Victoria | Melbourne to Great Ocean Road Road Trip Itinerary

Discover the Great Ocean Road on this magnificent three-day self-drive itinerary

Day 1: Melbourne Apollo Branch to Apollo Bay

Distance: 214kms

Travel time: 2 hours 50 minutes

Pick up your Apollo vehicle in Melbourne and hit the road! Today's final destination is Apollo Bay but there is plenty to see on the way. Make sure you stop at Bells Beach (world famous surf location) and Point Addis on the way as well as snapping a pic the iconic Great Ocean Road sign. 
Image: Visit Victoria

Day 2: Apollo Bay to Port Fairy

Distance: 185kms

Travel time: 2 hours 40 minutes

Get your camera out because you're going to be using it a lot today! Leaving Apollo Bay continue your journey along the incredibly scenic Great Ocean Road. If you want to make a detour we recommend heading into the forests of Great Otway National Park to take in the spectacular Erskine Falls, Hopetoun Falls and the Californian Redwoods with your own eyes. Afterwards set your sights on the magnificent 12 Apostles. With only 8 apostles currently still remaining, the limestone stacks rising out of the rough ocean is a spectacular sight. 

A quick 3 minute drive from the 12 Apostles and you can venture down Gibson Steps to view a few of the apostles from the beach. We also recommend stopping at Loch Ard Gorge, the Grotto, London Bridge, the Bay of Martyrs and Bay of Islands, all within a 15 minute drive from one another, to truly take in this remarkable coastline and history. 

Image: Visit Victoria

Day 3: Port Fairy to Melbourne Apollo Branch 

Distance: 300kms

Travel time: 3 hours 30 minutes

It's time to head back to Melbourne but not before discovering a few more sights on offer. Port Fairy is the last destination on Victoria's Shipwreck Coast and is one of the busiest fishing ports in the state. If visiting in winter, keep your eyes pealed at the coastline for breaching whales and if you love fishing, a few operators offer guided fishing tours out of the town. 

Highlights

Bells Beach

Famous surfing location, Bells Beach is popular with surfers and sightseers alike. With great vantage points along the cliffs for the sightseers and challenging conditions of an exposed reef and point break for the experienced surfers, Bells Beach is a must do location along the Great Ocean Road.

12 Apostles

Witness the rugged splendour of the famous 12 Apostles, magnificent rock stacks that rise up majestically from the Southern Ocean on Victoria's dramatic coastline. Beginning approximately 10 to 20 million years ago, the constant erosion of limestone cliffs, the stormy Southern Ocean and the blasting winds gradually eroded the softer limestone forming the spectacular sight before you. 

Cape Otway Lightstation

The oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia and considered Australia's most important. Established in 1848, the Cape Otway Lightstation is perched 90 metres above the coast with awesome views combined with interesting and tragic shipwreck stories. 

Places to stay

Discovery Parks, Melbourne

Apollo Bay Holiday Park 

Bimbi Park - camping under koalas! 

Big4 Holiday Park Port Fairy