The Next Victorian Cruise - Suggestions Thread
 

Route suggestions and Date Suggestions.

Previously mentioned:

Great Ocean Road
Arthurs Seat

Some time in July is being suggested at the moment also.


Some thoughts about planning future drives. Unless someone has good knowledge of a route it might be worth a couple of people pre-driving the proposed route, looking for suitable rest stops and if the route has multiple options for driving, picking the specific route prior to the main drive. Nothing worse than a debate about which turn off to take while driving ever close to the first option.

I'd be willing to assist planning a Great Ocean Road drive.

Great ocean rd sounds the go... perhaps an overnighter in port fairy

I love Port Fairy... :eek:

Perheps sometimes in summer (put this suggestion in the bag at present) is to drive the great alpine road in a weekend!

Busy in June and trackday in July. I actually prefer August to be honest. Need a rest after track days, especially we are doing an overnighter.

I'd expect that a 2 day drive would put most people off unless planned a lot more in advance.

I was thinking about a 2 - 4 hour stretch of the Great Ocean Road with at least a 1 hour stop for lunch, so it could be something like - 1hr drive, 15-20 min stop, 1hr drive, 1hr lunch, 1 hr drive, 15-20 min stop then cross country back to Geelong/Ballarat then freeway to Melbourne. The downside is a 1-2 hour drive to get to the start of the Great Ocean Road and a 2-3 hour drive back depending on how far we get. That's why I'd suggest a couple of people planning it and sorting that sort of thing out.

I'm in & as I'm still a newb to Victoria I don't really care where we go - its all new territory for me, just bring the twisty stuff.

I like the idea of an overnighter to Port Fairy, I have done the trip about 12 months ago. A great little boutique hotel Oscar's right on the wharf in Port Fairy. Only about 6 modern rooms with ensuite , breakfast served right on the waterfront. The cost was about $250 per night but well worth it. If this sounds a little too indulgent there are plenty of alternative motel style units or B&B's to choose from. Price range suggestions also welcome .
The weekend we went was cold miserable wet but the driving was fantastic . With the wet weather all the "Sunday Drivers" don't bother and you get the road mostly to yourself :D .
Apollo Bay Hotel half way on the way back for a pleasant lunch then depending on the route you can go back on the Great Ocean RD or back through the rainforest to Colac and the princes hwy to Melbourne or vice-versa.
However if the weather turns fine and sunny you still get the twists but have to also admire the scenery. A no lose situation.
We also discovered a secluded little road with a roller coaster feel to it just out of Port Fairy Great Fun!
Naturally it would only be fair that we stop for a couple of photo opportunities along the way.
I would be happy to help organise a trip like this but on the proviso that any accommodation is paid for directly by participants. (I dont want to have to bring my mother in law to help pay for last minute cancellations :eek: )
If people want to float a few dates around we could then start firming up the ideas.
Oh and I almost forgot Last December I participated in the Great Victorian Bike Ride from Port Fairy to Geelong so the route was studied by me and my sore bum in great and LLLOOOONNNNNNGGGGGGG detail :p
Disclaimer----- Just my 2 cents worth feel free to flame me, offer other suggestions/destinations etc

I'm going to re-open the debate as we are almost on July.

I've been really busy up until now with work and personal things so haven't had the time to even think about this until now.

The possibilities are - another day trip somewhere good for RX-8 driving or a weekend of good RX-8 driving.

The weekend suits the Great Ocean Road best, if people are worried about cost I might be able to swing a good deal at a motel in Hamilton with a decent restaurant on site.

Alternatively part of the Great Ocean Road can be done in a day, possibly to Lorne then cross country in-land toward the highway and back to Geelong.

Any other suggestions?

How about you guys drive to Sydney and then we can show you a real drive day... :D

Just joking, what I was looking at trying to organise for Sydney and also Melbourne is the Ferry to Tasmania. We could meet you guys there and then we could all do an over night tour of tassie. I was looking at say Nov/Dec before all the Christmas parties start.

What do you guys think.

That will be a one big cruise Gibbo. :)

Never been to Tasmania and worth a go. I am considering it. ;)

Draco, I am in for a day trip rather than an overnighter, but I consider that GOR is so far away that an overnighter at Hamilton make sense.

I was thinking if we can all go to Wakefield (Goulburn is halfway from Melbourne and Sydney - well sort of) in a weekend and have a big track day! :)

Not to hijack the thread but I've driven right around Tassie for about 12 days (10 years ago now) and trust me, it is sportscar heaven. There's a good reason why the Targa is so popular.

