I joined the Great Ocean Road from the west, having driven from Adelaide along the Limestone Coast. Over the next three days, I worked my way towards Melbourne, stopping overnight in Apollo Bay and Lorne and finishing with lunch in Geelong.
The first morning brought almost empty beaches and limestone stacks. By the Twelve Apostles, I was sharing the view with plenty of other people. Then came the Otways, the coastal bends towards Lorne and, eventually, the motorway into Melbourne. I liked how much the scenery changed over a relatively short distance.
My trip also coincided with fires affecting the Otways, which limited what I could do. This itinerary follows the route I drove, with suggestions for the walks and stops I’d allow more time for next time
This Great Ocean Road itinerary runs west to east from Port Fairy to Melbourne over three days, joining the official road near Allansford, with overnight stops in Apollo Bay and Lorne and the Twelve Apostles met early, before the coaches arrive in force.
West to east makes particular sense if you’re travelling from Adelaide towards Melbourne. You reach the limestone landmarks first, then cross the Otways before following the coast through Apollo Bay and Lorne.
For me, it fitted the journey I was already making. There was no need to drive to Melbourne and double back, and I enjoyed starting with the quieter western stops before reaching the better-known sights.
That doesn’t mean you’ll avoid crowds throughout the day. Childers Cove was almost empty during my visit, but the Twelve Apostles were busy by the time I arrived. Your starting time and how long you spend at each stop matter more than your direction of travel.
The other appeal was the variety. After a day among limestone cliffs and stacks, I had forest, beach towns and the winding coastal road to look forward to. Lorne became my favourite town on this part of the trip, so I was pleased to spend my final night there.
East to west is often the more convenient choice from Melbourne, and it generally puts you on the ocean side of the coastal road. That makes access to many seaward lookouts easier because you can turn left into them.
Driving west to east, you’ll sometimes need to turn right across oncoming traffic. Wait for a safe gap and use the designated entrances; if you miss a turn, continue until you can turn around safely.
Neither direction guarantees a quieter or better trip. I’d choose according to where you’re starting, where you’re finishing and how much time you have. If you’re coming from South Australia, west to east is a straightforward continuation of the coastal journey.
The western start of the Great Ocean Road is at Allansford, just east of Warrnambool, where the B100 branches from the Princes Highway. This itinerary starts in Port Fairy, where I stayed before joining the official route.
Follow signs for the B100 rather than expecting a ceremonial gateway. The Memorial Arch appears much later on this west-to-east journey, near Eastern View, and isn’t the road’s endpoint.
Port Fairy gave me a convenient place to spend the previous night and start the landmark day. Allow time to reach Allansford before the coastal stops, especially if you’re planning the Childers Cove detour.
Here is how my three days broke down:
Spend the first day travelling from Port Fairy through the limestone landmarks to Apollo Bay, the second following the coast to Lorne, and the third continuing to Melbourne via Geelong. That gives you two coastal overnight stops without changing accommodation every few hours.
| Day | Route | Main stops | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port Fairy to Apollo Bay | Western limestone landmarks, Port Campbell, Twelve Apostles and the Otways crossing | Apollo Bay |
| 2 | Apollo Bay to Lorne | Breakfast in Apollo Bay, an optional local outing, Kennett River and the coastal drive | Lorne |
| 3 | Lorne to Melbourne | An optional Lorne outing, Memorial Arch and a Geelong lunch stop | Melbourne |
Day one is the fullest. The next two have shorter distances between the main stops, but extra walks, meals and viewpoints can still take most of the day.
I stayed at the Coastal Motel in Apollo Bay and Lorne Surf Apartments in Lorne. Both worked well for my trip; the individual town guides cover those stays and other accommodation options.
Treat Port Fairy to Apollo Bay as a full sightseeing day and leave early. If you want to explore every major stop at length, add a night near Port Campbell rather than trying to fit them all in before the Otways crossing.
My stops included Childers Cove, the Bay of Islands, Bay of Martyrs, the Grotto, London Arch, Port Campbell, Tom and Eva Lookout and the Twelve Apostles. I didn’t leave enough time for the wider Loch Ard Gorge precinct or Gibson Steps.
For planning, a brief viewpoint stop might take 15 to 20 minutes. A beach walk, the Grotto’s steps or a larger area needs longer, and those short visits add up once you include parking and driving between them. Leave room for a proper meal and the remaining journey to Apollo Bay.
Don’t plan all the western stops and assume you’ll still reach the Apostles before late morning. If an early Apostles visit is your priority, stay nearby the night before and organise the other sights around it.
For two days, keep the Apollo Bay overnight and continue through Lorne to Melbourne on day two, with fewer stops. For four days, add a night near Port Campbell or an extra night in Apollo Bay or Lorne, depending on what you want to do.
