FreeThe Twelve Apostles
The limestone sea stacks that made the Great Ocean Road famous, standing offshore in Port Campbell National Park.
1 to 2 hoursDetails →
Australia
Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is the Victorian coastal route that runs west from Torquay past Lorne and Apollo Bay to the limestone cliffs of Port Campbell, with rainforest, koalas and surf beaches along the way.
This guide covers the Twelve Apostles and the new visitor precinct, Loch Ard Gorge, Gibson Steps and London Arch, Great Otway National Park, the Otway Fly treetop walk, Cape Otway Lightstation, the koalas of Kennett River and Bells Beach. It also covers a helicopter flight over the Apostles, two well-reviewed day tours from Melbourne, a surf lesson at Torquay, Split Point Lighthouse, a guided wildlife walk, Erskine Falls, the Memorial Arch, Bay of Islands Coastal Park and the Great Ocean Walk. Eight hotels in Lorne, Apollo Bay, Princetown and Port Campbell, from a luxury suite stay to a budget motel, and six guides cover what to book ahead, where to base yourself, a three-day itinerary, the best season, wildlife and the Otways, and how to choose between a tour and a self-drive.
Don't miss
The Twelve Apostles
The limestone sea stacks that made the Great Ocean Road famous, standing offshore in Port Campbell National Park.
Great Ocean Road Small-Group Eco Tour from Melbourne
A long day tour from Melbourne that covers Torquay, Kennett River koalas, Apollo Bay, an Otway rainforest walk, the Twelve Apostles, Gibson Steps and Loch Ard Gorge. It has a 4.9 rating from more than 7,000 reviews.
Loch Ard Gorge
A sea-carved limestone gorge a few minutes from the Twelve Apostles, named for an 1878 shipwreck. Beach access reopened in late October 2026 after repairs, so check conditions before you go down.
Gibson Steps
Eighty-six steps cut into the cliff lead down to a wide beach beneath two offshore stacks, Gog and Magog. It is about 1 km from the Twelve Apostles and reopened to the sand in February 2026.
Things to do in Great Ocean Road
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
FreeFreeLoch Ard Gorge
A sea-carved limestone gorge a few minutes from the Twelve Apostles, named for an 1878 shipwreck. Beach access reopened in late October 2026 after repairs, so check conditions before you go down.
45 to 60 minutesDetails →
FreeGibson Steps
Eighty-six steps cut into the cliff lead down to a wide beach beneath two offshore stacks, Gog and Magog. It is about 1 km from the Twelve Apostles and reopened to the sand in February 2026.
30 to 60 minutesDetails →
FreeLondon Arch (London Bridge)
A natural limestone arch on a rock platform off the cliffs west of Port Campbell, once a double-span bridge to the mainland. Free to visit, with a short walk from the car park.
20 to 30 minutesDetails →
FreeGreat Otway National Park
Fern gullies, waterfalls and tall forest running inland and along the coast between Lorne and Cape Otway. The short Maits Rest rainforest circuit is the easiest taste, and the park itself is free to enter.
1 hour to a full dayDetails →
Otway Fly Treetop Walk
A 600 metre steel walkway 25 to 30 metres up in the rainforest canopy, with a 47 metre spiral tower at the end. It is about 20 minutes inland from the coast road and runs in most weather.
Cape Otway Lightstation
A heritage lightstation on the cliffs of Cape Otway, with an 1848 lighthouse, a telegraph station, a WWII radar bunker and a cafe. The tower climb is closed for conservation works, and admission is discounted while it is shut.
Kennett River Koala Walk
A free roadside walk along Grey River Road where wild koalas sit in the gum trees, between Lorne and Apollo Bay. Spring brings mothers with babies, and binoculars help.
30 to 60 minutesDetails →
Bells Beach
The surf break that put the Surf Coast on the world map, with a free cliff-top lookout near Torquay at the start of the Great Ocean Road. It is a place to watch surfers, not to swim.
30 to 60 minutesDetails →
Twelve Apostles and London Bridge Helicopter Flight
A scenic helicopter flight of about 15 minutes over the Twelve Apostles and London Bridge, with live commentary and headsets. It gives a view of the stacks and coast that the lookouts cannot.
