Faisant suite à mon arrivée réussie à Sydney, je pense déjà à la suite de mon aventure australienne 😄
En janvier, je me dirige vers Melbourne où de la famille me rejoins (yaay) pour faire la great ocean road en voiture de location. L'objectif étant de relier Melbourne et Adelaide en 5 jours/4 nuits.
Selon vous, quels sont les endroits les plus agréables pour s'arrêter/passer la nuit (hôtels only, pas de backpack pour cet itinéraire).
Jusqu'à présent j'ai pensé à un premier stop à Lorne puis Port Fairy, Robe et finalement Victor Harbor.
Qu'en pensez-vous ?
Merci de vos retours et très belle nuit (ou journée 😛) à vous
Nous avons fait la GOR en novembre 2014, de Melbourne à Adélaïde, sur 4 jours. Absolument superbe!
Indispensable : un véhicule à conduite automatique (un souci de moins pour se consacrer à la conduite à gauche).
Bon. Pour les détails pratiques : la GOR n'est pas difficile, d'accord il y a des virages mais pas tout le temps, et la route est en excellent état, et les sites sont très bien indiqués avec des parkings partout. Nous n'avons pas trouvé beaucoup de circulation, très peu même!
Voici nos étapes et coups de cœur depuis Melbourne pour nos 3 premiers jours :
1er jour (départ le matin de St Kilda plage) :
Torquay (la plage Bells Beach, coup d'œil sur les célèbres spots de surf)
Anglesea (voir les kangourous en liberté sur le golf)
Lorne (joli village)
Kennett River (voir les koalas dans les eucalyptus au bord de la route longeant le camping... et les perroquets rouges!)
Apollo Bay : joli petite station balnéaire, bons restaus de poisson.
(nuit : avons loué un appart 2ch à Apollo Bay Waterfront Motor Inn, TB , joli, confortable et bien situé face à la plage, WIFI et PK gratuit, 150€ pour 4). Arrivée vers 17h, ballade... Plein de perroquets roses sur les pelouses au bord de la plage, à l'entrée de la Ville, joli phare, petite Ville sympa.
Depuis Apollo Bay, on peut faire 17km pour une promenade facile en forêt humide : la Maits Rest Rainforest Boardwalk. Si on a le temps!
2e journée : Les célébrités!
La côte des naufrages.
Phare de Cape Ottway : Route jusqu'au phare (koalas dans les arbres au bord de la route du phare, mais la visite du phare est trop chère)
Un peu de route de montagne... puis la côte:
(Le Port Campbell National Park) :
les Gibson steps ( marches ds la falaise, superbe panorama);
les Douze Apôtres ( point de vue avec toilettes et café 6 km après Princetown);
la Loch Arch Gorge.
l'Arch ( au large de Point Hesse),
puis le London Bridge ( écroulé),
la Grotto,
la Bay of Islands à 8km à l'ouest de Peterborough ( promenade depuis le pk, fantastiques points de vue)...
Arrêt au Cheese World de Warnhambool (boutique épicerie fine et dégustation, on peut y casser la croûte, goûter les sublimes milk shakes!)
Warnhambool : jolie ville historique (vers le port)
À ne pas manquer, ça vaut la visite : Le Tower Hill Natural History Centre, à 15 km de W., réserve d'animaux en liberté (émeus, kangourous, wallabis, koalas... réserve gérée par une communauté aborigène, visite gratuite), beau paysage autour d'un lac.
Port Fairy : Joli village typique au look irlandais, on peut visiter ( promenades historiques) ou faire une excursion ( 1h) vers la Griffiths Island pour voir les puffins ?
On peut loger agréablement à Port Fairy.
Nous avons poussé jusqu'à Portland, petit Port tranquille, arrivée vers 18h (petit port très calme, nuit au motel Melaleuca à la sortie de la ville, ch très confortables, 90€ pour 4). joli phare-
*** Depuis Portland ou Port Fairy, on peut inclure une escapade de 2j/1n dans les Grampians, vers Halls Gap (balades, kangourous et centre aborigène).
Suite :
J3 : Détour par Cape Nelson (vue magnifique et kangourous au bord de la Route), éventuellement si on a du temps on peut aller voir Cape Bridgewater ( 21 km) et sa colonie de phoques (randos ou excursions?).
À Nelson, belle embouchure de la Glenelg River, des pélicans et des pêcheurs.
