Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles

The Great Ocean Road runs for about 240 kilometres along Victoria's south-west coast, from Torquay to beyond Warrnambool, and it is the most famous road trip in Australia. Built by returned soldiers after the First World War and dedicated to those who died, it is the world's largest war memorial as well as a spectacular piece of engineering, clinging to cliffs above the Southern Ocean. The journey begins in Torquay, home of surf culture and the legendary Bells Beach, then winds through the seaside towns of Anglesea, Lorne and Apollo Bay, past waterfalls and cool-temperate rainforest in the Great Otway National Park, where koalas sit in roadside trees. The finale is the Shipwreck Coast around Port Campbell National Park: the Twelve Apostles, a group of towering limestone stacks rising from the surf (fewer than twelve remain, and there were never exactly twelve), along with Loch Ard Gorge, the Gibson Steps down to the beach and the arch known as London Bridge. The big news for this season is the opening of the Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre at the Twelve Apostles on 16 October 2026, a new building with a large cafe, a gallery, a rooftop lookout and parking for hundreds of vehicles. Visitors now need to book before they arrive, which also secures a parking space; entry is free until April 2027, after which a booking fee will apply. Most visitors from Melbourne take a guided day tour, which is long, often 12 hours or more, but takes the strain off the driving. If you have a car and time, two or three days on the road is far better, with nights in Lorne or Apollo Bay and sunset at the Apostles.

Choosing between a tour and a self-drive is the main decision. Day tours leave Melbourne early in the morning and return late in the evening, typically covering the coast road out and returning inland on a faster highway, with stops at the beaches, a rainforest walk, a lunch break and an hour or so at the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. They are efficient and good value, and small-group tours give a more relaxed experience than big coaches. Some tours run in reverse to reach the Apostles at quieter times, and there are sunset departures. Self-driving gives you freedom to stop where you like, but the road is narrow and winding, full of tourists in summer, and Australians drive on the left; do not try to do the whole thing there and back from Melbourne in one day yourself, since it is exhausting and the inland return is a long drive in the dark with wildlife on the road.

A good two-day self-drive: day one, Melbourne to Torquay and Bells Beach, then Anglesea, Aireys Inlet and its lighthouse, lunch in Lorne, and on to Apollo Bay for the night. Day two, the Otways rainforest and Cape Otway area, then the Twelve Apostles with your pre-booked visit to the new centre, the Gibson Steps, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge, before returning to Melbourne inland or staying another night in Port Campbell. Add a third day to continue to Warrnambool and Port Fairy, or to spend more time walking in the Otways.

Practical notes for this season. The Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre opened on 16 October 2026 and is run by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority; booking ahead is now required for visits to the precinct, and it is how you secure a car park. There is no charge for that booking until April 2027, when a fee is due to be introduced. Tour operators handle the booking for their passengers. The weather can change quickly on this coast, so carry layers and a rain jacket even in summer, and check for road closures after storms. Summer weekends and school holidays bring heavy traffic, so midweek trips are more pleasant. Above all, allow more time than you think: this is a journey to be enjoyed, not rushed.