Picture this: I sit at CrossEatery in Sydney and my pre-planned itinerary is slowly coming to its end. I’m pondering over a granola bircher where I should go next on my travels and it pops into my head: why not go on a Great Ocean Road tour?
The Great Ocean Road is on many travellers’ bucket lists as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is continuously rated as a top road trip due to its historic & cultural significance and outstanding natural beauty.
I must admit, driving along the Great Ocean Road wasn’t on my initial list of things to do in Australia. But then, there was something beautiful in having this spontaneous intuition that drew me to do it. In hindsight, I wish I had invested a bit more time in researching the area and spent a few more days there. So if you consider going on an epic Great Ocean Road tour, here’s my original itinerary. It covers a budget breakdown and additional activities that I wished I had done to get the most out of my road trip.
Table of Contents
Why Is The Great Ocean Road Famous?
The Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage that stretches 300km on the southern edge of the continent. It is first and foremost the world’s largest war memorial commemorating the fallen soldiers of WW I. It crosses through wild terrain of outstanding natural beauty. The countless points of interest & outdoor activities call for every adventurer’s heart.
The road stretches from Torquay to Warrnambool. It boasts coastal views, endless beaches, and wild vegetation. Ancient rainforests offer a lot of activities and exploration, whereas the sea-side impresses with natural sandstone formations. The drive can easily be done in two to three days but I would advise spending at least five days to cover everything and truly take it all in.
How Do I Plan A Great Ocean Road Trip?
You’ve come to the right place because I’ll tell you everything you need to know about planning a Great Ocean Road Tour. Know that along the way I ran into a couple of mishaps and my three-day Great Ocean Road itinerary includes alternative activities and improvements. It’s important to research as much as possible and consult different sources. The more you read on the Great Ocean Road tour, the more you’ll know what to expect. There will be activities that everyone recommends, and then there will be less known activities along the way. A good variety is key when planning a Great Ocean Road tour so you won’t miss out or feel you’ve rushed the trip.
Day 1: Melbourne to Apollo Bay (approx. 200km)
Points of Interest: Aireys Inlet, Split Lighthouse, Fairhaven Beach, Memorial Arch & Eastern View, Koala spotting at Kennett River, wildlife, Lorne, Beech Forest, Hopetoun Waterfalls
Accommodation: Apollo Bay, The International but alternative Mantra, Lorne
Costs: £30 car, £50 accommodation, £30 food/on the road supply
I arrived at Melbourne airport in the early morning and picked up my rental car from Europcar. This time I decided against local brand Jucy because I wasn’t too impressed with their car from my previous East Coast road trip. The pickup at Melbourne airport was smooth & hassle-free. My companion, a Hyundai i30, was top!
Leaving Melbourne behind, my first stop was Torquay – the starting point of the Great Ocean Road. Torquay is often referred to as the birthplace of Australian surfing and has a rich culture. Particularly Bells Beach is listed on every major travel site as a particular point of interest. However, when I got there, I found the beach underwhelming. Maybe I was too spoilt by the pristine QLD & NSW beaches, but Bells Beach didn’t do it for me. I lost a good amount of time hanging around Torquay stacking up on supplies and having a quick lunch. My tip would be to skip the town completely and get onto the Great Ocean Road as soon as possible. There are much more impressive views to see and adventures awaiting.
Tip: Skip Torquay and get straight onto the Great Ocean Road. There are much more points of interest and impressive views waiting for you.
Accommodation is pricey on the Great Ocean Road with an average spend of £50 per night for a hotel. Private accommodation is often way more expensive than a hotel. I would recommend booking in advance and comparing prices in nicer towns such as Lorne or Port Campbell.
The drive got more interesting after Torquay. Aireys Inlet is worth a stop. Here, I walked up to the Split Lighthouse and caught a first glimpse of the rough coastal sand formations meeting turquoise waters. It is a stunning view like I’ve never seen before. It was one of those moments that made the long journey to Australia worth it. I remember I was so impressed by the rough nature and views over the nearby beach.
Further down the road is Fairhaven Beach – a dreamy never-ending beach with wild waves and golden sands. Do plan some time for a stroll and watch the waves. It follows along the road for a good while until you get to Eastern View.
