Best Places to Stop on the Great Ocean Road

Oct 15, 2018

The Great Ocean Road is over 200kms long, which means you are going to need some great places to stop along the way. Lucky for you, these stops won’t be your average one-horse town with nothing but a pub and a service station. The Great Ocean Road is home to picturesque towns, stunning natural beauty and plenty to see and do which means there’s no need to rush your trip. Take a few days or a few weeks and see some of these must-stop destinations:

Torquay – the official starting point of the Great Ocean Road. Starting from Torquay also means you’ll be on the right side of the road to spot any scenic highlights you don’t have time to stop for. If you’re a surf fan, visit Bells Beach and take a lesson or watch one of the many surf competitions famous for the dramatic high cliff backdrops.
Aireys Inlet is home to the Split Point Lighthouse, which was home to the kids from the Australian TV show, Round The Twist. It’s worth a stop just to tell your own kids about how you used to watch it on ABC. Since you’re so near the coast, it would be a crime not to dine on seafood. We recommend A La Grecque restaurant, which dishes up some of the best seafood around.
Next stop, Lorne. Right on the ocean, this charming little town is home to the Great Otway National Park which covers 103,000 hectares of ancient rainforests, pristine beaches, dramatic coastline, magnificent waterfalls, and windswept heathland. Nearby Kennett River is also a great spot to see koalas in the wild (we love the Kennett River Koala Walk) while you’re there stop by Kafe Koala where you can enjoy a coffee and buy feed for the colourful King Parrots!. Fuel up at the Lorne Beach Pavilion which has uninterrupted views of the water or The Bottle of Milk Café for a delicious burger. Make sure to stop at the Memorial Archway which is dedicated to the soldiers who built the road.
Take a drive to Triplet Falls just outside of Lorne in the Great Otway National Park and stay overnight to see the glow worms at Melba Gully.
You’ve officially made it half way when you hit Apollo Bay. Check out the panoramic views from Marriner’s Lookout and stop by hidden gem Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary to spot seals, sea urchins and zebra fish.
Don’t miss Cape Otway , which is where you’ll find the oldest lighthouse still in operation. Take a tour or climb to the top and see all the way across the Bass Strait.
You’ve made it to the most picturesque part of the journey - Port Campbell. This stretch is home to Port Campbell National Park which is where you’ll find some of the most epic natural wonders on your trip including the Twelve Apostles, Gibson Steps, Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge, The Grotto, The Arch, and the Bay of Islands.
Continue on to Warrnambool and Port Fairy and see if you can spot a whale along the way!