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LOCAL SEAFOOD
Apollo Bay fishermen land southern rock lobster and flathead directly at the co-op wharf along Breakwater Road.
The Great Ocean Road.
ASIA-PACIFIC/AUSTRALIA/38.6800° S, 143.6000° E
Salt spray hits the windscreen before the road even leaves Torquay. Built by hand by three thousand returned soldiers starting in 1919, this ribbon of asphalt clings to sandstone bluffs, ducks under the wet canopy of the Otway rainforest, and emerges onto the wild Shipwreck Coast. It is a working coastline where fishermen still haul southern rock lobster at Apollo Bay and dairy farmers age cheddar on the inland slopes.
Last updated 4 Sept 2026
Field notes
Photographs · Wikimedia CommonsWhat The Great Ocean Road is about
Twelve ways to read the region. Pick a town below and you can turn any of these into a timed 1, 2 or 3 day plan.
COASTAL WALKS
The 110-kilometre Great Ocean Walk hugs sandstone ledges and manna gum groves from Apollo Bay out to the Twelve Apostles.
SURF CULTURE
Torquay and Bells Beach hold cold right-hand point breaks where wetsuits are mandatory and local shapers still plane foam by hand.
TEMPERATE RAINFOREST
Great Otway National Park shelters towering mountain ash trees, ancient myrtle beech stands, and fern gullies at Maits Rest.
ARTISAN CHEESE
Inland pastures around Timboon and Apostle Whey produce cave-aged clothbound cheddars and rich, unpasteurised blue cheeses.
MARITIME HISTORY
Warrnambool and Cape Otway preserve nineteenth-century lighthouses and the wreckage sites of over six hundred Bass Strait ships.
COOL-CLIMATE WINE
Henty and the Otway hinterland yield flinty chardonnay and lean pinot noir poured inside quiet cellar doors near Birregurra.
WATERFALLS
Erskine, Beauchamp, and Hopetoun Falls tumble through damp Otway ravines after winter rains, accessible by steep wooden staircases.
WILDLIFE WATCHING
Wild koalas roost in the eucalyptus canopy along Kennett River, while southern right whales calve off Logan's Beach in winter.
BAKEHOUSES & PIES
Country bakeries in Birregurra, Port Campbell, and Lorne turn out scallop pies, flaky sausage rolls, and dense fruit sourdoughs.
SCENIC LOOKOUTS
Teddy's Lookout above Lorne and the Razorback at Port Campbell provide stark vantage points over surging Southern Ocean swells.
CRAFT DISTILLERIES
Timboon Railway Shed Distillers and small inland producers craft single malt whiskies aged in Australian fortified wine barrels.
Where to go in The Great Ocean Road
The bases worth booking. Each one has its own field guide with 1, 2 and 3 day itineraries.
- 01Apollo Bay
VICTORIA / AUSTRALIA
A grounded fishing port with working wharves, fresh lobster, and easy access to the Otway forests.
- 02Lorne
VICTORIA / AUSTRALIA
A classic coastal retreat with art deco charm, bustling beachside bakeries, and forest waterfall tracks.
- 03Port Campbell
VICTORIA / AUSTRALIA
A tiny harbor wedged between limestone cliffs, right on the doorstep of the Twelve Apostles.
- 04Torquay
VICTORIA / AUSTRALIA
The spiritual home of Australian surfing, offering world-class breaks and crisp bakery flat whites.
- 05Anglesea
VICTORIA / AUSTRALIA
A relaxed riverfront settlement known for coastal heath walks and kangaroos grazing the local greens.
- 06Aireys Inlet
VICTORIA / AUSTRALIA
A quiet village anchored by the white tower of Split Point Lighthouse and quiet cliffside lookouts.
- 07Warrnambool
VICTORIA / AUSTRALIA
A historic whaling port where southern right whales shelter in winter, marking the western terminus.
- 08Port Fairy
VICTORIA / AUSTRALIA
A bluestone harbor town of nineteenth-century cottages, excellent bakeries, and seabird rookeries.
- 09Birregurra
VICTORIA / AUSTRALIA
An inland food hub of historic brick storefronts, butcher shops, and celebrated destination dining.
- 10Forrest
VICTORIA / AUSTRALIA
A tucked-away Otway mountain-biking village serving local craft ale and wood-fired sourdough.
- 11Kennett River
VICTORIA / AUSTRALIA
A tiny coastal bend where wild koalas cling to roadside gums and parrots flock to porch railings.
- 12Peterborough
VICTORIA / AUSTRALIA
A sleepy inlet base positioned right beside the limestone stacks and grottos of the Bay of Islands.
What to do in The Great Ocean Road
Stretching 243 kilometres along Victoria's south-west coast, the Great Ocean Road tracks the B100 highway from Torquay to Allansford. Days revolve around changing weather, clifftop lookouts, and meals pulled from cold ocean currents or dairy paddocks. It suits self-drive travellers who prefer raw maritime nature, unvarnished fishing towns, and rugged coastal hikes over manicured resort strips.
When to go to The Great Ocean Road
Summer brings long days and heavy holiday traffic. Autumn offers calmer seas, milder temperatures, and easier parking at major sites. Winter turns cold and windy, but southern right whales arrive off Warrnambool and the rainforest waterfalls run at their peak.
Getting around The Great Ocean Road
A car is essential. The drive from Torquay to Port Campbell takes about four hours without stops, though the winding turns and slow caravans demand a deliberate pace. V/Line runs limited coach services along the coast, but exploring the Otways requires your own wheels.