The Great Ocean Road in Australia is without a doubt one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. Stretching 243 km from Torquay to Allansford, this scenic drive offers breathtaking viewpoints along the way. Dramatic cliffs like the famous Twelve Apostles, pristine beaches and wildlife such as koalas and kangaroos make it an incredible scenery. In this travel guide you will find the ultimate 3 -day itinerary to experience the best of the Great Ocean Road. We’ll also give you tips on where to stay and how to extend or shorten this route. Get ready for an unforgettable road trip in Australia!
Where is the Great Ocean Road located?
The Great Ocean Road is located on the south coast of Australia , in the state of Victoria. Also known as the B100, this road takes you from one magnificent view to another along the Pacific Ocean for 243 km. The official start of this scenic road is in Torquay and ends in Allansford near Warrnambool. The easiest way to get to the Great Ocean Road is from the city of Melbourne where you also have an international airport. From Melbourne, it is about another hour and a half drive to Torquay.
How to drive the Great Ocean Road
The best way to explore the Great Ocean Road is by driving your own vehicle. This gives you the freedom to set your own pace and choose where to stop.We traveled around Australia ourselves in a camper van. Along the Great Ocean Road you will find plenty of campsites for every budget. If you travel by car, you have a wide range of hotels and lodges along the Great Ocean Road. We’ll give you several options for where to stay each day!
TRAVEL TIP: In Australia, they drive on the left! That takes some getting used to but you quickly get the hang of it. There are also often signs posted along the side of the road to remind you of this.
Day 1: Torquay to Apollo Bay
Today you will drive from the surfer village of Torquay towards Apollo Bay and will cover about 100 km. If you’re starting from Melbourne, plan for an additional 1.5-hour drive to reach Torquay.
Bells Beach & Memorial Arch
In the surfer village of Torquay you will find Bells Beach where the iconic Rip Curl Surf Championship is held annually. Be sure to go watch surfers brave the raging waves orventure out for a surf lesson yourself! In Torquay, you can also visit the Australian National Surfing Museum. Then continue driving toward the Memorial Arch which marks the official start of the Great Ocean Road. Be sure to take a photo at this iconic arch!
Erskine Falls & Kennet River
From the Memorial Arch you make your way past all kinds of beautiful beaches where you can stop as much as you want, like Teddy’s Lookout. Be sure to also take a look at Erskine Falls. From the parking lot, it takes 10 minutes to hike to this beautiful waterfall through the green rainforest. Afterwards, continue your road trip toward Kennet River. This area is popular because of the many koalas in the eucalyptus trees. Many get off at the Koala Cafe in Kennet River, but if you continue on the Grey River Road you are more likely to see koalas. We ourselves saw as many as four here! End your day at Marinners Lookout or Wild Dog Creek near Apollo Bay.
TRAVEL TIP: In addition to Erskine Falls, deeper in the Great Otway National Park you also have Hopetoun Falls and The Redwoods. If you have time then you can also definitely consider making a stop here, but this requires a bit of a detour.
Where to stay in Apollo Bay
You end day 1 of your road trip along the Great Ocean Road near Apollo Bay. If you travel with a camper like we did, then we highly recommend Blanket Bay Campground! This beautiful nature campground is located on the coast in Great Otway National Park. In the evening, we even saw a koala in the tree here! Book through the official Victoria Parks website. If you are traveling by car, Seafarers Getaway is highly recommended. You’re right on the beach, perfect for catching the sunset in the evening!
Day 2: Apollo Bay to Princetown
On day 2 of this itinerary along the Great Ocean Road in Australia, you will drive from the town of Apollo Bay toward Princetown. With all the stops combined, you will also cover about 100 km today. With the best viewpoint waiting at the end!
Cape Otway National Park
Your first stop is Cape Otway where you will find Australia’s oldest lighthouse. We found the drive to Cape Otway very beautiful as you drive through lush green forest. Along the way, you also have another chance to see koalas and kangaroos! At Cape Otway you can visit the lighthouse for $20 AUD per person, but we did not do this ourselves because there is already enough to see! So if you are limited in time, you can also skip this stop (and save some money).
Wreck Beach
You continue your drive passing Castle Cove, a viewpoint just off the highway. This is also the start of The Great Ocean Walk and those who want can hike a section of this trail. We ourselves did a hike at Wreck Beach. Here you go down 320 steps to the beach. It is best to do this brisk walk at low tide, when you can see the anchors of ships that have lost the battle with this rugged coastline. Many people skip this stop, so chances are you’ll have the beach all to yourself. You do drive on a 5 km gravel road for this stop first, but this was doable with our camper. Afterwards, be sure to make a stop for a delicious coffee or some pie at Clean Cravings Eatery.
