Want to uncover the best surf hangouts and scenic sunset spots (hello, the Twelve Apostles)? Writer Liv Bohn has everything you need to know about driving (or hiking) Victoria’s 243-kilometre coastal road.
Feasibly the most famous of all the Australian road trips, the Great Ocean Road spans the stretch from Torquay west to Warrnambool. Made up of rainforest national parks, surf-loving seaside towns and the odd tree-dwelling koala, this coastline is full of Aussie adventures.
While you can drive the coast in a mere 12 hours, a more leisurely journey that spaces the trip out across various towns is the way to get the most out of the adventure. Or, if you’re an avid walker, it’s possible to stroll the 100-kilometre section from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles. But, be warned this is no easy feat and can take up to eight days to complete.
However you choose to tackle it, there are several spots on the Great Ocean Road you have to see. Here are ten to get you started…
1. Bells Beach
Located 90-minutes away from Melbourne is Torquay, one of the world’s hottest surf hubs and on its fringes is Bells Beach. Home to the annual Rip Curl Easter Pro, the longest-running surf competition on the planet. Spectators flock here around Easter weekend to watch the top surfing talent take to the soaring waves. Serious surfer? You can try to tackle the swells yourself, although be advised that they’re really reserved for the very experienced.
2. Lorne
Laidback and artsy, it’s easy to understand why Lorne is sometimes described as Melbourne’s equivalent to Byron Bay. Stop here and stretch your legs with a wander on its wide, sandy beach, before settling down to a well-deserved flat white and a spot of brunch at one of the many waterfront cafes. Plus, Erskine Falls, a 30-metre high cascade, is also only a 15-minute drive inland.
3. Aireys Inlet
Remember ‘Round the Twist’, that 90s TV show with the catchy theme tune? Well, a lot of it was actually filmed around Aireys Inlet. This sweet coastal hamlet is probably best known for its red-crested Split Point Lighthouse, offering lovely views out over the wildlife-housing limestone rocks of Eagle Rock Marine Sanctuary and the penguin-hotspot of Phillip Island.
There’s not a huge amount to see on the main drag, but it’s here that you’ll find the gateway to the hiking trails, waterfalls and redwood forests of Great Otway National Park.
4. Kennett River
Australia is famed for its native furry inhabitants and none more so than the irresistibly cute koala. The aptly named Kennett River Koala Walk is the perfect place to witness these marsupials in the wild.
Koalas are fairly lazy creatures and, not unlike sloths, spend most of their time asleep. Luckily that makes them a lot easier to see. Look up into the gum trees and you’re bound to find one or more of these fuzzy teddies gazing back at you.
Read more: Everything to know about the Great Ocean Walk
5. Apollo Bay
Day-trippers don’t always manage to get this far down the Great Ocean Road, making Apollo Bay a good place to escape the crowds. Sloping green meadows and quiet sandy beaches help to give the place a more relaxed feel, while locally-caught fish add a fresh flavour to the many restaurants found along the bay.
6. Great Otway National Park
Made up of 103,000 hectares of rainforests, beaches, waterfalls and heathlands, Great Otway National Park offers another perspective to the Great Ocean Road landscape.
Offering several walking trails, the most popular take you through the forest to waterfalls or to the Cape Otway lighthouse, the oldest surviving building of its kind on mainland Australia.
7. Loch Ard Gorge
Scenic spots aren’t hard to find on this coastline and the Loch Ard Gorge is the next one on the list. Named after the Loch Ard sailing ship that ran aground, in June 1878, leaving two survivors, Tom and Eva, the two unconnected rock pillars here have been officially named after them and their fateful three-month voyage from England to Melbourne.
8. Port Campbell
Admittedly Port Campbell is miniature, but the bay here is calm and safe for swimming in. There’s a handful of shorefront restaurants too, where you can sit down to a bite while in the surrounding coastal scenery. It’s also the closest town to the most popular coastal attractions on the Great Ocean Road. So, if you’re looking for a place to stay either side of visiting the Twelve Apostles, this is usually a quieter spot to choose.
Read more: Art and adventure along the Great Ocean Road with First Nations artist Rachael Sarra
9. The Twelve Apostles
You’re not going to travel the length of the Great Ocean Road and not see its greatest iconic site, are you? Welcome to the most recognisable section of the whole journey, the Twelve Apostles.
These towering limestone stacks are well worth a visit, especially at sunrise or sunset. Only seven of the twelve are still left standing, so see them while you still can.
10. London Arch and the Grotto
Loving the limestone? Well, there’s more where that came from. London Arch, previously known as London Bridge, is an impressive stone archway that sits just off the coast. It was once a double arch but after one was claimed by the rough seas the name had to change.
Next up, the Grotto. This hollowed-out cave gives you a round window into the waves and intensifies the sounds of the sea.
Now, this was just your starter for 10, there are plenty more amazing stops worth a visit along this winding coastal way. Head to the finish line at Warrnambool for top-notch whale watching or the Bay of Islands for another oceanfront view.
Discover the Great Ocean Road on a locally led adventure with Intrepid.
