What started as a casual conversation on a Saturday night turned into a last-minute camping trip down the Great Ocean Road less than 24 hours later. With zero planning, questionable decision-making, and an unfortunate amount of traffic, my friend and I set off on an adventure that didn’t quite go as expected—but was definitely one for the books.
How It All Started
It all began when I realized that the upcoming Monday was a public holiday. Three-day weekend? Yes, please!
Having recently moved to Melbourne, I had yet to explore the iconic Great Ocean Road—which, let’s be honest, is basically a must-do if you live in Victoria. I started throwing around ideas with friends, but one of my closest friends had to work, and I felt a little overwhelmed trying to organize something extensive.
Then, out of nowhere, another friend texted me on Saturday night and suggested we go camping. Not only that, but she also had a friend willing to lend us their camping gear.
Fast forward less than 24 hours later, and we were in the car, completely unprepared but full of excitement.
The Late Start & First Setback
In true last-minute road trip fashion, we didn’t actually leave Melbourne until 1 PM on Sunday. Considering that the drive to the 12 Apostles takes about four hours, this was not the smartest move. But at least I learned how to put air into my car tyres (did you know you’re supposed to do that once a month – news to me).
Anyway we did not only leave super late on Sunday, but also we hadn’t even looked up how long it would take.
The original plan was to drive straight to the 12 Apostles, then head 1.5 hours back to a free camping spot we heard about. We’d wake up the next morning, relax on the beach, and drive back.
It sounded perfect.
Reality check: By 3 PM, we had only made it to Torquay – the official start of the Great Ocean Road. Since neither of us had eaten lunch, we decided to stop and grab some food. Burgers and chicken wings in a little seaside spot? Absolutely worth it.
At 4 PM, we were back on the road. But at this point, we weren’t even on the scenic coastal drive yet.
Camping Plans Gone Wrong
As we finally started making our way down the Great Ocean Road, things got complicated.
- Mobile data? Almost nonexistent. This meant my friend, who was in charge of navigation, could barely research alternatives, let alone load maps. We just followed the Great Ocean Road and hoped for the best.
- Car sickness? Oh yeah. As soon as the road started twisting and turning, my friend felt nauseous.
By the time we finally had enough signal to check Google Maps, we realised that our plan to drive to the 12 Apostles first and then return to camp was not going to happen. It was actually another two hours from where we were – not 30 minutes, as we had assumed.
At this point, it was getting too late to make it all the way and still find a place to sleep. So we scrambled for a new plan and found a different campsite closer to us. The best part about that was that the campsite is free (which means it’s also super popular for other people).
The Camping Experience (aka Struggling in the Dark)
By the time we arrived at the campsite, the sun was already starting to set. The place was packed.
Although I grew up camping, and I know how to put up a tent, we were super unprepared. No chairs, no table, no proper cooling box for food. The only things we had were a tent, two air mattresses, one (1!) sleeping bag and a few pillows from my bed.
To make things even more stressful, as we were struggling to figure out where to park and set up the tent, an older man wandered over and started chatting with us.
Now, I don’t mind meeting new people, but I tend to be cautious about strangers – especially when it’s just two of us camping alone. So when he asked where we were from and what we were doing, I gave a polite but very vague answer.
But my friend?
She freely told this complete stranger:
“Oh, we’re foreigners! We live in Melbourne. It’s just the two of us on this trip!”
I almost screamed.
I gave her a look (you know, that look) and tried to subtly steer the conversation away. Luckily, nothing sketchy happened, and the guy eventually wandered off.
After we managed to find a good spot for our little tent, we got ready for our girl dinner. Since we didn’t have a cooler, we played it safe and bought some bread to avoid anything going bad in the heat. So we sat there on our beach towel, eating our sad little bread, laughing about how we even managed to make it to this point.
We did, however, get snacks to make smores and thanks to the friendly campers next to us, we didn’t even have to make a fire.
That night, the tent was steaming hot. But by morning? We were freezing. The joys of camping, right?
Finally, the 12 Apostles
Despite our chaotic camping night, we were determined to make it to the 12 Apostles the next morning. Even though it meant another two-hour drive.
We stopped at Yatzi Café along the way, where the staff were super lovely, and took advantage of a public bathroom refresh.
By the time we arrived at the 12 Apostles, it was scorching hot – but absolutely breathtaking. Standing on the viewing platform, looking out at the towering limestone stacks rising from the ocean, made the entire struggle completely worth it.
The Long Journey Home
Feeling accomplished, we started our journey back to Melbourne. Along the way, we stopped in a small town pub for lunch, enjoying some much-needed real food. The road trip high was still going strong.
And then – three hours of traffic.
What should have been a smooth ride back turned into a never-ending stop-and-go nightmare. By the time we finally made it home, we were exhausted but couldn’t stop laughing at how ridiculous the whole trip had been.
Final Thoughts
Would I recommend spontaneously camping on the Great Ocean Road with no plan? Probably not.
Would I do it again? Absolutely.
Even though nothing went as planned, it ended up being an unforgettable adventure – one full of mishaps, laughter, and stunning coastal views.
Lesson learned: Next time, I’ll plan at least a little bit more. (And maybe give my friend a quick Stranger Danger 101 refresher before we hit the road.)
Angela
Angela, the mastermind behind theslowtravelista, is a passionate traveler who embraces slow travel's essence. With a knack for immersing herself in diverse cultures, she treasures connections formed across the globe. Beyond her adventures, Angela's vibrant personality shines through her love for spontaneous hair changes, hitchhiking escapades, and culinary delights. Join her for travel insights, laughter, and unforgettable adventures.
