The Quick Guide to Australia’s Great Ocean Road

Recently, a friend and I embarked on a month long roadtrip that took us from Western Australia through to South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. While it was an epic adventure on its own, one of the highlights of the trip was driving down one of Australia’s most iconic coastal routes: The Great Ocean Road. 243 kilometers of some of the most beautiful views I’d ever seen – winding roads that took us through farmland, along the sea side and into the rainforest.

You could easily take your time doing the great ocean road – we had met some people who had been there for five days so far. There’s lots to see and, if you can take the time, you can wait until the tourist rush disappears to have each place a little more to yourself. For those of you who are short(er) on time, like we were, here is a quick guide to getting the most out of your Great Ocean Road trip.

Before you set off, have a plan. There are plenty of stops along the way and we made sure to map out the places we absolutely could not miss.

THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD, DAY 1

ADELAIDE TO THE GROTTO

Driving Time: 7 hours, 15 minutes

The first day of our Great Ocean Road trip was all about just getting there. We left Adelaide early in the morning, our car loaded up with fuel, snacks, water and essentially our entire lives. There are a few stops that you can choose to go see before The Grotto, but we weren’t overly interested in them and decided to start our journey here instead, arriving just as the sun began to set. With a cold beer in hand after a long day’s drive, we walked down to enjoy the grotto. With the sun setting, the grotto’s 10 – 20 million year old limestone rock formation was an even more vibrant color than normal and we had the place basically to ourselves!

And the ever awkward moments of trying to get a good tourist photo that I rarely share with you all. Who else struggles hard to get a photo they’re happy with? Also, does anyone else have a friend that starts snapping as soon as you hand them the camera, leaving you with about 20+ photos that create a video-like sequence of you looking like a fool?

THE GROTTO TO LONDON BRIDGE

Driving Time: 1 minute

London Bridge is, ironically, falling down. While there used to be a limestone “bridge” connecting the arch to the mainland, it crumbled into the ocean back in 1990. Despite that, the natural wonder of the arch is still a popular tourist attraction on the Great Ocean Road and while you can no longer stroll down onto the big beach, it’s still a beautiful photo op. We arrived just after visiting the grotto, as the sun was continuing to set, and there were very few people there that we had to share with.

THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD, DAY 2

CAMPSITE TO LOCH ARD GORGE

Driving Time: dependent on where you camp, but not far

A section of the Great Ocean Road has been nicknamed the “shipwreck coast” due to the number of ships that have been wrecked here. Some suggest that over 700 ships have met their fate, including the Loch Ard ship that came to rest in the gorge (hence the name), leaving only two survivors of the fifty-four passengers. Despite the sad history, this was my favorite stop on the Great Ocean Road. The sandy beach will lead you to a calm, clear blue sea surrounded by two large limestone cliffs on either side. With no barriers like so many of the other stops, you’re free to walk onto the beach and explore the entire area.

There are a number of short walks surrounding Loch Ard Gorge, including the Loch Ard Wreck Lookout as well as a geology walk to check out The Razorback. Take some time here to explore, take photos, go for a swim and enjoy a picnic!

LOCH ARD GORGE TO THE 12 APOSTLES

Driving Time: 3 Minutes

Possibly the most famous image of the Great Ocean Road is the 12 Apostles – twelve fascinating limestone rock formations jutting out of the sea along the shoreline, some up to 45 meters tall! Thanks to the rough conditions of the wind and sea along the coast, the 12 Apostles have become seven after a few have eroded and crumbled into the sea.

The 12 Apostles is an incredibly busy stop on the Great Ocean Road, particularly at mid-day. If you’re able to go early morning or at sunset, you most likely won’t have to battle as big of a crowd.

• There is a small cafe and tourist shop here for those of you who want to get your hands on a souvenir, need a bite to eat or a quick caffeine fix.

THE 12 APOSTLES TO GREAT OTWAY NATIONAL PARK

Driving Time: 1 hour, 6 minutes

The drive from the 12 Apostles to Great Otway National Park takes you through a change of scenery. As you drive along the rugged coastline, you’ll soon find yourself driving between the tall trees of the rainforest. There is plenty to do in the national park but we opted for the Maits Rest Rainforest Walk – a short (half an hour) walk on a mix of boardwalk and dirt paths that lead you through the giant myrtle beeches, palms, shrubbery and moss covered floor that make up the ancient rainforest. Stepping away from the sea and into the cool, damp rainforest is a breath of fresh air and a great change of scenery.

Yet another hours drive from Maits Rest is Otway Fly Treetop Adventures. A great spot for adventure lovers as they offer zip lining tours and the unique treetop walk – a 25 meter high walkway that will take you through the tops of the trees and leave you with an unbeatable view of the rainforest below. Throughout Otway National Park are waterfalls, trails and other adventures – enough to easily spend an entire afternoon.

OTWAY NATIONAL PARK TO APOLLO BAY

Driving Time: 20 minutes

Apollo Bay is a great little town along the Great Ocean Road that you could easily choose to stay in for a night or two. When we were there they had a little carnival set up with games, rides and carnival treats. Along the main strip are a number of shops to browse through, restaurants to grab dinner in and the ever so popular Dooley’s Ice Cream which had a line right out the door and signs boasting of their award-winning ice cream flavors.

APOLLO BAY TO KENNETT RIVER

Driving Time: 31 minutes

Home to koalas who enjoy hanging out in the eucalyptus trees, Kennett River is the place to stop during your Great Ocean Road trip if you want to see some of these cuties in the wild. Park your car at the aptly named Koala Cafe and follow the people who are staring up into the trees on grey river road. Sounds like dumb advice, but I can almost guarantee you’ll see at least one person craning their neck to look up at the tops of the trees across the road from the cafe.

KENNETT RIVER TO BELLS BEACH

Driving Time: 1 hour, 12 minutes

Eager to watch some surfers at the beach with the longest running surfing competition, dating back to 1961, or get out there on your board? Then a visit to Bells Beach is a must! There was a chilly wind blowing on the day that we visited so we only stayed for a short time to see a few surfers catch a few waves but on a sunny day (or if you don’t mind the cold!), you could easily stay a while.

Bells Beach was our final stop on our drive down the Great Ocean Road and then it was straight to Melbourne, another hour and a half away.

So, we did manage to see all that we wanted to see in two days on the Great Ocean Road but I would have gladly taken an extra day and would recommend three days if you have it. That extra day will give you the time to explore more off the beaten track spots, take in a few extra walks or hikes and move at a slower pace to really take in all that the drive has to offer.

If you do plan to drive yourself: 

• Please remember that you drive on the left in Australia (but don’t worry, there’s signs all the way to remind you).
  
• Drive safe: with such winding roads, sharp turns and areas where the edge of the road drops to the ocean below, the Great Ocean Road is known for being a dangerous drive that can make a less confident driver a bit hesitant.
• I’d recommend at least three days to make the most of it.

Have you driven the Great Ocean Road? What did you think? Did it live up to the hype? Did we miss out on any extra special spots?