Exploring the Great Ocean Road
Starting 102km west of Melbourne, the 243km-long south coast Great Ocean Road from Torquay to Warrnambool, with its spectacular cliff-hugging roads and bustling seaside towns, can be overwhelming for first-time visitors. But taken in small steps over several days or weeks, you can appreciate its treasures — windswept vistas, forests and waterfalls, walk and bike trails, surf breaks, historic lighthouses and shipwreck coastlines, not to mention the many relaxing towns you can explore, with galleries, museums, friendly locals and enough eating places to satisfy any palate and accommodation to suit any budget.
After a trundle around Victoria, we travelled the Great Ocean Road in April–May 2026 — reputed to be one of the best times of year to explore this iconic route, with pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds than summer.
Origins of the Great Ocean Road
Starting our exploration on Anzac Day seemed fitting as the Great Ocean Road’s initial stage was built by more than 3000 World War I returned servicemen. Listed on Australia’s National Heritage List, the road is considered to be the world’s longest (and largest) war memorial, dedicated to those who died in World War I.
Built to connect isolated coastal settlements, survey work for the road began in August 1918, with construction commencing in September 1919. Living in tented camps, and using only manual labour, picks, shovels, wheelbarrows, horse-drawn carts and explosives, the men worked in all weathers on dangerous steep cliffs with the sea breaking 30m below.
The first section of the road linking Lorne and Eastern View was completed in 1922. The work continued, funded by the Country Roads Board, and the road officially opened in November 1932.
One can only imagine what these men, still suffering from their war experiences, went through while building the road. One man recalled: “what upset the men the most was the blasting — they had just come out of the trenches and the noise of the blasts transported them back there …”
The Memorial Arch (est. 1939) and The Diggers Sculpture (est. 2007) in Eastern View honour those who constructed the road, and their fallen comrades. The Memorial Arch has been replaced several times, the last in 1983 when it was destroyed in the Ash Wednesday Bushfires. There is a small car park on the southern side. A free exhibition in the Lorne Visitor Information Centre tells the story.
Over the years the road has become a mecca for tourists lured by the area’s natural beauty. For easy access to the coastal lookouts, especially if towing, I suggest driving east to west. The road between Lorne and Apollo Bay is very winding as it hugs the cliff face, with a single lane each way, so heed speed restriction signs and do not overtake.
I recommend staying for a few days at several locations, exploring the surrounding area, before moving on. We stayed at Apollo Bay, Port Campbell and Port Fairy.
Apollo Bay
Travelling down from Colac, our first stop on the Great Ocean Road was Apollo Bay. A winding road flanked by soaring forests takes you through the Great Otway National Park which covers more than 100,000 hectares from the coast through the hinterland with forests, waterfalls, rivers, sea cliffs, bike and walk trails. This is koala country, but don’t gaze up into the trees koala-spotting while negotiating this road! To break your trip, I suggest staying at Forrest Holiday Park just 38km north of Apollo Bay. It’s a great location for bush walking and mountain bike riding.
As we came down the final hill into Apollo Bay we were greeted by the sound of soft waves lapping the beach. On a headland 2km south of Apollo Bay is Marengo Caravan Park, which was our home for the next few nights.
The next morning, we collected local information from the Great Ocean Road Visitor Information Centre and strolled along the waterfront where there are many cafes, surf and souvenir shops to explore.
A well-known spot to whalers and sealers since the early 1800s, Apollo Bay was named by Captain Loutit who sheltered here aboard the Apollo in 1845. Displays at the Apollo Bay Museum include artefacts and relics recovered from local shipwrecks.
Located midway along the Great Ocean Road, and a more relaxed town than the ever-popular Lorne and Torquay, Apollo Bay is an ideal spot from which to explore this iconic stretch of coast. There is a safe swimming beach, and the fishing fleet specialises in crayfish and abalone, so be sure to get your fill of fresh seafood.
There are many opportunities for walking and biking in the Great Otway National Park. One of Australia’s great walks, The Great Ocean Walk, stretches 104km from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles, weaving through spectacular forests, along clifftops and beaches. You can choose anything from a short to a multi-day trek — we opted for a short walk from Marengo.
Cape Otway Lighthouse is an easy 33km drive from Apollo Bay, and well-worth the visit. Built in 1848 and perched 90m above the ocean, it is the oldest surviving mainland lighthouse in Australia. Sadly, the lighthouse was closed for renovations when we visited, but we could still explore the heritage precinct, which includes the Cape Otway Telegraph Station and World War II radar bunker, to learn its history. Before the days of radio communication, signal flags were used to communicate with passing ships. Before leaving we enjoyed delicious scones in the cafe. There are cottages for rent at the lighthouse and several campgrounds in the area, ideal for bushwalkers and koala spotting. Tickets to enter the Cape Otway Lightstation precinct can be purchased on arrival.
Returning to Apollo Bay, our next stop was Maits Rest Rainforest Walk in the Great Otway National Park, named after Otway’s first forestry officer, Maitland Bryant. An 800m, 30-minute, accessible circuit boardwalk takes you on a winding stroll through an ancient temperate rainforest protecting mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) and myrtle beech (Nothofagus cunninghamii), two tree fern varieties plus various animals and birds. The car park is not suitable for caravans or coaches.
