The Great Ocean Road stretches for 243kms from Torquay to Allansford. But we know your kids won’t want to spend hours sitting in a car for 243 kms. That’s why we suggest you stop and stay awhile. Relax. Take your time to explore the region. In fact, if you plan it well, we think the Great Ocean Road could well be one of the best places in the world to take the kids on holiday.
We recommend you base yourselves somewhere where a lot of key sights are within easy access. Alkina Lodge is the closest luxury accommodation to the famous Twelve Apostles, and we’re also very close to the beautiful Otway Ranges.
Our three luxury lodges each have 4 bedrooms. Each lodge sleeps between 1 and 8 people, making them a great option for a family holiday, or even for an extended family or groups of family friends.
While you’re here, these are some of the things your kids are going to love….
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The Beaches
There are countless beaches on the Great Ocean Road, and they offer something for everyone, whether you’re looking for swimming, surfing, hiking or rock pooling.
One of the best local beaches for kids is at nearby Port Campbell. It’s sheltered and good for swimming. It’s also patrolled by lifesavers over the summer months. If the tide is right, Wreck Beach is very close to Alkina Lodge and it’s a great spot for some rock pooling.
2. The Wildlife
Not everyone realises that the Great Ocean Road is a great place for spotting Australia’s native wildlife. Here at Alkina Lodge we’re regularly visited by kangaroos and native birds such as the kookaburra.
If you’re visiting between June and October, it’s whale watching season. If you look carefully on the road sides you might see echidnas. There are also some great spots nearby for koala spotting, particularly at Kennett River and Cape Otway.
If you visit the famous Twelve Apostles at dusk, you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the fairy penguins which live there.
And no visit with kids would be complete without a visit to the Great Ocean Road Wildlife Park . Here the kids can come face to face with dingos, emus, wild birds, wombats, kangaroos and wallabies.
3. Otway Fly TreeTop Adventures
The Otway Ranges is a short drive from Alkina Lodge and while many adults come here for the fabulous hiking trails, your kids will love the Otway Fly. The 25m high tree top walk offers incredible views of the forest; while the second (more adventurous) option is to grab a helmet and try out the famous zipline tour!
After your adventures here, we suggest you head into the rainforest and find a beautiful spot for a family picnic. There are some beautiful picnic areas and waterfalls in the Otway Ranges. We can provide a family picnic hamper for you using delicious local, seasonal organic produce.
4. Biking
If you’ve got kids who enjoy biking, they’re going to love it here. The nearby town of Forrest has been dubbed Australia’s number one mountain biking destination.
Alternatively, local company Otway e bikes offer tours for the whole family using electric powered bikes. They also have trailers for the kids so you can pull them along if they don’t want to cycle. There’s also the Port Fairy to Warrnambool Rail Trail, a 37km cycle path which is suitable for all abilities.
If you aren’t able to bring your own bikes, we have some complimentary mountain bikes here at Alkina Lodge for our guests.
5. The Food – Especially The Ice Cream!
One of our absolute favourite places to head for a good feed is Timboon. Dairy farming is the most important industry in this charming little town , and that’s reflected in many of the food options around town.
For a relaxed cafe lunch try the Fat Cow Food Company. Alternatively there’s Timboon Cheesery where you can eat lunch while you watch the farm animals in their paddocks.
But make sure you save room for dessert as Timboon Fine Ice Cream will be a highlight for the kids! Made from local ingredients, there are 24 delicious flavours to choose from including honeycomb, vanilla brownie and apple pie.
Alternatively, if you’re heading out in the other direction for the day then there’s also some fabulous ice cream at the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie – here they often run kids activities such as Build Your Own Chocolate Popsicle. Another great option is Dooley’s in Apollo Bay. In fact there are so many ice cream options on offer you might just have to stay a while and try them all!
Getting Here
The Great Ocean Road stretches for 243 kms, starting at Torquay which is about an hour’s drive from Melbourne. However it will take you approximately 4 hours to get from Melbourne to the most famous sights such as the 12 Apostles and Port Campbell National Park.
Where To Stay
Alkina Lodge is the closest luxury accommodation to the Twelve Apostles. There are three lodges, each with four bedrooms. Book online here or call (+61 3 5348 2008)
