The Great Ocean Road stretches 243 kilometres from Torquay to Allansford in Victoria Australia. The Great Ocean Road drive is one of the top Australian road trip destinations and the third most visited attraction after Sydney Harbour and the Great Barrier Reef.
The Great Ocean Road trip is famous for its breathtaking coastal beauty spots which include the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, the Razorback and scenic beaches of Torquay, Lorne, and Apollo Bay.
If you do not have time to do a Great Ocean Road drive or just want to relax and enjoy the scenery, choosing Great Ocean Road day trips from Melbourne may be a superb alternative for seeing the splendours of this Australian National Heritage listed wonder.
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Torquay Surf Beach Victoria
Torquay is a little over an hour away from the city of Melbourne and is one of Victoria’s favourite seaside holiday destinations. Torquay is said to be the official starting point of the Great Ocean Road.
The town is famous for its surf beaches, surfing culture and is the birthplace of such brands as Rip Curl and Quick Silver. Torquay is considered the surfing capital of Australia and home to the world-famous Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach surfing competition.
The first stop on our Great Ocean Road day trip from Melbourne is Torquay Surf Beach. From here you can watch early morning swimmers and surf enthusiasts catching the waves while enjoying a morning tea of banana cake and fruit juice.
The Great Ocean Road
Veterans of the first world war constructed the Great Ocean Road between 1919 and 1932. Their backbreaking work connected the world to places of remarkable beauty. Today the Great Ocean Road is the world’s largest war memorial, a fitting tribute to the mates lost in the battles of WW1.
This two-lane highway takes you past dramatic coastal scenery with a varying speed limit which ranges between fifty to one hundred kilometres an hour.
On our Great Ocean Road day tour, we passed through many towns and coastal communities. From Torquay the road took us to Anglesea which is a family friendly seaside holiday town.
We continued our journey, twisting and turning through Aireys Inlet which is home to the Split Point Lighthouse and Fairhaven where you can catch a glimpse of the Pole House which is suspended forty metres above Fairhaven Beach.
Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch
The Memorial Arch at Eastern View marks the true beginning of the Great Ocean Road. The arch honours the veterans who built the Great Ocean Road using picks and shovels as their main road building tools.
Here you can admire the sculpture of the two soldiers and read the information boards that tell the story of this incredible engineering feat which provided access to coastal communities which were previously only reachable by boat.
Lorne
Lorne is a ritzy resort town on the Great Ocean Road. The town has a thriving arts and food scene making it one of the most popular places to stay during a Great Ocean Road itinerary.
As you drive through Lorne you can admire a stunning array of holiday homes and swimming beaches. At its heart is the Lorne Pier which stretches out into the bay and is the site of the famed Lorne Pier to Pub Swim.
From Lorne we wind our way through a landscape of breathtaking scenery, where rugged bushland meets shear coastal cliffs and rocky shores.
Kennett River Koala Walk
Kennett River is a quiet village which is famous for the Kennett River Koala Walk. With koala populations dwindling, it is a delight to see koalas living in their natural habitat.
Kennett River supports a good population of koalas and if you look up into the eucalyptus trees you may spot these sleepy marsupials.
Cape Patton Lookout Point
Cape Patton Lookout Point sits between Lorne and Apollo Bay. From here you can see spectacular views of a shoreline that stretches as far as the eye can see.
Here you can discover the history of Cape Patton and the Great Ocean Road when you read the bronze commemorative plaque by sculptor and noted periodontist, Dr Ross Bastiaan. The plaque is one of thirteen commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the Great Ocean Road.
Apollo Bay Victoria
Apollo Bay is a picturesque seaside town and a much-loved holiday destination on the Great Ocean Road. The peaceful waters of the bay lap gently along the three-kilometre expanse of sand, making it a fabulous beach for locals and holiday makers alike.
For all its beauty these calm waters can turn treacherous as they did on the 10th of July 1932 when the cargo ship SS Casino sank off Apollo Bay. Ten people lost their lives that day and the ship became another fatality of the regions “Shipwreck Coast”.
Apollo Bay has a fascinating history, it is the traditional lands of the Gunditjmara people and over time has been home to sealers, whalers, and the logging industry.
Our tour stopped in Apollo Bay for lunch, and we found a good range of restaurants and cafes to choose from. We decided to try a Scallop Pie from the Apollo Bay Bakery. This local delicacy was jam packed with juicy scallops in a light curry sauce and is delicious.
