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Great Ocean Road best stops, in order from Torquay

Great Ocean Road and 12 Apostles day trip from Melbourne

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Quick summary

The Great Ocean Road best stops run from Torquay and Bells Beach through the Otways to the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge.

Route essentials

  • Torquay is the official start of the road2
  • Kennett River is a koala-spotting stop18
  • Seven stacks remain at the Apostles21

Map of 18 stops

The Apostles coast, pin by pin

Tap a route first, then a pin or stop, for its note and Google Maps.

Map of the coast road from Melbourne to Warrnambool with Torquay, Apollo Bay, Colac and Port Campbell

  1. The site tour picks guests up from selected hotels in the Melbourne CBD. Driving yourself, the Princes Highway route to the Apostles takes approximately 3 hours.

    Google Maps

  2. The Great Ocean Road starts in the surf town of Torquay.

    Google Maps

  3. The site tour stops at Apollo Bay, where guests buy their own lunch.

    Google Maps

  4. On the inland route the Simpson-Timboon turn-off comes about 10 km past Colac.

    Google Maps

  5. The 12 Apostles car park is 7 km past Port Campbell.

    Google Maps

  6. The Great Ocean Road finishes in Allansford, near Warrnambool.

    Google Maps

Mapping data © OpenStreetMap contributors

A coast road this long rewards a plan. Here are the stops worth the time, grouped by stretch of coast, with the walks, the drive times and the choices for one day against two.

Editorial team, 12apostlestour.com · Updated November 7, 2026 · ~7 min read

In brief

  • The roadTourism Australia gives the Great Ocean Road as over 243 km, starting at Torquay.1,2
  • Day oneA road-trip plan reaches Apollo Bay in 3 hours and 187 km from Melbourne.3
  • Day twoApollo Bay to Port Fairy is 2.5 hours and 185 km in the same plan.4
  • One dayThe day we list runs 13 hours 30 minutes and ends with Loch Ard Gorge.
  • The coastMore than 200 shipwrecks lie between Port Fairy and Cape Otway.5

How to order the stops on a long coast road

The Great Ocean Road runs west from Torquay along cliffs, beaches and forest, and almost every stop on it is worth a photograph, and the places to see on the Great Ocean Road outnumber the hours of any trip. That is the problem. Tourism Australia gives the road as stretching over 243 km, and the Australian Government heritage listing calls it a 242 kilometre stretch, so the figures agree to within a kilometre, and either way there are far more stops than any single day can hold.1,6

Think of the road as three stretches. The surf coast comes first, from Torquay to Lorne. Then the Otway coast, where forest meets the sea around Kennett River and Apollo Bay. Last comes the Shipwreck Coast, where the limestone stacks stand. Tourism Australia describes Torquay as the official starting point, just over a one-hour drive from Melbourne, so the first stretch begins soon after you leave the city.2

Your time decides how many stops you keep. The day we list runs 13 hours 30 minutes and visits Torquay Surf Beach, a koala and parrot stop, Cape Patton, Apollo Bay, a forest walk, the Gibson Steps, the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. With two days, Tourism Australia's plan reaches Apollo Bay on day one in 3 hours and 187 km, then continues to Port Fairy on day two in 2.5 hours and 185 km.3,4 This page walks the route in that order.

Stop by stop

The best stops and what the official sources say

StopWhat it isA figure to know
Bells BeachA world-famous surf beach7Contest first held January 196113
Memorial ArchA tribute to the road's builders8Road built 1919 to 193214
Split Point LighthouseA working lighthouse9Constructed in 18919
Kennett RiverA koala-spotting stop18About 30 minutes from Lorne19
12 ApostlesLimestone stacks off the coast20Seven stacks remain21
Loch Ard GorgeA gorge named for a wreck22Wrecked in 187822

Dates and distances are as each official source writes them.13,22

The surf coast: Torquay, Bells Beach and the Memorial Arch

Torquay is the road's official start, and the beach there sets the tone. The listing for the day we list stops at Torquay Surf Beach, with Bells Beach in clear view, and the heritage listing says the road traverses the iconic Bells Beach, an internationally renowned surfing location.7 Bells is also home to the world's longest-running surfing competition, first held in January 1961.13

Next comes a stop that is about the road itself. The Memorial Arch, just past Fairhaven, is a wooden arch and statue commemorating the returned WWI soldiers who built the Great Ocean Road.8 The Australian Government heritage listing says more than 3000 returned servicemen worked on the construction between 1919 and 1932, as a memorial to Victoria's First World War servicemen and women.14 It is a good place to stand for a few minutes before the road turns to cliffs.

