Great Ocean Road in a Weekend
Twelve Apostles, Bells Beach, koalas at Kennett River — the classic Victorian coastal drive.
The Great Ocean Road is Victoria's headline drive — 240km of cliff-top switchbacks, rainforest detours and some of Australia's most photographed coastline. Two days is enough to hit the greatest hits without blurring the windows.
Highlights
- Twelve Apostles at golden hour — arrive 45 minutes before sunset
- Wild koalas dozing in the gums at Kennett River
- Bells Beach lookout, spiritual home of Australian surfing
- Otway rainforest walk at Maits Rest (15-minute loop)
- Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet
Suggested itinerary
- Day 1 · Morning
Drive Melbourne → Torquay
Leave CBD by 8am, stop for coffee at Bellbrae before hitting the official GOR arch at Eastern View.
- Day 1 · Midday
Bells Beach & Aireys Inlet
Short walk to Bells viewpoint, lunch at A La Grecque in Aireys, climb the Split Point Lighthouse.
- Day 1 · Afternoon
Koalas at Kennett River
Grey River Road has the densest koala population on the coast. Park and walk 300m in.
- Day 1 · Evening
Apollo Bay overnight
Fish and chips on the foreshore, stay the night in town.
- Day 2 · Morning
Otways rainforest
Detour inland to Maits Rest and Triplet Falls, both under 1-hour loops with boardwalks.
- Day 2 · Afternoon
Twelve Apostles & Loch Ard Gorge
Time arrival for late afternoon — fewer buses, better light. Loch Ard Gorge is the underrated neighbour.
- Day 2 · Evening
Inland return via Colac
Cut through farmland on the A1 — saves 90 minutes versus driving back along the coast.
Getting there
Take the M1 west to Geelong, then the B100 coastal road from Torquay. The full coastal loop is 450km round-trip; the inland return via Colac shaves an hour off day two.
Eat & drink
- Bespoke Harvest in Forrest for paddock-to-plate lunch
- La Bimba, Apollo Bay — Mediterranean with a harbour view
- Great Ocean Road Brewhouse for a post-drive pint
Local tips
- Fill the tank in Apollo Bay — it's the last cheap fuel before the Apostles
- Mobile reception drops out between Lorne and Apollo Bay; download offline maps
- Weekends in summer bring coach tours to the Apostles at 11am — go early or late
- The road is a slow 80km/h with tight corners, add 30% to Google's drive times