Best Great Ocean Road Trip

The world-famous Great Ocean Road trip is a must-do for both locals and visitors to the area. Carved into coastal cliffs, the road stretches 244km along the southern coastline from Torquay to Warrnambool. This iconic drive is home to the spectacular 12 Apostles, the world-class waves at Bells Beach and the oldest lighthouse in Australia at Cape Otway. This is a journey that you need to tick off your bucket list!

Use our 3-day Great Ocean Road trip guide to plan your travels. It can be modified to suit the number of days you have available and includes all the best sightseeing and camping spots. Plus, we’ve thrown in a heap of extra information like drive times, distances, the best season to travel and much more!

The Great Ocean Road serves as a memorial to the lives lost during the First World War. Thousands of returned soldiers started the back-breaking work of building the Great Ocean Road in 1918 as a means of reemployment and further income. The road officially opened in 1932 after fourteen years of slow and difficult work in remarkably rugged terrain.

This particular route runs from Melbourne to Warrnambool because the left side of the Great Ocean Road provides incredible coastal views. If you’re planning on doing this road trip from the opposite direction, see our guide from Adelaide to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road.

Best Great Ocean Road Trip: 7 places you can’t miss

Total Distance: 373km one-way / 643km return | Recommended Days: from 3 - 7 days | Best Time to Visit: Between October and April | Route on Google Maps

1. Melbourne

Although Melbourne isn’t the official starting point of the Great Ocean Road, it’s still a great spot to start your road trip. International or interstate visitors can fly into Melbourne airport and be on the road within minutes. Plus, there’s a heap of fantastic attractions to visit in this buzzing metropolitan area like the National Gallery of Victoria, Eureka Skydeck, Royal Botanical Gardens and Shrine of Remembrance.

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, try the Werribee South Caravan Park. It’s located in a quiet beachside spot on the doorstep of the Great Ocean Road (just outside of Melbourne). You can get a powered site just across the road from the beach for about $35 per night and all the amenities are modern and clean.

2. Torquay

Drive Time: 1hr 20min | Distance: 103km

An hour outside of Melbourne, Torquay marks the official start of the Great Ocean Road. This cool seaside town is the surfing capital of Australia and birthplace of Rip Curl and Quicksilver. Spend the morning at the world-famous Bells Beach, where experienced surfers can tackle the waves and the beginners can try out surfing lessons from the best instructors in the area. If you happen to be travelling over Easter, you can watch the world’s best surfers compete here in the Rip Curl Pro.

Be sure to visit the Australian National Surfing Museum - the world’s largest surfing museum. Learn how the sport developed over 100 years through exciting interactive displays and an awesome collection of memorabilia. Admire over 150 iconic surfboards and check out the collection of Bells Trophies from the world’s longest-running surfing competition.

Stay at the Torquay Holiday Park, only a few minutes walk from the main beaches, shops and takeaways in town. There’s a range of spacious campsites on offer starting at $37 per night. Plus, the park offers outstanding facilities including a heated pool, spa, mini-golf, outdoor theatre and heaps more!

3. Lorne

Drive Time: 45min | Distance: 46km

Follow the Great Ocean Road to the cultural hub of Lorne - home to annual events like Falls Music and Arts Festival as well as several outstanding restaurants, cellars and galleries. On the way into town, pull over on the Great Ocean Road and enjoy panoramic views from Teddy’s Lookout or the Surf Coast walk.

Only a 15-minute drive from Lorne is the popular Erskine Falls. Although there are nine other waterfalls nearby, Erskine is the easiest to access and it’s only a 5-minute walk from the car park to the first lookout. However, if you want even better views of this 30m cascade, descend the 230 steps to the second lookout set amongst the luscious fern gully.

The best place to stay in town is Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park. This park actually consists of five separate camping areas, each offering unique views over the ocean, river or forest. Powered sites start at about $40 per night and there are well-maintained amenities blocks on-site.

4. Apollo Bay

Drive Time: 1hr | Distance: 45km

Continue your Great Ocean Road trip along the winding cliff tops to Apollo Bay, a picturesque seaside town where rolling green hills meet the salty sea. The views on the drive into Apollo Bay are remarkable so be sure to stop and grab some photos at Mariners Lookout.