I definitely recommend a break here, as the Memorial Arch marks an official start that you are on the epic Great Ocean Road. Memorial Arch used to be a toll point. The money collected from travellers was then used to cover the costs of building the road. Apparently, the wooden arch burnt down a few times over the years. The current one standing is its fourth version. There’s also a commemorative plaque honouring the 3000 servicemen that built the road from 1919 to 1932.
Always keep your eyes open for wildlife. It happened that I drove past a spikey creature that had caught my eye. I stopped, walked back up the road, and checked out the little guy. It happened to be my first sighting of an Echidna! I had no idea what this little fella was, so once I got back to the car, I googled “spiky hedgehog Australia” and managed to identify it.
Be prepared to stop after every bend and turn as there are various viewpoints dotted along the meandering road. This part of the Great Ocean Road coastline is impressively rough whilst it contrasts with untamed Australian bush. I must have made little progress in one hour because I was in awe and stopped every 5 minutes.
After a while, I drove through a pretty seaside town called Lorne. It is a very nice and neat settlement with cute shops, restaurants, and a country club. It was lively and busy, and I deeply regret that I didn’t stop there. Because I had wasted so much time in Torquay, I needed to get to my checkpoint in Apollo Bay before dusk. Lorne would have made an excellent spot for a coffee break or even as a base.
Tip: Stop in Lorne for a coffee break or even make it your base for a night or two. It’s a lovely and lively beach town.
I continued to Apollo Bay and reached the village in the evening. Apollo Bay was an anti-climax to lively Lorne. I felt it was dead and outdated. Luckily the beach was big and offered unspoiled views over the ocean. I enjoyed an incredible moon rise over the water. Other than that, I wished I had stayed in Lorne.
There weren’t many cafés or restaurants in Apollo Bay so I had to end the day without dinner. Accommodation in Apollo Bay is average and very pricey for what it is. I was shocked by the state of the first place I had booked and had to quickly find an alternative. This is definitely not something you want to deal with after a long day and drive. In the end, I found a room at The International which I reluctantly had to take as it got dark and I didn’t fancy sleeping in the car.
Alternative Day 1
If I would do a Great Ocean Road tour again, I would do Day 1 differently. There’s quite a lot to see on the first part of the tour so I would invest two days here. Day 1 is already packed with driving and many impressions. Instead of staying in Apollo Bay, I would cut the drive short and stay over in Lorne. The Australian chain hotel Mantra would be my choice for accommodation as it is modern and affordable located in a lively area. After a long day of driving, I missed the companionship of other people and Lorne would have provided that.
On the second day, I would explore the area. There are hiking trails in the surrounding bush. I sadly missed out on the clifftop views and Koala spotting at Kennett River which I would recommend for you to consider. Further inland is a Beech Forest which is home to giant Californian Redwoods. Another point of interest for me would be the Hopetoun Waterfalls before ending the day back in Lorne.
Day 2: Apollo Bay to Warrnambool (approx. 220km)
Points of Interest: Cape Otway, coastal hiking path, Cape Otway Light station, Otway Fly Treetop Adventures, 12 Apostles, The Razor-Back, Loch Ard Gorge, The Arch, London Bridge, The Grotto, Gibson Steps, Bay of Martyrs, Bay of Islands, Port Campbell, Peterborough
Accommodation: Warrnambool Elm Tree Motel, but alternative Port Campbell or Peterborough
Costs: £30 car, £40 accommodation, £55 Otway Zipline Tour (online)
Optional: £10 Cape Otway Light station
My Day 2 was just as jam-packed as Day 1. It started way before sunrise – partly because I had lots planned and I didn’t sleep much at The International in Apollo Bay. I was glad the night was over and so, made a quick move towards Cape Otway where I would spend the entire morning.
Leaving Apollo Bay behind, the landscape changed from wild bush to lush, rolling hills. The road to Cape Otway is slightly off the beaten track but it leads through a magnificent forest. I got out of the car a few times and enjoyed the peaceful nature and its sound. I came across wallabies and watched the forest waking up. It was a magical moment and worth the early get-up.
