“The Great Ocean Road is more than the best coastal drive on the planet. It’s Australia’s premier adventure destination with five-star facilities that deliver a unique experience every time.
“The Big Stick team have lived in the region for most of their lives and have an intimate knowledge of the 103,000 hectares of National Park and rainforest. Our guests are often amazed to find themselves the only people on pristine, secluded beaches or deep inside the rainforest with 80-metre waterfalls thundering right next to them.
“Guests often comment ‘We didn’t see another person. That’s incredible.’ And that’s what helps make our experiences unique – our ability to give guests the sense that they are the only people enjoying this special part of the world.
“The coast also serves up some of the best seafood in Australia, with crayfish, calamari and snapper local specialities.
“The amount of wildlife in the region is mesmerising. Whales migrate past our coast each year, often putting on a show a short distance from the road itself. The chance to experience dolphins, seals, koalas and kangaroos in the wild is not to be missed.
“The seals will swim right under your kayak and if you’re lucky will rest their noses on the end of it.
“The Great Ocean Road is also the capital of Australia’s favourite pastime – surfing. Surf companies Quiksilver and Rip Curl started in Torquay and, within my lifetime, have grown to become major international labels. As a result, the shopping in the region is awesome, providing a chance to take home something special for family and friends.”
Brett Hollis, director, Big Stick Adventures
ITINERARY SUMMARY
Incentive ideas: Great Ocean Road, Victoria
Three-day sample programme by Big Stick Adventures
Departs: Melbourne
People: 50
Category: High end
Indicative Price:
US$2,140 per person all inclusive; OR US$710 per person per day
DMC Contact: www.bigstickadventures.com
Email: info@bigstickadventures.com
DAY 1
Rally car driving – the drive of your life. Jump in the driver’s seat of our race-ready rally cars with exclusive use of the race circuit
Themed dinner with Australian Formula One world champion, Alan Jones
Overnight at The Mansion Hotel, Werribee Park
DAY 2
The Great Ocean Road Experience – a range of adventure activities set to excite, including surfing, sky dive, Tiger Moth flight, mountain bike ride, jet boat ride, horse trail ride, four-wheel driving and canoeing
Gourmet barbecue on a pristine, secluded beach
Afternoon spa treatment
Rainforest dinner
Overnight at Mantra Erskine Beach Resort
DAY 3
Coastal drive
Adventure options – sea kayaking with seals or take an 8WD amphibious buggy ride
Great Ocean Road helicopter convoy
DAY 1
Mid Morning Depart Melbourne CBD hotel and travel 20 minutes to our exclusive rally-car racing circuit.
Rally Car Driving
(Lunch included)
This morning Big Stick offers you the drive of your life. Jump in the driver’s seat and experience an awesome sense of power and control with Big Stick Adventure’s latest “wow” product – rally
car driving.
Rallying is frequently described as the most exciting motor sport on four wheels. The experience begins with a discussion on car control and techniques for driving rear and four-wheel drive rally cars. Next come practice sessions to apply the theory and become familiar with the cars.
The cars used are state-of-the-art Group A Mitsubishi Evo 6, Group N Subaru WRX Sti, V8 XR8 Falcon Ute and the pure Chevy Grunter 350 V8 SS Commodore Ute. All vehicles are prepared and maintained to competition standards.
This is the only rally school in Australia providing the experience of driving this range of exciting cars with a professional rally coach in the passenger seat at all times.
Under guidance from former and current racers, guests learn the basic skills of driving on gravel roads, throttle and steering control. You’ll be nailing the corners like a pro in no time!
At the end of the day it’s time to swap seats with the instructor for a high-speed hot lap in both the rally car and V8 Ute. This exhilarating ride guarantees to have guests’ adrenalin pumping!
Late afternoon
Depart the race track for a five-minute drive to The Mansion Hotel at Werribee Park. This 4½ star hotel combines old-world charm with the very best in contemporary design and service.
Following check-in guests will have two hours of free time to rest, relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities.
Dinner
Guests are invited to a private themed dinner within the grounds of Werribee Parks Open Plain Zoo. The Open Plain Zoo is an African wildlife sanctuary with a true savannah feel.
Continuing the day’s theme, dinner is served among nature’s “high-performance” animals. Guests dine under the stars as lions roar in the background and giraffes and other wild African animals
graze below.
During cocktails and dinner, guests also enjoy a close-up look at some of the world’s most exotic sports cars including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Porsche and Mercedes.
Tonight’s guest speaker is the Australian Formula One World Champion, Alan Jones MBE. Alan will share stories from his colourful racing career and discuss the art of elite performance in a high-pressure environment.
Alan Jones is a world-renowned motor racing personality and Australian legend. He and Sir Jack Brabham are the only two Australians to have won the Formula One motor racing world championship. Alan has also won a remarkable 12 Grand Prix from 116 starts.
DAY 2
Morning
Full buffet breakfast at leisure in Joseph’s Restaurant. Depart hotel 9:30am
10:15 AM
Arrive at Australia’s premier adventure destination, the Great Ocean Road, where guests can enjoy any of the following amazing activities:
Surf lessons
Catering for the absolute beginner to the experienced. Surf lessons have been known to unleash new talent and provide a mouth-watering entrée to surfing that will last a lifetime. Certified with Surfing Australia, our instructor will take you to safe beaches and have you standing on the board in no time.