Great Ocean Road Small-Group Eco Tour from Melbourne
A long day tour from Melbourne that covers Torquay, Kennett River koalas, Apollo Bay, an Otway rainforest walk, the Twelve Apostles, Gibson Steps and Loch Ard Gorge. It has a 4.9 rating from more than 7,000 reviews.
Great Ocean Road Reverse Itinerary Boutique Tour
A 12-hour minibus day tour that runs the route in reverse to reach the Twelve Apostles first, with a maximum of 11 travellers. It has a 4.9 rating from nearly 5,000 reviews.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Captains at the Bay
Apollo Bay, Pascoe Street
A luxury suite and cottage property at 21 Pascoe Street in Apollo Bay, two minutes on foot from the waterfront. It is the splurge pick, with large suites, free parking and a guest rating of 9.8 from more than 850 reviews.
Check rates →Cumberland Lorne Resort
Lorne, Mountjoy Parade
A beachside aparthotel with 89 one- to three-bedroom apartments at 150 Mountjoy Parade, two minutes from Lorne Beach. It has free parking, tennis courts, a gym and a guest rating of 9.2 from more than 2,100 reviews.
Check rates →Apollo Bay Waterfront Motor Inn
Apollo Bay, Great Ocean Road
A mid-range motor inn at 173 Great Ocean Road in Apollo Bay, a two-minute walk from the visitor information centre. Rooms include spa rooms and two-bedroom apartments, with free parking on site.
Check rates →Twelve Apostles Motel and Country Retreat
Princetown, Booringa Road
A country-style motel and cottage retreat at Princetown, about eight minutes by car from the Twelve Apostles. It has a restaurant, a playground and free parking, including space for RVs.
Check rates →Port Campbell Motor Inn
Port Campbell, Great Ocean Road
A budget-friendly motor inn at 12 Great Ocean Road in Port Campbell, a one-minute walk from the national park and about eight minutes by car from Loch Ard Gorge. It has a seasonal outdoor pool and a guest rating of 9.0 from more than 600 reviews.
Check rates →Mantra Lorne
Lorne, central town
A larger hotel and apartment property in the middle of Lorne, a good base for the beach, the town cafes and drives into the Otways.
Check rates →Southern Ocean Villas
Port Campbell area
Self-contained villa accommodation near Port Campbell, within reach of the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and the Bay of Islands.
Check rates →Great Ocean Road Cottages
Lorne
Whole-cottage accommodation in Lorne for groups and families who want a home to themselves rather than a hotel room.
Check rates →Great Ocean Road guides
First Time on the Great Ocean Road: What to Book, How to Drive It and How Many Days
A practical primer for a first trip along the Great Ocean Road: what to book ahead, how to get around, how many days to allow and where the Twelve Apostles, the Otways and the surf coast fit.
Where to Stay on the Great Ocean Road: Lorne, Apollo Bay, Princetown or Port Campbell
Where to stay on the Great Ocean Road: Lorne, Apollo Bay, Princetown and Port Campbell, with hotels from luxury suites to a budget motor inn.
The Great Ocean Road in Three Days: A Relaxed Itinerary from Torquay to Port Campbell
A three-day plan for the Great Ocean Road: surf coast and koalas on day one, rainforest and lighthouse on day two, and the Twelve Apostles coast on day three, with two overnight bases.
Best Time to Visit the Great Ocean Road: Seasons, Weather, Whales and Crowds
When to visit the Great Ocean Road: what each season is like for beaches, wildlife and whales, how crowded the Twelve Apostles get, and which months suit surfers, families and photographers.
Wildlife and Rainforest on the Great Ocean Road: Koalas, Treetops and the Otways
A nature guide to the Great Ocean Road: where to see wild koalas, how to walk the Otway rainforest and canopy, what to expect from birds, kangaroos and whales, and how to watch wildlife responsibly.
Great Ocean Road from Melbourne: Day Tour, Helicopter or Self-Drive?
How to choose between a Melbourne day tour, a self-drive trip and a helicopter flight for the Great Ocean Road, with realistic times, trade-offs and tips for each option.
