Lined with lush green fern forests, a giant Sequoia plantation, stunning coastal beaches and a foodies delight, the Great Ocean Road is one of the world’s most revered destinations for anyone who loves scenic road trips.
We’ve said it once and we will say it again, the Great Ocean Road is a Victorian favourite and most definitely one of the best things you can do on your travels through Victoria.
With so many things to do on the Great Ocean road; walk through magical lush green old growth temperate rainforests, explore the hidden waterfalls sprinkled throughout the Great Otway national park or visit Loch Ard Gorge and enjoy world class surf breaks at Bells beach.
If you’re coming from further south down the Mornington Peninsula then we recommend skipping the drive through Melbourne city and take the ferry across from Sorrento to Queenscliff – you’ll avoid the hectic traffic and be taken right to the Great Ocean Road itself.
In all fairness our Great Ocean Road guide is enormous, you will need at least 1 week to get the most out of this epic location, but we personally think it’s one of the best day trips to do from Melbourne.
Getting to the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne is fairly simple and a lot of fun; but it can be easy to get overwhelmed; so ditch your outdated great ocean road map and get ready to take notes using this epic resource to plan your adventures.
With warmer weather fast approaching it’s the perfect time to book yourself a holiday on the Great Ocean Road and what better way to explore this unique part of Australia than by booking Get Your Guide’s most popular Great Ocean road tour. Get in quick because they are likely to sell out.
What is the Great Ocean Road?
Located 1 hour and a half Melbourne, or 2 and a half hours (including ferry) using the Queenscliff Ferry, The Great Ocean Road lies in the Barwon region of Victoria.
A 243 km stretch of road that hugs the coastline of Bass Strait in the southern ocean, the Great ocean Road was built by returned soldiers of World war one between 1919 and 1939.
Where does the Great Ocean road start and finish?
Spanning 243 km from the surf town of Torquay all the way to Allansford outside Port Campbell National Park, the Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s biggest tourist attractions and millions of tourists flock here every year to see many of the great ocean road attractions.
The great ocean road is made up of multiple council shires including the Surf coast which covers the area of Torquay, Bells Beach and Lorne.
The Cumberland caravan park is more or less the border of the Surf Coast and extends north to just outside of Waurn Ponds near Geelong.
To see an expanded Great Ocean Road map click here.
23 Incredible Things to do on the Great Ocean Road
Stop for coffee at Garage
As always we love starting our days off with a delicious coffee – and whilst not technically on the Great Ocean Road, Garage in Ocean Grove is just short drive (30 minutes) from Torquay and a great cafe with outside seating on a warm day.
A beautiful indoor and outdoor setting with an extravagant and decently sized breakfast will give you all the energy you need for your great ocean road drive.
Where – 15 Lelean St, Ocean Grove VIC 3226
When – 7am – 3pm Tuesday to Saturday, Sunday 8am-3pm, closed Monday
Cost – Get the ‘Garage Vego Brekky’ for $22 and a latte for $4.50
Geelong
Geelong is the second largest city in the whole of Victoria and overlooks Corio Bay which forms the western section of Port Phillip Bay.
Head down to eastern beach near Geelong Harbour and go for a swim, soak up the sun or simply admire the Corio Bay views from the Eastern promenade.
While walking around in Geelong, make sure you stop by the heritage centre and the Geelong art gallery to soak in the art culture that Geelong is known for.
For a quick and delicious bite to eat in Geelong, head into the Geelong boathouse either on your way into town or as you leave to continue on to your first stop on the Great ocean road; Torquay.
If you prefer to explore Victoria with experts who know what they’re talking about then we recommend getting on board this full day tour with Get Your Guide from Melbourne, as it removes the stress and hassle of booking everything yourself and scrambling to get to the best places.
Shop like a surfer in Torquay
Torquay is the largest regional town on the Great Ocean Road before you head into Warrnambool, so if you’re going to spend lots of time on the beach and in the water, why not dress like the locals.
There are lots of major surf brand giants along main street, including a Rip Curl shop on the main drag of Torquay.
