Day 1 - Melbourne to Anglesea
Stop 1 - Torquay
Your first stop along the Great Ocean Road is the iconic Torquay – the Surf Coast’s hottest surfie town. With a great surfing vibe, surf shops and outlets galore. There is also boutique shopping, a variety of eateries, and the trailhead of the Surf Coast Walk.
Stroll along Torquay esplanade, swim at Front Beach, enjoy the views from Point Danger Lookout, and improve your surfing technique with a surf lesson. See the world’s best surfers at Bells Beach or grab a bargain at the surf factory outlets.
Stop in at RACV Torquay Resort for a round of golf, an indulgent spa treatment at One Spa, or lunch at Number One restaurant.
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One Spa
1 Great Ocean Road, Torquay
Stop 2 - Anglesea
The next stop is the town of Anglesea, where the Great Ocean Road meets the spectacular coastline. The huge expanse of white sandy beach at the mouth of the Anglesea River makes Anglesea perfect for beachgoers. Check-in to your beautiful accommodation at Great Ocean Road Resort and then head right back outside to make the most of the remaining afternoon.
Go for a paddle on the Anglesea River and when you have paddled enough to work up an appetite head back to the resort and enjoy modern Australian dining at on-site The Coast Restaurant.
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The Coast Restaurant
105 Great Ocean Road, Anglesea
Day 2 - Anglesea to Apollo Bay
Stop 3 - Lorne
After breakfast begin your drive to Lorne where you will begin your day driving along some of the most scenic sections of the Great Ocean Road.
Once you reach Lorne why not stroll out onto the Lorne Pier, enjoy the coastal views from Teddy’s Lookout, or wander the main street brimming with boutique gift stores, cafes and galleries. Just 10 kilometres away is Erskine Falls, the closest waterfall in the Otways, with water cascading down into a gorgeous ferny valley.
For lunch choose one of the many vibrant options such as Tottis Lorne.
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Teddy's Lookout
53 George St, Lorne
Stop 4 - Apollo Bay
The 45-minute drive from Lorne to Apollo Bay along the Great Ocean Road reveals even more spectacular scenery. There are plenty of viewpoints where you can stop, including cliff-top views and lookouts at Cumberland River, Mount Defiance, Wye River, and Cape Patton.
Tonight stay in one of the Great Ocean Road’s luxury holiday houses with ELUX and dine at Graze Apollo Bay or Great Ocean Road Brewhouse.
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Graze Apollo Bay
14 Pascoe Street, Apollo Bay
Day 3 - Apollo Bay to Port Campbell
Stop 4 - Apollo Bay
Apollo Bay and the Great Otway National Park have an abundance of activities to lose yourself, or, find yourself in! There’s spectacular scenery, wildlife encounters, curated culture, active adventure, or just simply a chance to stop and embrace time with your loved ones.
Start early today with a Dawn Walk with Nature tour at Wildlife Wonders. Walk through a natural Otways bushland setting with dedicated conservation Guides, where you’ll get to meet the real locals; potoroo, wallabies, koalas, kangaroos, and birdlife. All profits go directly to the Conservation Ecology Centre as the major contributors to conservation and rehabilitation efforts in the Otways.
Stop for lunch at Apollo Bay Distillery plus discover locally made gins. Handcrafted exotic gins, using local botanicals, Italian style wood-fired pizzas, and focus on the town’s spirit and local collaborations, and you’ve got an all-inclusive and holistic experience of the town and its local produce.
On your way to Port Campbell make sure to stop by Apollo Bay Harbour and beach, Cape Otway Lightstation, Hopetoun Falls, and the Californian Redwood Forest.
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Cape Otway Lightstation
1140 Lightstation Road, Cape Otway
Stop 5 - Port Campbell
The choice is yours for dinner. Dine at Waves Cafe, Bar and Restaurant where you will find a large range of a la carte dishes with an Asian influence, seafood is prominent but steak, chicken, pork, pasta, and vegetarian dishes all feature. Or perhaps Real Pizza and Pasta is more your style. Offering Australian pizza and pasta, supporting local and regional producers.
For an epic sunset experience visit the 12 Apostles viewing platform or nearby Loch Ard Gorge.
Stay tonight at Anchors Port Campbell. Anchors is Port Campbell’s only 4.5-star accredited self-contained accommodation and boasts Southern Ocean vistas, offering guests serenity in the tranquil environment of the rural surroundings.
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Anchors Port Campbell
2549 Cobden-Port Campbell Road, Port Campbell
Day 4 - Port Campbell to Melbourne
Port Campbell to Melbourne
Today make your way home this afternoon but not before one last morning of adventure.
Take a scenic flight over the 12 Apostles and surrounding coastline with 12 Apostles Helicopters, definitely a bucket-list experience!
Head inland and pick up the 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail. The 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail gives visitors to the 12 Apostles Coast and Hinterland the chance to experience amazing artisan food and beverage destinations with gourmet cheese makers, single malt whisky, ice cream, chocolate, fudge, beer, wine, and strawberries (during summer months).
Take the inland route through the hinterland back to Melbourne.
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12 Apostles Helicopters
Great Ocean Road, Princetown