A two-day trip needs some choices. Lorne could become a lunch and beach stop, while Geelong may be better saved for another visit. You won’t have the same time for the Otways outings and a relaxed evening in each town.
An extra night near Port Campbell spreads the limestone landmarks over two days. Another night in Apollo Bay gives you more time for forest and wildlife activities; another in Lorne would let you include Erskine Falls or simply spend longer by the beach. I’d have happily stayed longer in Lorne myself.
The main stops covered by this itinerary are Childers Cove, the Bay of Islands, Bay of Martyrs, the Grotto, London Arch and the Loch Ard Gorge area before the Twelve Apostles. Port Campbell sits between the landmark groups and makes a useful break for food and supplies.
Childers Cove is a detour from the main route, so factor that into your morning. It was one of my quietest stops, although I’d weigh it against the time available if you particularly want to explore Loch Ard Gorge later.
Tom and Eva Lookout is part of that wider gorge area. I wanted to stop because the names match mine and my sister’s, but there’s shipwreck history and more walking there beyond the viewpoint I visited.
Gibson Steps is just east of the Twelve Apostles and can be added afterwards if access is open and you still have time. I missed it on my trip, so it belongs among the optional additions rather than the stops I can describe first hand.
Use Port Campbell to take stock before continuing. I stopped there to check the fire situation as well as take a break. It's easier to adjust the afternoon while you're parked in town than when you're already tired and looking for somewhere to stop
Between the Twelve Apostles and Apollo Bay, the route leaves the exposed limestone coast and heads through the hills and forest of the Otways. Allow well over an hour for the crossing, with extra time for conditions, breaks or any detours.
My drive was unsettling. Fires were affecting the national park, access on either side of the route was restricted and places I passed were unusually quiet. I reached Apollo Bay, but couldn’t explore the forest attractions as I’d hoped.
That experience isn’t a reason to expect the same conditions on your trip. It is a reason to check official road and emergency information before setting off and again if the situation is changing. Don’t enter a closed road or assume that an attraction booking means the route to it is accessible.
Follow the current official diversion or change your plans. An inland route may be available, but don’t assume that going via Colac or taking a forest shortcut is suitable for every closure.
Depending on the warning, you may need to delay travel, choose another destination or follow emergency directions. Waiting nearby is only an option if the location is safe and the advice permits it.
Even when the road is open, allow for wet bends, reduced visibility and debris after poor weather. Leave enough daylight to reach your accommodation without rushing.
Apollo Bay has central accommodation, a long beach and places to eat within walking distance, making it a convenient end to the landmark day. I stayed at the Coastal Motel and spent the evening at the Great Ocean Road Brewhouse.
Much of town was closed during my visit because of the fires, so I was glad to find the Brewhouse open. The beach was about five minutes from my motel, which meant I could leave the car and walk after a full day of driving.
Before heading off the next morning, I went to Apollo Bay Bakery as it opened. There was a giant stuffed koala lounging in the shop, and I took my scallop pie and coffee to a table outside. It was the best pie I had on the Great Ocean Road, eaten while I watched the town wake up.
If you’re considering seafood at the harbour, check the current redevelopment arrangements first. The Co-op’s harbour premises are temporarily closed during the works, with temporary outlets operating in town. The Apollo Bay guide covers the changes in more detail.
You can fit a shorter walk or a booked local activity into day two, but allow for travel time as well as the visit. Longer trips to Cape Otway or Otway Fly are better suited to an extra night or a carefully planned arrival day.
Marriners Lookout, Maits Rest and Wildlife Wonders are among the options I researched after missing out on the forest during my trip. Several take you back west from Apollo Bay before you continue east to Lorne.
Maits Rest may fit more conveniently before you reach Apollo Bay on day one, if it’s open and you have daylight and energy left. Otherwise, a little backtracking the following morning may be worthwhile. There’s no need to fill the morning simply because the onward drive is relatively short.
The drive from Apollo Bay to Lorne follows the coast through bends above the sea, with Kennett River offering a useful walking and wildlife stop. Allow roughly an hour without stops, and longer if you want time out of the car.
I enjoyed this stretch after the previous day’s cliffs and forest. The road stayed close to the water, and I could take my time knowing I was only going as far as Lorne.
At Kennett River, I walked among the trees hoping to see a koala. I didn’t find one, but did come away with some very good photographs of a kookaburra. The walk was worth the stop even without the sighting I’d hoped for.
Grey River Road is a commonly suggested place to look for koalas near the village. Park safely before looking into the canopy, keep clear of traffic and give the animals space. Sightings are never guaranteed.
An overnight in Lorne gives you time for the beach and dinner without another drive afterwards. It was my favourite town on this part of the trip, and the place I’d most like to return to for longer.