Mount Gambier, son lac bleu cobalt (quand la température est assez chaude) et les grottes en pleine ville ( cave Gardens, gratuit). Bons cafés et restaus. Jolie halte pour dejeuner.
Beachport, joli village et bons Fish n chips- voir les pélicans sur la jetée.
Nuit à Robe (arrivée vers 17h) : station balnéaire, joli port de pêche tranquille, belles plages. Je retrouverai notre hébergement si vous le souhaitez ( appart 2 ou 3 ch)
J4 route (4h) vers Adelaïde . On longe le Coorong National parc ( belles lagunes et sable rose au bord de la Murray River). Voir l'énorme langouste de Kingston et les Pelicans de Meningie. On passe à côté de Murray Bridge...
Ensuite nous avons passé 2 nuits à Adelaïde, que nous avons beaucoup aimée (+ péninsule de FLEURIEU!).
Si vous avez des questions ...?
Cordialement,
Chris
"Alors, t'as fait un beau voyage?
Je sais pas, j'ai pas fini de trier mes photos..."
Un grand grand merci pour vos indications. Cela m'éclaire un peu plus et me donne des idées supplémentaires :) Je vais travailler là-dessus et reviendrai (probablement) vers vous pour quelques questions/détails 🙂
Bonjour Lena,
Avec plaisir!
Je vais ressortir mes dossiers de leurs cartons car on m'a aussi demandé ( en Privé) des renseignements sur nos hébergements...
Cordialement,
Chris
"Alors, t'as fait un beau voyage?
Je sais pas, j'ai pas fini de trier mes photos..."
Vos stops sont bons et de toute façon, si vous choisissez l’hôtel, vous n'avez pas trop le choix. Il faut des villes.
Ne pas rater Kennet River pour admirer les koalas en liberté dans les eucalyptus derrière le camping.
Je suis plus réservé sur votre dernier étape. Nous avons fuit la route qui semble longer la grande anse sous Adélaïde car très ennuyeuse, pour prendre la route à l'intérieur des terres où il y avait plus de choses à voir.
Plus de détail sur notre blog en signature.
Bonne préparation et bons rêves 😏 !
Sauf erreur, la GOR couvre la distance grosso modo entre Melbourne et Warhnambool et ne va pas à Robe ni au delà a fortiori/
Bons endroits avec hôtel pour ce faire, de MLB, une nuit ou plus à Apollo Bay, une nuit ou plus à Port Cambell.
Robe est une endroit sympa. Je connais un bon motel "à l'ancienne" mais confortable qui fait partie de la chaîne Best Western.
Dans Robe, il y a un restaurant où l'on mange plutôt bien. Une ballade autour du port et puis c'est tout. Autour de Robe, il y a quelques lacs roses et à Mount Gambier, un magnifique lac bleu (selon la saison la couleur change sur divers tons de bleu).
Tu peux aller voir mon blog pour avoir des idées.
Essaye de loger à Port Campbel. Cela permet de voir les douze apotres le soir et le matin avec des lumières différentes. Et puis des fois il pleut et cela laisse une porte de secours pour les voir au soleil. Le Port Campbell Hostel est très bien. C'est une AJ mais vous pouvez avoir des chambres "privées".
J'ajoute avoir logé au Port Campbell Parkview Motel and Apartments dont j'ai un excellent souvenir. Au calme par rapport au bourg (ville ? village ?), excellent accueil.
Cadeau d'une bouteille de vin car il nous a été demandé de déménager dans un autre appartement du motel pour cause d'affluence. Nous avions reçu un très très grand appartement bien trop grand pour deux. Le second était bien moins grand mais vaste aussi et se situait au rez de chaussée.
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I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the scattered info out there and I'm struggling to organize my solo trip to French Polynesia. I'm all about snorkeling—no hiking for me—so it's all about the water, water, water... I'd love to meet whales (what's the best season?), stay with locals or in budget guesthouses (I'm pretty low-key, no worries about comfort), and most importantly, be as close to the coral reefs as possible (all day long...).
I'm retired, so I've got plenty of time...
If you can help, it would mean the world to me.
Thanks everyone! !
Hi,
I'm planning a trip to this region in November. My initial plan was Adelaide-Darwin by van, but I'm worried about those critters. I'm now considering staying in hotels instead, but for the Red Centre, camping is more practical... if we overlook those pests.
What do you think? Thanks.
Hi there,
I’m reaching out because I’m finally living my dream later this year, and I could really use your advice!
On December 26th, I’m flying to Tahiti, then Moorea, and finally Bora-Bora.
