Best Great Ocean Road Drive 1- Day Itinerary

Great Ocean Road Drive

This 240-kilometer road along the Southern Ocean is one of Australia’s most scenic coastal drives. Enjoy the breeze from the ocean as you make your way down the roads that hug the seaside cliffs, winding through foggy rainforests and stretch your legs overlooking the iconic Twelve Apostles on this amazing Great Ocean Road Drive.

Sections

Best stops along The Great Ocean Road Drive

TOWARDS PORT CAMPBELL >

1. Torquay

Driving time to this stop: 1.5 hours

The Great Ocean Road actually starts here in Torquay as you drive past the iconic “Great Ocean Road” sign. It’s impossible to miss and a great photo spot for the start of your journey!

2. Lorne

Driving time to this stop: 1 hour

Stop for a quick brunch and wander the town of Lorne. The main street in this quaint seaside town is lined with cafes, restaurants and shops perfect for a quick rest stop.

We had our brunch at ‘The Bottle of Milk’ which serves a delicious vanilla malt milkshake and grabbed a gelato at ‘Paradise Slice and Scoop’

Take a small 5-minute detour to Teddy’s Lookout for an amazing clifftop view of the winding roads along the seaside cliffs and ocean.

3. Kennett River Koala Walk

Driving time to this stop: 30 minutes

Have a go at spotting wild koalas along Grey River Road which cuts through an entire forest of eucalyptus trees. Keep your eyes peeled for these cuddly creatures perched on the treetops.

Park your car and begin walking along Grey River Road, or drive further into the denser forest for a higher chance of spotting koalas. It is difficult to see any koalas while driving, so pull over safely at the wider areas of the road before hopping off.

Koala spotting can be challenging and it took us an hour before spotting our first koala but the hunt for them was indeed part of the fun!

4. Apollo Bay

Driving time to this stop: 30 minutes

Apollo Bay is the perfect stop mid-way for lunch by the water. There are so many choices for food here and we choose to have a fresh catch of seafood at Apollo Bay Fisherman’s Co-op.

5. Great Otway National Park

Driving time to this stop: 20 minutes

You can probably spend an entire day exploring the Great Otway National Park but the Maits Rest Rainforest Walk is perfect for this 1-day itinerary.

Distance: 800m loop (the boardwalk begins near the parking lot)

Time: 30 minutes

The drive after Apollo Bay starts winding through the rainforest and offers a completely different experience from the coastal views so far.

Drive slowly as along this stretch of road as it can be windy with rather sharp turns and blind spots

6. Gibson Steps

Driving time to this stop: 1 hour

Continue on the next hour of driving cutting through the mountainous forest before arriving at the first stop of a series of rock formations – Gibson Steps.

Stroll along the sandy beach next to dramatic rugged cliffs and get close to the two gigantic rock formations.

Be wary of the tide and waves that can be surge quite close to the cliffs during high tide. The beach access is down a series of steep and narrow steps.

7. Twelve Apostles

Driving time to this stop: 5 minutes

The iconic Twelve Apostles is a must-see landmark on the Great Ocean Road. As it is the most famous stop on this drive, it is not surprising that it is brimming with tourists in the afternoon.

TIP: Avoid the crowd at Twelve Apostles by taking the inland route and doing the itinerary backwards towards Melbourne.

8. Loch Ard Gorge

Driving time to this stop: 5 minutes

The Loch Ard Gorge is another stop where beach access is available and absolutely worth it for the picturesque view of the contrasting yellow cliff faces against the clear blue water.

BACK TO MELBOURNE >

9. Geelong

Driving time to this stop: 2 hours

Head back to Melbourne via the inland route to save time (3 hours inland route vs 4.5 hours via coastal route). Geelong is the second largest city after Melbourne and a great place to grab dinner. Take a stroll along the waterfront at sunset to complete your entire Great Ocean Road Drive!

Great Ocean Road Drive 1-Day Itinerary

6.00am – 7.30am: Drive from Melbourne to Torquay

7.30am – 8.00am: Photo spot with ‘Great Ocean Road’ sign

8.00am – 9.00am: Drive from Torquay to Lorne

9.00am – 10.00am: Brunch at Lorne

10.00am – 10.30am: Drive from Lorne to Kennett River

10.30am – 11.00am: Wild koala spotting

11.00am – 11.30am: Drive from Kennett River to Apollo Bay

11.30am – 12.30pm: Lunch at Apollo Bay

12.30pm – 1.00pm: Drive to Maits Rest Walking Trail

1.00pm – 2.00pm: Walk at Maits Rest Walking Trail

2.00pm – 3.00pm: Drive to Gibsons Steps

3.00pm – 5.00pm: Explore Gibson Steps, Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge

5.00pm – 7.00pm: Drive to Geelong

7.00pm – 8.30pm: Dinner at Geelong

8.30pm – 9.30pm: Drive from Geelong to Melbourne

This busy one-day plan might be overwhelming for everyone. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider skipping some activities like the Maits Rest Walking Trail or Gibsons Steps. This way, you can truly savor each stop at your leisure.

Transport

The drive from Melbourne to the Twelve Apostles takes 4.5 hours without stops. You might want to account for another 2.5 to 3 hours for stops at viewpoints, lunch, and activities.

You can decide to spend a night or two at the stops along the Great Ocean Road. However, you can also complete the drive in a single day and return to Melbourne for the night. Take the inland route when driving back (~3 hours) which can save you about 1.5 hours on the road.