The Ultimate 3-Day Great Ocean Road Itinerary (2026 Guide)

The coastline hugging 'Great Ocean Road'

The Great Ocean Road is one of the world's great coastal drives — 243km of Victorian coastline strung between Torquay and Allansford, with surf towns, rainforest, koalas and limestone stacks along the way. Three days is the sweet spot: enough time to actually stop at the lookouts instead of just driving past them, without needing a full week off work.

I was lucky enough to share the experience with a group of friends, most of us from the UK originally. Like most expats and overseas visitors, the wildlife you'll see along the way is most definitely the highlight.

Here's how I'd plan your own Great Ocean Road adventure.

At a Glance

📅 Recommended length: 3 days minimum, 4–5 if you want a slower pace.

🚗 Total drive time (without stops): Around 4.5–5 hours one way if you drove it non-stop — but don't, that's the whole point.

📏 Total distance: ~243km (Torquay to the Twelve Apostles), plus the return leg.

🚙 Day 1 drive: Torquay to Lorne — 45km, ~1 hour direct, half a day with stops.

🚙 Day 2 drive: Lorne to Apollo Bay — 45km, ~1 hour direct, most of the day with stops.

🚙 Day 3 drive: Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles — 100km, ~1.5 hours direct, half a day with stops.

🌅 Best sunrise spot: Twelve Apostles — the light hits the stacks front-on at sunrise and the tour buses aren't there yet.

🌇 Best sunset spot: Lorne Pier or Apollo Bay foreshore, both facing west along the coastline.

The Redwoods Otways

Before You Go

🗓️ Best time to visit: Shoulder season (March–May or September–November) gets you good weather without peak summer traffic. Winter (June–August) is quieter and better for whale watching near Logans Beach.

🚘 How to get there: Most people start from Melbourne (about 1.5 hours to Torquay).

📌 Do you need to book ahead: Yes for accommodation in Lorne and Apollo Bay in summer — these towns are small and sell out weeks in advance.

🤢 A note on the drive: The roads are windy. Being the passenger for a change and not the driver resulted in me experiencing some motion sickness along the coastal drive. Pack some medication, for you or your party, just in case.

Day 1: Torquay to Lorne

Approximate timing: Depart Melbourne 8am → Torquay by 9:30am → Lorne by early evening

Morning

Torquay & Bells Beach Start at Torquay, the official gateway to the Great Ocean Road and home of the Australian National Surfing Museum. Bells Beach, a few minutes further on, is the famous surf break — worth a stop even if you're not surfing.

☕ Café/lunch stop: Bells Beach Kiosk or one of the roasteries in Torquay itself for a proper coffee before the drive.

👀 Lookout: Bells Beach Lookout, right above the break.

📸 Photo spot: The Bells Beach sign and the amphitheatre-style lookout over the point break.

Midday

Anglesea & Aireys Inlet Anglesea has a good bakery stop and a golf course famous for its resident kangaroos. Aireys Inlet is home to the Split Point Lighthouse (the "Round the Twist" lighthouse for anyone who grew up on Australian kids' TV).

☕ Café/lunch stop: Anglesea's main strip has the best bakery options on this stretch — good spot to grab lunch to eat at a lookout further on.

🚶 Short walk: The Aireys Inlet cliff-top walk near the lighthouse, 20–30 minutes return.

💎 Hidden gem: Anglesea Golf Club — you can often spot kangaroos grazing on the fairways without paying green fees, just from the car park.

📸 Photo spot: Split Point Lighthouse from the cliff path, especially with the ocean behind it.

Afternoon/Evening

Base yourself in Lorne for the night. Walk to Erskine Falls (15-minute drive plus a short walk) before dinner, then eat along the main strip — Lorne has the best café/restaurant density on the whole road.

🚶 Short walk: Erskine Falls — a short, steep set of stairs down to the base of the falls, about 20 minutes return.

🍽️ Where to eat: Lorne's main strip (Mountjoy Parade) has the widest range on the whole road — good for a proper sit-down dinner.

🌇 Sunset suggestion: Lorne Pier — faces west along the curve of the bay, one of the most reliable sunset spots on the drive.

🛏️ Where to stay: Lorne itself, for easy walking access to dinner and the pier.

