5 things about great ocean road no one talks about
Hey Zesties!
After coming back from the Great Ocean Road... There are things I wished I knew or glad that I did, which gave me a greater peace of mind during the trip. Let's go!
1) Car Rental - always get zero excess.. Unless your insurance covers excess! Someone's garage door scratched our car but we didn't fret since we had zero excess whew...
Car rental from East Coast Car Rentals was fuss free. We got downgraded from a Rav4 to a Corolla Cross as the Rav4 we were supposed to get had a windscreen crack. Still, it's a hybrid with good fuel economy (4.6L per 100km) but was tight for 4 people with 3 luggages. 700km on the odometer which meant that the car was quite new, still had the new car smell!
The alternative was a Nissan X-Trail but in my opinion the fuel economy was bad (drove it in Tasmania) and lacked modern features such as CarPlay.
2) Toll Roads
East Coast Car Rental's cars impose an admin fee of $1+GST for tolls and tolls are way more expensive than the ERPs we are used to!! Make sure to check if your rental is able to drive through toll roads. Always factor that in, try not to drive in and out on the Citylink which adds up.
Of course Waze and Google Maps allows you to choose toll free roads but they may require more travelling time.
3) Citylink toll amounts
The toll amounts can go up to about 12AUD. Can be found on the citylink site if you are the kind to plan and avoid surprises!
4) Long Drives
From the airport to the start of the Great Ocean Road takes about 2 hours, so always plan rest stops! We landed in the morning, picked up our car and started the drive... A bad idea if I had to go the full distance after the 6 hour flight.
Stay tuned to see what I did (no it's not just simply rotating drivers 😉) and you'll see the memorial on the Great Ocean Road
When driving the Great Ocean Road, choosing the right car rental insurance is crucial—having zero excess coverage saved me from worrying about minor damages, like a scratch from a garage door. Also, be aware that many rental cars charge admin fees for toll roads, which can increase your trip cost unexpectedly. For example, the CityLink tolls can go as high as AUD 12 for certain sections, so plan your route carefully to avoid repeated toll crossings if possible. Long drives are part of the journey, especially from Melbourne airport to the start of the Great Ocean Road, which can take about two hours. After a long flight, it’s wise to take rest stops or switch drivers to stay fresh and safe on the road. Maps apps like Waze and Google Maps can help you avoid tolls and find scenic alternate routes, though these may add travel time. If you're traveling with a group or family, consider the size and fuel efficiency of your rental car. We went from expecting a Rav4 to a Corolla Cross hybrid, which was economical but a bit tight for four adults and luggage. Although alternatives like the Nissan X-Trail offer space, they may lack modern features like Apple CarPlay and consume more fuel. Finally, don’t miss the iconic Great Ocean Road sign and the coastal towns along the way—they offer perfect photo ops for social media or just great memories. I recommend downloading or printing a trip map to visualize your stops from Geelong, through the scenic coastal drive, all the way to Adelaide if you plan a longer road trip.
