Drive The Great Ocean Road
Ticked off in March 2008
Hug the cliffs of Victoria's surf coast past rainforest, koalas and limestone stacks glowing gold in the Southern Ocean sunset.
The adventure
The Great Ocean Road starts with surf. At Torquay and Bells Beach, wetsuited surfers paddle out into the swell, and from there the road clings to the edge of the land, twisting along cliffs and beaches with the Southern Ocean crashing below. Around every bend there is another lookout, another bay, another reason to pull over.
Inland, the Great Otway National Park hides cool rainforest, waterfalls and towering tree ferns, and at Kennett River koalas doze in the gum trees right above the road. Then the scenery turns wild. Huge limestone stacks stand in the sea at the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge tells the story of a famous 1878 shipwreck, and at sunset the cliffs turn honey-gold as the waves pound against them.
Why it’s epic
- About 240 kilometres of coastal road, built by returned First World War soldiers and dedicated as a war memorial.
- The Twelve Apostles, limestone stacks up to around 45 metres high; fewer than a dozen remain standing.
- Loch Ard Gorge, named after the 1878 shipwreck of the Loch Ard.
- Wild koalas at Kennett River and rainforest walks in the Great Otway National Park.
What it is
The Great Ocean Road runs about 240 kilometres along Victoria's coast, past the Twelve Apostles rock stacks.
How to do it
Hire a car in Melbourne and drive from Torquay to Allansford, staying overnight in Lorne or Apollo Bay.
Top tip
See the Twelve Apostles at sunset, and look out for koalas at Kennett River.
Need to know
- Australians drive on the left, and UK licence holders can usually hire a car with their UK licence.
- Avoid driving at dawn and dusk where possible, as kangaroos and wallabies are on the move.
- UK visitors need an Australian eVisitor visa or ETA before travelling.
Plan this trip
- Rough cost
- £2,000 to £5,000 per person, including flights from the UK
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 days
- Best time to go
- November to April
- Fly into
- MEL airport
Long-haul flights to Australia are the big cost; car hire and coastal motels are reasonably priced.
Sample itinerary
- Day 1Drive from Melbourne to Torquay, Bells Beach and Lorne
- Day 2Koalas at Kennett River, the Otway rainforest and the Twelve Apostles at sunset
- Day 3Loch Ard Gorge and London Arch, then inland back to Melbourne
Do it yourself
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My experience
Ticked off, but the full story is still to be written up.
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