Since I’ll be staying in Bora-Bora for several days, I’d love to take a day trip to another island: either Maupiti or Tahaa-Raiatea (my top picks...).
My issue is that the schedules for getting to Tahaa and then to Raiatea don’t quite work for me. Here are the two options I’ve looked into:
**Option 1: Day trip to Tahaa-Raiatea**
- Morning departure at 7:00 AM to Tahaa from Vaitape (I’ll be staying on a motu, so I need to check if there’s a shuttle connecting the motu to Vaitape early enough).
- Arrival at 8:15 AM in Poutoru, Tahaa. Tour of the island, visit to a vanilla plantation.
- Hire a "private" boat to Raiatea around 12:00–1:00 PM.
- Tour of Raiatea.
- Departure at 4:00 PM from Uturoa (Raiatea) back to Bora-Bora.
**Option 2: Day trip to Maupiti**
- Morning departure from Bora-Bora at 8:30 AM.
- Arrival in Maupiti at 10:05 AM. Visit the island and the motus.
- Return in the evening at 4:00 PM.
My questions:
- Will I have enough time to explore Tahaa-Raiatea from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM?
- Car rental? Bike rental? For all three islands...
- Time lost during rentals?
- Distance between rental shops and the ports where I arrive?
- For Tahaa and Raiatea, should I hire a guide? Would that be better organized, meaning no car rental needed, to save time or explore the island on my own?
- Finally, what do you think of these three islands and their points of interest? Which would you choose between Maupiti and Tahaa-Raiatea?
If you can shed some light on this, I’d be so grateful!!!!!!!
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, comments, suggestions, and advice!
Hello! We’re heading to the Marquesas in July-August and I’d love to know if it’s possible, for a fee, to do a leg of the journey on the Aranui—like from Hiva Oa to Fatu Hiva, or Nuku Hiva to Ua Pou, or even Ua Pou to Ua Huka? Sure, there are shuttles twice a week with Codim connecting these islands, but the schedules won’t be known until two months in advance, and I need to book flights and hotels much earlier than that. So, what’s the best way to handle this?
Looking forward to your replies—thanks in advance!
Elisabeth Marcel
babeth.marcel@yahoo.fr
Hi there,
I’d like to go to French Polynesia.
I found round-trip flights for 650 € with Air Caraïbes.
That seems really cheap—anyone here who can tell me about this airline if you’ve flown with them before?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi everyone. I’ve got a round-trip ticket to Perth for 4 weeks. Is it better to stay on the west coast the whole time?
Or should I grab a round-trip to the east coast?
Or even head over to NZ as well?
Thanks for your tips.
We’re crossing New Zealand next April and we’re wondering which to choose between exploring Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound.
The first is more well-known, famous, and popular, a UNESCO natural heritage site, while the second can be just as spectacular—bigger, harder to access, and less touristy.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I’ve blocked out 3 weeks at the end of March/beginning of April, arriving in Sydney and departing from Adelaide while following the coast.
Kangaroo Island is a bit of a question mark for me. If I go, I can dedicate 2.5 days to it. Is it worth the time and the cost? I’ve read plenty of travel journals highlighting the landscapes and wildlife, but I’m sure I’ll see plenty of that along my route anyway. I’m not factoring in the financial side (which isn’t negligible for KI), but I’d rather not be disappointed. What are the real added values of KI, especially since the island has been affected by fires? I’ve also come across people online calling it a tourist trap. For example, I ruled out Phillip Island because it felt too organized and structured. Sorry if I’m opening Pandora’s box here!
Hi! I just spent a month in New Caledonia (backpacking/tent) and I know some of you were looking for info on accommodations and itineraries, so feel free to reach out if you want me to share my little experience. Just to say—New Caledonia is AMAZING!!!
Hi there,
I just got back from two weeks in Fiji, and I noticed the forum discussions here are a bit outdated (the most recent ones are from 2017).
So feel free to ask if you'd like an update!
Hi,
I’m heading to Viti Levu, the main island, for a few days’ vacation.
I usually rent a two-wheeler to keep some independence.
On several forums, people advised against it—first because it’s not really the local culture, and also because of the road conditions and local driving habits.
But I’m a bit wary of English-language forums where the typical vacation is just airport-resort-airport with a taxi in between.
Can you confirm if it’s really that risky compared to, say, Southeast Asia? What are the alternatives? Buses, taxis?
Thanks!
I’m planning and budgeting a trip to Australia for August 2026, lasting 40 days.