Among the tourist attractions on the Great Ocean Road, a little further on is Aireys Inlet and its lighthouse. The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority says the working Split Point Lighthouse was constructed in 1891 and keeps its original staircase.9 It appears on some private itineraries rather than on every coach day, so check the listing before you count on it. If you only have time for one headland on the surf coast, this is a strong candidate.

Walks at the stops

Walk lengths at the best stops, in kilometers

  • Wye to Kennett River4.6
  • Apostles to Gibson Steps2.2
  • Shipwreck Walk1.4
  • Geology Walk1

The Wye to Kennett River track is 4.6 km; the Apostles to Gibson Steps walk is 2.2 km return; the Loch Ard Gorge Shipwreck Walk is 1.4 km return and the Geology Walk 1 km return.15,16,17

The Otway coast: koalas, forest and waterfalls

The road between Lorne and Apollo Bay is the one that makes passengers reach for their cameras. The heritage listing says the coastline from Lorne to Kennett River offers among the world's most dramatic cliff and ocean scenery able to be viewed from a vehicle.23 It is also where the wildlife starts: Tourism Australia says wild koalas can be spotted in the trees at Kennett River, and that kangaroos graze at golf courses in Anglesea.26

Kennett River has its own reputation. Tourism Australia calls it one of the koala-spotting capitals of Australia, thanks to the large numbers of koalas living in the blue gums beside the main road, and places it about 30 minutes southwest of Lorne.18,19 Parks Victoria describes a 4.6 km coastal track with steps and creek crossings between Kennett River and Wye River, for anyone who wants to stretch their legs.15 Remember the rules: do not touch wild animals or feed them.27,28

Inland detours add depth if you have the time. Tourism Australia describes a 40-minute detour inland from Skenes Creek to a forest of giant Californian Redwood trees at Beech Forest, and puts Hopetoun Falls a 15-minute drive further on.10,24 A one-day tour rarely has the hours for both, so these are for the second day, or for a second trip.

A short chooser

What to keep for your own trip

Pick the wish closest to yours and see the stop that fits.

  • If I have one day only

    Join a full-day tour

    The day we list runs 13 hours 30 minutes and includes the Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge.

  • If I have two days

    Split at Apollo Bay

    A road-trip plan reaches Apollo Bay on day one and Port Fairy on day two.3,4

  • If I want to see koalas

    Stop at Kennett River

    Tourism Australia calls it a koala-spotting capital.18

  • If I love waterfalls and forest

    Add the Beech Forest detour

    Beech Forest is a 40-minute detour and Hopetoun Falls 15 minutes beyond.10,24

  • If I love lighthouses and history

    Add Split Point and the arch

    The lighthouse dates from 1891 and the arch honors the road's builders.9,8

Three stretches

The surf coast, the Otways and the Shipwreck Coast

Surf and history

The surf coast

Torquay to Lorne

  • StartTorquay, the official start2
  • StopBells Beach7
  • LandmarkThe Memorial Arch8
See the day trip

Forest and koalas

The Otway coast

Lorne to Apollo Bay

  • SceneryLorne to Kennett River23
  • WildlifeKoalas at Kennett River18
  • DetourBeech Forest, 40 minutes10
See the day trip

The famous view

The Shipwreck Coast

The stacks and the gorge

  • StacksSeven remain21
  • GorgeLoch Ard Gorge22
  • WrecksOver 200 shipwrecks5
See the day trip

The Shipwreck Coast: the stacks, the gorge and the arches

West of the Otways the land opens up and the coast turns to limestone. The heritage listing says the rolling rural landscape west of the Otway Ranges opens to the spectacular vista of the Twelve Apostles.50 Tourism Australia gives a scenic 4.5-hour drive from Melbourne to the Apostles and calls the stacks about 45 m tall limestone pillars once joined to the mainland cliffs.11,20 Parks Victoria says seven stacks remain.21

The stops around the stacks sit close together. Tourism Australia says the neighbouring stops, including the London Bridge, The Grotto and the Bay of Islands, are all within a 30-minute drive of each other.51 Loch Ard Gorge is just minutes from the Apostles, and Thunder Cave, formed over 20 million years, is a few minutes' walk from the gorge.12,52 London Bridge lost its inner arch in 1990, leaving two people stranded on the outer side until a helicopter rescued them.53