Gibson Steps & Twelve Apostles
After your coffee break, continue driving until you reach the Gibson Steps. Here, you can descend a long staircase along the cliffside to the beach. Look out for the 70-meter-high rock that stands alone in the water and is spectacular to see! Day 2 along the Great Ocean Road ends with the highlight of this road trip: the Twelve Apostles. We deliberately kept this until last on day two so we could see the Twelve Apostles during sunset. You can see the remaining eight apostles (the others collapsed from erosion in the past) bathed in the orange glow as the sun disappears into the sea. Don’t forget to bring your camera! Afterwards, drive a short distance back towards Princetown where you’ll spend the night. Since Princetown is closest to the Twelve Apostles, it’s a convenient place to stay after sunset.
Where to stay near the Twelve Apostles
If you are traveling by camper, you should be at the Princetown Reserve campground. This campground is not expensive and in the morning you are greeted by dozens of kangaroos coming to graze on the property! Alternatively, Vayu Vista’s cozy studios are the ideal place to end your day.
Day 3: Princetown to Allansford
The last day of this three-day itinerary has arrived! Today you drive from Princetown toward Allansford which is the end of the Great Ocean Road. Some of the most beautiful sights await along the way!
Loch Ard George & Razorback
What could be better than seeing the Twelve Apostles? Being able to admire them twice! Leave Princetown and make another stop at the Twelve Apostles in the morning to get one last look at the Great Ocean Road icon. It is a different experience during the day than during sunset! Afterwards, continue driving toward Loch Ard George and The Razorback. You used to be able to go down on the beach but due to the instability of the cliff, this is no longer allowed. Still, it’s a great view to take in and should definitely not be missed!
London Bridge & the Grotto
Continue your road trip to even more extraordinary rock formations such as the London Bridge and The Grotto which are close together. Both stops are the result of years of wave erosion against the cliffs and very impressive to see. At the Grotto, you can look through the naturally formed hole in the cliff. In turn, London Bridge refers to the shape that these cliffs have. The London Bridge was once connected to the mainland, until a section collapsed in 1990 leaving two tourists trapped on the remaining section! Luckily, they were safely rescued — and left with quite a story to tell!
Bay of Islands
We wrap up the final day of the Great Ocean Road adventure at the Bay of Islands. Here, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of towering limestone cliffs rising from the ocean. Some even say it’s more impressive than the Twelve Apostles — especially since it’s often much quieter with fewer tourists. It’s a spectacular way to end your road trip along this iconic route! The journey concludes in Allansford. From here, you can either stay overnight in Warrnambool, just a 10-minute drive away, or head straight back to Melbourne, which takes about 3 hours.
Where to stay
In Warrnambool you will find plenty of campsites where you can stay with your RV such as the Warrnambool Holiday Village. Even if you travel by car, there are nice options such as the Allansford Hotel Motel. If you end this itinerary in Melbourne, then Rydges Melbourne is highly recommended!
Shortening or expanding your route
If you are limited on time, it is also possible to do the Great Ocean Road in Australia in one day. Just keep in mind that you have to start early and you will be driving a lot. Be aware that kangaroos and other animals become active at dusk, so it is not recommended to drive at this time of day. If you have only one day to spare, we recommend booking a day trip from Melbourne. That way you won’t have to drive yourself and still be sure to have seen all the highlights along the Great Ocean Road!
If you are traveling around Australia then you have many options to continue your road trip. We ourselves drove on to the Grampians National Park after the Great Ocean Road. In fact, here you can take incredibly beautiful walks! You can also continue your itinerary from Allansford toward the city of Adelaide or drive back toward bustling Melbourne. From Melbourne, you can then travel on toward Sydney or Cairns. Or consider a trip through Tasmania, our favorite place in Australia!
Best time to visit the Great Ocean Road in Australia
In Australia, the seasons are reversed to Europe, meaning summer is from December through February. December and January are the busiest months to visit the Great Ocean Road in Australia, as this is also when Australians have summer vacation. The best travel time is during this period, and it is recommended that you secure your car and accommodations early. November and February are also good months, when it is quieter but you are more likely to get rain. We ourselves went in February and had wonderful weather.
Have you visited the Great Ocean Road in Australia yourself? Let us know in a comment below! Looking for more information about your next trip? Please do not hesitate to contact us or send an email to info@snoezelsontheroad.com
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