Take a drive down one of the most beautiful stretches of road in the country. The iconic Great Ocean Road, twisting along the south-west coastline of Victoria, is an Australian National Heritage listed treasure which features beautiful natural scenery, amazing experiences, and gorgeous coastal towns.
What To Do
A trip down the Great Ocean Road could take you a day or a week – but we recommend taking your time to explore this special bit of coastline. With amazing hikes, stunning beaches, foodie havens and plenty of family activities, there’s Great Ocean Road attractions for everyone.
Twelve Apostles
This incredible and unique attraction has been a favourite spot on the Great Ocean Road for generations. The Twelve Apostles are a series of rock formations near the town of Port Campbell. Created by erosion from the wind and waves, the rocks are slowing disappearing into the sea – so go and visit while you can!
Great Otway National Park
The perfectly preserved wilderness of the Great Otway National Park makes for an amazing place to hike, kayak, mountain bike and explore. With over 1000 square kilometres of forest, lakes and waterfalls, it’s a magical part of the Victorian coastline.
Beaches
Beach lovers are spoiled for choice along the Great Ocean Road. There are literally hundreds of spots to swim and relax on the sand, but we recommend sticking with the patrolled beaches in popular places such as Anglesea, Lorne, Port Fairy and Warrnambool. Surfers will want to make a trip to the iconic Bells Beach, home to the annual Rip Curl Pro event.
Cape Otway Lightstation
Known as Australia’s most significant lighthouse, this gorgeous white structure is picture perfect against the backdrop of Bass Strait. Built in 1848, a visit to the Lightstation includes a glimpse into Australia’s history. Climb to the top and see if you can spot any whales!
Helicopter Tour
Warrnambool Art Gallery
For over 100 years, the Warrnambool Art Gallery has hosted beautiful pieces of artwork through a range of thoughtful exhibitions. Their collection of over 2000 works includes indigenous art, colonial era paintings and modernism.
How to Get Here
The Great Ocean Road officially begins after Torquay, which is a 100km and about an hour and twenty minutes’ drive from Melbourne. Take the M1 freeway towards Geelong.
Travellers may also fly directly into Avalon Airport, near Geelong. From there, it’s a 40 minute drive south along the M1 and Surf Coast highway.
Things To Know
Travel
The best way to enjoy the Great Ocean Road is, predictably, by driving! But if you don’t have a car and still want to explore this stretch of coast, there are plenty of tour services that provide buses along the route stopping at major attractions.
If you are driving, remember to stick to the left side of the road and be aware of other motorists.
Events
There’s plenty of events going on along the Great Ocean Road, from music festivals to cycling competitions. Check out what’s happening at the same time as your visit.
