SLOW OCEAN ROAD - AllTrails Bicycle Tours

SLOW
                                                                                                   OCEAN
                                                                                                    ROAD

Ride the best parts of the Great Ocean Road…and take it slow.
AllTrails has been taking Great Ocean Road cycling tours for over 20 years. This tour has been specifically designed for
those who enjoy riding at a slower pace than a regular AllTrails tour and don’t want to ride as far. You can ride the best
parts of the Great Ocean Road, skip the tough bits, and spend time enjoying the many other activities available along the
way.

The Tour at a Glance
Date: 15 – 20 Nov 2022 (6 days)
Distance: 237km                                        Average Daily: 40km (+/- distance options available)
Bike Type: Road Bike preferred (hybrid ok)             E-bike?: Welcome (conditions apply, see FAQs)
Surface: Good sealed bitumen roads                     Deposit: $400pp
Terrain: Undulating coastal roads                      Difficulty Rating: 3/10 (we skip all the tough parts!)
Group Size: Approx 10                                  Accom: Quality motels and cabins
On road snacks: Included                               Meals: All included except one evening

Who’s this tour for? Cyclists looking for a beautifully scenic ride with achievable distances ridden at an easy pace.

Looking for a faster-paced ride with longer daily distances?
Check alltrails.com.au for our 4-day Great Ocean Road cycling tour (100km/day).

Highlights
• A slower paced ride suitable for most cycling abilities
• Ride the best of the Great Ocean Road with full vehicle & guide support
• See the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, The Arch, London Bridge and more
• Otway Treetop Walk & Otway Lightstation
• Dramatic scenery of pristine sandy white beaches and steep limestone cliffs
• Cycle past wild ocean surf and through deep thick forest
• Fat-bike e-MTB bike tour around Cape Otway
• Overnights at Port Campbell, Apollo Bay, Lorne and Queenscliff
• Quality accommodation and great meals
• Plenty of time to stop and soak up the scenery
• Ride as much as you can, use the support vehicle as much as you want
• Also see the Bellarine Peninsula and Mornington Peninsula

It’s the bike ride that you have always wanted to do, and one that you
will remember forever.
This is cycling the Great Ocean Road without the logistics headaches – we organise everything that you will need for
the duration of the tour including accommodation, food, vehicle support, safety briefings and a first-aid qualified
guide, bike mechanical support, luggage transfer, great camaraderie and much more.

To come with AllTrails and experience all of the highlights over a week, from one end to the other, is something very
special. You can pedal away each morning knowing that your morning tea stops will be set up for you along the route,
your lunches arranged, your luggage will be taken care of, and you are being looked after by the best in the business.

All you need to do is decide which way to look to enjoy the scenery of this magnificent part of the world.

    Tou r Map
    Slow Ocean Road
    Murnane Bay to Mornington

                                    Victoria

Getting to and from the tour
Arriving:
Our meeting place is Southern Cross Station, Melbourne, early on Tuesday morning. We have some hotel
suggestions close to Southern Cross Station if you would like to arrive a day early, so that you can just cross the road
with your luggage and bike to meet us at the station in the morning. Car parking in Melbourne for extended periods
can be prohibitively expensive. Please contact our office about car parking options if required.

Departing:
The ride will finish on Sunday in Mornington (70km from Melbourne CBD). We will transfer you to Southern Cross
Station arriving around mid-afternoon, so you could book a hotel room that night or fly home sometime after
5:00pm. Southern Cross Station is approx 30 minutes from the airport via the Skybus or taxi.

Airport transport to Southern Cross Station:
The Skybus goes from Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport and goes to Southern Cross Station. You can take your bike
on the Skybus and it also has free shuttles to CBD hotels. Skybus now also operates to/from Avalon Airport.