There are more twisty roads than straight ones and it is common to see signs proclaiming 15 or 20 kms of serious bends rather than the maybe the 2 or 3 kms you see on the mainland.

There is also a distinct absence of traffic although the odd logging truck will scare three colours of shit out of you when it bursts around the corner in the opposite direction - they seem to take up both sides of the road but somehow you manage to get past.

My mail is that the ferry from Sydney is expensive and slow. Probably quicker for the Sydney contingent to drive to Melbourne and catch the regular ferry to Launceston.

The ferry from Sydney is about $500 per person return and takes approximately 15 hours.

I know it is a bit steep, however it has always been something I have wanted to do.

If it were just a weekend (friday night crossing, Saturday drive, Saturday night/Sunday morning return) I'd be happy to do that. Anything that required time off work I'm stuck until sometime 2006.

Looking at fares, the peak season starts 17th Dec so before then would be best price wise. The off-peak prices end 31 August. Shoulder is 1st Sept - 16th Dec.

Using the web page booking form here are the prices:

Shoulder prices 1 way.

Mel - Devonport -
1 person, Car, Cruise Seats - $145 each way (2 people $231)
1 person, Car, Business Class Seats - $178 each way (2 people $297)
1 person, Car, 1/2 Twin Inside Cabin - $334 each way (2 people $389)
1 person, Car, 1/2 Twin Porthole Cabin - $347 each way (2 people $405)
1 person, Car, 1/2 Person Deluxe Cabin - $542 each way (2 people $703)

The trick would be getting a fare that allows 4 cars and those 4 people sharing a 4 person cabin.
Would reduce the cost significantly. Would probably need to contact Spirit of Tasmania directly.
Or 2 cars with driver & partner sharing a 4 berth cabin.

Sydney departures are Sunday 2pm or Tuesday 4pm. Devonport Departures are Saturday 1pm or Monday 3pm.
That would confound my plan, unless the Sydney siders did a week and I did 1 day :o)
Syd - Devonport - includes free buffet dinner & brunch
Car - $59
1 person, Car, Hostel Bunk (dormitories) - $239 each way (2 people $419)
1 person, Car, 1/2 Twin Inside Cabin - $509 each way (2 people $659)
1 person, Car, 1/2 Twin Porthole Cabin - $524 each way (2 people $679)
1 person, Car, Inside Double Cabin - $518 each way (2 people $671)
1 person, Car, Porthole doublebed cabin - $539 each way (2 people $699)

:( If you guys decide to do overnite thing or weekend thing, count me out.....

Tax season starting, (hope you are all organised with your paperwork!!), i'll be working Saturdays.......Plus am taking on full load of subjects for my Postgrad..

But sounds like a great idea, pursue it, and take lots of pics for me of course, and hey.. think about me while you's are there :D

Ta, Kalli.

Hey... The Tassie thing sounds great..
I'll be up for that, but'I'd prob drive down to Melb and get the Fairy from there cos I get a little sea sick.
I may reconsider when it comes closer to a reality :D:D:D

Sounds like there are more votes for the Tasmania Trip.

It is more fun if we have people from Melbourne and Sydney going trip together.

I am up for it.

I was going to agree on the traveling to Sydney ting. That way the Brisvegas and Canberra people can come down as well. But either way I am in. just need to be able to give some notice.

Ohh, and I am away all August.

Andrew

PS. we better stop talking about riding fairies as thats illegal in Tassy ;-)

I agree... More people more fun.

We need a East coast get together but it is very hard to organize due to distance.

The Tasmania thing is the best one out of the lot.

Wouldn't it be great if we got like 20+ cars...
We'd have to make sure we all had CBs.. :D:D:D

No problem I have 5 CB at home! :)

OK then... lets all go to Tassie :D

I could be in it, if the dates are right...

We will make a date that suit you Tim ;)

Hey it is sounding very interesting... How about some people from SA??!! ;)

Hey...why dont we all head to Alice Springs...dont the NT have some open limit roads?? :-D

Andrew

Now you're all just being silly. :D

I doubt you will get significant numbers to sign up for Tassie due to the distance and cost.

If you really want to get an Eastern Seaboard thing happening I reckon the best bet is to arrange a track day on the Saturday in Sydney - that way people can drive to Sydney from other areas Friday, spend Saturday thrashing around the track and socialising and then drive home on the Sunday. Of course the diehards can cruise on the Sunday as well if they're not pressed to get home.

Sound more realistic??

Wat a Party Pooper Revolver :p

Great idea... every1 drive to Sydney, talk about convenience for you Revolved ;) Why dont every1 come to Melbourne hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. We do have tracks here aswell!! :p :p