Great Ocean Road Itinerary & Location Map

Geelong waterfront is a must do pit stop as the quirky bollards and wheelchair accessible boardwalk make for a great start to the trip.

Geelong bollards, Eastern Beach promenade and cafes.

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Torquay is a chance to find your inner surfer. Torquay is part and parcel of Bells Beach & Rip Curl Pro where world’s best surfers compete, riding the waves at Bells Beach.

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Your stop will include a peek at Bells Beach and its surf culture. The Australian National Surf Museum. Is an introduction to all things surf and board. The museum celebrates surf culture. There is a gift shop where you can acquire your authentic made in Australia board shorts.

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A walk for all fitness levels with numerous exit and entry points. While the total walk is 44 km between Torquay and the Aireys Inlet there are several exits providing visitors with a short stroll option. Visitors are encouraged to post their walk experience on the Surf Coast Walk’s instagram public feed.

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Bells Beach and watch the surfers from the lookout platforms at the Bells Beach Surfing Reserve.

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Point Addis gives you the first glimpses of ocean, beach and sandstone cliff landscapes. The views are of Bells Beach in the distance and Anglesea, a small coastal community. View the tumultuous ocean surf of POINT ADDIS MARINE NATIONAL PARK.

Point Addis Marine National Park is 4420 hectares in size, making it the third largest of Victoria’s Marine National Parks. Located between Torquay and Anglesea sandy coves, limestone cliffs and intertidal rock platforms. The Bass Strait and confluence of the Southern Ocean contributes to the premium surf conditions.

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Watch the surfers. There are information plaques describing the perils of the coast, shipwrecks and marine life in the intertidal pools. Between May and September (winter) a known spot to observe migrating whales.

Anglesea memorial lookout was built by Bertha in memory of her husband’s favourite viewing location to observe the Bass Strait. 

The Anglesea Aircraft Observers Memorial was erected in 1997. It is dedicated to the 56 volunteers, during World War II who were aircraft spotters.

A quiet place to stay and explore the region with the Great Otway National Park on the doorstep. Lighthouse buffs will definitely place Aireys Inlet on their todo list with Split Point Lighthouse tours a must. Moggs Creek is a quiet off the beaten path reserve great for picnic and time in the Australian bush.

Tours & Attractions

Aireys Inlet is where Split Point Lighthouse is located with its panoramic view of Eagle and Table Rocks. For lighthouse fans a must do stop. The lighthouse is open daily for a visit, weather permitting. Come on climb to the top and enjoy  panoramic views. Guided tours only which must be booked beforehand.

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Lorne is a well-known pit stop for tour buses. Gift shops, cafes and accommodation will encourage visitors to take the slow lane and stay awhile longer. You can visit the Great Ocean Road Heritage Centre, located in the Lorne Visitor Centre with its interactive displays about the area’s history.

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Teddy’s Lookout has some of the most popular  views along the Great Ocean Road. The lookout point is perched high above the coastline providing a birds eye view of the St George River mouth as it enters the Indian Ocean. Yet another instagram photo moment.

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Wye River Heritage Trail exploration starts at the Wye River Foreshore Reserve. There could be some scrambles over rocks. The walk is best taken at low tide. Spend the  afternoon pottering around nineteenth sites where early settlers farmed, harvested the forest for wood with visible pier remnants and old tram rails are reminders that nature is busy reclaiming the land. Check the attached brochure in the Travel Pack Section for details.

Top Activities in Wye River

Kennett River is a popular local swimming and surfing beach with lifeguards during the summer months. The town is a typical coastal community with a general store, a cafe and not much else. The camping ground and holiday park is clean, friendly and willing to assist with directions and helpful hints on what to do and where to go. 

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The area is known for its wild koalas inhabiting the Kenneth River estuary eucalyptus trees.

Today is about viewing wild koalas and exploring their local habitat and Kennett River estuary. The Kennett River local shop sold bird feed for the king parrots, cockatoos, rosellas, owls and kookaburras.

There is the question that wild birdlife should not get used to people feeding them. They are not pets. In New Zealand there is a major problem with the adorable kea parrots. Habituated birds can starve in winter as they have forgotten how to forage when the going gets tough. Do your research and make the decisions about bird feed to suit.

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The  Koala lookout walk starts at the Kennett River picnic reserve 6km up the Grey River Road. The Grey River Road winds into the coastal forest that abounds the coast.

While you could drive the road very slowly it is recommended you walk as you are more in tune with the environment, the whisper of the eucalyptus as the trees rustle and the shrill of the parrots can be part of your koala spotting morning.

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Great Otway National Park is an integral part of the iconic Great Ocean Road journey. The Otways embrace the beach and forest in a vivid contrast. Folded behind the glorious coast is a temperate forest hinterland inviting the visitor to walk down a forest path. The green wrapped cool tracks lead to breathtaking waterfalls and gullies where layers of ferns create light dappled shadow.

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Let’s get our walking boots on for LAKE ELIZABETH WALK and a highlight is Otway Eco-Tours guided platypus tours by canoe to maximise viewing potential of platypus. 

Check Otway Eco Tours for details. Fees apply. This walk is half a day in duration.

Cape Otway Lighthouse is a must see place due to its importance in maritime history and the sheer splendour of the location.

Things to Do in Cape Otway

Another seaside community with the Great Otway National Park a showpiece. You have arrived at what is considered the beautiful section of the Great Ocean Road.

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Twelve Apostles are not quite twelve anymore.  Erosion and time has diminished the number of rock stacks to eight at the last count.  Or perhaps there are only six now. 

The light reflecting from the limestone and rock faces is a classic bucket list moment for visitors.

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Loch Ard Gorge is named after a ship that was wrecked here. To get a very different perspective on this stretch of coast, take the long flight of stairs down to the beach to view the towering rock formations from another angle (low tide only). Bird-lovers will want to come here at dusk, when flocks of short-tailed shearwaters circle overhead looking for their roosting spots.

Car park, viewing platforms and historic cemetery.

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Shipwreck Cove was well worth the journey down and up the stairs. The steps are very uneven and can be steep in places. There is a handrail. The steps have been carved into the cliff face. At the bottom you can view the Twelve Apostles at sea level, taking in their sheer, imposing size. The Shipwreck Coast is between Cape Otway and Port Fairy.

Tours & Activities

For a short easy walk consider 2km Shelly Beach walk, 

10 minutes drive from Apollo Bay is Shelly Beach. Walk starts at Shelly Beach picnic area and finishes at Shelly Beach picnic area. 

You will get to view Cape Otway Lighthouse and Wreck Beach.  It is an excellent short walk as it tracks through the fern gullies, coastal vegetation and across coastal rock platforms to the Elliot River. It is a loop track returning through mature blue gums of significant height with the possibility of wildlife viewing. 

Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour

Warrnambool, the largest town on the Great Ocean Road is home to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village with its focus on shipwrecks and the story of navigation. It is an interactive museum that will interest all age groups.

Explore Warrnambool, perhaps a half day of whale watching, browsing through the local galleries, walks, or chilling out in a local cafe.

Attractions, Hotels & Restaurants

Tower Hill Reserve Warrnambool (1 ½ hours).  An Aboriginal managed reserve situated in an ancient volcanic crater, home to native birds, emus and kangaroos. There are self-guided and guided walks available. The visitor centre, designed by Robin Boyd, an Australian famous architect, is an attraction in its own right.

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