Gibson Steps is the stop where you stand below the cliffs. Tourism Australia counts 86 stairs to a beach backed by 70 m limestone cliffs, while the Parks Victoria visitor guide counts 89 steps and says the beach is closed in high tides and large swell.54,55 For a quieter stop of the same kind, Tourism Australia suggests Childers Cove, which it calls a junior version of the 12 Apostles without the crowds.56

A two-day plan

Days along the road, stop by stop

  1. Morning, first day

    Torquay and Bells Beach

    Torquay is the road's official start, with Bells Beach nearby.2,7

  2. Midday, first day

    Memorial Arch and Split Point

    The Memorial Arch honors the road's builders, and Split Point Lighthouse dates from 1891.8,9

  3. Evening, first day

    Lorne to Apollo Bay

    A road-trip plan reaches Apollo Bay in 3 hours and 187 km.3

  4. Morning, next day

    Inland to the forest

    A 40-minute detour inland from Skenes Creek reaches Beech Forest.10

  5. Midday, next day

    The stacks and the gorge

    The Apostles are a 4.5-hour drive from Melbourne, with Loch Ard Gorge just minutes away.11,12

  6. Evening, next day

    Port Fairy

    Apollo Bay to Port Fairy is 2.5 hours and 185 km.4

Choosing what to keep on a single day

On one day you cannot do everything, so rank the stops by how rare they are. The stacks and Loch Ard Gorge belong to the Shipwreck Coast and nowhere else on the road, so they earn the longest stay. Bells Beach, the Memorial Arch and a koala stop are the surf coast and the Otways in miniature, and a good day tour includes all of them without making you plan the order.

Walks can be the first things to cut. Parks Victoria gives the walk from the Twelve Apostles to Gibson Steps as 2.2 km return in an hour, and the Loch Ard Gorge Geology Walk as 1 km return in 40 minutes.16,17 Together they show how a short walk can fill a stop. If the day is already full, pick one and enjoy it without watching the clock.

A day tour makes those choices for you. The one we list starts from $95, and the Gibson Steps, the Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge are all on its itinerary. If you would rather choose each stop yourself and sleep on the coast, our self-drive page on this site explains the driving rules and the drive times, and a two-day plan like the one above is easy to follow.

Video

Great Ocean Road itinerary with twelve stops and a route map

Virtual Journeys with Michael Nees on YouTube · Playback files load only once you tap play.

Along this wild stretch of coast, the Southern Ocean has shaped limestone cliffs, offshore stacks, sea caves and natural arches
Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au)25

Before you set off

A checklist for the route

Planning3

  • Decide first how many days you can give the coast3
  • Check which stops your tour includes
  • Keep the booking free to cancel up to 24 hours before

At the stops3

  • Stay on formed paths and away from cliff edges47
  • Check tide times before going down to a beach48
  • Do not feed or touch the wildlife27,28

On the road3

  • Carry layers and a rain jacket for changeable weather
  • Plan to be off the road before dusk, when animals move49
  • Bring a card or cash for lunch and dinner stops

Staying safe and respectful at the stops

The cliffs are beautiful and they are not stable. The Parks Victoria visitor guide says cliffs can collapse at any time without warning, and asks visitors to stay away from cliff edges and the base of cliffs and to keep to designated walking tracks and lookouts.47 Parks Victoria adds that dense coastal scrub holds the cliff tops together, so staying on formed paths protects both you and the cliff.57

The sea is not for swimming at most of these beaches. The visitor guide says the beaches in the park are not patrolled by surf lifesavers and are not recommended for swimming.58 Tourism Australia also asks you to check tide times and ocean conditions before going down to a beach, because it is not accessible in all conditions.48 At dusk, wildlife is on the move, on the road as well as on the shore.49

Be a good guest to the animals. Tourism Australia asks you to resist the urge to touch wildlife and not to feed it, because animals have natural diets that serve them well.27,28 That keeps the koalas and the parrots wild and keeps you free of scratches. A short, quiet look from a distance is the best way to enjoy them, and a good guide will say the same.

FAQ

Questions answered quickly.

What are the best stops on the Great Ocean Road?
The stacks and Loch Ard Gorge lead.

The day we list visits Torquay Surf Beach, a koala stop, Cape Patton, Apollo Bay, a forest walk, the Gibson Steps, the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge.

How many days do you need for the Great Ocean Road?
One long day or two days.

A road-trip plan spreads it over two days to Port Fairy, with Apollo Bay reached on day one.3,4

Where can you see koalas on the Great Ocean Road?
Kennett River is the usual place.