Within the Torquay visitor information centre you’ll find the Australian national surfing museum with detailed pictures and recounts of the most famous surfers in Australia – in fact Torquay is known as the surfing capital of Australia so it’s an excellent place to explore and learn to surf down at Bells Beach just south west of Torquay.
Bells beach is also the site of the Rip Curl Pro surfing competition that attracts thousands of tourists and surfers from around the world making this one of the most epic great ocean road attractions.
Bells beach is very unique in that it’s home to the best surf breaks in all of Australia.
A highlight of coming to the Great Ocean Road Victoria is in fact staying for the Rip Curl Surf Pro and seeing the likes of Mick Fanning, Kelly Slater and Mark Richards at one of the worlds most famous surf beaches.
The Rip curl surf Pro used to be called the Bells beach Surf Classic until 1973, and is the world’s longest running surfing competition since 1962.
Where – 16 Baines court, Torquay 3228
Australian National Surfing Museum – 77 Beach Road, Torquay 3228 (03) 5261 4606
READ MORE: We created a complete guide to Lorne to to help you plan your stay in the beach side village
Catch the waves at Lorne Beach
Lorne is probably our favourite regional town on the great ocean road and one of the best places to visit on the great ocean road.
Early morning attracts the beginner surfers to the Lorne foreshore, and whilst it may not be quite as advanced as Bells beach the waves are definitely a lot calmer and relaxed here.
There’s some super comfortable accomodation close to the beach with great views of the waves where we stayed but it can get very busy in Lorne so make sure you have your place sorted before you book.
A foodie’s heaven, you have the option to dine at some of our local favourites like Hah, the perfectly placed cafe on the beach and our favourite cafe on the great ocean road.
We spent most mornings enjoying breakfast here during out stay in Lorne and when the weather is great you’ll find a lot of locals flock here to enjoy the warm aussie sun.
Why not head into town and try Salonika, another great brekky choice on a sunny morning and get the poached eggs on avocado!
Visit Hah Cafe’s website for their menu
Where – Lorne foreshore, 81 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne VIC 3232
When – 8am -4 pm, closed on Thursday
Get a photo of the Great Ocean Road sign
Don’t worry you haven’t missed the famous sign.
Memorial Arch isn’t at the beginning of the great ocean road drive, it’s technically in a suburb called Eastern View just before Lorne.
The sign was built by returned soldiers from world war one as a memorial to honour the men and women who died during the war, it’s now become one of the most visited and photographed Great Ocean Road attractions.
While you’re here make sure you visit Split Point lighthouse just a short drive from Memorial Arch for magnificent coastal views of the southern oceans Bass Strait.
Where – 689/721 Great Ocean Rd, Eastern View VIC 3231
Tip – if you’re going to stand in the middle of the road for the photo just make sure you look both ways before crossing the road, it can get very busy around here
Discover Port Campbell National Park | Things to see on the Great Ocean Road
Twelve Apostles in Port Campbell national park
Of all the incredible things to do on the great ocean road, a fair few of them can be found here in Port Campbell national park.
The Twelve Apostles are enormous stacks of limestone cliffs bolstering out of the southern ocean are continuously subjected to the crashing waves.
Interestingly enough there were never twelve apostles, only 8 despite one collapsed in 2005.
From the carpark at the Twelve Apostles Visitor Centre is a long boardwalk that takes you on a 180 degree journey to the viewing platform for the 12 Apostles, as well as further back from where you can see the mythical Gog and Magog.
The great thing about the twelve Apostles is that no matter sunrise, sunset or a foggy morning, the light is always fascinating here and also makes for incredible astrophotography opportunities with the limestone cliffs used as your foreground.
An unforgettable attraction near the twelve apostles is London Bridge, a limestone cliff that’s been hollowed out from the inside creating huge waves that below through it below.
There is absolutely no swimming in these waters under any circumstances, as people have previously died in these rough waters in 2019.
If you’re looking for more calmer and quieter things to do in the Great Ocean Road region, continue north to Bay of Islands coastal park between Peterborough and Warrnambool and view the limestone cliffs on the pristine beaches below.