Maits Rest Rainforest Reserve
Maits Rest Rainforest Reserve is in the Great Otway National Park and the place to step back in time to a landscape of giant ferns and ancient rainforest trees.
As you walk the length of the 800-metre-long wooden boardwalk you will be engulfed by the cooling canopy of the rainforest.
Here you will learn the fascinating stories of the rainforest and get to marvel at the towering Myrtle Beech trees. If you are lucky, you may even see a variety of native wildlife including birds, koalas and wallabies.
Gibson’s Steps
Gibson’s Steps get their name from a local settler named Hugh Gibson who traced the paths of indigenous Australians by carving steps into the cliff face for better access to the beach.
Gibson’s Steps is the place to look on with awe as you view the spectacular beauty of the two seventy-metre-high cliffs known as Gog and Magog.
The Twelve Apostles Victoria Australia
The Twelve Apostles are one of Australia’s most recognisable natural landmarks. These towering limestone stacks are renowned for their grandeur, and it is one of the most visited places in Australia.
Contrary to popular belief there were never twelve limestone formations. Originally there were eleven stacks, seven of which remain standing today.
The Apostles were formed over millions of years as the fierce waves of the Southern Ocean battered the coastline eroding the soft limestone and eventually separating them from the jagged cliffs of the mainland.
First sight of the Twelve Apostles is a truly breathtaking experience as their majesty is far more beautiful in real life.
Loch Ard Gorge
As you look out across this picturesque landscape it is hard to imagine that it was once the scene of a famous shipwreck, another casualty of the regions notorious “Shipwreck Coast”.
On the 1st of June 1878 the Loch Ard Gorge became a tragic setting as the Loch Ard drifted off course in heavy fog and crashed into nearby Mutton Bird Island.
The Loch Ard was travelling from Gravesend in England to Melbourne Australia. Of the fifty-four people on board there were only two survivors, teenagers Thomas Pearce and Evelyn (Eva) Carmichael.
Tom saved Eva and placed her in a cave before climbing the cliffs of the gorge in search of help. Tom set off amid rugged terrain until he met local homesteaders who joined in the rescue and recovery of those lost that day.
Loch Ard Gorge has a variety of paths which showcase the spectacular views and tell the story of this tragedy.
The Razorback
To get to the Razorback take one of the paths from Loch Ard Gorge carpark. The Razorback is a tall, slender rock formation and a highlight of the Port Campbell National Park.
From the viewing platform you will be spellbound by the harshness of the coast as you watch waves crash over the base of this craggy structure. Feel the wind whip up the salt laden water droplets that adhere to the rock and harden it.
The Trip Back To Melbourne
From the Loch Ard Gorge it was time to head inland to take the three-hour journey back to Melbourne.
As we turned off the Great Ocean Road, we drove through peaceful rural countryside which was scattered with a mix of sheep and dairy farms.
Soon we came to the town of Colac and watched the afternoon sun twinkle on the distant waters of Lake Colac as we quickly made our way back to the city.
Soon these rustic landscapes gave way to the outer suburbs and finally the majestic skyline of inner-city Melbourne.
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Quick Tips on Planning your Great Ocean Road tour
Yes, you can drive the length of the Great Ocean Road in one day, however to fully take in the scenery we would recommend spreading the journey over 2 or 3 days. Alternatively, if you are visiting Melbourne and on a short time frame book one of the many day tours which depart and return from Melbourne daily.
Definitely. A drive along the Great Ocean Road is one of the great Australian road trips with stunning scenery along the gorgeous coastline of Victoria and not to be missed.
No the road trip along the Great Ocean Road is on sealed roads.
Last Words on Great Ocean Road Day Trips From Melbourne
When taking Great Ocean Road day trips from Melbourne be ready for a long day. The journey covers over seven hundred kilometres with an early start and late finish, but it is well worth the trip.
A Great Ocean Road day trip from Melbourne will have you experiencing one of Australia’s top landmarks and viewing some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.
The day trip is perfect for anyone visiting Melbourne on a short timeframe, for people wanting to enjoy the views without driving or for anyone wanting a taste of a Great Ocean Road drive before committing to a full-on road trip.
I would recommend a Great Ocean Road day trip to anyone visiting Melbourne, it is a journey that should be on the top of every Australian travel itinerary.
Have you visited the Great Ocean Road? What was your favourite attraction? Feel free to comment we would love to hear from you.
