to change prices advertised on this website at any time.
AVAILABILITY AND BACK ORDERS
In some instances it may be that an item is listed as in stock when in fact, it is not. If this happens we will contact you within 24 hours to come to an agreement on offering you a refund, placing the item on backorder or replacing with a suitable alternative.
DELIVERIES IN AUSTRALIA
Orders are processed as quickly as possible, typically within 1-3 business days of placing your order. We use Australia Post and Couriers Please for small parcel (less then 15kg) deliveries throughout Australia, with the exception of larger orders such as our tents where we engage the services of a courier delivery service, usually Toll or TNT. Courier and post delivery times vary and we cannot guarantee delivery by a certain date so we recommend you allow plenty of time for your order to reach you, particularly if you live in WA or regional areas. If you need an item urgently, please opt for Express Post at the checkout if this option is not available (i.e. on tents or free delivery over $200) then please email us for a quote ([email protected]).
All delivery costs are normally calculated at the checkout. If you are not at home to accept your delivery, then a card will be left and your parcel will be available for collection from your nearest Australia Post office. The same system applies to all courier deliveries. If you would like the courier to leave your package without signing, please ensure you leave this instruction when you checkout. If you choose to have an order left without a signature, Homecamp is not liable for any missing or damaged items.
INTERNATIONAL DELIVERIES
We use Australia Post, Sendle or Shippit for all deliveries to international destinations. Some items such as tents are not available for international shipping and you can contact us for quote. You should be aware that import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. Please check with your local customs office to find out what these additional costs will be. If you have any questions regarding deliveries in Australia or internationally, please contact us at [email protected]