Passing through the forest led me onto an open field and I stopped again to watch a mob of kangaroos. From a distance, I was able to see them in the wild and enjoying their breakfast. The kangaroo king had a watchful eye over his females and now and again, I made out a pair of lanky legs from a joey hanging out of the pouch. Following down the road, there’s also a hidden backpacker hostel and at its very end, one can find Cape Otway Lighthouse – Australia’s most important lighthouse.
Built in 1848, Cape Otway is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Australia. It opens daily at 9 am and sadly, I couldn’t stay for that long. I had booked an activity further inland of Cape Otway and had only an hour to spare at the lighthouse. I spend my time exploring the sea cliffs where the Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean collide. There are narrow coastal hiking paths meandering along the cliffs, which was very adventurous. The paths are covered under thick and dense brushwood which gave exploring a mysterious touch. You can definitely spend an entire day here hiking, taking in the views, and listening to the sea. Unfortunately, I had to make a move and drove back inland to the Otway National Park.
Top Tip: Don’t miss out on the Otway Fly Treetop adventure during your Great Ocean Road Tour. The flight on a zipline, 10 meters above ground through the Australian bush is unforgettable. Tickets costs £55pp (online).
About an hour later I reached Otway National Park. Here, visitors can fly on a zipline through the rainforest and climb up a treehouse. It has a serious “I’m a Celeb” vibe! An absolute must! The zipline flight through the rainforest was fun and different.
Due to the early days of Covid, there weren’t many visitors and I had the tour guide to myself. He was hilarious! We were doing all sorts of silly moves and screams whilst speeding through the trees – irritating the wallabies and other visitors below on the ground. What an adventure! This experience plus a walk around on the tree walk took at least 3h. PLEASE DO NOT MISS THIS and book your Otway Fly Treetop Adventure.
But there was more to come.
The highlight of every Great Ocean Road tour is the 12 Apostles and other coastal formations shaped by the rough Tasmanian Sea. This part of the road trip is overwhelming (in a good way!) and intense. Again, you will get in and out of the car every ten minutes and it is pretty tiring at the end of the day. I would say to fully enjoy and appreciate this natural wonder, you have to add another day to your Great Ocean Road plan.
The order of coastal formations is as followed:
12 Apostles, Gibson Steps
The Razor-Back
Loch Ard Gorge
The Arch
London Bridge
The Grotto (fewer visitors)
Bay of Martyrs
Bay of Islands (new formations)
All of these are stunning and offer walks and trails to explore. The main formations are, of course, The 12 Apostles. There’s a visitor centre and paths down to viewing platforms are neatly laid out and widely spaced out. Nearby are The Gibson Steps which were unfortunately closed on the day I went. Usually, visitors can ascend to the beach and walk along the water. Loch Ard Gorge also leads you down to a beach whereas, at London Bridge, the beach is closed off. It is a breeding ground for penguins hence why there’s no access.
The Bay of Martyrs and Bay of Islands are newly created formations, but they are towards the end of the Great Ocean Road. It tends to be quieter down there, as most visitors are only interested in the first six locations. Day tours from Melbourne also cut timings at each location very short, so I was glad, that I had my own rental car and was flexible with my time. My personal favourite was The Grotto. It’s a sinkhole where the limestone cliffs have fallen away and expose a receding cliff line. It is beautifully carved by nature as a “frame” but is partially a cave, too.
And that is pretty much it. The Great Ocean Road ends with the final two bays. Those are less spectacular as the formations are not fully carved by nature yet but worth having a quick look around. At the Bay of Islands, you can ascend to the beach and have a stroll on its pristine sand.
The final kilometers of the Great Ocean Road tour to Warrnambool are unspectacular. Warrnambool itself was ok. It is after all an industrial town and good enough for a place to rest. I stayed at Elm Tree Motel before returning to Melbourne the next day. Again, it has been a long, impression-heavy, and eventful day.
Alternative Day 2
If I did a Great Ocean Road tour again, I would include two more days in this area. Following up on the alternative itinerary from Day 1, I would leave Lorne early on Day 3. Explore the lighthouse, hike the Cape Otway area and do the Otway Tree Adventure. That would be a great Day 3 before finding my base in Port Campbell or Peterborough. Both are much nicer towns than Warrnambool plus they are located directly on the Great Ocean road.
On Day 4 I would drive back to the 12 Apostle and dedicate the entire day to exploring the coastal formations. This is doable nice and early as the daylight of an Australian Day covers roughly 7 am to approximately 5:30 pm.