Apostles Visitor Centre – Great Ocean Road/Booringa rd, Princetown 3269
Access- Via Princes Hwy or Great Ocean road. Car-park and toilets also on site with wheelchair access
Cost – Free for the boardwalk
Phone – 1300 137 255
Tip- stay till after sunset to get a glimpse of the penguins returning to shore into their burrows.
Official website: parks.vic/portcampbellnationalpark
See the Twelve Apostles from the air
There is no better way to experience the grandiosity of nature than by getting above it in a luxury helicopter flight along Victoria’s southern coastline.
This is such a fantastic opportunity to see the rugged coastline from the air and experience one of the most incredible great ocean road attractions.
If you choose the Helicopter flight there are 3 locations to choose from
- Cape Otway – 1 hour flight over 17 landmark destinations for $570 pp
- Bay of Islands or – 25 minute flight over 9 landmarks for $235
- London Bridge – 15 minute flight for $145 from the apostles to london bridge
London bridge and Bay of Islands
Our favourite of all the landscapes in Port Campbell on the Great Ocean road; two archways falling victim to the crashing waves of the shipwreck coast along Victoria’s southern coastline.
The easiest way to access London Bridge is by driving west along the great ocean road towards the London bridge car park and walking outwards the edge to view the bridge.
Not to be confused with the London Bridge structure along Portsea back beach on the Mornington Peninsula, this one is a little more rugged.
Great Ocean Road attractions – Gog and Magog
Technically not a part of the Twelve Apostles natural formations but not too far separated by the viewing platform are two very large limestone formations called Gog and Magog.
The best way to see Gog and Magog is by walking along the boardwalk away from the Apostles in the opposite direction and looking south-east.
Following the coast, you will venture to the second and higher platform where you can easily see both structures form the platform, as well as the rolling green hills in the distance.
Having been renamed multiple times, these formations can also be easily viewed from Gibsons Steps a short 5 minute drive away from the Apostles on one of the vastest great ocean road stretches.
Where – Gibsons Steps, great ocean road, Princetown
Gibsons Steps, London Bridge and Loch Ard Gorge are all the places you will visit by booking your Full day trip from Melbourne with Get Your Guide
Walk down Gibsons Steps
Blink and you will miss it.
The stairs leading down to Gibsons beach hug the cliff face hidden from the public eye.
A small car park at the top of the steps can only hold around 5 cars or so, hence be prepared to park your car further away and potentially walk.
Of all the places to visit on the great ocean road, this by far is one of the most impressive as the photos you can take here are nothing short of impressive, giving you a completely different perspective of Gog and Magog.
The crashing waves that smash the coastline here can be unpredictable at times, and if you plan on walking up the beach, always be mindful of the tide as it can leave you stranded if you’re not careful.
Where – Gibsons Steps, great ocean road, Princetown
Loch Ard Gorge
An incredibly beautiful beach with the crumbling natural rock formations that tell a rather sad tale…
On June 1 1878 the Loch Ard, a large clipper carrying a total of 54 passengers had set sail from England bound for Melbourne.
A strong fog had overwhelmed the captain and crew, obscuring their view of the Lighthouse and unable to navigate their way safely.
At 4 am that morning the fog lifted and revealed the now dangerously close cliffs; they subsequently collided with the cliff face and wrecked itself near the base of Mutton Bird island.
The ship sank within 15 minutes and, of the 54 passengers only 2 survived.
Loch Ard Gorge serves as a popular attraction on the great ocean road, and also provides a staircase to the beach below from where to view at sea level, the power and awe of the southern ocean.
There are a variety of other attractions and points of interest whilst at the carpark here other than the Tom and Eva Lookout point, including Mutton Bird lookout, island arch lookout, Thunder cave, London Bridge and the Razorback.
You can tie in your visit to Loch Ard Gorge with the other scenic spots in a day trip.
The easiest way to tackle this collection of Great Ocean road attractions is to park the car at the Loch Ard Gorge car park and walk from there.
