The Great Accessible Road Trip
Our Great Accessible Road Trip features locals Flynn Gurry and Harve McCorkell, both born and bred in Warrnambool.
The Great Ocean Road is such a beautiful part of the world and for both of them growing up with the ocean at their doorstep, the Great Ocean Road region feels very much like their home. They love spending time in the small towns and communities throughout the region and especially love sourcing great surf, skate parks, and pubs where punters will often find Flynn, who is also a talented musician and songwriter playing gigs.
Their Accessible Road trip begins in Warrnambool, where Flynn and Harve visit the Pavilion Cafe and Bar for a hearty brunch and to reminisce about penguin spotting around Middle Island and the breakwater as kids. A plunge in the Hot Springs sanctuary and Deep Blue Hot Springs was a perfect way to relax and plan before getting in the car to head east along the coast for the jam-packed road trip. Ramped access here is great, there is lots of transition space, and the unisex changing facilities offer thoughtful inclusion. Before setting out – a quick pub dinner at The Cally was a must. There is wheelchair access at the rear of the building here and the staff are friendly and courteous to all customers.
In Port Campbell they explored the town, making use of accessible trails and amenities like the changing places facility, which is conveniently just a few metres from one of Harve’s favourite accessible skate parks. The staff at Waves Port Campbell where Flynn and Harve stayed were super-friendly, and they offer accommodation suitable for people with reduced mobility (call ahead to check features for independent wheelchair users).
A trip to Timboon was essential for a tasting and lunch at Timboon Railway Shed Distillery, followed by a sweet treat at Timboon Ice Creamery. Both venues are accessible for wheelchair users.
The highlight of the whole trip for both Flynn and Harve was a flight with 12 Apostles Helicopters, and a sky-high perspective of the coast. On the ground some of the nearby accessible highlights beyond the 12 Apostles Visitor Precinct were the Bay of Islands for Sunset and Loch Ard Gorge.
In the Otways, just before Apollo Bay, a stop at Maits Rest Rainforest Walk was on the cards. This magical spot has 30-minute loop trail that is steep in some sections, but without any steps. Great for tearing down the slopes under the magnificent canopy of ancient Myrtle Beech and towering Mountain Ash trees.
The nature trail at Wildlife Wonders in Apollo Bay was designed to be wheelchair compliant, and the tour guides are trained in access and inclusion. The wildlife sanctuary tour winds through an area where kangaroos, wallabies, Potoroos, koalas and bandicoots can be spotted, which are all native to the area. There are also a family of Emus that usually hang around near the aptly named Emu Cafe on site, which features delicious and healthy food with lots of special dietary considerations.
In Apollo Bay the surf was on, so it was time to catch some waves! Harve grew up by the ocean with older siblings who all surfed and were a part of the surf club, so Harve surfed from a very young age around Warrnambool. Apollo Bay Surf and Kayak had a board with handles for hire, and they found great beach access from the Apollo Bay surf lifesaving club (a beach wheelchair is also available for hire here at no cost and there is matting for easier access during summer).
Staying at BIG4 Pisces Apollo Bay was perfect for Harve, who uses a wheelchair. The staff here are trained in inclusion and accessibility (you’ll notice the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyards on customer service staff) and the owners are making continual improvements to make the park more accessible. They have several accessible cabins, have installed ramps in others for those with reduced mobility, and for a skater like Harve, trying out the pump track was a must!
Dinner at The Apollo Bay Hotel, where Flynn is a regular in the live music line up was a great spot to hang out for a couple of beers and chat with some of the locals. The venue has lots of space and accessible toilet facilities.
A day trip from Apollo Bay to Stevensons Falls near Forrest was a great opportunity to see the new boardwalks and interpretive information at this beautiful Otways spot. Park managers have worked to make the waterfall visitor area and campground here accessible, and the waterfall viewing deck, just metres from the cascade, is the only one in the Otways that is designed to be accessed by wheelchair.
Wye River General Store was a great lunch stop for Harve and Flynn to stop on their way along the Great Ocean Road to Lorne. Large doorways, ramp access and designated disabled car parking is ideal for people with disabilities – particularly in a popular little town with limited parking. They have consistent high-quality coffee, food and friendly, inclusive service here.
Some walking tracks around Lorne are ideal for wheelchair users, with a section of trail at North Lorne designed for accessibility, and the Lorne Pier is suitable for all visitors, with easy parking close by. Lorne Bush House Cottages and Eco Retreat have a 3 bedroom accessible unit sleeping up to 8 that makes the perfect home base for large family/group holidays. Nothing has been overlooked here, and the owners provide an inclusive experience. Parrots, koalas and kangaroos are permanent residents here, so it’s a lovely spot to stay and spend time.
The Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery at Bellbrae is only a few years old, and the sustainable building is suitable for all visitors, with accessible bathrooms, multiple designated carparks and of course loads of chocolatey treats and ice cream. The large dining area serves lunch every day, and the retail space is stocked with loads chocolate treats. It can be busy and overwhelming here, but absolutely worth it for anyone with a sweet tooth!
The last overnight stay on the trip was at The Sands Torquay. This is an integrated resort with lots of accommodation options, including accessible rooms, a golf course, pro shop, cafe, restaurant and spa. The foreshore path from The Sands to the Torquay Surf Lifesaving club is flat and around 2kms. Before heading home, Harve was super-keen for a skate at the Torquay Skate Park, which was the perfect finish to this truly great accessible road trip.
Flynn and Harve’s parents were great friends and as they were born around the same time, naturally they just became friends. They grew up about 5 doors from each other and were in each other’s class from primary school all through high school.
Harve grew up in Warrnambool, however spent a lot of their early life at the Royal Children’s in Melbourne. Harve lives in Warrnambool and works as a creative cinematographer on lots of inspiring projects, and has spent a great deal of time as a disability advocate in South West Victoria. Harve says “I have traveled extensively throughout Australia and the World skating and surfing. Whilst traveling as a person living with a disability can come with its complications, I have found it to be all an incredible experience”. Harve is deaf, and lives with Parkinsonian Dystonia. “this comes with its fair share of complexes, one of them being I am in a wheelchair, so being in the ocean is incredibly freeing as well as skating”.
Flynn grew up in Warrnambool by the beach and few doors down from his best mate Harve’s. Flynn is now living in Melbourne but has spent the last 18 months doing lots of traveling, touring his music around Australia and the World, notably touring with The Pierce Brothers, and locally performing at Triple J’s One Night Stand in Warrnambool in 2024 and multiple times at the Port Fairy Folk Festival. Flynn is also a disability support worker, which happened quite naturally, and growing up with Harve’s was involved in Disability Advocacy Groups.
Flynn wrote “You Changed my Life” about Harve and performs it at all his gigs. You can check out Flynn Gurry on Spotify here.
