One of my favourite and most memorable coastal destinations I have visited in Australia, is the Great Ocean Road in Southern Victoria.
There is so much to do and see on the Great Ocean Road. I love this area for its wild surf, natural and non-commercialised towns and rugged, rock-faced cliffs.
Below are some of the best places to stop, and things to do along the Great Ocean Road, to assist you on your travels.
How Long Is The Great Ocean Road?
The Great Ocean Road takes close to four hours (no stops) in it’s entirety, from Torquay to Warrnambool, but if you have the time and resources it’s worth experiencing the whole stretch, taking in all the sights and experiences.
How long it takes you to travel The Great Ocean Road will depend on your priorities how much time you have. To do everything on this list you will need 2- 3 hours in each location, to really take in the tourist attractions and experience the area. This would be best done over 3- 5 days or more.
If you are only visiting the Great Ocean Road for one day, it is best to focus on 3 or more stops closer to Melbourne, for example Erskine Falls, shopping and lunch in Lorne, Aireys Inlet swim and Torquay for dinner on the way home.
Alternatively, you could head further away from Melbourne and focus on one destination with surrounding attractions like Port Campbell for a swim and food and the nearby 12 Apostles, The Grotto, Bay of Martyrs, Loch Ard Gorge and London Arch, before taking in the ocean road scenery on the drive home.
What To Do On The Great Ocean Road
The beaches are large, and the gentle waves in most areas make it safe to swim. To really appreciate the scenery and the sights, I encourage you to travel the coast for a few days or longer.
Where Does The Great Ocean Road Start? Torquay.
You’ll start the Great Ocean Road (at the Melbourne end) trip in Torquay, a popular surf town half an hour from Geelong (1 hour 20 from Melbourne). Torquay is a lovely town to visit for a night or two and has become increasingly busy with young families moving into the area in recent years.
Torquay is also home to some of the biggest surf brands in Victoria, including Rip Curl and Billabong.
*These surf brand outlets get busy. Ensure to allow up to 2 hours for a proper shopping experience.
If surfing is not for you, there are some delicious local restaurants with fresh seafood and produce. Try wandering along The Esplanade in Torquay (a 20 min stroll), opposite the bay, to discover café’s and modern restaurants, or venture out to some of the family owned wineries or breweries in the greater area of Torquay.
Tips: Try Fishos Torquay on The Esplanade, for some of the best, fresh seafood
Bells Beach
South of Torquay is Australia’s most popular surf beach, Bells Beach, which hosts the annual Rip Curl Pro surf contest each Easter. You may have also heard of Bells Beach in the 1991 film Point Break.
If you decide to surf at Bells or any of the nearby surf breaks, ensure to understand the rip tides before you get in the water. Bells can be deceptive with swell increasing over the reef.
The drive to Bells Beach takes 20 mins or so from Torquay. Give yourself a couple of hours for a decent surf or an hour to wander the area by foot.
The nearby area of Jan Juc also hosts a handful of world-renowned surf breaks, popular with both locals and visiting tourists.
Tips: Be aware of peak seasons and busy crowds when surfing.
Angelsea
My third recommended stop along this spectacular coastline is the fishing town of Angelsea. This spot is not usually a standout on Great Ocean Road guides, but I personally love this seaside town.
Angelsea has a lovely family atmosphere and is a perfect place for a food refuel when driving from Melbourne (1 hour 30 from Melbourne, via Torquay).
The most notable attractions here are the kangaroos at the Anglesea Golf Club, who host tours to see the Eastern Grey Kangaroo who have inhabited this area for thousands of years.
These tours run daily (25min) during peak seasons via motorised tour carts, by volunteers of the golf club, who are full of information on the kangaroo’s habits needs and welfare.
Tips: Be aware of busyness in peak periods for carparking in the main street of Anglesea.
Aireys Inlet
Aireys Inlet is a popular holiday destination for families over the Australian summer and it’s easy to see why. Aireys (1 hour 45 from Melbourne) and the nearby small communities of Moggs Creek, Eastern View and Fairhaven all have accessibility to the wide open beaches, with most holiday homes perched up on the hill facing the beach with stunning views.
Stop here to take the Lighthouse Precinct Walk (15min), or take a guided tour (30min) to the Split Point Lighthouse and discover the historic buildings and wild maritime stories of the area.
There are also some quality cafes in ‘Aireys’. If you need a coffee stop I recommend Mr T and Me, located next to the general store.
Tips: Drive slowly in these areas as there are a lot of families and kids crossing the Great Ocean Road to access the beach.
