Originally Posted by
AdMEL
A few comments (a lot of which I've copied from another similar thread I posted it in recently):
Great Ocean Road
The drive MEL-ADL via the Great Ocean Road is definitely worth taking, especially if you like food and wine in addition to walking, driving and awesome scenery.
Aside from the usual touristy (but beautiful) things which I'm sure you're familiar with (twelve apostles, london bridge, loch ard gorge, etc.) and given you mentioned you would like to do some walking, I suggest you check out the Great Ocean Walk (greatoceanwalk.com.au). GOW which stretches 104 km from Apollo Bay to the 12 Apostles, roughly following the Great Ocean Road, via the Otways, sections of board walk and beach walking. I did a small part of it (Blanket Bay to Cape Otway lighthouse) in January a couple of years ago and it was great - I'd love to do more of it. There are numerous spots you can start and finish. There's also a shuttle service if you want to walk one way and be driven back, not to mention numerous accommodation options, both on and off the walk.
Ooh, shuttle service. I'd come across the GOR website, but hadn't spent enough time to figure out that was an option. Sounds like a good plan. Thanks for the pointer.
Kangaroo Island
If you do decide to go it alone, be aware that most of the roads on the island are gravel (the only sealed road is the road running the length of the island east to west) and most hire car companies do not allow to take their mainland cars on the ferry or drive them on gravel roads (two that do are Thrifty and Europcar. Hertz, Avis and Budget do not). There are a couple of hire car companies on the island (Hertz is one). The ferry over is not cheap - approx. AU$92 each way + about the same for a car. There are some fares that are about half that, but limited. See sealink.com.au. Be aware that the drive from ADL to the ferry at Cape Jervis is about a 1.75-2 hour drive. Flying is also not cheap.
Hmmm. Hertz's fine print does allow mainland cars to go on the ferry to KI, but it won't allow KI cars to leave. (Doesn't look like they accept one-way rentals onto the island either, which is not surprising.) It seems odd that they even rent cars on KI if they won't allow them to be driven on unsealed roads (other than 4WD, apparently). I couldn't see any exceptions in their terms that allowed KI cars to be driven on unsealed roads there, either. They do say you can drive on unsealed roads if they are short access roads to tourist attractions, into national parks, or to accommodation. The one-way rental surcharges on everyone but Hertz are pretty steep, too. (Hertz is offering me a one-week rental without one-way surcharge for Melbourne to Adelaide, using off-airport locations at both ends.) Hertz does say that driving on unsealed roads is a full-responsibility activity, which I take to mean it's not forbidden but their insurance won't cover you if you do it. Probably not a wise course of action unless I confirm that my credit card coverage would pick things up. (Doubtful, since it's something the rental agency doesn't want you doing.)
I guess lots of things to consider (and sums to do to figure out if it might be better to do two rentals, one mainland and one island, rather than pay the ferry cost both ways). Thanks for your input!