Our Great Ocean Road Itinerary – A Guide To Australia’s Coastal Road

We have written Our Great Ocean Road Itinerary as it is one of our favourite road trips in Australia. Completing it first back in 2016 after hiring a camper van. We loved it so much that we did it again in 2018 but this time in our van. Both times the weather was not on our side but it didn’t damper our moods. This amazing road trip lives up to its name and offers beautiful beaches along Australia’s best coastal drive. Below we have outlined the top attracts and put them into a helpful itinerary of The Great Ocean Road.

Where Is The Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is one of the most famous coastal roads in the world. Running along the south coast of Australia you can expect to see dramatic rock formations and amazing views once you arrive in the town of Torquay. The town is popular with surfers, you can find a great RipCurl shop near the centre.

The Great Ocean Road is a two-hour drive from the city of Melbourne, Australia.

Great Ocean Road Itinerary Facts And Tips

We have put together a few fun facts and tips about the Great Ocean Road to help you on your travels.

 

• How long will it take to complete the Great Ocean Road? 

You can take a Great Ocean Road day trip and get to see all the highlights of this amazing coastline. If you are short on time or haven’t got your own transport then this is the best option. But if you have a few days to spare then we recommend taking your time and exploring more than just the highlights. The whole drive could take anything between 2-3 days to complete without rushing.

• Where does the Great Ocean Road start and finish?

The Great Ocean Road starts in the surf town of Torquay and finishes in Allansford.

• How long is the Great Ocean Road?

The official length of the Great Ocean Road is 243km.

• How can I find campsites along the Great Ocean Road?

We used the app Wikicamps to find the best Great Ocean Road campsites. This app is a great tool to have for a road trip. It not only helps you find free campsites but also has an extensive list of amenities and points of interest listed for you to explore.

• Are there many fuel stops along the Great Ocean Road?

There are fuel stations in every town along the Great Ocean Road, we downloaded the app Fuel App Australia to tell us how much petrol would cost us.

How To See The Great Ocean Road

There are many ways to explore the Great Ocean road. Our itinerary covers two of the most popular ways to see the sights along the south coast of victoria.

Great Ocean Road Tour

A Great Ocean Road Day Tour is a great way to explore this beautiful coastline. By taking a tour you are able to relax and take in the scenery and not worry about driving. The tour company will collect and return you to your accommodation in Melbourne. Included in the tour is a visit to Port Cambell National Park, Apollo Bay, and of course all the top highlights which include the twelve apostles.

Self Drive Great Ocean Road Itinerary

We recommend hiring a Campervan and spending 2-3 days exploring the Great Ocean Road.

• If you have hired a camper van or plan to camp along this road then you will need to know that there is no free camping along The Great Ocean Road. Every campsite has powered and nonpowered spots so no need to worry.

• It is illegal to stop or park along The Great Ocean Road. Every point of interest has a car park so don’t worry. As this is a highly popular tourist drive, please be wary of stupid tourists 🙂
• School Holidays may affect campsites availability so check their websites for bookings before you go.

 

Our Great Ocean Road Itinerary Map

Great Ocean Road Itinerary Attractions

1. Torquay

This beautiful town is the start of The Great Ocean Road. Home to the Rip Curl Pro Surf competition on Bells Beach, this is very much a surfer town. The kind of surfer town you expected the whole of Australia to be like before you got here.

2. The Great Ocean Road Sign

You cant do this road trip without getting a photo of this sign!. We almost missed the turning as we weren’t expected it to be here. There is also access to the beach if you fancy a walk along the water.

When you see this house on the right-hand side (pictured below) slow down, the sign is very close and you can pull in on the right-hand side.

3. Lorne 

The drive into Lorne is one we will never forget. The roads hug the cliff edges and you are constantly looking out at the crashing waves only meters from you. This town also has Erskine Falls and Sheoak Falls which is a short drive from town.

4. Kennet River Koala Walk 

This is where you can easily see Wild koalas along The Great Ocean Road. You can pull up and park your car next to a small cafe where some walking tours start. From the car park, if you have some bird food with you, you will be able to hand feed king parrots, rosellas and kookaburra. Take a walk up the road and count how many Koalas you can see.