Day 3: Warrnambool to Melbourne (approx. 266km)
Points of Interest: Grampians National Park (this will add another 100km if you decide to include a hike in your Great Ocean Road tour)
Accommodation: QT in Melbourne
Costs: £30 car, £30 full tank, £120 accommodation, £20 food
On my final day, I felt very tired and exhausted. The impression heavy yesterday was too intense. Again I wished I had factored in a few more days for my Great Ocean Road tour. The drive back to Melbourne took approximately 3h and led over flat rural countryside.
I refueled the car in Geelong, a town a few kilometers outside of Melbourne. Petrol was cheaper in that area. Once I got back to the airport I dropped off the car and made my way into central to relax from the trip.
Tip: It might be tempting but please don’t do an espresso experience as I did. In hindsight, I cramped way too much into a short amount of time. I felt sometimes rushed and at the end of the day shattered from impression overload. In the end, I had to leave out The Grampians simply because of tiredness. Take a rest and plan rather a day or two more for your Great Ocean Road tour.
Alternative Day 3
Following up on the alternative itinerary from Day 2, I would spend Day 5 exploring The Grampians. This National Park is approximately 150km North of Port Campbell. The area is a natural reserve known for its sandstone mountains and rich wildlife. Near the village of Halls Gap is the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre. I would have loved to see this as I’m interested in Aboriginal culture and heritage. The centre allows insights into local life, Aboriginal history & art. There are numerous hiking trails and vantage points, such as MacKenzie Falls and The Balconies.
Overall Budget Breakdown for My Great Ocean Road Tour
My three-day Great Ocean Road tour cost* me the following:
*Costs exclude flights to Australia
Do’s & Don’ts For Your Great Ocean Road Trip
Finally, I’d like to share with you my personal dos & don’ts when planning a Great Ocean Road tour.
FAQs For Your Great Ocean Road Tour
I understand this is quite a lengthy post and you may have some quick questions about planning a Great Ocean Road tour. You can always come back to any section of my itinerary and read in more detail what you’d need for your trip.
How long does it take to drive the whole Great Ocean Road?
The Great Ocean Road stretches from Torquay to Warrnambool over 300km. If you drive the whole distance without stopping, you can easily manage the distance within a couple of hours. However, why would you rush? The Great Ocean Road is a beautiful part of our world and deserves enough time to be fully appreciated. Therefore, I would suggest at least five days for your Great Ocean Road tour.
Can You Do the Great Ocean Road in One Day?
You can, but then you won’t have seen much or got much out of the experience. There are day trips from Melbourne which drive tourists to the main attraction on the Great Ocean Road. But can you really say you’ve been on the Great Ocean Road by only seeing the 12 Apostle? This is one of the most stunning road trips one could do in their lifetime, so I would advise taking some time and factoring in a day or two more. Five days on the Great Ocean Road sounds ideal to me.
Where Should I stay When Visiting the Great Ocean Road?
The Great Ocean Road has many accommodation options available along the way. However, I personally found hotels very expensive. Private accommodation often surpassed the costs of a hotel room. There are some rundown motels and hard-to-reach hostels, especially along the Cape Otway area. I, therefore, suggest making towns such as Lorne or Port Campbell your base for a day or two and then exploring the Great Ocean Road from there.
Thanks so much for reading. Do get in touch if you need help planning your Great Ocean Road tour or have done the trip in the past.
If you enjoyed the post and would like to support my blog & research, you can do so via Buy Me a Coffee.
Till next time,
Carolin
More solo travel stories from Australia:
29 Comments
Paul (Paul Passing Through)
13 January 2022 at 4:17 amI learned two things here (always a plus with a good post!). I didn’t realize that this road was a memorial to WWI soldiers and I had absolutely no idea that California redwoods grew outside of America. Anyways, good, informative post. I like that you included the alternative plans right after each day instead of at the very end.
SoloTravelStory
13 January 2022 at 9:10 pmThank you so much for your kind words Paul, very much appreciated. Guess what, there are even two redwoods growing in Scotland. But I do feel gutted I’ve missed out on the Californian ones in Australia 🙁
Becks
13 January 2022 at 3:31 pmThis is such a great post! Apart from being super informative, I love the way you’ve set it out, it’s really visually pleasing to read which you don’t get much these days.