Lorne
Lorne (1 hour 55 from Melbourne) is one of the busiest beach towns along the coast, as it’s equipped with fine dining and a range of accommodation options. Lorne is a destination for you if you like beach time as well as boutique shopping, and great food and coffee.
If you’re planning to spend a bit more money in Lorne, IPSOS Greek restaurant has fresh, delicious Greek food and is the ideal restaurant for group bookings.
Strolling down the main street (30min with minimal stops) will take you to many cafes and restaurants, and there are plenty of kid friendly options including playgrounds and the calm beachfront.
If you head down the pier to the right of the bay (20min stroll from main street), you may even spot a seal or two!
Tips: Budget for higher prices in general when staying in Lorne
Erskine Falls
Erskine Falls is one of the most famous falls in the Great Otway National Park. It takes 15mins to drive from Lorne to get to these popular waterfalls on the Great Ocean Road.
Erskine Falls is set amongst lush forest with two viewing spots. Once you arrive there’s a short walk from the car park to both viewing points.
If you have waterfalls on your bucket list, Erskine Falls are the ones to visit to see this spectacular 30 metre waterfall.
Tips: If you’re a hiker, consider taking the hiking track from Lorne, 7.5 kms each way.
Kennet River
Kennet River is another popular tourist destination 27 kms past Lorne (2 hours 20 from Melbourne).
Kennet River is perfect for camping and is mostly known for surfing and spotting koalas in the wild.
If you are interested in stopping at Kennet River to spot koalas, take the Kennet River Walk (15kms), which is a dirt road you can drive along to spot koalas in their natural habitat and take photos if you wish.
If staying overnight at Kennet River, the caravan park is a lovely holiday spot, located opposite the beach.
Tips: Book ahead if interested in staying at the caravan park in peak seasons!
Apollo Bay
Apollo Bay is a lovely town to stop in for a night or more. On a recent visit over summer we had plenty of family beach time, coffee stops and fish and chips for lunch. You can choose from the calm beaches to the wilder surf spots at the edge of town.
The town of Apollo Bay draws busy crowds over summer, but is noticeably less busy than places like Lorne, due to the further distance from Melbourne. If you are heading this far from Melbourne (2 hours 40 from Melbourne, inland), Apollo Bay is an ideal alternative for a summer holiday.
If you’re a wildlife lover, stop at Lake Elizabeth or take a canoe tour to spot the local Platypus early in the day (Set aside 3- 4hours for the entire experience)
Tips: If you visit the Marriners Lookout you’ll see outstanding views of Apollo Bay and the southern ocean. The drive into Apollo Bay also has incredible beach views, and if you have time it’s worth stopping for photos or a walk.
Johanna Beach
Johanna (2 hours 50 from Melbourne) is predominantly a surf destination, and not really suitable for swimming. If you are into surfing and modest style camping on this stretch of rugged coastline, this area is for you.
If you’re not a surfer, there are hiking options like the Johanna to Castle Cove hike, which takes up to 2.5 hours. Ensure to keep an eye on tide times, to avoid getting stranded on the beach.
Tips: The Johanna Beach Campground is an ideal place to camp, set in the hinterland beside the dog friendly (on a leash) surf beach.
Port Campbell
Port Campbell is a beautiful seaside town with a lovely little beach (2 hours 55 inland from Melbourne). A central summer beach town, which draws many locals from surrounding areas as well as stop over tourists for the nearby Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, London Arch, The Grotto and Bay of Martyrs.
Rest here between tourist attractions to discover the local cafes, boutiques, and restaurants in the main street of Port Campbell (20 min stroll), in this friendly and relaxed beach town.
Twelve Apostles
One of the most popular destinations on the Great Ocean Road and in the heart of Port Campbell National Park, is the 12 Apostles. This group of stunning limestone rocks are situated off the shore of the Port Campbell National Park, alongside the Great Ocean Road.
These rocks jut spectacularly out of the wild ocean, providing gorgeous colours and different times of the day. Only seven of the rocks are still standing, and there are some more rock formations located west in the national park.
Time: 5 mins to take some photos to a whole day to swim and explore the area.
Tips: There are bus loads of crowds who visit this location every day. If you’d like to visit with less people, these iconic rock formations are best viewed at sunset, which is also ideal for their shades of colour.
Loch Ard Gorge
If you are this far along your road trip you won’t want to miss these incredible rock sights.
Loch Ard Gorge is also located in the Port Campbell National Park and is a short 3 minute drive from the Twelve Apostles. This attraction now presents itself as two separate rock pillars, since the arch collapsed in 2009.
When visiting the gorge, you’ll also take in the stunning, towering cliffs, sparkling aqua sea and a small beach surroundings.
Time: 5 mins to a whole day.