Here’s the current itinerary:
Arrival at Port Macquarie Airport in New South Wales and return from Cairns Airport in Queensland.
- South West Rock
- Cap Ridge Park
- Springbrook Park
- Stradbroke Island
- Maleny
- Noosa
- Rainbow Beach
- K’Gari
- Gladstone
- Heron Island
- Airlie Beach
- Townsville
- Magnetic Island
- Cairns
- Cape Tribulation
My main issue is transport to cover all of this.
The first leg is already tricky—I haven’t found a way to rent a car in Port Macquarie and drop it off in South West Rock.
And if we keep the vehicle until Cleveland (8 days) before taking the ferry to Stradbroke Island, it’s already around 1000 €.
- Are there any systems where we could buy a vehicle in Port Macquarie and be sure it’s bought back at the end of the trip in Cairns?
- Do you know of any Australian online car rental sites?
As for trains, they’re not really an option for our stay in New South Wales.
In Queensland, I found the Queensland Rail Travel website with a Brisbane–Cairns line, but trains don’t run every day.
- Do you know of any other train companies in Queensland that connect coastal cities from Brisbane to Cairns?
For flights, I checked Queensland with Qantas, and most routes require a stopover in Brisbane, which wastes a lot of time, and the prices are still high.
Do you know of any low-cost airlines for domestic flights in Australia?
2025 is shaping up to be amazing, as I’m lucky enough to be planning a 6-week trip to Polynesia.
I wanted to buy the *Guide du Routard* (my favorite), but I discovered there isn’t one for this destination. And the *Lonely Planet* is from 2022, which I feel is already a bit outdated.
So I’m looking for other resources: in your opinion, what’s the best paper guide, and most importantly, what online resources have you used to prepare a trip to Polynesia?
My wife, our 3-year-old son, and I are planning a trip along Australia’s East Coast, leaving in early October and returning in mid-November. The plan is to do a 4-week road trip in a campervan, then settle down for about ten days.
The question I’m asking myself is: which way should we go? From Sydney to Cairns or the other way around? Despite all the documentation I’ve read, I’m still struggling to decide the best direction based on the climate at that time and swimming conditions.
Up north, the weather will be warmer, and the water too, unlike the south. However, in the north, there are swimming restrictions, especially because of jellyfish, whereas in the south, there seems to be less danger (apart from sharks, maybe). Are there many protected beaches in the north where we can swim safely?
Also, I should consider that in the south, the Great Barrier Reef no longer protects the beaches, so I imagine there are fewer calm spots for swimming?
I’d love any tips or advice you can share, and thanks in advance!
Hi there,
for a 6-month trip to Australia and NZ starting in NOVEMBER, I’d like to visit PNG and the Solomon Islands. Has anyone already explored these two countries?
How can you travel solo there—transport, accommodation, banking, safety—and what’s the best way to get there from AUS?
Thanks for any tips! Are there any French-language sites about these destinations?
Cheers,
jps
Hi there,
I’m leaving on March 4th for Australia from Réunion Island, landing in Perth, then a road trip down to Melbourne before flying out to Vietnam on April 15th.
I’d like to visit Perth and the surrounding area, then head southwest to Margaret River, Albany, Esperance, and back to Perth to catch a flight to Adelaide. From there, I’ll make my way to Melbourne.
1/ What do you think of this itinerary?
2/ For flights, are there any domestic airlines worth prioritizing for good prices?
3/ I’m planning to rent a car after exploring Perth and the area—I’m traveling solo. Any rental companies you’d recommend, as well as nice hotels, B&Bs, or hostels?
4/ Any tips, good deals, or info are welcome—don’t hesitate to share!
Thanks in advance.
I’m planning a solo trip from April 16th to June 2nd!
I have to work for 3 weeks in Papeete when I arrive in French Polynesia, so I can only explore on the weekends (3-day weekends). For my first weekend, I’ll visit Tahiti; my second weekend will be dedicated to Moorea, and the last weekend to Huahine.
After my work period, I’ll continue with my vacation and keep exploring:
Maupiti - 4 nights
Raiatea - 3 nights (including a day trip to Tahaa)
Bora Bora - 3 nights
Rangiroa - 4 nights (could do 3)
Tikehau - 2 nights (could do 3)
Fakarava - 3 nights
For activities, I’m mostly interested in discovering the islands, hiking, and observing wildlife.
