Couples · Friends · Photography lovers · Nature seekers
March to May (autumn) and September to November (spring) offer mild weather, fewer crowds, and stunning light for photography. Summer brings crowds but is perfect for swimming at Lorne and Apollo Bay. Winter can be dramatic and uncrowded.
The Great Ocean Road stretches 243 kilometres along Victoria's south-west coastline, winding through surf towns, ancient temperate rainforests, and dramatic limestone sea stacks. Built by returned soldiers after World War I, it is both a feat of engineering and one of the world's great scenic drives.
Why Great Ocean Road makes a perfect Melbourne weekend getaway
The journey begins at Torquay — Australia's surf capital and home to the Surf World Museum — before winding through Anglesea, where kangaroos famously graze on the golf course, and the fashionable resort town of Lorne. The road then climbs through the Great Otway National Park, where ancient myrtle beeches and towering mountain ash trees create a cool, green canopy over one of the world's most biodiverse temperate rainforests.
Beyond the Otways lies the Shipwreck Coast, named for the more than 700 ships wrecked in these treacherous waters over two centuries. Here stand the Twelve Apostles — massive limestone stacks rising from the Southern Ocean — along with Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge, and the Bay of Islands. The coast at dusk, when the golden light turns the limestone golden-orange and little penguins emerge from the surf, is among the most memorable experiences in Australian travel.
Inland, the Otway Ranges offer treetop walks at Otway Fly, the beautiful Hopetoun Falls and Triplet Falls, koalas at Cape Otway Lightstation, and excellent farm-to-table dining at local producers. The Great Ocean Road region is not just a drive — it's a full destination with days of discovery on offer.
Top things to do in Great Ocean Road
Twelve Apostles
The most photographed landmark on the Great Ocean Road, these ancient limestone stacks rise up to 45 metres from the Southern Ocean. Arrive at sunrise for golden light and fewer crowds. Eight stacks remain standing today.
Loch Ard Gorge
A dramatic and historically poignant gorge named after the iron clipper that wrecked here in 1878. Walk down to the sheltered beach through the narrow gorge walls — the protected beach is perfect for a swim.
Great Otway National Park
Home to ancient myrtle beech rainforests, spectacular waterfalls (Hopetoun Falls, Triplet Falls, Beauchamp Falls) and one of Australia's highest concentrations of wild koalas along Bimbi Park Road near Cape Otway.
Lorne
The most cosmopolitan town on the Great Ocean Road, with excellent restaurants, boutique accommodation, a surf beach, and the Erskine Falls just a short walk from town. The Lorne Pier Pub on a Friday evening is a Victoria institution.
Apollo Bay
A working fishing town with a real, unhurried character. Buy fresh abalone and crayfish from local fishers, catch live music at the Apollo Bay Hotel, and pick up supplies at the Saturday morning farmers' market.
Cape Otway Lightstation
Australia's oldest surviving lighthouse (built 1848), perched at the meeting point of Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean. The surrounding gum trees are often full of wild koalas — arguably the best free koala spotting in Victoria.
Practical tips for your Great Ocean Road trip
- Drive west to east (Melbourne → Torquay → Twelve Apostles) for the best views from the driver's seat and easier coastal access. Most people drive in the wrong direction.
- The Twelve Apostles are most photogenic at sunrise and sunset. Arrive at dawn in autumn or winter to have them almost to yourself.
- Stop at Cumberland River near Lorne for a free campsite and one of the best swimming holes on the coast.
- Fill your petrol tank at Colac or Apollo Bay — petrol stations thin out considerably past the Otways.
- Book accommodation in Lorne and Apollo Bay well in advance for school holidays and long weekends — these towns book out months ahead.
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