Tips: If you are interested, head down to the shore as the Loch Ard Gorge beach is one of the only places in the area where you are able to access the beach. The beaches in this area are breathtaking and hardly ever crowded. You’ll be happy you made the hike down!
London Arch
The London Arch (which was called London Bridge until its collapse) is another natural shaped rock, also located in the Port Campbell National Park.
This arch shaped stack was formed by erosion, and until the collapse in 1990 was in the complete shape of a bridge.
Time: 5 mins to a whole day.
Tips: For best photos and less crowds, head to the London Arch early in the day or later in the afternoon.
The Grotto
The Grotto is another incredible rock formation in this part of Australia. This blowhole/archway/cave offers lovely sea views, and you’ll have many picturesque photo opportunities. This cave like spot is also worth the hike down to experience the full aspect of the Grotto.
Time: 30 mins hike each way from carpark and as much time as you like exploring the area.
Tips: Visit The Grotto at sunset or sunrise in summer for the golden pink colours reflecting on the inside rock pools.
Bay of Martyrs
The Bay of Martyrs is a 2.5 kilometres long bay, which encompasses two smaller bays; Massacre Bay and Crofts Bay.
The views at Bay of Martyrs are incredible, showcasing huge cliffs of rocks and shimmering beaches. This area is a lot more rugged and vast and there are hardly any tourists here on this stretch of coastline.
I have always been interested in the Bay of Martyrs history, which you can be read in depth about here.
Time: 15min to a whole day.
Tips: If you’re interested in birdlife, you can discover a wide variety here at Bay of Martyrs.
Peterborough
Peterborough (2 hours 50 from Melbourne) is an even quieter beach side town with a stunning beach, which is often overlooked on the Great Ocean Road.
Another option for a road trip stop or a weekend getaway, Peterborough isn’t too fancy, but the drawcard in this town is the low key vibe and untouched, gorgeous stretch of beach.
Stop here for the antique store, a quiet hit of golf on the coastline, or sit back and enjoy the beach view with less crowds- one of the best secret beaches in Australia.
Time: At least 2 hours for a golf round, or beach and store visit.
Tips: If you’re interested in hiking, the Wild Dog Cove walking trail begins at the Peterborough Golf Course.
Where Does The Great Ocean Road Finish? Warrnambool
The last stop on our Great Ocean Road guide is Warrnambool (3 hours from Melbourne, taking the inland road), the big seaside town with 30’000 residents, lots of schools, major chain stores, cafes, pubs and markets.
Both Shipwreck Bay and the Surfside Holiday Park are located right next to the beach and are super popular each summer, with kids on bikes, BBQs and regular campers settling on for their annual holiday.
The foreshore carnival, markets and summertime activities make this spot a popular family friendly destination if you are searching for more to do than lounge at the beach.
If you’re interested in seeing whales leaping from the sea, Logans Beach Platform has the perfect vantage point, where you can see huge whales jumping and blowing water as they swim past (allow 1 hour).
Warrnambool also has fishing, spas and wellness, mini golf and shipwreck tours if you are interested in taking in plenty of activities during your stay.
Tips: Discover the Shipwreck Coast Tour from Warrnambool, which takes you to the stunning coastline where the locals go, without the crowds.
Great Ocean Road Accomodation
There are plenty of accomodation options on the great ocean road. Here are some of my favourites below:
Free Camping
There are so many free camping options in Victoria, including along the Great Ocean Road:
Dandos Campground and Beauchamp Falls in The Otways, Sawpit Campground close to Portland or Wye River Road Campground, inland behind Wye River all offer great free campgrounds to help your Australia travel budget.
Hotels
Torquay Hotel is a fun place to stay for a night break up your trip. Lorne Hotel is an easy place to stay near the centre of the town, and the Port Campbell Hotel is a friendly option as a base when visiting the nearby 12 Apostles, London Arch, and Bay Of Martyrs.
Holiday Rentals
There are enless holiday renatal along the Great Ocean Road, some with sweeping views of the ocean and walking distance to the beach.
The iconic Pole House in Fairhaven is available to rent, and Booking.com and Stayz have all the latest in holiday rentals in each town and between, along the Great Ocean Road.
Great Ocean Road Map
There are of course many stops on the Great Ocean Road, and these are in my opinion some of the best stops for memorable experiences and stunning beach views in Victoria. Check out these Hidden Secrets On The Great Ocean Road to add to your itinerary if you have time.
The beaches along this coastline are especially impressive, with their sometimes wild waves, sometimes calm bays, and always clean water with epic views. If you love beaches, history and seaside towns you won’t be disappointed taking a trip along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria.
