Great Ocean Road Australia Road Trip + Map: Twelve Apostles & Best Stops 🚗
The Great Ocean Road is one of those drives where you keep saying “just one more stop”… and suddenly it’s 6pm and you’ve taken 412 photos of the same cliff from slightly different angles 😅. I like starting in Melbourne and driving east to west, because the ocean-side pull-offs are easier and you’re not constantly battling turns across traffic. This route also links up as a proper loop, so you can finish back in Melbourne without doing the exact same coastal stretch twice.
I have add the FREE Google Map Itinerary lower down!
Great Ocean Road Australia Road Trip
🚗 Quick Trip Facts
✅ Start and end: Melbourne → Great Ocean Road → Port Fairy → Melbourne (inland return)
✅ Best pace: 3 days feels perfect, 2 days is speed-run energy, 4 days is the chill version
✅ Drive direction tip: East to west keeps viewpoints simpler
✅ Main event: Twelve Apostles + the Shipwreck Coast stops clustered nearby
✅ Aussie winter: June–August (windy lookouts, moodier skies, fewer crowds)
✅ Budget vibe: Expect your daily spend to swing a lot depending on stays. Rough guide: $150–$300 AUD/day per person is common for mid-range travel, which is around £75–£155 / €90–€180 / $95–$195 USD (very rough, rates move)
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Download offline maps before you leave Melbourne and grab an Airalo eSIM. Also, sort your wheels early with my recommended car hire 👇🏼, then lock in nights on the coast with Booking.com Australia
🚗 Recommended Car Rental: DiscoverCars
The Itinerary 🗺️✨
Day 1: Melbourne → Torquay → Lorne → Apollo Bay (overnight)
This first day is the gentle “out of the city, into the salt air” transition. You’ll hit the Surf Coast, grab a coffee that tastes better purely because it’s near the ocean, and then the road starts serving viewpoints like it’s proud of itself. Lorne is your ideal midday stop for a proper wander and some food. Then roll on to Apollo Bay so you can wake up perfectly placed for the Otways tomorrow.
📍 Things to do (best stops today):
- Torquay for surf-town vibes and a beach walk
- Bells Beach lookout for big-wave scenery
- Anglesea for a quick stretch and snack
- Aireys Inlet area for lighthouse views
- Lorne for lunch and a seaside stroll
- Kennett River for koala-spotting (keep it respectful, no close-ups)
👉 Good to know: Parking in Lorne can get busy fast in peak periods. Arrive earlier, or accept you’ll do a bonus scenic walk from wherever you land.
🚗 Recommended Tour to get you started: Lorne: Live wire and zip line rollercoaster ticket
🗺️ Related Article: Australia Travel Tips For First-Timers: Plan Smart, Roam Free, Love Every Minute 🇦🇺
Day 2: Apollo Bay → Otways Rainforest → Cape Otway → Twelve Apostles → Port Campbell (overnight)
This is the movie-trailer day. You start in rainforest vibes with huge ferns and cool air, then swing out to Cape Otway where the coastline looks properly wild. After that, you’re into Shipwreck Coast territory, and the stops come thick and fast. Try to time the Twelve Apostles for late afternoon or sunset so you get that golden light without sprinting.
📍 Things to do (best stops today):
- A short Otways rainforest walk (easy loop, big payoff)
- Waterfall detour if you’ve got the energy
- Cape Otway Lightstation for history and views (paid entry, timings vary)
- Gibson Steps for sea-level drama if conditions allow
- Twelve Apostles for the big “wow, ok Australia” moment
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Stay in Port Campbell tonight if you can. It makes sunrise or sunset at the Apostles feel calm instead of chaotic.
🗺️ Recommended Read: Fast-Track to the USA: How Australia’s Global Entry Program is Revolutionising Travel
Recommended Tours and Tickets From Get Your Guide
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Day 3: Port Campbell → Loch Ard Gorge → London Bridge → Bay of Islands → Warrnambool → Port Fairy → Melbourne (inland return)
Day 3 is pure coastline flex. The best stops are close together, so you can do loads without racking up massive drive time. Loch Ard Gorge is one of those places that makes you go quiet for a second. Bay of Islands is often less crowded and just as dramatic. Finish in Port Fairy for a wander and a bakery stop, then head inland back to Melbourne to complete the loop.
📍 Things to do (best stops today):
- Loch Ard Gorge for beach-and-cliff drama
- The blowholes and rock formations around the Port Campbell area
- London Bridge viewpoint
- Bay of Islands lookouts for quieter epic scenery
- Warrnambool coastal stretch if you want more sea air
- Port Fairy wander for cute streets and good food
💡 Fact: If you’re travelling in Aussie winter (June–August), this wider coast region can be a strong time for moody skies and fewer crowds, which makes the viewpoints feel extra cinematic.
🗺️ Tips for visiting: East Coast vs. West Coast: Choosing Your Aussie Escape
Driving Tips + Safety
This road is stunning, but it’s still a working road with bends, buses, cyclists, and the occasional wildlife surprise.
- Go east to west if you can for easier pull-offs
- Start early to beat crowds and parking stress
- Expect slow sections and build buffer time so you’re not rushed
- Wildlife is most active at dawn and dusk, so ease off the speed in low light
- Don’t cross roads casually at busy lookouts. People forget this is still a road
- Stay behind barriers and don’t climb fences for photos
- Take breaks often so the driver stays fresh
- Fill up in larger towns so you’re not fuel-stressing mid-coast
Access to the map
No sign up required and totally FREE. Literally just using Google Maps to plot your route! Saves you messing! We don't gatekeep here! Enjoy.
Map will be located under "YOU" and then under "MAPS".