Pricing and Payment information (AUD)
Payment
 AUD    Schedule: Before 15 Sep        From 15 Sep
  Twin share          $2990 pp         $3040 pp
  Single room         $3480            $3530

Included:
• Six days of magnificent cycling                                   • Five nights in great bike-friendly accommodation
• Most meals – 5 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners                   • Daily morning teas
• Otway Fly Treetop Walk entry                                      • Fat-bike e-MTB bike tour around Cape Otway
• Otway Lightstation entry                                          • Merchandise pack
• Transfers to/from Melbourne                                       • Ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento
• Tour guides and support/safety vehicle                            • Bike mechanical assistance

Payment Schedule:
• Non-refundable deposit upon booking ($400 pp)
• Progress Payment 30 days after deposit (40% of package cost, less deposit paid)
• Balance due two months before the tour meeting date (15 Sep)
(For bookings made within 2 months of depart date, full balance is due upon booking)

Travelling on your own
We often have cyclists come on our rides who are travelling alone. If so, you may pay the Single Supplement price to have
your own room, or you can put your name on our ‘Twin Share Request List’ and we will pair you with another solo twin
share traveller of the same gender in twin share accommodation if we have another similar request. There is a good
chance that we will be able to partner you up with somebody else. If not, the single supp price will apply which will give
you your own room for the entire tour. Contact us anytime to have a chat and check twin share availability – we may
already have a match for you.
Travelling with friends / group discount
Discount for groups of 3 or more cyclists: $50pp.

Optional Extras
Pre tour accommodation.
Coming from overseas, interstate or outside Melbourne? The tour starts from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station early on
Tuesday morning so we suggest arriving on Monday. Southern Cross Station is approx 30 minutes from the airport via the
Skybus or taxi. We have a couple of good hotel suggestions close to the train station – just ask us and we will send through
the information.
Post tour accommodation.
You should be in Melbourne on Sunday at the end of the ride by mid-afternoon, so you could book a hotel room that night
or fly home sometime after 5pm. Southern Cross Station is approx 30 minutes from the airport via the Skybus or taxi.
Transfer of hard bike case from start of ride to finish, $10 per day (if space available). $50
Transfer of soft foldable bike bag from start of ride to finish $3 per day. $15
Note: collapsible cardboard bike cartons transferred free of charge.

Terms and Conditions.
 Full terms and conditions for each ride are available via our booking system (go to the ‘BOOK THIS TOUR’ button on
 any tour page). These terms and conditions will also be sent to you with your confirmation email after booking.

 What has been said about our previous Great Ocean Road tours.
 We are glad to have the memories of such an amazing group of people and an amazing ride. Thanks to Jo and Richard for a
 fabulous week. Kelly-Ann & Hue (Canada)

 To all the team at Alltrails, my sincere thanks for making my first cycling tour with you such a wonderful enjoyable fantastic
 event, it certainly exceeded my best hopes and has fuelled my appetite for more. Well Done. Best Wishes. Colin N (VIC)

 What a great tour. Great scenery along the way. Congratulations and thanks to the AllTrails Team for the excellent
 organisation of each day’s ride, super accommodation and chaperoning of all cyclists enabling a safe and very enjoyable tour.
 It is always a pleasure to be part of an AllTrails cycle tour (this was my 7th) and I look forward to riding on another in the
 future. Bev (VIC)

 Thank you for a great ride … you all provided a well organised tour with a happy lot of riders. Accommodation was excellent
 and most meals and coffee great. One special aspect of an AllTrails ride is that you always feel looked after on the road never
 feeling lost or abandoned with the help of Richard’s flour arrows applied to the road surface along the way. The added beauty
 of the Great Ocean Road which is unsurpassed in providing an outlook on our right-hand side for many days was uplifting. In
 the present uncertain climate (Covid-19) I know All Trails will continue to provide happy and challenging rides for cyclists of all
 levels. Joan (VIC)

 Absolutely fantastic, brilliantly organized & supported four day tour. I just cannot express the personal satisfaction, joy, and
 sheer pleasure in being able to do that ride. All of it made possible by the marvellous support, planning, care & good old
 fashion ‘Aussie’ attitude of the AllTrails crew and the easily made friendship, comradeship of the entire cycle group. I have
 never before met such a marvellous group of people. Thanks for my memories that will last a life time & also just in case I do
 have a “Seniors” moment the many fantastic photographs supplied by Alltrails at the end. John A (NSW)

 Please pass on my thanks to all the crew for a fantastic tour. The personalized, professional and ‘no fuss’ attention to detail
 approach by the All Trails Team made a great trip into a fantastic trip. I’ll be back for more next year. I have been wearing my
 [AllTrails] Jersey while being out and about and also in the Gong ride just over a week ago, love the hi-vis colours. Every time I
 wear it someone asks me ‘which ride did you do’…..so it’s also a highly recognized jersey. See you on the Road. Rod (NSW)