5. Apollo Bay

A nice stop for lunch or refuel your energy from driving. This seafood town also has a beach here which is great for surfing.

6. Great Otway National Park

This beautiful national park is home to Triplet Falls. A lovely walk (45 min return) into the bush with clearly marked passages. No fees apply to enter this national park.

7. Cape Otway National Park Lighthouse

A short walk from the car park you can look out over the whole coastline. This is the oldest surviving lighthouse in mainland Australia. The lighthouse also known as the Beacon of Hope, sits 90 meters above the ocean. 

8. Bimbi Park Campsite Otway National Park

This was one of the best campsites we have ever stayed at. Sleep With wild koalas above your heads every night and listen out for the strange noises they make! We highly recommend this campsite as it is very clean and spacious and in a beautiful location. We saw so much wildlife here too!! Check prices and availability here.

9. Gibsons Steps

This beach is one you can access by a set of stairs that run down the cliff. It is a nice walk down the beach looking at the limestone formations out at sea. Note you cannot see the twelve Apostles from this spot at the beach but at low tide, you can walk around the beach. The stairs on the way back up were a challenge!

These are the steps down.

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10. Great Ocean Road Twelve Apostles

The most famous spot along The Great Ocean Road. Take your time walking around the walkways as it is truly an amazing sight to witness. There are only eight remaining stacks as five have fallen since their discovery. The stacks are around 40 meters high and the surrounding cliffs are 70. The car park is on the right with a coffee shop and toilets leading to an underground walkway to the cliff edge. We would recommend getting a coffee after (there are no bins) both times have been stuck holding coffee cups in our photos.

The best time to get to Great Ocean Road 12 Apostles is at Sunset! It gets very busy so get there early!

Note – You are not allowed to fly drones here as there are many helicopter tours around this area. It is also bloody windy so you’d lose it anyway!

11. Loch and Gorge

Only a few minutes from 12 Apostles, Loch and Gorge is another must-see. A path runs to the middle of the formation and steps down to the beach. Depending on the tide you can walk around the whole beach and into the cave-like formations.

12. The Arch

This spot is best in the afternoon when the formations to the East are soaking up the golden hour. The walkway descending to the platform offers an unusual perspective back toward the 12 Apostles.

13. London Bridge Great Ocean Road

London Bridge used to be connected to the mainland but in 1990 the archway collapsed leaving two visitors stranded on top. They were later rescued but remain the last people to step foot on London Bridge,, and the helicopter crew that rescued them.

14. The Grotto Great Ocean Road

We hopped the wall and went through to take photos. This was at low tide and wasn’t dangerous.

 

15. Bay of Islands

Bay of Islands is a feature of the coastal park stretching over 30 km towards Warrnambool.  There are wonderful ocean views combined with coastal cliffs and the many rock stacks of the bay.

 

Great Ocean Road Caravan Parks

All along the Great Ocean Road, you can find caravan parks and campsites. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to find any free caravan parks or campsites. One of our favourite camping spots along the Great Ocean Road is the Bimbi Park campsite.

Apollo Bay Campsites

• BIG4 Apollo Bay Pisces Holiday Park

Kennett River Campsites

• Kennett River Holiday Park

Lorne Campsites

• Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park

Campsites close to the 12 Apostles

• Princetown Recreational Reserve

Great Ocean Road Accommodation

We have put together a list of our favourite accommodations we stayed in whilst travelling along the Great Ocean Road. We have broken them down into three sections to help you save some money.

Budget: $

Apollo Bay YHA

Port Cambell Hostel

13th Apostel Backpackers

Mid-range: $$

Summers Rest Units Apartments

Luxury:$$$

Mantra Lorne Resort

Cape Otway Lighthouse Station

Pin Our Great Ocean Road Itinerary For Later!

 

What Camera Gear Do We Use

• Main Camera: Panasonic G80
• Go To Lens: Panasonic 12-60mm
• Tripod: Manfrotto Adventure Tripod
• Camera Bag: Manfrotto Backpack
• Underwater Camera: GoPro Hero 8
• Drone: DJI Mavic Pro 2
• Power Bank: Anker Power Bank
• Hardrive: WD 1TB hard drive

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