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The Great Ocean Road is one of the most wonderful scenic drives in Australia. It stretches for about 430 km (270 miles) along the southern coast of Australia, in the State of Victoria. The Great Ocean Road begins from Torquay, a small town a 90-minute drive from Melbourne, and ends at Nelson.

Along the way you will have the opportunity to enjoy dramatic views over the Southern Ocean; drive along majestic cliffs, breathing the cool air of the Antarctic winds; walk along beautiful wild beaches; hike through wonderful rainforests; spot typical Australian wildlife like kangaroos, koalas and parrots!

Finally, the Great Ocean Road is part of Australia’s National Heritage List.

How to visit the Great Ocean Road

Typically, visitors drive from Melbourne to the major landmarks along the Great Ocean Road in a day trip. Of course, they don’t drive the entire Great Ocean Road, but they usually stop at the London Bridge viewpoint and then they come back to Melbourne.

The best way to explore the Great Ocean Road is definitely to rent a car and enjoy the wonderful scenic drive slowly for a few days. If you need advice about car rental, check out my post about how to rent a car and save.

Otherwise, if you don’t feel like driving or you want to meet other like-minded backpackers, you can join one of the many tours that depart daily from Melbourne. You will see the major attractions along the Great Ocean Road in a day trip, typically in a van with other 20 people. The driver will be also your guide, telling you facts and stories during the driving. They usually have different pickup locations in town, so you can choose the most suitable for you, depending on your accomodation (I stayed at the United Backpackers Hostel). Check out Backpackers World Travel and Backpacker Deals websites! I visited myself the Great Ocean Road with one of these tours and it was funny, even though a little too in a rush honestly. But I think it is normal: that’s the compromise when you go on a day trip. At the end of the day, eventually, we ate pizza altogether on a beach: it was a good way to finish the day.

Great Ocean Road itinerary

So, this is the itinerary we followed in our day trip from Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road. It is about 293 km (182 miles) one way.

A: Melbourne
B: Torquay
C: Anglesea Golf Club
D: Memorial Arch
E: Lorne
F: Kennett River
G: Maits Rest Rainforest Walk – Great Otway National Park
H: 12 Apostles
I: Loch Ard Gorge
J: London Bridge

Let’s see now the wonderful landmarks along the way.

What to see along the Great Ocean Road

Anglesea Golf Club

We just made a quick stop along the way at the Anglesea Golf Club to observe hundreds of kangaroos grazing peacefully on the meadows from afar. However, guided tours are available if you wish to see them more closely.

Kangaroos grazing at the Anglesea Golf Club

Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch

The Great Ocean Road was built between 1919 and 1932 by the soldiers returned from World War I and it was dedicated to those who had died during the conflict. The Memorial Arch on the Great Ocean Road was erected to commemorate the men who had worked to build the road. Somehow it marks the beginning of the Great Ocean Road.

Lorne

Not far from the Memorial Arch, you can stop at the beautiful sandy beach of Lorne and have a short walk to stretch your legs.

Kennett River

Kennett River is another small town along the Great Ocean Road. Make a stop here to spot some wildlife. In fact, in Kennett River there is one of the largest koala populations in Australia. Watch them while they are climbing trees: they are so cute, aren’t they?

Moreover, you can also spot colourful parrots in Kennett River!

Great Otway National Park

Great Otway National Park stretches along the Great Ocean Road and gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in nature. We went for a walk through the rainforest following the Maits Rest trail. Even though it is quite short (it takes about 30 minutes), this loop trail allows you to explore closely a rainforest, walking through strangely-shaped trees. It was exciting. Of course, Great Otway National Park itself would be worth a visit for more days, as it offers many other hiking trails through the rainforest or along the coast.

12 Apostles

The 12 Apostles are probably the most famous landmark along the Great Ocean Road. They are located in Port Campbell National Park on the Shipwreck Coast.

The views from the rugged cliffs, beaten by the wind and the ocean for thousands of years, over these majestic limestone stacks are dramatic. Spend some time staring at the ocean and breathing the salty air blown by the wind.

There are some beautiful poems about the sea, written on signs along the cliff. Take some time to read them. This was one I liked in particular:

Shipwreck [by Suzanne Howard]

Immigrant, you shriek -
I hear you -
I am the land you seek.

In sight of salvation -
Miscalculation -
Welcome to my deep.

Twelve thousands miles to perish
Just a shout
From beach and farm.
Just a breath
From fear and harm.

Can you not swim
Into my arms?