 Just a short note to say a Big Thank You to all for the wonderful Great Ocean Rode ride; the care and attention to details and
 logistics put into it are all appreciated. After many years in this business, you must have thought out just about every possible
 eventuality, but it is great that everything went well without a hitch. Once again, many thanks, and wishing you all best for the
 future. Hoe Yoon C (Malaysia)

Itinerary
Daily distances are set out below. Shorter distances and support vehicle also available.
Meals and Accommodation inclusions.
Breakfast = B      Lunch = L     Dinner = D       Accommodation = A

  Location                                                Distance          Up-coming dates:                     B L D A

  Melbourne (transfer to Murnane Bay)
  Murnane Bay to Port Campbell                            40km              Tuesday 15 Nov 2022                  -   L   D   A
  Port Campbell to Cape Otway (overnight Apollo Bay)      37km              Wednesday 16 Nov 2022                B   L   D   A
  Cape Otway to Apollo Bay                                32km              Thursday 17 Nov 2022                 B   L   -   A
  Apollo Bay to Lorne                                     45km              Friday 18 Nov 2022                   B   L   D   A
  Lorne to Queenscliff                                    44km              Saturday 19 Nov 2022                 B   L   D   A
  Queenscliff (ferry to Sorrento) to Mornington           39km              Sunday 20 Nov 2022                   B   L   -   -

  Total Distance Cycled                                   237km                                                  5 6 4 5
  Average Daily Distance                                  40km

Day to Day.
Up-coming date:                 Tuesday 15 November 2022 to Sunday 20 November 2022

Melbourne (transfer to Murnane Bay) to Port Campbell - 40km - Tuesday
Day 1. Your Great Ocean Road Bicycle Tour starts at Southern Cross Station – we load bikes and luggage in to our vehicles and set
off to Murnane Bay, at the far end of the Great Ocean Road. Arriving early afternoon, we get the bikes out and before you know it
you will be cycling the world-famous Great Ocean Road. The grandeur of the Bay of Islands is stunning with sheer cliffs of
limestone and rolling surf that will awaken your senses and fill you with exhilaration as you ride the scenic 40km to Port Campbell
in the heart of this shipwreck coast. Along the way there are some stops well worth pulling over for – The Grotto, London Bridge
and The Arch are all spectacular. Tonight, we get to know each other as the group shares an evening meal in a lovely restaurant
with magnificent views over the sheltered Port Campbell Bay as the sun sets on day one of your Great Ocean Road experience.

Port Campbell to Cape Otway - 37km - Wednesday
Day 2. Today we pick out the best bits of this section of the GOR which begins as you cycle out of Port Campbell rising above the
cliffs to the unforgettable view and golden colours of Loch Ard Gorge and then the legendary Twelve Apostles Marine National
Park. This is truly one of the most iconic locations in Australia and we will have plenty of time for photos in front of the famous
rocks before you pedal on past Princetown where the road leaves the coast for a while, cutting across Cape Otway. Here we
transfer to the Otway Fly Treetop Walk for lunch before recommencing cycling at the turn-off towards Cape Otway Lightstation.
Keep your eyes on the road but also on the beautiful surrounding gum tree forest as koalas look down upon you cruising through
their habitat – it’s almost guaranteed that you will spot a few from the road as you wind your way down Lighthouse Road. Our
accommodation for the night is a short drive up the road to Apollo Bay – a hub of activity on the coast known for its great seafood,
excellent bakery and wonderful location.

Cape Otway to Apollo Bay - 32km - Thursday
Day 3. This morning you will have the opportunity to enjoy a 1.5hr fat-tyre e-bike tour through the Cape Otway sand dunes. You’ll
get right in amongst the Ti tree, learning lots of great things about the land and its history – this is a real highlight of the tour. This is
followed up by a visit to the Cape Otway Lightstation Precinct, considered to be the most significant Lighthouse on Mainland
Australia. It’s much more than just a lighthouse though, with history talks, Aboriginal Culture and bush tucker talks, historical
buildings, WWII radar bunker, whale interpretation site and plenty of beautiful grounds. After exploring it all we have lunch in the
cafe then jump on the bikes back up to the Great Ocean Road for a short ride to the gorgeous Maits Rest Rainforest Walk. It’s just
a little further before you reach the highest point in today’s ride which brings in a lovely long downhill allowing you magnificent
views of the ocean as you descend into Apollo Bay for our second night in this beachside haven.