Where – Loch Ard Gorge carpark, Great Ocean Road, Princetown
Explore the Great Ocean Road coastline
A must-do on your visit to the great ocean road is visit the shipwreck coast along Victoria’s southern coast in Port Campbell, Princetown, Peterborough and Warrnambool.
Officially located between two distinct landmarks, the Otway lighthouse at the southernmost tip of the Great Otway national park and Port Fairy west of Warrnambool.
There are said to be at least 700 shipwrecks in these waters but only 240 of them have been found.
The shipwrecks have become popular dive sites for those brave enough to tackle the frigid waters of the southern ocean.
Strong winds from Antarctica cause massive swells in the water that crash against the cliffs, pairing that with the sometimes un-navigable fog and mist and you have a recipe for disaster.
Where – Between Port Fairy and the lighthouse station just outside of Port Campbell national park.
With Get Your Guide you’ll be able to see the entire coastline and the major highlights of this Great Ocean Road tour across 13 hours, and if for some reason you can’t make it then you have free cancellation 24 hours before
Just drive the Great Ocean Road
Sometimes it’s just great to feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your face. Undoubtedly one of the top great ocean road attractions is to just drive it.
243 km non-stop will take you approximately 3 hours and 42 minutes to drive from Torquay through to Allansford.
Warrnambool is the next major regional town after the spectacular great ocean road ends and also marks the end of the Shipwreck coast.
Winding along the two way road as you cruise through the Great Otway national park, your great ocean road adventure should include stops along the way like Apollo Bay, Aireys Inlet, Anglesea and Marengo.
Our most recent journey to the great ocean road was a mere 3 day itinerary exploring all of the great ocean road attractions but it still allowed us enough time to hit enough hidden spots and remarkable waterfalls that we were keen to explore.
For something a little different on your Great ocean road itinerary head into Lavers Hill, 46 minutes from the seaside town of Apollo Bay.
Another great little spot to have a break and take in the views at is Wreck beach, where you take the 350 steps all the way down to the shore to discover the remnants of old ships; things like anchors and chains still lie here refusing to be washed out to sea.
Melba Gully is a fantastic walking track filled with giant ferns and an impressive glow worm cave – most impressive at night time.
Discover the beauty of Great Otway national park | Things to do on the Great ocean road
Like a scene out of the forbidden forest in Harry Potter, walking amongst the 60m high Redwoods of the Californian Redwood forest was our second most favourite place to visit along the ocean road.
Take a walk amongst the Californian Redwoods
Read Next >> A practical guide to the Great Otway National Park
What makes this 85 year old cool temperate rainforest different from the one in Warburton in the Yarra Ranges is the dense, lush fern gully that lines the Aire river to one side creating a magical and inspiring place to be.
If you’ve never tried this before, we recommend ‘grounding’ yourself in these immersive, natural places.
Visiting the Redwood forest is an unforgettable experience that’s included in this small group tour at the most competitive prices on the market today from Get Your Guide.
Take your shoes off, feel the soil beneath your feet and truly feel connected to the place you’re in.
Of all the great ocean road attractions in this neck of the forest, the Redwoods are among our favourite and most visited.
Although the Redwoods are inland from the Great Ocean road we always make sure to come here and spend lots of time exploring this side of the Otways.
The national parks that surround the Otways and the coast are seriously epic and make for a perfect day on the great ocean road.
Where –Binns road, Beech Forest VIC
Cost – Free entry, a drop toilet located opposite the Park that isn’t always topped up with paper, so bring your own.
Access: Gravel car park outside the park with road overflow parking as well.
Great Ocean Road waterfalls
Yes this is a bold claim we know, and whilst there are about 101 waterfalls scattered across Victoria, none took our breath away more than seeing the power and amazement of Hopetoun falls, located deep in the national park along the great ocean road.
A photographer’s dream, the leading lines of fallen trees, overgrown ferns and moss that cover the floor in a delicate but veracious way prove that if you leave nature untouched for long enough, she astounds us with beauty and abundance.
The steps leading down to the falls from hopetoun falls rd surely say something about the effort required to reach such a beautiful destination.
