The Great Ocean Road is one of the most widely-known and driven tourist highways in Australia. It’s a perfect picture of how most tourists view Australia. This includes the iconic ocher-shaded cliffs, and bright blue ocean, next to creamy white beaches. Taking a road trip on the Great Ocean Road won’t disappoint, no matter what time of year you go.
The Great Ocean Road is frequented by tourists, locals, families, backpackers, retirees and everyone in-between. What’s special about the drive, aside from stunning ocean views, is that the drive itself is relatively short. Making it an easy drive with lots to see. There’s also endless road stops for ocean photo opportunities.
Everything is close together and the towns along the highway are small. Warrnambool is the largest city along the Great Ocean Road and it’s at the end or beginning, depending on which end you start at.
Whether you’re in Australia long-term or just a short vacation, this road trip guide is all you need while travelling in a vehicle on the Great Ocean Road—especially a van. This guide has options for free campgrounds, swimming spots, craft breweries and other stops along the way. The route follows the east to west route, but it can be done either way.
This road trip can be done any time of year, but spring and fall are likely the most comfortable times to do it. This is because it’s less busy than summer, but still warm enough for camping. It’s worth it to mention Australia doesn’t get that cold during the winter anyways, so camping is still be fun.
For accommodation along the way, check out the search box below for deals.
Table of Contents
The Great Ocean Road: Melbourne to Port Fairy
One-way trip time: Five hours and 45 minutes
Return trip time: Nine hours
Minimum Recommended Days: 4 days
Day 1: Melbourne to Lorne, VIC
Drive time: Two hours
There’s nothing that compares to the feeling of leaving the city for the Great Ocean Road. Melbourne is the nearest big city to the highway and a common starting point for this road trip. Beginning this road trip, there’s many stops before arriving in Lorne, VIC. Get excited about beginning to see the Great Ocean Road!
Start off the road trip by stopping in Torquay, VIC. This is actually where the Great Ocean Road starts. This town is known as the beginning for many iconic Australian brands such as Rip Curl and Quicksilver. It’s not hard to wonder where these store got their inspiration from, as Torquay is Victoria’s surfing capital.
Aside from shopping and surfing in Torquay, it’s beaches are great to go for a walk, if surfing isn’t your thing.
Next up, for the Great Ocean Road, stop down the road at Anglesea for more beach views and walks. Take the time to pull over at the road stops, on either side of the road—when it’s safe. These road stops have some of the best birds-eye-views of the coast line, next to driving the Great Ocean Road.
What to do:
In all of the towns of the Great Ocean Road, it’s always a safe bet you’ll enjoy exploring around. Even if it’s just for a coffee, or people-watching. To soothe your soul from big crowds, focus on beach and bush walks.
Take advantage of having your own wheels to get slightly away from the Great Ocean Road—it’ll always be there when you’re ready to come back. Such as some of the free campgrounds in the area. Because they’re free, they’re not going to be right next to the beach.
Free campgrounds:
On the first stop of this itinerary for the Great Ocean Road, there’s just a few free campsites (as per most of the road trip). These are the campgrounds around Lorne:
- Big Hill Track Campground
- Sharps Campground
- Allenvale Mill (tents only)
Day 2: Lorne to Apollo Bay, VIC
Drive time: One hour
Before continuing on the Great Ocean Road, take the time to visit Lorne. There’s numerous cafes and wildlife to see in the area. It was the first place I saw Galahs since arriving in Australia. On a side note: did you know Galah’s have a 40 year life span?!
Back to your road trip, the next point of interest on the drive is Lorne’s Scenic Beach Roadside Parking on the ocean’s side of the road. This is just past Lorne heading south on the Great Ocean Road.
What to do:
Other places to stop along the way include: Sheoak Falls, Cape Patton Lookout Point and Apollo Bay. Spend your lunch at one of the grassy roadside parks or by the ocean. I recommend stopping in a grassy area because on a windy day, it’s hard to work a gas stove by the beach.
Depending on how the day goes, skip visiting the town of Apollo Bay and leave it for the next morning. Mornings are also a time when there’s less tourists around—if that’s something you’d like to avoid. Apollo Bay has a servo and is one of the only places to fuel up on the Great Ocean Road.
