The Epic Great Ocean Road Trip Travel Guide

Get a taste of our road trip along the Great Ocean Road which was nothing short of breathtaking and totally bucket list worthy!

The Great Ocean Road, a 243 km stretch of route begins just an hour’s drive from downtown Melbourne. It is rugged with gorgeous scenic views along the southeastern coast of Victoria, promising a diverse range of phenomenal coastal attractions. As the road runs along the most visited coastline in Australia, it takes approximately four hours to make the trip. At the end are the monumental limestone rock stacks known as the 12 Apostles, named after the original dozen disciples of Jesus.

The Great Ocean Road is most enjoyable during spring (September, October and November) and autumn (March, April and May). The winter months (June, July and August) are far less popular with the tourists because of the cold and summer can be too hot and not so pleasant. When going in autumn/winter, remember to dress in layers; and keep a rain poncho handy as it can get quite chilly and misty.

You can see the spectacular coastline on your own if you want to go at your pace. Otherwise, there are numerous tours to choose from – full day adventures with lunch included, and not to mention breathtaking helicopter rides at additional costs.

Great Ocean Road Trip Highlights

🚀 Leaving Melbourne, the first spot worth visiting is the popular surf beach on the Great Ocean Road, known as Bells Beach, where tour companies tend to stop at for morning tea!

🚀 The Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch is a historic archway that marks the gateway to the famous coastal drive. Worth to stop over for a memorable photo!

🚀 Teddy’s Lookout at Lorne is set among tall gum trees on a platform high above the coast and offers scenic views of the Road’s coastline.

🚀 Driving inward leads to the Great Otway National Park, home to temperate rain forests. It is a serene place to sight some enchanting cascades.

🚀 Australia’s native animals can often be difficult to spot in the wild. But when driving along the Great Ocean Road, you’ll easily find koalas perched on eucalyptus trees at Kennett River Caravan Park. If you’re in luck, you might even have a close encounter with a mob of kangaroos led by the alphas!

🚀 Also try enticing Crimson Rosellas with some sunflower seeds. No seeds? No problem! Just stretch out your hand and you can be lucky 😉

🚀 Visit Apollo Bay for a lunch stop-over! Plenty of food options are available along Collingwood Street, opposite a park that neighbours a beach. Our favourite pick was the La Bimba restaurant. They keep it very much local and ensure they trade fairly with their producers and fishermen. Their seafood paella is a super hit, and their menu has a reasonable number of options for vegetarians. Not to mention their scrumptious desserts that will add a sweet touch to your road trip. If keen on some ice cream, Dooley’s Premium Ice Cream that is also recognised as ‘Australia’s Best Ice Cream’ is worth trying! They have plenty of flavours to choose from, the chocolate and salted caramel one being most popular. We do not recommend the pepper flavour, because the sharp and pungent taste can get too overpowering, diverting you from some ice cream deliciousness.

🚀 The famous Apostles are located in Port Campbell National Park. They are a series of dramatic rock stacks that were formed due to soft limestone erosion millions of years ago. The stacks are susceptible to erosion from the waves and several have vanished in recent years. Only eight remain, making the 12 Apostles a bucket-list worthy experience!

🚀 Some of the attractions at the 12 Apostles lookout include the Loch Ard Gorge, London Arch, Razorback, Island Archway, Thunder Cave, and Grotto; each having a historic story associated with them.

🚀 Near the Apostles, access to the beach can be gained by walking down a cliff using Gibson steps. It gives you a chance to see the true scales of the amazing limestone stacks that loom around the area.

🚀 As the sun wanes, wait a little longer to view a striking sunset against the iconic rocks and cliffs. A treat for the eye, definitely not to miss!

The great ocean road views are picturesque with sheer cliffs, sweeping green hills, pristine and majestic ocean waters – all so postcard pretty. It’s a remarkable road trip that promises magnificent iconic sights, the ones you would and would not expect. Allow yourself to be surprised!