The Great Ocean Road Itinerary: One Day Great Ocean Road Drive
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An itinerary for a day-long trip on the famous Australian highway starting in Melbourne.
Great Ocean Road History
The Great Ocean Road is a 151-mile (243 km) highway along the southern coast of Australia. The road was built as a memorial to soldiers who died fighting in World War I. It stands as the world’s largest war memorial. It was built by soldiers returning from war. Construction started in 1919 and finished in 1932.
Great Ocean Road Tour
Since we didn’t have a rental car in Melbourne we decided to book a guided tour. You can also book a similar small group tour on our partner Viator. This is a great way to see the sights if you haven’t rented a car. Our 14-hour excursion included all the sights we had hoped to see, a chance to encounter koalas in the wild, and included morning tea and lunch. You can book a similar tour, or use the review below to build your own Great Ocean Road itinerary.
We woke up early and walked a few blocks from our hotel to the nearest shuttle pick-up spot. We were the last to join the group as guests number 11 and 12, plus a driver and a guide. We hopped in the van and watched out the window as we drove out of Melbourne.
Stop 1: Anglesea River
After about 90 minutes on the road, we stopped at a small wayside park where the Anglesea River meets the ocean. Here we had our morning tea. There were biscuits (aka cookies) and hot water for tea or instant coffee.
Stop 2: The Great Ocean Road Sign
Back in the van for another half-hour drive to the official start of the Great Ocean Road marked by a commemorative statue and a famed wooden arch. We took a quick stop there for selfies then continued onward.
Stop 3: Great Ocean Road Koalas
During our Australia trip, I was obsessed with seeing Australian wildlife in the wild. The koala is second only to the kangaroo on my Australian animal Bingo card. The nice part about the tour was that they knew the hot spots for seeing the animals in the wild.
About an hour in we pulled off into a campground-like parking lot for what I assumed was a potty break. I was too excited to pee when I learned that this was a spot where it was common to see koalas. Could I be so lucky?
Then I saw a clamor of other animal-stalking tourists huddled under a eucalyptus. Joining the crowd and deciphering the Chinese they were speaking I followed the pointing fingers to see an adorable sleeping koala clinging to the tree. Check and check. No matter what else happened that day I was already considering it a win.
Also here were a pair of bright red and green Australian King Parrots. These clever birds set up shop to ride the koala’s coattails. They were semi-tame, jumping onto people's heads for photo-ops and eating whatever my fellow tourists had to share.
Stop 4: Apollo Bay
Moving along the Great Ocean Road, about 90 minutes further (just as I had begun to lose feeling in my legs) we arrived in the adorable oceanside town of Apollo Bay. It was shortly after noon when we arrived. We were to eat lunch here, then we had about a half-hour after to walk the boardwalk and shop.
We walked along the boardwalk and visited a few gift shops. We then crossed the road to the broad sandy beach for a moment of sunshine before meeting our group back at the van.
Stop 5: Great Otway National Park
From here the Great Ocean Road turns slightly inland and enters Great Otway National Park. We drove through the grand tree canopy of the temperate rainforest. Stopping for a short loop hike at Maits Rest.
The hike is almost completely on a wide raised wooden boardwalk. It’s a very lush green paradise of tall trees and ancient ferns. Our guide told us that the ferns have been growing here since the age of the dinosaurs. I don’t know how that’s possible, but that’s what she said.
After splitting off from the group for some quiet time walking in the woods, we were able to briefly see more birds and enjoy the sounds of the forest. It was all fun until we saw a snake slithering down a tree and toward the path. Earlier in the trip, a guide told us that “all snakes in Australia are venomous.” We bid him adieu, regrouped with our guide, and climbed back in the safe, snake-free van.
As we drove another nearly two hours out of the forest and back along the ocean I began to stare out the window and reflect on the day. It was amazing to have seen a koala and to have risked my life hiking in the forest, but I was kind of ready to say “The Great Ocean Road; what’s the big deal?”
Stop 6: Loch Ard Gorge
I soon had my answer as we arrived at the Loch Ard Gorge. The van parked at the top of a cliff. We climbed down the steep limestone cliffs holding onto a rope for balance. At the bottom was a secluded cove beach. The sand was orange and the water was deep blue. The orange tint of the sand carries into the yellow cliff walls. It was a truly stunning sight.
After climbing out of the gorge we took a short trail along the cliff line where the sound of waves crashing into the limestone below was almost deafening. Below us were sea caves and tall limestone pillars.
Stop 7: Great Ocean Road’s Twelve Apostles
A very short drive took us to the most famous stop on the Great Ocean Road, the Twelve Apostles. Here a collection of seven tall thin limestone rocks stand tall where the ocean meets the sand. At one point there were eight stacks, but never twelve. So, whoever named this place, needs a little brushing up on his or her counting skills.
There is a gift shop and cafe in the parking lot. From there a few very short hikes take trips along the edge of the cliffs with stunning views of the rock formations. The most popular walk and view is at the end of a narrow path on the top of a limestone ridge. There is no safe way to climb down to the sand from here.
The cool ocean air, the sounds of the waves, and the taste of seawater in the air all add to the majesty of the view before our eyes. What a wonderful place this was.
At 4:30 pm we gathered back into the van. While the Great Ocean Road continued onward, our day had come to an end. We took a much less scenic 3.5-hour inland trip back to Melbourne stopping for Chinese food in a small town along the way.
In addition to today's Koalas, we also saw Kangaroo and Penguin while in Melbourne.
