ITINERARIES FOR THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD – 1 DAY, 2 DAYS, 3 DAYS OR MORE
Do you need an itinerary for your stay on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria ? We can assist you with ideas and suggestions on what you need to do on your trip.
Using the Contact Us form or email us at hello@greatoceanroadliving.com.au, send us the details on :
- How long you would like to spend there, and
- How many people will be in your travel group.
- Some information on particular interests you have, would be useful; and
- Don’t forget to include your email address so we can reply to you.
Visiting Torquay for 1 day with a Family
It takes approximately 1.5 – 2 hours to drive from Melbourne to Torquay.
- Park on the Esplanade in Torquay.
- Head off first to Senors for a coffee (and possibly breakfast) on the Esplanade. The kids can enjoy an ice-cream at Frenchy’s Ice-creamery next door.
- Stroll across the road onto the pathway towards the surf beach. There’s a playground & plenty of picnic tables for the kids to enjoy. Walk to the surf beach at your pace, past Point Danger. You’ll likely see kite surfers or stand up paddle boarders at play.
- Sit on the grassed area in front of the main beach and watch the surfers while you picnic. The kids can paddle/swim in the water below depending on weather conditions. Surf lifesavers are there during the summer months.
- If you need another coffee there is the Torquay Kiosk called Third Wave Kiosk, just above the grassed area, that has good coffee, light meals and snacks available.
- Take a stroll into Bell Street, the main street in Torquay. There are shops available and cafes to enjoy any light meals/snacks.
- Drive to Bells Beach to see where the annual Rip Curl Pro Surfing Championship is held every Easter. There are lovely platforms to wander along with sweeping views of the coastline.
2 Day Weekend visiting the Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is a wonderful scenic drive – this itinerary suggests driving from Torquay to the iconic 12 apostles and finishing at Port Fairy. It takes approximately 1.5 – 2 hours to drive from Melbourne to Torquay.
Day 1:
Torquay:
- Park on the Esplanade in Torquay.
- Stroll across the road onto the pathway towards the surf beach. There’s a playground & plenty of picnic tables for the kids to enjoy. Walk to the surf beach at your pace, past Point Danger. You’ll likely see kite surfers or stand up paddle boarders at play.
- Sit on the grassed area in front of the main beach and watch the surfers while you picnic. The kids can paddle/swim in the water below depending on weather conditions. Surf lifesavers are there during the summer months.
- If you need another coffee there is the Torquay Kiosk called Third Wave Kiosk, just above the grassed area, that has plenty of good coffee, light meals and snacks available.
Bells Beach, Anglesea and Airey’s Inlet :
- Drive through Bell Street, the main street of Torquay and onto Bells Beach to see where the annual Rip Curl Pro Surfing Championship is held every Easter. There are lovely platforms to wander along with sweeping views of the coastline.
- Keep driving west along the coastline, and you’ll drive through Anglesea and Airey’s Inlet. Depending on time and traffic and if you would like to, spend some time on the following :
- Airey’s Inlet: Split Point Lighthouse is an icon, with daily tours available, Photo opportunity of the famous memorial arch ‘Great Ocean Road, built to commemorate the return of WW1 servicemen.
Lorne :
- You will be coming through to Lorne – the coastal town that has beautiful beaches and plenty of street shopping, cafes and restaurants. Depending on time, popular scenic visits include : Lorne Pier, Teddy’s Lookout (scenic lookout with a walkway), Erskine Falls, Stop at the Wye River General Store for refreshments on your way to Apollo Bay – very popular but well worth it.
Apollo Bay :
- Drive further onto Apollo Bay where I suggest you stay overnight. There is a range of accommodation options available. Activities to get involved with include : The Great Otway National Park caters for walkers either along the coast or on the trails in the forests, and popular for tourists to see koalas. Walking trails to falls eg Hopetoun Falls.
Day 2:
Port Campbell :
- Starting early to avoid tourist crowds, drive first to the 12 Apostles ,then walk the 1.1km to the Gibson Steps. These steps were carved into the cliff by a local settler Hugh Gibson many years ago Taking the steps, leads you onto the beach.
- View the 12 Apostles, Lochard Gorge and London Bridge. Allow at least 2– 3 hours to enjoy these magnificent sights.
- Depending on the time of day and traffic conditions, start heading back to Melbourne for approx a 3-4 hour trip inland.
Things to keep in mind:
- It’s approximately a 1.5 to 2 hour drive from Melbourne to Torquay.
- A wide range of accommodation is available along the coastal drive.
- Start early in the day before the tourist crowds and buses arrive.
- Be aware that road works may delay your travel time – look up distances and times frequently on Google Maps as you go.
- ‘Need Essentials’ is a great shop to visit in Torquay for discounted wetsuits, and surfing gear.
- Be careful regarding driving at sunrise and dusk – as there are kangaroos around and they often are close to road sides.
- Many of these beaches along the Great Ocean Road are not for swimming – check whether there are life guards prior to venturing into the sea at any of the points along the way.