Loch Ard Gorge

Loch Ard Gorge is located just a few minutes drive from the 12 Apostles. It is the site of one of the most famous shipwrecks along the Shipwreck Coast. Here, the clipper ship Loch Ard ran aground on Muttonbird Island in 1878: only two teenagers survived, Tom Pearce and Eva Carmichael. Tom, who had already managed to reach the beach, hearing the cry of Eva still in the water, swam back to the ocean and saved her.

Loch Ard Gorge is a spectacular cove surrounded by majestic rugged cliffs. Keep in mind that you have to walk on a steep path downhill to get to the beach.

London Bridge

London Bridge is a another must-see along the Great Ocean Road. It is located a 15-minute drive from the 12 Apostles. From here you can enjoy other spectacular views over the cliffed coast. Unfortunately, the rock bridge collapsed in 1990, leaving just an arch now. That’s why today it is also known as London Arch. However, it still remains a remarkable landmark along the Great Ocean Road. Curiously, at the moment of the collapse, two tourists got stucked on the newly formed island and had to wait for a helicopter to rescue them.

This was the last landmark we visited during our trip along the Great Ocean Road. After getting back to Melbourne, I continued my trip across Australia, visiting Uluru and Sydney. Check out my posts if you love this beautiful country.

Did you like this post? Which landmark did you like most? Leave a comment below and follow me on social networks to get the latest updates!

If you need to book your accomodation, book now your hostel with Hostelworld!

If you wish to buy a travel guide about Australia before your journey, I definitely recommend this one by Lonely Planet.

La Great Ocean Road: cosa vedere lungo la più spettacolare strada panoramica in Australia

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La Great Ocean Road è una fra le più spettacolari strade panoramiche in Australia. Si allunga per circa 430 km lungo la costa meridionale dell’Australia, nello Stato di Victoria. La Great Ocean Road inizia a Torquay, una cittadina a 90 minuti di auto da Melbourne, e termina a Nelson.

Lungo la strada avrai modo di godere di viste incredibili sull’Oceano Antartico; guidare lungo maestose scogliere; respirare l’aria fresca dei venti antartici; camminare lungo bellissime spiagge selvagge; fare trekking attraverso foreste pluviali; avvistare la tipica fauna selvatica australiana, ovvero canguri, koala e pappagalli!

Infine, la Great Ocean Road è parte della Australia’s National Heritage List.

Come visitare la Great Ocean Road

Tipicamente, i turisti partono da Melbourne alla volta dei principali punti di interesse lungo la Great Ocean Road in una gita in giornata. Naturalmente, in questo modo non percorrono l’intera Great Ocean Road, ma normalmente si fermano al punto panoramico di London Bridge e poi rientrano a Melbourne.

Il modo migliore di esplorare la Great Ocean Road è sicuramente quello di noleggiare un’auto e godersi lentamente la meravigliosa strada panoramica per alcuni giorni. Se hai dubbi riguardo il noleggio di un’auto, puoi leggere l’articolo che ho scritto su come noleggiare un’auto e risparmiare.

Altrimenti, se non ti senti di guidare o vuoi semplicemente conoscere altri viaggiatori con il tuo stesso spirito, puoi unirti ad uno dei molti tour che partono da Melbourne ogni giorno. Vedrai i principali punti di interesse lungo la Great Ocean Road in una gita in giornata, tipicamente in un minibus con altre 20 persone. L’autista farà anche da guida, raccontandoti fatti e aneddoti già durante il viaggio. Di solito, hanno vari punti di ritrovo in città, così potrai scegliere quello che ti è più comodo in base al tuo alloggio (io soggiornavo presso lo United Backpackers Hostel). Dai un’occhiata ai siti Backpackers World Travel e Backpacker Deals! Io stesso ho visitato la Great Ocean Road con uno di questi tour ed è stato divertente, anche se onestamente tutto un po’ di corsa. Ma penso sia normale: è il compromesso quando si fa una gita in giornata. Alla fine della giornata, abbiamo mangiato una pizza in spiaggia tutti insieme: fu un modo carino per concludere il giorno.

Itinerario sulla Great Ocean Road

Questo è quindi l’itinerario che abbiamo seguito durante la nostra gita da Melbourne lungo la Great Ocean Road. Sono circa 293 km (sola andata).

A: Melbourne
B: Torquay
C: Anglesea Golf Club
D: Memorial Arch
E: Lorne
F: Kennett River
G: Maits Rest Rainforest Walk – Great Otway National Park
H: 12 Apostles
I: Loch Ard Gorge
J: London Bridge

Vediamo adesso i meravigliosi punti di interesse lungo la strada.