Another way to experience plants and wildlife in their natural environment is at Wildlife Wonders located 5km south of Apollo Bay. This 12-hectare sanctuary supports conservation in the Otways and offers four guided tours along accessible paths.
Torquay and Lorne
If you prefer to stay at bigger centres, Torquay and Lorne will fit the bill.
Home of iconic surfing brands, Torquay is Australia’s surfing capital. We watched surfers ride the waves at Bells Beach, a popular surf spot since the 1950s and also where the longest-running surf competition in the world — the Rip Curl Pro — is held each year at Easter. You can also visit the Australian National Surfing Museum at the Torquay Visitor Information Centre and walk or ride along a section of the 44km Surf Coast Walk trail.
Resorts, restaurants and boutiques along the waterfront make Lorne a popular holiday destination. You can also enjoy one (or several) of the 23 coastal and forest walks. There are 10 waterfalls within a 10km radius of Lorne. The most easily accessible is 30m Erskine Falls. A short walk from the car park takes you to the first lookout, before descending a more strenuous 230 steps to the second lookout where you can fully appreciate the plunging waterfall.
Exploring the Coast from Port Campbell
Our next stopover was Port Campbell, 96km from Apollo Bay. Nestled in a sheltered bay, Port Campbell is a great base from which to explore the rugged coastline. Captain Alexander Campbell sheltered here in 1840, and it was established as a fishing port in the 1870s. If you set up camp at NRMA Port Campbell Caravan Park, you can follow a walkway and steps through heathland to enjoy fantastic clifftop views.
The town beach is safe for swimming, with a foreshore for picnicking, however the coastline is very rugged with rough seas. There is no boat ramp, but at the jetty you can see the fascinating and innovative boat lift used by locals. The Port Campbell Surf Life Saving Club, formed in 1963, is an important part of the community.
We were advised at the visitor information centre that the best time to visit the Twelve Apostles is first thing in the morning before the tourist coaches arrive. Located 11km east of Port Campbell, the Twelve Apostles precinct is presently undergoing extensive renovations, but the main boardwalk, viewing platforms and visitor centre are still accessible.
The famous limestone stacks sit just off the 70m towering cliffs. Given the name by locals, we learnt there were never 12 stacks, and only seven of the original nine remain. A walkway under the road takes you safely from the car park to the viewing platform. They are best viewed in the early morning or at sunset. From the lookout a colony of little penguins (Eudyptula minor) — also known as fairy penguins — may be seen returning to their burrows at dusk. Bring binoculars but don’t use torches or the flash on your camera. If you want a different vantage point of this iconic Aussie landmark, you can take a helicopter scenic flight from near the car park.
For impressive beach level views, head to the nearby Gibson Steps in Port Campbell National Park — a set of 86 steps built into the cliff face. The beach is not patrolled and is unsafe for swimming due to huge swells, strong currents, hidden reefs and rips.
There are 700 known shipwrecks along Victoria’s rugged Shipwreck Coast, although only 240 have been discovered. Captain Matthew Flinders, a 19th-century explorer, recorded, “I have seldom seen a more fearful section of coastline.” Road signs lead to 25 information plaques overlooking where the wrecks occurred.
At Loch Ard Gorge you can see where the clipper ship, Loch Ard, was wrecked in 1878 on a reef at Mutton Bird Island. Six kilometres of trails and clifftop views of the site and dramatic rock formations can be accessed from three car parks. The only survivors of the 54 people onboard, Tom Pearce and Eva Carmichael, dragged themselves to the beach inside Loch Ard Gorge and quickly became local legends.
Continue west from Port Campbell for more impressive views of towering cliffs and rock formations continually being shaped by the Southern Ocean at London Bridge (London Arch), Bay of Martyrs and Bay of Islands.
And if you’re exploring the Great Ocean Road, use the Hema Scratch Map to record every unforgettable adventure. Scratch off the places you visit—from iconic coastal landmarks to hidden gems—and create a colourful, personalised keepsake that inspires your next journey.
Historic Port Fairy
Although the city of Warrnambool is the official end of the Great Ocean Road, I recommend continuing 26km west to Port Fairy, where we stayed in the Gardens Caravan Park along the Moyne River. Officially established in 1843, Port Fairy was originally called Belfast, with many Irish immigrants settling in the beachside town between 1843 and 1867. The town is home to beautiful heritage architecture, with more than 50 buildings classified by the National Trust. You can explore maritime history, heritage town walks, the Port Fairy Museum and Archives Centre, regional food and arts. Port Fairy hosts four music festivals annually.
Nearby, Griffiths Island is home to a colony of protected short-tailed shearwater mutton birds who raise their young in sand burrows during summer. Cross the causeway and follow the 3km walk trail to Griffiths Island Lighthouse, which was built in 1859.
Just 16km east of Port Fairy, Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve sits within an extinct volcanic crater, its hills and lakes inhabited by an abundance of birds and animals, including koalas, which we saw in the picnic area and along one of the walk trails.
Planning on exploring the Great Ocean Road? Take Explore Australia 2027 along for the journey. Packed with practical travel information, inspiring destinations and local highlights, it’s the perfect companion for discovering iconic landmarks, hidden gems and memorable experiences along the way.
Travel: The Iconic Great Ocean Road, Victoria