Hopetoun falls truly are one of the hidden secrets of the great ocean road region.
The viewing platform at the base allows for full vantage point over the falls, and if you’re brave enough to climb the barrier and head closer in, you will be in awe of the strength of this waterfall.
Where – Hopetoun falls rd, Cape Otway
Access – 4 minutes from the Redwoods to the carpark of the falls, very easy drive but car-park is small.
Recommendation- For this section of the great ocean road we recommend bringing wet weather shoes or gum boots as well as a waterproof jacket if you want to get nice and close to the falls and not get saturated.
With Get Your Guide you’ll be able to see all the waterfalls this side of Victoria has to offer, and if for some reason you can’t make it then you have free cancellation 24 hours before.
Beauchamp Falls
These bad-ass falls aren’t too far away from Hopetoun falls or the redwood forest either, and are still make for an awesome spot to visit.
Access: Access to these three locations is super easy as they are no more than 10 minutes apart from each other from Binns Rd, however access here can sometimes be closed due to logging in the area so read ahead to find out road closures etc
Visit Erskine Falls
North of Lorne is the easily accessible Erskine waterfalls; definitely not the biggest but still one of the best Great Ocean Road waterfalls.
An easy 13 minute drive up the hills to Erskine falls is a super quick and easy great ocean road attraction you can do on your way through Lorne.
Where – Erskine falls access road, Lorne (13 minutes up the hills from Lorne on a dirt road)
Cost – Free entry and free parking on site
Retail Therapy in Lorne
We are not big shoppers by any means but if you happen to stop here for a snack, why not pull your wallet out and shop at some of the local artisanal shops that have a wide range of both surf gear and well known ethically retail brands.
Ghanda is a great vegan, ethically minded store to purchase your clothes from, or why not recycle clothes and head into the Lorne op-shop.
See the local Koalas
Right between the towns of Grey River and Wye River is a cafe run by locals of Kennett River called Koala cafe and general store where you’ll find all your freshly baked goods and snacks for the road.
Right behind the cafe however is where the real attraction lies; the Kennett River Koala.
High in the Eucalyptus trees along Grey River road next to the parking lot is a track that winds around the park where a group of Koalas usually make grey river road their home.
Shop local and get a coffee from these guys before heading off in search of Australia’s most cuddly wildlife.
Things to do on the Great Ocean road
The Great Ocean walk
If you enjoy hiking trails then add this one to the list of great ocean road attractions because you’ll be walking across it for 8 days.
Start your eight day, one way journey across 110 km of beautiful hiking trails along the great ocean walk towards Port Campbell national park.
Your great ocean walk starts at the Apollo Bay Visitor Information Centre and finishes at the iconic 12 Apostles in Port Campbell.
Most hikers along the Great Ocean walk decide to challenge themselves and pitch a tent every night with sleeping bags, building a fire in designated campsites and cooking their food.
Of all the great ocean road attractions this one will take you the longest to complete, so we recommend checking the weather well in advance and picking a number of warmer, less rainy days.
This does mean it requires you to pack your own food for most of the 100km in your backpack, having enough water for a few days although there are plenty of spots along the way including in towns where you can fill up your bottles within places like Apollo Bay.
Another option is to take a guided walking tour from different walking tour companies that offer fully or semi-guided 3 to 7 day itineraries.
If you can’t let go of luxury and need your creature comforts then we suggest the four day twelve apostles walk that includes everything from a guide, eco-friendly luxury accommodation all meals included plus and a scenic flight over the 12 apostles all done from within Port Campbell national park.
Groups are limited to 12 people and should be booked well in advance to not lose your spot.
Here is a great guide to help you plan your Great Ocean Walk
Great Ocean Road Travel Guide
Apollo Bay Accommodation
Apollo Bay is the main tourist hub of the western side of the Great Ocean Road and the largest city along here, meaning accommodation will be hard to come by if you haven’t pre-booked ahead of time.
We personally choose to stay at The Apollo Apartment when we visited Apollo Bay. A super comfortable and relaxing atmosphere in apartment style suites, this is a fantastic choice for anyone considering spending time in Apollo Bay.