Tourism Australia calls Kennett River one of the koala-spotting capitals of Australia.18

How long is the Great Ocean Road?
About 243 km.

Tourism Australia says over 243 km, and the Australian Government heritage listing says 242 kilometres.1,6

Where does the Great Ocean Road start?
At Torquay, by one official account.

Tourism Australia calls Torquay the official starting point, just over a one-hour drive from Melbourne.2

Is it safe to swim at the beaches near the stacks?
Parks Victoria does not recommend it.

The park's beaches are not patrolled by surf lifesavers and are not recommended for swimming.58

Sources

  1. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Must-stop places and hidden secrets on the Great Ocean Road ↩
  2. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Guide to the Great Ocean Road ↩
  3. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Melbourne to Adelaide Road Trip ↩
  4. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Melbourne to Adelaide Road Trip ↩
  5. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Travel guide to the 12 Apostles ↩
  6. Australian Government, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (dcceew.gov.au) · Great Ocean Road (National Heritage List) ↩
  7. Australian Government, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (dcceew.gov.au) · Great Ocean Road (National Heritage List) ↩
  8. Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au) · Memorial Arch ↩
  9. Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au) · Unique commercial opportunity at Split Point Lighthouse ↩
  10. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Must-stop places and hidden secrets on the Great Ocean Road ↩
  11. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Travel guide to the 12 Apostles ↩
  12. Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au) · Port Campbell National Park: Loch Ard Gorge ↩
  13. Australian Government, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (dcceew.gov.au) · Great Ocean Road (National Heritage List) ↩
  14. Australian Government, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (dcceew.gov.au) · Great Ocean Road (National Heritage List) ↩
  15. Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au) · Wye to Kennett River Walk ↩
  16. Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au) · Port Campbell National Park and Bay of Islands Coastal Park Visitor Guide (PDF) ↩
  17. Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au) · Port Campbell National Park and Bay of Islands Coastal Park Visitor Guide (PDF) ↩
  18. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Must-stop places and hidden secrets on the Great Ocean Road ↩
  19. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Must-stop places and hidden secrets on the Great Ocean Road ↩
  20. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Travel guide to the 12 Apostles ↩
  21. Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au) · Port Campbell National Park and Bay of Islands Coastal Park Visitor Guide (PDF) ↩
  22. Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au) · Loch Ard Gorge ↩
  23. Australian Government, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (dcceew.gov.au) · Great Ocean Road (National Heritage List) ↩
  24. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Must-stop places and hidden secrets on the Great Ocean Road ↩
  25. Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au) · Port Campbell National Park: Twelve Apostles
  26. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Melbourne to Adelaide Road Trip ↩
  27. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Tips for responsible wildlife tourism in Australia ↩
  28. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Tips for responsible wildlife tourism in Australia ↩
  29. 12 Apostles Helicopters · How to get here
  30. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Frequently Asked Questions
  31. 12 Apostles Helicopters · How to get here
  32. 12 Apostles Helicopters · How to get here
  33. Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority · Port Campbell Discovery Walk
  34. Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority · Loch Ard Gorge
  35. Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority · Twelve Apostles
  36. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre
  37. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Gibson Steps
  38. 12 Apostles Helicopters · How to get here
  39. Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority · London Bridge, The Grotto and The Arch
  40. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · A Taste of the 12 Apostles Coast and Hinterland
  41. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Eat & Drink
  42. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail
  43. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail
  44. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail
  45. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · A Taste of the 12 Apostles Coast and Hinterland
  46. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Eat & Drink
  47. Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au) · Port Campbell National Park and Bay of Islands Coastal Park Visitor Guide (PDF) ↩
  48. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Travel guide to the 12 Apostles ↩
  49. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Tips for responsible wildlife tourism in Australia ↩
  50. Australian Government, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (dcceew.gov.au) · Great Ocean Road (National Heritage List) ↩
  51. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Travel guide to the 12 Apostles ↩
  52. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Must-stop places and hidden secrets on the Great Ocean Road ↩
  53. Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au) · Port Campbell National Park and Bay of Islands Coastal Park Visitor Guide (PDF) ↩
  54. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Travel guide to the 12 Apostles ↩
  55. Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au) · Port Campbell National Park and Bay of Islands Coastal Park Visitor Guide (PDF) ↩
  56. Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Must-stop places and hidden secrets on the Great Ocean Road ↩
  57. Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au) · Fly over the Twelve Apostles ↩
  58. Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au) · Port Campbell National Park and Bay of Islands Coastal Park Visitor Guide (PDF) ↩

More to read

More to read before you go

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