Skydive
Commencing with a scenic flight over the Great Ocean Road, you will get a bird’s eye view of Bells Beach and the whole coast. Jumping from the plane with your guide you enjoy the sensation of freefall for 45 seconds before gently floating down to earth under canopy for six minutes.
Jet boat
Enjoy a white-knuckle jet boat ride, launching into 270-degree turns at 70 km/h. Capable of carrying 10 adults per trip and suitable for all ages. Our experienced driver can spin the jet boat on a 20 cent piece and shoot past objects in the blink of an eye.
Mountain Bike
Race or roll through the Otway rainforest on this downhill course with dramatic ocean views. Ride on modern bikes featuring dual suspension. Travel at your own pace – whether on one wheel or two! Rides vary in length from one hour, with varying skill and fitness levels catered for.
Tiger Moth flight
Scenic or acrobatic flights in this open-cockpit aircraft will take you back to yesteryear as the engines roar through turns, rolls and loops. Travelling a few hundred metres above the coastline you can even wave to bathers on the beach.
Horse ride
Walk, trot or gallop your way through the Otway National Park and on the beach. Enjoy this untouched and protected wilderness on horseback, taking in local flora, fauna and ocean views. Horses are matched to rider skill level.
Four-wheel driving
From wild mud sliding and river-crossing action to slow scenic tours taking in local sights and wildlife, four-wheel driving in the Otways has something for everyone. Jump in our amped-up vehicles with local drivers who know secret tracks and getaways that most tourists don’t get to see. Have a break with a catered picnic or dine at one of the many fine cafés or restaurants along the coast.
Canoeing
A gentle paddle through local rivers and waterways catering to all age groups. These fully guided and instructional tours allow participants to enjoy the wildlife and surroundings at their own pace.
Lunch
Gourmet barbecue on the beach. Sit back and relax as Big Stick staff serve you lunch on one of our pristine, secluded beaches a short distance off the Great Ocean Road. All dietary requirements catered for.
Our private, qualified lifesavers will be on hand to ensure safety. Enjoy the beach and go for a swim in the tranquil, crystal blue waters of the marine sanctuary.
Coastal Drive
Following lunch it’s a short 45-minute scenic drive along a stretch of road voted the best coastal drive on the planet – the Great Ocean Road. Our local guides provide a full commentary.
Afternoon Spa Treatment
Arrive in Lorne and check into the Mantra Erskine Beach Resort.
This 4½-star resort is the only beachfront hotel/resort along the entire Great Ocean Road.
The afternoon is spent receiving a 90-minute spa treatment of your choice and relaxing in the grounds of the resort or on the white sandy beach.
Dinner
Guests receive a “room drop” dinner invitation to an undisclosed location and are escorted from the resort via luxury coach.
The luxury coach stops to reveal a path lined by tea candles, leading guests away into the local rainforest. Ancient trees and giant ferns envelope guests as the fresh rainforest air clears and invigorates the senses.
After a short walk guests arrive at a small clearing to find a gourmet dinner setting with suspended lanterns, candles and a string quartet playing music deep in the heart of the rainforest.
Dinner is served as the rainforest canopy sways gently overhead and a nearby stream provides nature’s own background music.
Following dinner, guests return to their accommodation by luxury coach.
DAY 3
Morning
Full buffet breakfast at Mantra Erskine Beach Resort. Depart hotel 9:00am.
Coastal Drive
Our coastal drive continues as we head further south along the Great Ocean Road. Twenty minutes into the drive, the coach stops for guests to discover the local koala community. Guests have the unforgettable experience of seeing this national icon in the wild.
10:00AM
Following the magnificent coastal drive, guests arrive at Apollo Bay. Here Big Stick guides offer the option of getting up close and personal with wild seals on a kayaking tour or you can choose to take a ride in an 8WD amphibious buggy to explore the Australian bush.
Sea Kayak
Visit the Marengo Marine Sanctuary and experience seals close up in their natural environment. Be amazed as the seals swim in and around the kayaks and our expert guide educates you about the unique marine ecology of Bass Strait and the great Southern Ocean. For a bit of extra adventure, catch the rolling waves back to shore. No experience necessary.
8WD amphibious buggy ride
Take a trip out of the box in a go-anywhere “Argo” buggy. Driven by experienced guides, these amphibious buggies will splash through water, traverse lush fern gullies and power uphill to a spectacular ocean lookout.
Lunch
Overlooking Bass Strait, set high in the Otways above the Great Ocean Road, Chris’s Beacon Point Restaurant has become a mecca for gourmet travellers. Chris’s personal approach to hospitality has made him one of the most loved characters in the region and his passion for the food of southern Europe combined with the freshest produce has made his cuisine world famous.
Helicopter convoy to Twelve Apostles
Having been wined and dined you will board your helicopter to gain a different perspective of the Great Ocean Road. Fly in a convoy over the world-famous Twelve Apostles, Cape Otway and remote regions of the coast which are inaccessible by car or foot. Your helicopter will land at the Twelve Apostles, allowing you time to take photographs and explore these natural wonders on foot before flying you back over the majestic Otway Ranges to Melbourne.
Tonight, a casual dinner at one of Melbourne’s superb restaurants awaits you.
Contact:
Geelong Otway Tourism
Email: got@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
