What is there to see on the Great Ocean Road?
Coast, koalas, cliffsSurf beaches and rainforest first, then the Twelve Apostles at the far end.
Surf beaches, rainforest, wild koalas and the Twelve Apostles. The road starts at Torquay and Bells Beach, passes under the Memorial Arch and through Lorne, then the koalas at Kennett River and the rainforest at Maits Rest. The big sights are near the far end, about 240km out: the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge, limestone stacks and gorges on the Shipwreck Coast. A day from Melbourne is from $139, children from $100, or from $369 for two days with a night at Apollo Bay.
Checked on 28 October 2026.
The Great Ocean Road is about 240km of coast road west of Melbourne, from Torquay to Allansford, built by returned soldiers after the First World War as a war memorial. It is cut into the cliffs above the sea for much of its length, so the road itself is one of the sights, and the famous ones come in a clear order.
The stops, in order from Melbourne
| Stop | What you see |
|---|---|
| Torquay and Bells Beach | The surf coast, where the road begins |
| The Memorial Arch | The gateway to the road, and the reason it was built |
| Lorne | A seaside town on the coast road, and a lunch stop on the two day trip |
| Kennett River | Wild koalas in the trees above the road. The sightings are reliable rather than hopeful |
| Apollo Bay | Lunch on the classic day trip, and the night on the two day trip |
| Maits Rest and Cape Otway | Rainforest, which is not what you expect beside a surf coast |
| The Twelve Apostles | Limestone stacks standing off the cliffs in the Southern Ocean, seen from the viewing platform |
| Loch Ard Gorge | A few minutes on, where the coastline does its most dramatic work |
| London Bridge | Another of the Shipwreck Coast's rock formations, on the Adelaide to Melbourne trip |
| Warrnambool | The western end, and a night stop on the three day trips |
Stops are from each trip's own itinerary as held on its page here. Not every trip makes every stop.
The ones not to miss
- The Twelve Apostles.Every trip below is built around them. The viewing platforms are a few minutes from the car park, so it is not a hike.
- Loch Ard Gorgejust past the Apostles, for the drama of the cliffs up close.
- The koalas at Kennett Riverwild in the gums beside the road.
- Maits Rest rainforesta complete change from the surf beaches at the start of the road.
How much you see depends on the days
- In a dayyou reach the Twelve Apostles and are back in Melbourne that evening. The classic run follows the coast out and stays for the Apostles at sunset; the reverse run goes inland through Colac first and reaches the Apostles ahead of the crowds, with a picnic lunch included.
- In two daysyou stop properly, with a night at Apollo Bay and the Apostles in the morning light.
- In three daysyou add the Grampians inland, with nights at Warrnambool and Halls Gap.
- Carrying on to Adelaideturns the road into the start of a two or three day crossing.
| Trip | Length | Starts and finishes | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Day Great Ocean Road + Rainforest Tour | 1 day | Melbourne / Melbourne | $139 |
| 1 Day Great Ocean Road Reverse Tour (with lunch) | 1 day | Melbourne / Melbourne | $149 |
| 2 Day Great Ocean Road Tour | 2 days, 1 night | Melbourne / Melbourne | $369 |
| 2 Day Great Ocean Road & Grampians Tour | 2 days, 1 night | Melbourne / Melbourne | $475 |
| 3 Day Great Ocean Road & Grampians | 3 days, 2 nights | Melbourne / Melbourne | $695 |
| 3 Day Adelaide to Melbourne Tour | 3 days, 2 nights | Adelaide / Melbourne | $695 |
The day trips pick up and drop off at your Melbourne accommodation, and have a child price: from $100 on the classic run and $139 on the reverse run. Park entry fees are included on the classic run. Prices update on their own.
Any time of year
The trips run year round. At Warrnambool, the western end of the road, January and February average 25°C, and February is the driest month at 30mm. Winter brings big swells on the Shipwreck Coast and quiet car parks at the Apostles, with July days around 14°C. There is more on how long to give it on our Great Ocean Road itinerary page.
1 Day Great Ocean Road + Rainforest Tourfrom $1391 day1 day. Rainforest, koalas, the Apostles at sunsetView trip
1 Day Great Ocean Road Reverse Tour (with lunch)from $1491 day1 day, reversed. Apostles ahead of the crowds, lunch includedView trip
2 Day Great Ocean Road Tourfrom $3692 days, 1 nightHostel and Cabin2 days. A night at Apollo BayView trip
3 Day Great Ocean Road & Grampiansfrom $6953 days, 2 nightsHostel and Cabin3 days. The coast and the GrampiansView tripPeople also ask
- Can you do the Great Ocean Road in a day from Melbourne?
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- Is the Great Ocean Road worth it?
- Great Ocean Road — drive it yourself or take a tour?
Where this comes from. The stops, what each trip includes, pick-up arrangements, child prices and prices are each trip's own itinerary and details as held on its page here, and prices update on their own. The road length is the published Great Ocean Road route. Temperatures and rainfall are Bureau of Meteorology long-term monthly averages for Warrnambool Airport.