Take advantage of this while you’re there to prevent from having to backtrack, or run out of fuel.
Free campgrounds:
This route specifically goes to Apollo Bay and further to Barramunga for the free campgrounds in the area. I couldn’t recommend Stevensons Falls more. It’s a great break from a tourist-filled road trip on the Great Ocean Road. Many people avoid this campground because it’s a bit out of the way, making it more relaxed.
At the campground there’s bush walks in the area, which are a good change from sitting in a vehicle for most of the day. This makes it a rewarding stop for many reasons.
Here’s the free campgrounds in the area:
- Beauchamp Falls Reserve
- Dando’s Campground
- Stevensons Falls Campground
Day 3: Apollo Bay to Warrnambool, VIC
Drive time: Two hours and 15 minutes
After a good sleep around Apollo Bay, it’s time to get back on the Great Ocean Road for another day of road tripping. Leaving Apollo Bay, the highway veers slightly from ocean views through Great Otway National Park. Eventually, it’ll head back to the ocean around Glenaire, then, later to the Twelve Apostles.
If you haven’t already, take some time to visit Apollo Bay. If you’re into seafood and ready for a breakfast pie, splurge on Apollo Bay Bakery’s famous scallop pie. It comes in different flavour options, including curry.
What to do:
Although this leg of the Great Ocean Road has less beach views than previous, it’s one of the most eventful, to see the Twelve Apostles. Before getting there though, take your time to enjoy the drive from Apollo Bay. Maits Rest Rainforest Walk is just a short way out of Apollo Bay.
Back on the road, depending on the time of year, there may be a sudden influx of bugs hitting your vehicle. This is what I experienced doing this road trip in late-February (late summer/early fall). Crowes Lookout is another spot to stretch your legs coupled with scenic views of the area.
The Twelve Apostles is the next major stop on this part of the road trip. There’s so many lookouts to visit, it’s not necessary to go to them all though. Pointing out west to the Twelve Apostles is the Secret Apostles Lookout, just before arriving there, heading west on the road trip. Gibson Steps goes down to the beach to see the apostles from beach-level.
Then, there’s the Twelve Apostles Visitor Facility. It has bathrooms, a small cafe and helpful staff to feed tourists important information. It’s also the gateway to the main viewing platforms in-between many of the Twelve Apostles.
Keep in mind, it’s not possible to see all twelve of the apostles from any viewing platform or lookout. That’s one of the reasons people choose to do a helicopter tour.
Getting back on the Great Ocean Road, it’s possible to see different views of the Twelve Apostles at both Tom and Eva Lookout and The Razorback.
Then, Port Campbell is a short-drive away. This is a perfect spot for a swim on a hot day—or any day, really. Aside from swimming it’s a good place to spot stingrays that come into the bay.
After a swim, grab a craft beer at the local hostel/craft brewery: Sow and Piglets Brewery. The beer is crafted by a German beer master, but—unsurprisingly—the drinks are sure to please all.
Free campgrounds
At this point of the travelling on the Great Ocean Road, the free campgrounds are at a minimum. If you’re still looking to avoid paying for accommodation, head to Panmure Free Camp. It’s a rest stop frequented by locals and tourists from the high demand of a free camp close to the Great Ocean Road.
It’s also one of the only places in the community for swimming—in the creek. So it gets busy on hot days. Warrnambool has major stores such as Super Cheap Auto and ALDI to stock up on food or other goods.
Day 4: Warrnambool to Port Fairy, VIC
Drive time: 30 minutes
The Great Ocean Road technically finishes in Warrnambool, but if it’s a hot day, and you have time, you won’t regret a visit to Port Fairy’s Southcombe Beach. The beach is not only crystal clear, but it has a natural rock barrier to prevent most jelly fish and sharks from getting into where the swimmers are.
The clear water makes it a perfect spot for snorkelling too. And, there’s barbecue facilities across the street from the beach. Along with showers and bathrooms, it makes this beach the perfect day spot.
After spending time at the beach, or just for a look, head back towards Melbourne to finish the road trip. Alternatively, in another direction, such as South Australia. Port Fairy back to Melbourne drive time is three hours and 20 minutes.
For other road trips in Australia, check out regional Victoria, Sydney to Melbourne inland and the coastal route!