Apollo Bay to Lorne - 45km - Friday
Day 4. The fresh morning air awakens your senses as the wild seas smash against the rocks below. This stretch of the Great Ocean
Road is squeezed between massive vertical cliffs and thunderous waves and is considered the most scenic of the journey. Get into
your rhythm and keep pushing as you take it all in; the hang gliders overhead, breath-taking views all around and koalas making
their home in the gum trees. The epic scenery is punctuated by small inlets and villages like Wye River and Kennett River before
our overnight stop in Lorne finds us in a lovely resort with options for plenty of activity or plenty of relaxing. Stroll down to the
beach, play some tennis, have a swim or indulge in a massage – it’s all right here.

Lorne to Queenscliff - 44km - Saturday
Day 5. This is it – the last section of the Great Ocean Road! The best part is from Lorne to the Memorial Arch where you can read
about the road’s fascinating history and construction stories and get your photo taken by the famous GOR sign. Morning tea is at
the seaside hamlet of Aireys Inlet where we load the bikes and head to the famous Bells Beach where you can check out the swell
and watch some surfers carving up the waves, then on through to Torquay. Saddle up again here for a nice ride to lunch at the
pretty village of Barwon Heads where we finish cycling for the day. Queenscliff is our overnight stop – a charming and cosy historic
seaside village on the Bellarine Peninsula, with its elegant Victorian-era hotels, stately churches and quaint fishermen’s cottages.
Tonight we get together to celebrate your journey along the Great Ocean Road, enjoying some laughs, stories and a nice dinner
and drinks before heading to bed ready for your final day tomorrow.

Queenscliff (ferry to Sorrento) to Mornington - 39km – Sunday
Day 6. Starting with an early morning ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento, we ride the southern end of the Mornington Peninsula –
long stretches of sandy, flat, calm, safe and sparkling bayside beaches and foreshore; smattered with colourful bathing boxes used
predominantly for Melbournite’s summer camping holidays and holiday homes. The section between Safety Beach and
Mornington, our final leg, is almost a mini GOR - the view from our finish at Schnapper Point down onto the Marina, Yacht Club
and vast expanse of Port Philip Bay (with Melbourne clearly visible in the distance) is nothing short of spectacular. Take it all in
riding at your own pace but be sure to stop at Mornington where we will have our final lunch together and transfer all cyclists back
to Melbourne.

Frequently asked Questions
We are happy to answer any other questions you may have.
Feel free to contact us at any time through our website ‘Contact Us’ page, phone or email. We love what we do and want to get you
on the best bike ride for you. Speak to us about what’s on your mind and we’ll help you make your decision.

Support bus availability
Our support bus is there to support the tour and also pick up riders who need to jump in for any reason. The bus is also sometimes
used for part-time riders who only ride certain sections of each day – these are often partners of someone else on the ride. This
vehicle can be quite popular on some days – especially long days or days with big hills! There is no shame in riding in this bus so if you
are considering a tour and are ‘in the ball-park’ in terms of your fitness and preparedness, but not 100% sure if you will be up to it on
the toughest days, just go for it – our vehicle and staff will be there to help out. It’s better to give it a try than to miss out altogether.
If you feel that you are extremely far off the fitness level required and cannot commit to enough training that will get you fit in time
then you may be better off booking a later ride or a different type of tour – just give us a call or email to discuss.

Bike type – which is best
A comfortable road bike or touring bike is probably best, however a hybrid is also fine if you are more comfortable on a hybrid and are confident
in cycling the daily distances and average speed of the tour. Ask us for the ‘Training Tips’ document for this ride to get an idea of distances and
speeds you need to train for. Front mudguards (longer than 11:10 on the clock) are not compatible with our vehicle bike racks; please
remove these prior to coming on tour.