Clazz - An Orcadian Abroad
13 January 2022 at 11:08 pmGreat post! I’m so mad that we missed the Great Ocean Road (not deliberately – we just assumed we’d be back in Melbourne later and then we weren’t!). I never knew much about the places outside of the famous viewpoint, so this was interesting to read. AND YOU SAW AN ECHIDNA!!!
Barry
18 January 2022 at 2:30 amAbsolutely loved reading this, so full of good info, tips and “how to”. I have haerd of this route from another blogger who did it and said it was stupendous. However your guide is so much better. I love the little “tips” section – it really highlights good points and I love that you give hotel info and prices. That’s something I would need as I intend to drive it the same way as you (I’ll be literally following in your footsteps!), but as you advise, spending more time
Pica ar wonderful too – you had good weather it seems.
Love the story of seeing the mob of kangaroos in the natural setting and seeing a little joey with them.
The zipwire through the forest would definitely be something I would want to do – so different and fun. The aboriginal centre would entice me in too to learn more.
I also never knew the route is a Memorial Road. What a great way to remember those brave souls.
I’m bookmarking this for when I get to Oz to drive this route and keep your info at hand.
Emma
18 January 2022 at 5:36 amThis looks like such an epic drive, there’s just so much blue! I love all the ocean views, just mesmerizing. I would also absolutely love to see an echidna, I can see why this trip is a big bucket list adventure
Laura
18 January 2022 at 11:08 amYour photos are stunning. It’s great to see a post that packs so much in but is also honest about what you would have done differently, so people can enjoy the trip even more when they plan it. What a gorgeous driving adventure
Hannah S
18 January 2022 at 1:38 pmThis looks like a beautiful adventure – some gorgeous sights and some great activities. A mix of everyone too with outdoorsy stuff, places to eat, adventurous activities and museums.
I like your actual versus what you’d do next time itinerary. Hope you get to go back one day and explore things fully!
JoJo Hall
18 January 2022 at 6:26 pmWow, this sounds like an amazing and beautiful road tour to take! This is the sort of thing I love to do, driving through some beautiful, scenic, and sometimes historic areas and see what they have to offer! One day, when I make it to Australia, I’d like to visit these locations to see them in person!
Renee
18 January 2022 at 11:55 pmWho doesn’t love a good road trip, especially one that offers epic coastline views. Start the car! I love how you found some hidden gems along the 300-km adventure. Not to mention, finding a Echidna! I too would have googled “spiky hedgehog Australia” to find out what it was.
Gus Feliciano
19 January 2022 at 2:24 amWe love road trips and this sounds like a freaking awesome time! Australia is 100% on our list once we can fly there again and think we will need to see if we can add this to our list. Such amazing view points!
Wanderingkellers
22 January 2022 at 3:36 amGreat post in all ways. This trip seems amazing and also seems like 5-6 days could be spent exploring it all. I agree with Paul I never thought to look for California redwoods outside of the US.
Jen Nilsson
22 January 2022 at 8:18 pmI’m sold. I must do this tour. Your pictures are absolutely unreal. Thank you for this inspiration!
Pam
24 January 2022 at 12:23 pmI’ve always wanted to do this – so definitely saving it for when I get back to Australia. I love that you added the “don’ts” to this post – some things are on the ‘top things’ lists that really aren’t worth the time if you don’t have an extended amount of time – so it’s great to learn from others!
kasia
24 January 2022 at 4:58 pmDriving the Great Ocean Road is very high on my list! It looks so amazing. Thanks for this great itinerary.
Chalk and cheese travels
26 January 2022 at 5:01 pmGreat in depth guide to this beautiful drive i did many years ago. Your photos are fantastic some great memories
Katie May
26 January 2022 at 8:00 pmThis is so informative and looks absolutely amazing!! Your photos are gorgeous. Adding this to my travel bucket list!
Bernie and Jess Watt
28 January 2022 at 8:12 pmGreat read and adventure. It’s a beautiful part of the world and your photos very much do it justice. When I was young, there were several more of the 12 Apostles and I remember family trips to my great uncle’s at Apollo Bay where my great grandparents once ran the hardware shop. Random side note: I toured along here with a band in the early 2000s and we tried to take a shortcut and ended up on about 20km of dirt road through beautiful forests and missed half the ocean road.
