NickyP

Hi there we are hoping to go off for a few days over Australia day weekend and wondered if anyone had stayed at any hotels along the Great Ocean Road. We don't want to travel too far but would like to be close to the sea as we don't get to see it that often . We would like to see the Apostles etc and generally want to take the chance to relax somewhere kid friendly, as we will have all 4 with us.
Any ideas would be appreciated as we know that most places will be booked up already.
Nicky

wickpayne

I stayed at the best western motel/hotel in apollo bay - was relatively cheap (think we paid about $150 ish) and they do 2 bedroom units with all the amenities, kitchenette etc. Very clean

They did have a pool but were only 1 block (maybe a mins walk) from the beach front. Really lovely little place - probably about halfway along the great ocean road.

Didn't have children with me but had my boyfriend and his brother so not too dissimilar!!!

THey have a website so you may want to google it...

cadman

We stayed in the Comfort Inn, right on the front in apollo bay, 2 bed apartment thingy with pool (unheated), $175 for 1 night. clean, bright, new looking.

NickyP

Thanks we are checking them both out now. Our main problem is that there are 6 of us and most family rooms and appartments are up to 5 bed.
Nicky

OzTennis

Friends we know recently stayed at The Cumberland at Lorne as a treat and raved about it (but be warned, it is expensive). The advertising claims it is 'Australia's premier 4.5 star conference and leisure resort'. So FWIW, have a look at:

http://www.cumberland.com.au/

Enjoy!

OzTennis

JackTheLad

Here's a copy-and-paste from my reply to another thread on the GOR:

We've stayed at a B&B called the Douglas at Port Fairy a couple of times and can highly recommended it. The web site is:

http://www.portfairyabed.com/

It's right on the river, a very beautiful location, especially at sunrise. The breakfast is excellent so don't miss it whatever you do if you're planning on staying there. They are busy almost all year round, but if you book early try asking for a riverview room. It's well worth the money.

If and when we go on the Great Ocean Road again in the future, we'll definitely be staying at the Douglas again. Oh, the owners give all returning guests free breakfast!

They have some very beautiful individual ensuite rooms, and also a fairly basic self-catering 4-bedroom flat. The owners and their children are lovely people.

Mrs JTL

Hels

HI ya Nicky...

Paul and I stayed at a place just in the hills behind Lorne and can HIGHLY recommend them for a family.

You would be in a self contained cottage with wide verandahs and your own gas bbq. In the morning you are woken up with cockatoo's walking on the roof wanting to be fed with the seed the owners leave.

The cottages are lovely and I am sure would sleep the 6 of you....They have play equipment there for kids and its only a couple min drive to the beach...

http://www.greatplacestostay.com.au/lbhc/default.asp

flip

Hi, We stayed at Salty Joe's in Robe (nearer Adelaide) very sea shanty and expensive but lovely, Clock on the Bay in Portland - pleasant and reasonably priced and handy for many places (2nd settlement in Victoria) so history great, a lovely cottage with a very kind landlady near Port Fairy (cottage sleeps 6, is very comfortable and well priced but it is a drive into Port Fairy which was probably my favourite of the venues we stayed at), our final stop was at the twelve apostles motel which wasn't so hot and we don't recommend especially seeing that it was blooming expensive - the sofa suffered from roll-together, the beds had green & turquoise floral sheets which were nice, the towels were hand-sized and scratchy and the pool was in a shed, aside from all this they compensated us for the pool being broken with some drinks which had an expiry date of 6 months before.

Hope this helps and if you need any more details eg. the port fairy place, get back to me.

Have a great trip.

Flip

NickyP

Thanks for all of your suggestions we are looking into them. It would appear that we should have been more organised as there are so many of us .
Hopefully we will still get away.
Nicky

Hels

Nicky,

Have you ever thought of spending the money you would on accomodation and stocking up on Camping equipment?

You are much more likely to get a tent site in some of the lovely caravan parks at short notice than you are a hotel room or cabin??

Its also SO much cheaper to get away once you have the kit. Most unpowered sites are only $10-25 per night depending on if its peak but that is still LOADS cheaper that some of the other accomodation....

Just a suggestion

Shellfish

We stayed in Apollo Bay last Christmas, and it was lovely. I don't remember the name of the place but the area is good because it's pretty close to the 12 Apostles but then all of the GOR is stunning so it doesn't really matter.

try look at www.needitnow.com.au
and
www.wotif.com.au

good luck

NickyP

We will get sorted with camping but it is just sooo hot at the moment that I would rather stick to Autumn and spring until we get used to it over here a bit more. This time I would like the chance to relax and do a bit of the touristy thing, to be honest it would be nice to have a bit of luxury for a few days but not sure about the budget .
We are looking at an off road camper trailer so that we can do more off roading and head off for longer at a time. They are just a bit expensive at the moment as we have to have one large enough for all 6 of us. I am just watching out for a second hand one. Ian also has his eye on loads of equipment for the car for his off roading so it looks like it could end up being an expensive game (fun though
) .
Nicky

Hels

I didnt know you guys were into 4x4ing? We are memebers of the Bendigo 4x4 club!! We go away for 4x4 weekends all the time. Paul(Hubby) has a Patrol SWB and LOVES IT

You should see if there is a 4x4 club in Wang. Great way to meet people and its nice to go away with others from time to time also. If you guys want any help with it let us know.

Hels

NickyP

Thanks we have just joined the one in Wang and Ian is off on a training day soon then we will be going out with them fairly regularly. We will need a tent or camper-trailer to go on the weekend trips though so I am looking at them at the moment. With 4 kids (or even 3 if our eldest doesn't come) there is little room in the car so a trailer would be better as there is onoly so much that you can fit on the roof.
Once we get the hang of it more we will have to head down your way.
Nicky

Hels

I have no doubt we will be heading your way in the not too distant future as the High Country is very popular. Will have to let you know when and if you are up for coming along.

We will still be heading to Wodonga at some stage. Am holding of a little in the hope that our friends might actually come down here for a change instead of us ALWAYS heading up there.

The camper trailers are great, you could always get a normal sized one and get some small tents for the kids to set up beside the car? They might like having their own 'rooms' as such!