Ebikes
Because Ebikes are always welcome on AllTrails tours, we now have special Ebike carrying racks that can accommodate their unique
size and weight, keeping your bike safe when we need to transport it. Our racks (and staff) can carry (lift) bikes weighing up to a
maximum 25kg (battery removed). The racks carry the bike in a vertical position with the front wheel nestled in a cradle, meaning
that any front wheel/fork accessories such as pack racks, panniers or mudguards must be removed prior to coming on tour.

Bike Hire
We don’t have our own fleet of hire bikes but if you want to hire a bike just let us know and we can give you some options for hiring through our
local shop here in Melbourne. You can also bring your own seat and/or pedals to give you that little bit of ‘home comfort’.

What sorts of people join our tours?
People from all parts of Australia and some overseas guests. Ages generally range from 35 – 75 with the average age about 50-60
years old. Adventurous cyclists usually about 40% women & 60% men with a mix of singles, friends and couples.

Training for the AllTrails Slow Ocean Road tour
This tour has been specifically designed for those who want to ride at a slower pace than a regular AllTrails ride and don’t want to
ride as far. The average distance per day is 40km which is very achievable even for non-cyclists who have a reasonable level of
fitness. For non-regular cyclists we still recommend training for the ride as even though you may be physically fit, you should still
spend some time getting your body (and different body parts) used to being on a bike for extended periods. This may pose a bigger
challenge than cardio or aching muscles. Remember we will always have a support vehicle for those who wish, or need, to be
transported for a portion of any day. We have a training schedule specific to each ride which we send to you after you place your
deposit, however we are more than happy to send this to you earlier when you are considering the tour – just ask us for a copy and
we will get it out to you straight away. As a rough guide, try to get to a point where you can average 15-20 km/hr on flat roads, and
build your kilometre total distance in training to be out on the bike for 2-3 hours (roughly 40km) for two days straight. This will
usually put you in a good position to be ready for your tour. The more training you do, the more you will enjoy the cycling.

Frequently asked Questions Cont.
Accommodation on our rides
We always try to obtain great accommodation in the best location for you to rest your weary head (and legs) in each town whether it be
a motel, hotel, B&B, cabins, lodge or similar. We aim for 4 star where we can but also try to select the best and most welcoming
accommodation for cyclists and our tour group needs. On occasion we travel through some very small towns where accommodation is
extremely limited. If for whatever reason, such as limited options, the accommodation one night is below normal standard, we strive to
balance this with an extra good accommodation on nights following.

Sharing rooms – how does it work
On the online entry form you can nominate any travelling companions who you would like to share a room with and/or be
accommodated close to so that couples or friends can be grouped together. This can be in a double bed or twin beds. If you are travelling
alone like many of our riders, a Single Supplement price is available for those who would like their own room for the whole trip. If you
wish to share a room as a solo traveller, you can put your name down on a Twin Share Request List and we will try to match you up. If
you are a snorer, a very early riser, or have other habits that may affect your fellow roommates, we ask that you book your own room at
the Single Supplement price.

Room types for solo travellers
TWIN: If you are coming on your own and have booked in as twin share, this usually means that you will share a room with one other
single twin share cyclist or crew member, however in some cases we may have larger rooms (eg. two-bedroom apartment or a
B&B/house with multiple bathrooms) where we may have 3 or more single twin share travellers together.
SINGLE: A Single Supplement booking usually means your own room with ensuite. On very rare occasions when we travel through small
towns or we are limited in accommodation options for any reason single supplement bookers may share a larger unit/house/lodge with
other single travellers of the same gender. You will have your own room but not necessarily your own ensuite.

Snorers can enjoy their own room
If you are a chronic snorer or have other habits that may affect your fellow roommates, we suggest booking your own room (single
supplement cost). This is not just a courtesy to your fellow travelling companions but will also give you the space & privacy you need to
enjoy your sleep after a long day on the bike.

Carrying personal items on the bike
We suggest you carry a spare tube, two full water bottles and your own personal goods such as phone, wallet and rain gear, on your bike
with you. We transport your luggage, drawstring day bags, food & extra water. A more detailed list of things to bring and not bring is on
our ‘Tour Preparation Guide’ which is sent out to you before the ride.