Peggy Zipperer
29 January 2022 at 3:17 pmGreat post! Great Ocean Road was on my agenda in March 2020 when my trip was canceled. I was so looking forward to it. I thought I had done my research really well but this post has so much advice that I hadn’t heard before. By far the best blog I’ve read on the subject so thank you. I’ll be saving this for when I finally get my trip rebooked!
Wendy White
7 February 2022 at 5:14 amWe only did part of the Great Ocean Road, as far as Apollo Bay, as we just stuck it on the end of popping to Melbourne to see friends. I completely agree with you about missing Bells Beach out, we didn’t like it either. Will keep this post for when the WA border opens and we can freely travel again.
Laura Elizabeth
12 February 2022 at 10:06 amUgh the Great Ocean Road is so high up on my bucket list, and these photos just made me want to go even more. Great post Carolin, thanks for sharing!
x
Jamie Boucher
12 April 2022 at 5:37 amThis post is so well written, and so informative. The layout makes it so easy to read and take key information from. No wonder my Great Ocean Road post isn’t on page one of Google haha.
Can’t wait to see more of your travel posts in future!
Kellye Hefner
16 June 2022 at 3:44 pmWhat a wonderful trip and amazing photos, Carolin! We will probably never get to Australia, though we would love to, and we enjoyed tagging along on your journey! The rock formations, pristine beaches, and crisp blue water are stunning. If we ever do get to go, your post will serve as our guide! Since we mainly travel in the US, we will enjoy following your blog. Happy travels.
Chalkandcheesetravels
28 December 2022 at 8:10 pmAbsolute brilliant guide on the fantastic Great Ocean Road. Very well detailed and visually really sells the dive.
We did nearly 10 years ago but this certainly makes me want to return
Lyn (aka Jazz)
23 June 2025 at 2:30 amWhat an epic road trip! I would love to do this using 5 days and hit all the spots you suggest. I really appreciate your insight on things to see and things to miss. It’s always good to get a traveller’s perspective on the possible places to stop for the night. Lorne would definitely be on my list. As a geology nerd, I would particularly enjoy the rock formations, with the 12 Apostles getting a good chunk of my time.
Pam
24 June 2025 at 7:21 pmYou saw so much in only three days! I’ve wanted to do this for so long. Your description of stopping at the Twelve Apostles at golden hour really captured the magic – I can imagine how breathtaking those limestone pillars must have looked against the sunset sky. I loved reading about the potential to see koalas at Kennett River and spending hours just watching them lazily munching eucalyptus leaves in their natural habitat. And then driving back through the rainforest to see a totally different side of the country – genius!
Jan - Flying Baguette
29 June 2025 at 3:02 pm𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻. 𝗔 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗢𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 – 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗳𝘀, 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗼𝗽𝘀, 𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁. 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘆𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗹𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝘆 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗮, 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗽 𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝗿𝗾𝘂𝗮𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗱‑𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻—𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲, 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲, 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 😉 #𝗳𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗯𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲
Seth
30 June 2025 at 3:27 amThe first thought that came to mind is how this is similar to the Pacific Coast Highway that parallels the Pacific coast from Southern California to Washington (and probably into Canada!), especially the gorgeous scenery you got to see! I liked how you were able to encounter some of the interesting wildlife Australia has on this trip as well. I also like that you reflected on what you would have done differently. I think that’s important for all travelers to reflect on what they would have done differently to have a smoother experience. It also reflects why travelers come back to the same place again because of experience and in the end, you gain an entirely different perspective in visiting again. Looks like you had a fun road trip!
Laura
7 July 2025 at 4:59 pmHaving recently returned from a long stay in Australia, you have certainly captured the vibe of the Great Ocean Road! Although I did the trip on a day trip (12 hours), I agree it is not to be missed. The scenery of the ocean meeting the shoreline is stunning. And I also agree that the better place to stop is Lorne. We stopped there for a lunch stop.
Great article on highlighting the lesser known sights and the reasons for taking more time. If I were confident driving on the left, I would have done it in 3-4 days., as you did. Thanks for sharing!