For fantastic panoramic views we recommend heading straight to Marriners Lookout, which can be easily accessed from the carpark and up the trail to the viewpoint. While here make sure you check out the Apollo Bay Museum.
A little further inland north east of Apollo Bay si the perfect little spot at Lake Elizabeth, where you might just be lucky enough to come across a Platypus bathing in the lake swimming around.
Cape Otway Lighthouse station
Head deep south down lighthouse rd (duh) and explore the oldest surviving lighthouse station anywhere in Australia.
Stopping at the lighthouse helps break the journey up on the spectacular great ocean road as you pass through Apollo Bay towards Warrnambool.
Normally a beacon for tourists to get involved in whale watching either from the tower or below, the lighthouse has been a guiding light for ships of bygone entering Australian waters.
Tickets are available to book online for the lighthouse tours, where you have the opportunity to sleep in the accommodation within the lighthouse, visit the indigenous cultural centre nearby, the lightkeepers cafe and a secret WW2 bunker.
A stop here is definitely worth adding to your great ocean road trip.
Also Explore – Lightkeepers Cafe & lookout & lighthouse road walking track
Where – Lighthouse road, Cape Otway 3233
Find the lighthouse at lightstation.com.au or phone (03) 5237 9240
Maits Rest rainforest walk
A small yet inspiringly beautiful walk that will take you no more than 30 minutes to complete from start to finish is the Maits Rest rainforest walk on the outskirts of the great otway rainforest.
A fern lovers haven, a boardwalk has been built over the moss-covered trees and delicate, lush ferns that live here; sharing space with the many wildlife creatures that call the otways home.
No hills or surprises, this completely free adventure is a great day in the Otway rainforest and one of the best places to visit on the Great Ocean Road.
Where – Maits Rest, Cape Otway 3233
Price – Free entry
When – Open 24 hours, check the parks Victoria website for updates on closures and weather conditions
Otway Fly tree tops
Only the adventurous come here, so good thing you love heights because if walking 25 metres in the air, ziplining through the tree line isn’t your thing, then stop reading now.
This is by far the most adventurous of all the great ocean road attractions and not for the faint of heart.
Book your tickets here to experience the joy of a tree’s perspective of life and take the hour long self guided tour on the suspension walkways high in the rainforest.
The ultimate outdoor experience in the Otway Ranges is the 2.5 hr zipline eco-tour, a fully guided tour including the zip lines, suspension bridges and 6 flights.
Where- 360 Phillips Track, Fergusson 3237
Cost- $25/adult at the venue or $22 online, children $21.50 at the venue, $19.5 online
Hours – 9am -5pm everyday (except Tuesdays and Wednesdays till 4pm)
Pho-out at Pholklore
Recommended to us by a mate, Pholklore is one of the more popular places in Torquay and in a great town along the great ocean road. Famous for their delicious Vietnamese Pho, Pholklore is more than a pit stop.
Keep in mind they are very open about the fact that they are not an authentic vietnamese restaurant, which means very little when you physically sit down and chomp into a delicious vegetarian Bun Bowls or Pho fusion.
Where – 38 The Esplanade, Torquay 3228
Food Recommendation – Mushroom + Veg Pho Tom Yum
Cost – expect to pay anywhere between $12-$18 per meal plus drinks
Hours – Monday to Friday 5-9pm, Saturday to Sunday 12-9pm
Parking- plenty of parking along the Esplanade or down Gilbert st. There is also a small car park on Cliff st in front of a set of shops
Drive through Beech Forest
Sometimes it’s the small things that count, like taking a drive through gorgeous temperate rainforest, smelling the aromatic pheromones of the trees and plants, or a gentle cruise up the winding roads in search of breaking daylight.
Relax at a farm stay at Warilda in Birregurra
The ultimate relaxing day spa you can imagine nestled on a beautiful farm property in Birregurra, 20 minutes outside of Colac.
Whilst being a little further north of the Otways and the Great ocean road, a stop in Birregurra is worth adding to your great ocean road trip itinerary.