ℹ️ Add the map to your Google Maps app.
After opening Google maps, click YOU and then scroll down to MAPS. It should be located there. Any issues, just get it touch, it’s no problem!
Pit Stops & Side Detours 🚗✨
These are the little extras that “accidentally” add an hour. Worth it.
- Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch photo stop
- Extra Otways rainforest walks
- Longer beach time in Apollo Bay
- Add-on night in Warrnambool or Port Fairy
- Optional extension: carry on to the Grampians after Port Fairy if you want mountains next
🍽️ Local Eats Worth Chasing
Your stomach will become the real trip planner. Let it.
- Fish and chips in Apollo Bay (outdoors, salty fingers, no shame)
- Lorne café breakfast before the crowds roll in
- Port Campbell pub meal after a windy lookout mission
- Port Fairy bakery stop for the drive
- Supermarket picnic supplies in Apollo Bay or Warrnambool (budget hero move)
🎶 Road Trip Playlist
These hit different with ocean views.
- Men at Work, Down Under
- Vance Joy, Riptide
- Tame Impala, The Less I Know The Better
- Crowded House, Don’t Dream It’s Over
- Angus & Julia Stone, Big Jet Plane
- Fleetwood Mac, Go Your Own Way
- The Killers, Mr. Brightside
- Dua Lipa, Levitating
👉 Good to know: Download offline. Mountain signal can be patchy and your playlist deserves better. 📲
🎙️ Podcasts to Queue Up
Because the driver deserves entertainment too.
- Casefile
- No Such Thing As A Fish
- Stuff You Should Know
- Ologies
- The Travel Diaries
- The Daily
Road Trip Essentials (All Year Round) 🎒🚗
The Great Ocean Road is gorgeous year-round, but it’s also a bit of a mood swing. One minute it’s sunny and smug, the next it’s windy enough to steal your hat and your patience. Pack for “four seasons in one day” and you’ll be golden.
- Windproof jacket (waterproof is a bonus, and yes you’ll use it)
- Light layers you can add/remove quickly (lookouts = chilly, towns = warmer)
- Comfortable, grippy shoes for steps, wet paths, and viewpoint wanders
- Sunscreen + sunglasses (cloudy days still bite)
- Refillable water bottle + snacks (because hunger makes drivers grumpy)
- Power bank + car charger (photos and maps eat battery for breakfast)
- Offline maps downloaded (signal can be patchy in spots)
- Small daypack for quick stops so you’re not hauling your whole life out the boot
- Microfibre towel or spare tee (beach detours happen)
- Bin bag for rubbish (Leave No Trace vibes, always)
- If you want easy data without faffing, an Airalo eSIM is a low-effort win
👉 Good to know: If you’re driving near dawn or dusk, keep an extra eye out for wildlife. This is not the road for “I’ll just zone out for a second”.
Rent a Car
Access to the map
No sign up required and totally FREE. Literally just using Google Maps to plot your route! Saves you messing! We don't gatekeep here! Enjoy.
What to know How to Plan or Save for a Trip? Here are our best:
FAQs
How many days do I need for the Great Ocean Road?
Three days is ideal for the best stops without rushing.
Can I do the Twelve Apostles as a day trip from Melbourne?
Yes, but it’s a long day. If you don’t want to drive, look at day tours.
Is it better to drive east to west or west to east?
East to west is usually easier because you can pull into ocean-side viewpoints more safely.
Where should I stay for the Twelve Apostles?
Port Campbell is the best base if sunrise or sunset at the Apostles is your main goal.
Travel Planning Resources
Ready to book your next trip? These trusted resources have been personally vetted to ensure a smooth travel experience.
Book Your Flights: Kick off your travel planning by finding the best flight deals on Trip.com. Our years of experience with them confirm they offer the most competitive prices.
Book Your Hotel: For the best hotel rates, use Booking.com . For the best and safest hostels, HostelWorld.com is your go-to resource. Best for overall Hotel ratings and bargains, use TripAdvisor.com!
Find Apartment Rentals: For affordable apartment rentals, check out VRBO. They consistently offer the best prices.
Car Rentals: For affordable car rentals, check out RentalCars.com. They offer the best cars, mostly brand new.
Travel Insurance: Never travel without insurance. Here are our top recommendations:
- EKTA for Travel Insurance for all areas!
- Use AirHelp for compensation claims against flight delays etc.
Book Your Activities: Discover walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more on Get Your Guide. They have a vast selection of activities to enhance your trip. There is also Tiqets.com for instant mobile tickets.
Book The Best Trains: Use Trainline to find the most affordable trains or Rail Europe for rail passes!
Travel E-SIMS: Airalo Worldwide! Use your mobile phone anywhere!
Need More Help Planning Your Trip? Visit our Resources Page to see all the companies we trust and use for our travels.
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🔹 Tinker’s Tip: If you can, drive Grossglockner on a weekday and enter early. Same views, fewer “who parked this bus here?” moments. 😄
🚗 Recommended Car Rental: DiscoverCars
Author
Freddie Masters
I’m Freddie, a traveller who decided that life was a bit too short to spend it behind a desk. A few years ago, I packed a bag and set off to see what the world actually looks like, and I haven't really stopped since. From navigating the chaos of Southeast Asian markets to finding quiet corners in the Balkans, I’m all about those authentic, local experiences.
I started to write for TheTravelTinker.com to give you the real talk on travel. You won't find any glossy, staged nonsense here. Instead, I focus on practical tips, honest budget advice, and the truth about what happens when things don't go to plan. If I can figure out a local bus route or find a world-class meal for the price of a coffee, I want to make sure you can too.
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