Day 2: Lorne to Apollo Bay via the Otways

Approximate timing: Depart Lorne 8am → Kennett River by 8:30am → Otways midday → Apollo Bay by late afternoon

Morning

Kennett River Stop at Kennett River on the way out of Lorne — this is the most reliable spot on the entire road to see wild koalas in the treetops, no tour required.

⏰ Best time: Early morning, before the day-tour buses arrive around 10am.

💎 Hidden gem: Walk a little way up Grey River Road (just off the highway) — the koalas here are less crowded than the main car park.

Midday

Great Otway National Park Head inland briefly to the Otway Fly Treetop Adventures for a walk through rainforest canopy, or continue to Maits Rest for a shorter, free rainforest boardwalk if you're short on time or budget.

🚶 Short walk: Maits Rest — a free, flat 20-minute boardwalk loop through old-growth rainforest, good if you're skipping the paid Treetop Walk.

☕ Café/lunch stop: Otway Fly has an on-site café; otherwise pack a picnic for Maits Rest.

💎 Hidden gem: Triplet Falls, a little further into the park — a quieter three-waterfall loop walk that most people driving straight through miss entirely.

Afternoon

Cape Otway Lightstation Australia's oldest surviving lighthouse, with sweeping ocean views and a good chance of spotting whales in season.

👀 Lookout: The lightstation grounds themselves — one of the best whale-watching vantage points on the whole road in season (roughly June–September).

📸 Photo spot: The lighthouse from the cliff edge track, especially late afternoon light.

Evening

Apollo Bay is a quieter, more laid-back base than Lorne — good for a relaxed second night, with a nice foreshore walk if there's daylight left.

🍽️ Where to eat: Apollo Bay's harbour-front strip, good for fresh seafood.

🌇 Sunset suggestion: Apollo Bay foreshore, near the harbour — wide open west-facing views with the Otway hills as a backdrop.

🛏️ Where to stay: Apollo Bay, for a quieter night than Lorne and a shorter run to the Twelve Apostles the next morning.

Day 3: Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles

Approximate timing: Depart Apollo Bay 6:30–7am for sunrise → Twelve Apostles by sunrise → Port Campbell area by early afternoon

Sunrise

Twelve Apostles Arrive early (before 9am if possible, or right at sunrise if you can manage it) to beat the tour buses. This is the money shot of the whole trip and the reason most people do this drive.

🌅 Sunrise suggestion: The main viewing platform faces the stacks almost front-on at sunrise, and you'll often have it nearly to yourself before 8am.

📸 Photo spot: The boardwalk viewing platform, plus the beach access point below (tide-dependent) for a lower-angle shot.

For even more spectacular viewing — soar over the limestone stacks at the 12 Apostles beach with a private Helicopter Flight.

Midday

Loch Ard Gorge & Gibson Steps Both are a short drive from the Twelve Apostles and quieter than the main lookout — Loch Ard Gorge in particular has a good short walk down to the beach itself.

🚶 Short walk: Loch Ard Gorge stairs down to the beach, about 15–20 minutes return.

💎 Hidden gem: The Loch Ard shipwreck cemetery, a short walk from the main car park — most visitors don't realise it's there.

👀 Lookout: Gibson Steps, looking straight up at two of the freestanding stacks from beach level.

Afternoon

London Bridge & The Grotto Round out the rock formations, then either loop back to Melbourne via the inland route (faster) or continue on to Port Fairy if you have an extra day.

☕ Café/lunch stop: Port Campbell township, the last proper town before the formations thin out — good spot for a late lunch before the drive back.

📸 Photo spot: The Grotto, a natural rock arch and sinkhole you can walk down into — less crowded than London Bridge.

The Twelve Apostles – Iconic limestone stacks

Three days is enough to hit every major stop on this list without feeling rushed, but the Great Ocean Road rewards a slower pace if you have it, or a return trip. If you're tight on time, the non-negotiables are Kennett River for the koalas, Cape Otway or Loch Ard Gorge for a break from the crowds, and the Twelve Apostles at sunrise — everything else is a bonus.

If you've got an extra day up your sleeve, push on to Port Fairy or the Great Ocean Walk for a quieter, less-touristed finish to the trip. And if you get the chance to do it with friends rather than solo, take it.

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