I stayed at Lorne Surf Apartments above town. They were the best apartments I stayed in on the Great Ocean Road, although the hillside setting means considering the walk back when choosing accommodation.
My evening centred on the Lorne Hotel, where I chatted with locals and other travellers while cockatoos swooped around the outdoor seating. After a day on the road, I liked having time to sit and enjoy being somewhere.
If you arrive early enough, spend some time on the beach or foreshore. Erskine Falls, Teddy’s Lookout and other outings are options for a longer stay, rather than things I managed to fit into my own overnight visit.
The Memorial Arch is at Eastern View, east of Lorne. It marks the work of the returned servicemen who built the road, rather than its official beginning or end.
On a west-to-east trip, you reach it after much of the coastal scenery, which makes it feel like a fitting point to pause. The Great Ocean Road continues towards Torquay, so there is still more driving ahead.
Use the designated parking area and allow a few minutes for the information boards. The road was built by returning First World War servicemen as a memorial to those who died in the war. Knowing that adds something to a journey you might otherwise remember mainly for its views.
Geelong makes a useful final stop for a waterfront walk and lunch before continuing to Melbourne. Allow two to three hours if you want to eat and explore without rushing.
I parked near the water, walked past the painted bollards and ate at Sailors’ Rest, where the staff took my nut allergy seriously. After several days on the coast, it was a pleasant place to stretch my legs before the last part of the drive.
The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race occupied part of the waterfront during my visit and stopped me walking as far east as I'd intended.
Day three is more than the direct driving time between Lorne and Melbourne: the arch, any coastal stops, lunch in Geelong and city traffic all add to it. Leave a generous margin if you have a timed arrival or need to return a hire car.
Leave room for slow driving and unplanned stops, check official travel alerts and use designated parking areas for photographs. West-to-east travel also means being patient with right turns into some coastal lookouts.
Start the landmark day early: You'll have more daylight for stops, even if you don't avoid the busiest period at the Apostles.
Check road and emergency information: Do this before setting off and whenever conditions change. Save essential route details in case reception is poor.
Plan fuel and meals: Port Campbell, Apollo Bay and Lorne are useful places to stop, but opening hours vary. Don't leave supplies until you're already short.
Drive to the conditions: Bends, wildlife, wet surfaces and changing speed limits need attention. Let a passenger look for wildlife while you're moving.
Use signed stopping places: Don't stop in the traffic lane for a photograph or make a sudden turn when you notice a viewpoint.
Let faster traffic pass safely: If vehicles build up behind you, use a suitable designated turnout when it's safe to do so.
Allow for shorter winter days: Reduce the sightseeing list rather than relying on a long drive after dark to catch up.
Check EV charging separately: Confirm compatible chargers, availability and accommodation charging arrangements before relying on them.
Keep the final day flexible: Melbourne traffic and a longer lunch stop can change your arrival time. This itinerary works best without a tight deadline at the end.
This route takes three days from Port Fairy to Melbourne, with nights in Apollo Bay and Lorne. It covers more than the official Great Ocean Road, so calculate the full journey with your accommodation and detours included.
The official Great Ocean Road is approximately 243 kilometres between Allansford and Torquay. Starting in Port Fairy, finishing in Melbourne and adding side trips makes this itinerary longer; use the complete route when estimating mileage and driving time.
Yes, but you’ll need fewer stops. One option is Port Fairy to Apollo Bay on day one, then Apollo Bay through Lorne to Melbourne on day two. I’d save the longer forest outings and possibly Geelong for another trip.
I’d allow at least three days for this Port Fairy-to-Melbourne itinerary. Four would give you more time around the limestone landmarks or an extra night in one of the coastal towns.
Yes, the route can be driven in either direction when open. Expect winding sections and some right turns across traffic into coastal lookouts. Choose safe gaps, follow signs and check current conditions before travelling.
No. It can suit an early visit if you’re staying nearby, but stopping at all the western landmarks first may bring you to the Apostles at a busy time. They were the busiest stop on my own drive.
Follow official road and emergency advice and revise the itinerary as needed. Don’t assume an inland route is open or use minor forest roads as an improvised shortcut.
Yes, especially as part of another Adelaide-to-Melbourne trip. It fitted the journey naturally, and the nights in Apollo Bay and Lorne gave me time to enjoy the towns as well as the roadside sights.
I’d change the timing more than the direction. I’d leave longer for Loch Ard Gorge, make room for the Otways if conditions allowed, and book another night in Lorne. The quiet western beaches were a highlight, but so were a scallop pie outside Apollo Bay Bakery and an evening talking to people at the pub. I’m glad I had three days rather than trying to get through it in one.
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