One hour out of Apollo Bay is the Great Otway National Park - a must-visit for nature lovers. The best way to explore the tall mountain forests is via the Otway Fly Treetop Walk - a 600m walkway set 25m in the air amongst Otway’s giant trees. For the thrill-seekers, take the Otway Fly Zip Line Tour for an exciting birds-eye view of the rainforest.

Camp at Bimbi Park, a unique camping spot where you can sleep underneath koalas in the tall manna gums above. Right in the heart of the Otway National Park, Bimbi offers a range of unpowered and powered camping sites starting at $29 per night. All the amenities are outstanding and you are only a 10-minute drive away from the oldest standing lighthouse on Australia’s mainland - Cape Otway Lightstation.

5. Port Campbell

Drive Time: 1hr 45min | Distance: 112km

Port Campbell is a quirky seaside village that epitomizes the slow pace of life in coastal Victoria. As you approach Port Cambell, you’ll start tracing the Shipwreck Coast, said to have swallowed more than 700 ships. Keep an eye out for migrating whales if you’re travelling between May and October.

Ten minutes out from Port Campbell you’ll pass the most famous landmark on the Great Ocean Road - the Twelve Apostles. Pull over at the lookout for panoramic cliff top views over these slowly-eroding limestone formations that tower 45m above the crashing waves of the Antarctic Ocean. However, if you’d like to view the Apostles from ground level, take the Gibson Steps down to the shoreline (just be careful as they can get slippery!).

Continue another 5-minutes along the Great Ocean Road and you’ll find Loch Ard Gorge, site of the most famous shipwreck on the Shipwreck Coast. In 1878, the Loch Ard was travelling from England to Melbourne when it was engulfed in fog and crashed into Mutton Bird Island. Only two people survived, both of whom were washed into the cove at Loch Ard Gorge. After sleeping in a cave overnight, one of the survivors scaled the sheer cliffs of the gorge to find help.

If you want somewhere to stay overnight, try the NRMA Port Campbell Holiday Park. There’s plenty of spacious powered camping sites starting at about $29 per night and you’re only a minute's walk away from the beach and Campbell’s Creek.

6. Warrnambool

Drive Time: 1hr | Distance: 66km

Continue your Great Ocean Road trip to the final destination of your journey - Warrnambool. This is the maritime capital of the region and home to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village, which tells the stories of the hundreds of ships and the souls that have been claimed by the Shipwreck Coast.

As you follow the Great Ocean Road towards Warrnambool, pull over at the lookout for London Bridge (10-minutes out of Port Campbell). Named after its resemblance to England’s London Bridge, this sea stack was previously connected to the mainland before collapsing in 1990, leaving two tourists stranded on the remaining stack. They were rescued by helicopter and the London Bridge is now sometimes referred to as the London Arch.

Another 5-minutes down the Great Ocean Road and you’ll come to The Grotto - one of the most enchanting rock formations in the area as it is partly a blowhole, archway and cave all in one! You can view the formation from above at the lookout or follow the boardwalk down to view it from eye level.

The best camping spot in Warrnambool is the Surfside Holiday Park. There's a range of unpowered and powered sites on offer from about $28 per night, all of which are only metres away from Lady Bay beach. Facilities include a camp kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, barbecues and more.

7. Timboon & Colac

Drive Time: 3hr 15min | Distance: 280km

If you’re wanting to return to Melbourne after your Great Ocean Road trip, we recommend taking the alternative interior route through some of Victoria’s lush farming country.

Head inland and stop at towns like Timboon and Colac so that you can sample locally produced wines and cheeses. These small country towns are gourmet hubs and the perfect place to grab a bite or memento on the way home. Regardless of whether you want whiskey, yoghurt, honey, chocolate, ice cream or fresh strawberries - you’ll find an array of delicious delights in these charming towns.

Organise your Great Ocean Road trip with Camplify

Now that you’ve got your Great Ocean Road trip itinerary sorted, it’s time to start organising the finer details that’ll guarantee a great vacation!

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