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A Great Ocean Road trip from Melbourne along Victoria's south coast, taking in the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, surf beaches and koalas in the wild.
A coast road with a memorial history
The Great Ocean Road runs 243 km along Victoria's south coast between Torquay and Allansford. Returned soldiers built it by hand between 1919 and 1932 in memory of those lost in the First World War, which makes it the largest war memorial anywhere.
The Twelve Apostles
The limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles rise offshore in Port Campbell National Park, best seen at sunrise or sunset. Loch Ard Gorge and the Gibson Steps sit close by along the same stretch.
Wildlife and surf
Koalas doze in the gum trees around Kennett River, and Bells Beach near Torquay is one of Australia's best-known surf breaks. Apollo Bay and Lorne make good overnight stops.
How to drive it
From Melbourne, Torquay is about 90 minutes away, and the Apostles are roughly three hours on. Many travellers stay a night along the coast rather than rushing back in a day.
See the limestone stacks rise from the Southern Ocean in Port Campbell National Park.
Watch surfers at the break that hosts the world's longest-running surfing contest.
Spot wild koalas in the gum trees and king parrots along Grey River Road.
Walk down to the beach at the gorge named after an 1878 shipwreck.
Take a short scenic flight above the Apostles for the view from the air.
Walk through fern gullies and tall forest inland from Apollo Bay.
You can drive the main sights in a long day from Melbourne, but two days is more comfortable. That lets you reach the Twelve Apostles for sunset and stop for koalas, surf beaches and rainforest walks along the way.
October to March brings the warmest and driest weather for the coast. Summer weekends are busier, so an early start helps you reach the Twelve Apostles before the tour buses arrive.
The road officially begins at Torquay, about 90 minutes southwest of Melbourne, and runs to Allansford near Warrnambool. Most itineraries drive it from east to west.
Yes. Kennett River, between Lorne and Apollo Bay, is one of the most reliable places in Australia to see koalas in the wild, along with colourful king parrots.
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