Meals and food
Always a big part of any cycling holiday! Check tour details for meal inclusions on your ride. Our emphasis is on fresh food and balanced
diet with plenty of carbohydrates, proteins, fruit and vegies. We successfully cater to most dietary requirements, however feel free to
contact us with any questions. Most meals are included as part of our tours, however you may be required to purchase some meals.

Non-riding partners and part-time cyclists
We realise that often our riders want to spend their holidays with loved ones who may not be a keen cyclist as they are - we are happy to
accommodate non-riding partners and part-timers who only want to ride part of each day, or only certain days. We will generally try to
allocate pickup points along the route every day. The entry price will be the same for part-time riders and usually non-riders as well
depending on their tour plan.

Safety
We have a great safety record, but accidents can happen. We have trained First Aiders as crew, comprehensive First-Aid Kits, a list of
hospitals in the areas that we travel through, as well as mobile phones and a satellite phone for emergency calls when we are out of
cellular range. Safety discussions are held throughout the tour as part of the daily briefings.

Bike mechanical assistance provided
A staff member with good bike mechanical knowledge will be part of our crew and will have a stand pump for different valves. The
mechanic will often be able to help you with a safety check, general tips and advice about your bike and its upkeep, as well as fixing
mechanical problems. We will have limited parts available for replacement which will be charged at shop prices. Labour is free for the
first fifteen minutes, there after costs may be incurred at the mechanic’s discretion. Cyclists with rare or different bikes are asked to
contact us at AllTrails as parts can often be very difficult to obtain.

Frequently asked Questions cont.
Speak to a past client
We will be happy to give you the names and telephone numbers of people who have participated in the ride or a similar ride to the one
which you are considering. Where possible we will provide you with the details of someone within your city or state. Another good place to
look is the ‘Testimonials’ page on our website alltrails.com.au.

Changing or cancelling a tour
Should you wish to change your booking with AllTrails to a different tour, there will be a very reasonable service charge. We try to keep this
figure as low as possible to allow flexibility where we can as we want to make sure that you get on the right tour for you. For cancellation
and refund policies for your tour click the ‘T&Cs’ tab on the relevant tour page of our website. If you need to cancel your tour, a travel
insurance policy will cover cancellation fees due to most unforeseen events. This is why we provide links to travel insurance options and
highly recommend that you investigate and purchase travel insurance for all our rides (including Australian domestic tours) at the time of
deposit and ensure that it includes coverage for cancellation fees if for some reason you are not able to travel (see Travel Insurance FAQ).
For our international tours we require all participants to have Travel Insurance to assist you in the event of a medical emergency, lost
baggage, personal liability, cancelled tour or other trip related issues.

Packing tips
You may be required to lift or carry your own luggage from time to time, e.g. into accommodation. We expect your bag to be no heavier
than 15kg, making it easy to manage for you and the staff. Two lighter bags are better than a big heavy one. Any excess luggage may need
to be stored or forwarded on to your destination at your own expense. Information about what to pack is included as part of your pre-
departure information. Generally, we advise that you pack as light as possible.

Group discounts
Bring your friends and save some money! Many of our tours have group discounts for 3 or more entrants. Check out the ‘pricing’ on each
tour’s information PDF to see if group discounts apply to that tour. This generally excludes any optional extras such pre and post tour
accommodation, cycling jersey, t-shirt etc. Contact our office for more details and information.

                      Why book with us?
                      We only run 10-15 tours per year, always adding fresh destinations each year. This makes every tour as special to us
                      as it is to you because we are not operating the same rides repeatedly week-in week-out - we are just as excited to
                      be there as you. On most occasions the owner-operators of the business will be on tour with you and the
                      reassurance that comes with that is one of many great reasons to have confidence in booking your cycling holiday
                      with us.

                      We are a proud Australian-owned company, with the privilege of taking cyclists to the small towns and
                      communities all over the country, supporting regional economies and offering cyclists the opportunity to
                      experience the hospitality of Australia outside the big cities. We have earned a top reputation in the cycle tour
                      industry through hard work, dedication and genuine care for every person on every tour. Our longevity in the
                      industry and large community of loyal AllTrails clients who keep coming back year after year are testament to the
                      high standard of tours that we provide. We consider ourselves the best in the business and we always make sure
                      that our tours represent a high-quality product at a fair price.