I’m not a diver, but I plan to do a beginner’s dive once I’m there. I love snorkeling, though, and I’m wondering if I’m spending too much time in the Tuamotus, which are famous for diving from what I’ve seen.
For travel between the islands, I’ve already looked into the Bora Tuamotu Max pass, which seems like the best option, but I’d love advice on replacing it with one or more ferries.
What do you think? I’m struggling to finalize my itinerary.
We’ll be in Adelaide from February 24th to March 4th and we’d like to spend 3 days and 2 nights on Kangaroo Island.
Any recommendations?
We always travel with simple accommodations
Hi everyone, we're heading to Australia next month. We have 7 days to go from Adelaide to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road. Should we visit Kangaroo Island or not? We can't decide! Thanks for your advice.
We really want to see kangaroos and koalas in their natural habitat.
Hi everyone,
I’m heading to NZ at the end of January.
It’s peak season—do you think it’s necessary to book activities in advance (like a cruise to Milford Sound), or is it not essential?
Thanks
We’ll be in New Zealand starting March 15th. We’re considering renting a car from Christchurch to Auckland. We’ve read that a lot of ferries have been canceled—is that true? Would it be better to rent one car in the South Island and another in the North Island? Thanks, and happy New Year!
Hi,
When I hear our French friends talk about them, they’re the most beautiful islands in the world.
For those of you who’ve traveled extensively, is that really the case?
Are the prices for accommodation, even basic ones, justified? Isn’t a room in a family-run guesthouse at 150/200 € a bit much?
Are there other islands in Polynesia (non-French) that are just as "paradise-like" but more affordable?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Hi everyone,
A quick introduction. I'm 27, I live in Picardy, and I'm getting married in 2017. We'd like to spend our honeymoon in French Polynesia for 3 weeks.
I'm open to all kinds of advice!!!
I think we'll use a travel agency because our work schedules don't leave us much time to organize the trip... Unless I change my mind! ;-)
But we don’t want our trip to turn into tourist clichés—we really don’t like that. That said, we *do* want to see those postcard-perfect beaches and landscapes!
We don’t dive, but I think we’ll try a beginner’s dive, and maybe even get our Level 1 certification, depending on how it goes (I read some comments about it on this forum).
Anyway, I’m looking for any information and internet links to make this trip a success.
This is THE trip of a lifetime, and it has to be perfect!
Thanks for your help!
I’m also checking out the different threads about Polynesia on this forum ;-)
Hi everyone,
What great news to read that Voyage Forum is back up and running—I’m so happy! 🙂 I need some advice for a trip we’re planning in 2025: New Caledonia and Australia.
We’ll arrive in Australia on September 1, 2025, and the plan is to spend 2 nights in Melbourne to explore the city, then rent a car to drive from Melbourne to Sydney, where we’ll arrive on September 12. Unfortunately, we won’t have time for the Great Ocean Road
I’ve checked several blogs for this route and here’s the itinerary I’ve put together:
9/4: Melbourne to Philip Island (140 km) – 1 night
9/5: Philip Island to Wilsons Promontory National Park – 2 nights
9/7: Raymond Island (free ferry to cross a 200 m sea channel) – Lakes Entrance – 1 night
9/8: Drive to Narooma (stop at Quarry Beach) – 1 night at "Bodalla Park Forest Rest Area"
9/9: Batemans Bay – Pebbly Beach – Dolphin Point – Jervis Bay – 1 night (to be found)
9/10: Jervis Bay and surroundings – 1 night at Bendeela Picnic Area
9/11: Blue Mountains National Park (1 hour from Sydney) – 1 night (to be found)
9/12: Arrival in Sydney
I know we won’t be able to see everything, and this 9-day route is just a starting point. The goal is to avoid rushing—if we see a place we like, we’ll stop, even if it means seeing less. A vacation where we don’t watch the clock too much! 🙂
Does this route (a mix of several blogs where not all stops are noted) seem realistic or too ambitious? Are there certain spots that are more worth prioritizing over the ones I’ve listed? For example, in one of the blogs I read, travelers skipped Blue Mountains National Park because they chose another site (which I’ve forgotten 😎).
For accommodation, we’ll likely be camping (free or paid), so if you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them! 😎
Our arrival in Sydney on September 12 depends on my hope to participate in the marathon on September 15, 2025. After that, we’ll leave Sydney on September 17 for Ayers Rock.
Thanks in advance for your tips and ideas—it’s always tricky to plan a route from a distance when time is limited.
And long live this site, which I’ve missed so much since 2020! 😎🙂