Run by Denise Pinot, Denise has created the perfect retreat for both couples and singles wishing to escape the city life and enjoy the peaceful and tranquil serenity that comes from sunset baths, being pampered by massage therapists, connecting with nature and feeding an eclectic mix of Horses, Sheep and Alpaca.
A revitalised and renovated chicken coup is the perfect setting for your bath, and stay in the old farm house with an outdoor fireplace and deck that sits atop of a still lake.
We had such a fantastic time at Warilda Spa we cannot thank Denise enough for her hospitality and kind, warm spirit.
Where – 95 Amiets rd, Birregurra VIC 3242
Spa treatment – Guests of Warilda pay $110/couple for the bath, treatments start at $90 upwards
Contact- Denise Pinot on (+61) 428 254 637
Warrnambool whale watching
NB: The following cities are not on the Great Ocean Road so bare that in mind when you plan your visit along the southern coastline however, they are still fantastic places to visit while you’re down this way if you’re looking for a bit more adventure!
Every year the incredibly beautiful town of Warrnambool comes out to enjoy the migratory path of humpback whales and southern right whales as they arrive in the warmer Australian waters of the southern ocean with their newborn calves.
If you plan on driving from Apollo Bay to Warrnambool then we recommend doing this drive over 3 hours or so, allowing to stop for breaks and lunch along the way.
The best spot to visit the whales is at Logans Beach whale nursery; a boardwalk platform purpose built to view the whales breaching, tail slapping and fin waving at the crowds above with stunning coastline on view for miles!
Early mornings spent here are both chilly and inspiring and is not too far from the centre of town.
The best time of year to see the whales is from June through to late September and possibly October through the winter months of southern australia.
This is the perfect addition to your great ocean road trip and a fantastic wildlife encounter opportunity.
Flagstaff Hill maritime museum and Tower Hill wildlife reserve
Other spots worth visiting while in Warrnambool is the Flagstaff Hill maritime museum; a collection of ships from the region’s seafaring history. They’ve even gone as far as recreating a maritime village for visitors to explore and understand how people lived.
A little further inland is Tower Hill wildlife reserve; the site of Victoria’s oldest inactive Volcano and Victoria’s first declared national park.
It’s one of Victoria’s most significant geological formations and is believed to have erupted some 32,000 years ago. A trip into Tower Hill wildlife reserve is one of the best things to do in Warrnambool.
It’s formation is known as a ‘nested maar’ and is the largest of its kind in Victoria sitting at 3.2 km wide.
Website: Visit www.flagstaffhill.com.au for more information and to book your tickets online.
Location: 105 lakeview road, Tower hill VIC 3283
Great Ocean Road camping sites
If hotels or lodges aren’t your thing then there are a number of camping sites you will be dying to book before the sell out.
If you’d like to watch professional surfers in the Rip Curl Surf Pro then pitching a tent at Jan Juc Caravan park is the best option for you, but spots will sell out fast in time for the season.
-Cumberland River Holiday Park
This top rated holiday destination in Lorne gives you access to a number of hikes in the Great Otway national park, as well as some great bushwalking in the area.
Marengo Holiday Park
Prime access to the beach and beautiful views over Apollo Bay, this great ocean road camping site is also dog friendly and has amenities and shops nearby.
The Great Ocean Road drive has many other accommodation options to choose from including more camping spots and a variety of lodges and cabins.
Port Fairy & Folk festival
This old fishing village of the southern ocean plays host to a nation wide festival known as folk festival that runs every March. The town comes alive to greet the thousands of victorias that flock to Port Fairy every year.
While you’re here it’s worth taking a trip a little down south to griffitts island and walk through Port Fairy coastal reserve to reach the port Fairy lighthouse built by Scottish stonemasons in 1859.
Want more Great Ocean Road information?
Let us know what you think of this blog as it’s the most up to date source of the best great ocean road attractions.
While you’re here you should check out our guide to travelling the Great Ocean Road article, or plan your visit to the Great Otway national park and become acquainted with the world’s tallest trees.
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