Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road (B100) is one of Australia’s most famous touring routes. It takes travellers past world-class surfing breaks, through pockets of rainforest and calm seaside towns, and under koala-filled tree canopies. It shows off sheer limestone cliffs, dairy farms and heathland, and gets you up close and personal with the crashing waves of the Southern Ocean.

Hunt out the isolated beaches and lighthouses in between the towns and the thick eucalyptus forest of the Otway hinterlands to really escape the crowds. Rather than heading straight to the Great Ocean Road, a fork in the road at Geelong can take you the long, leisurely way there, through the Bellarine Peninsula, with visits to charming Queenscliff and wineries en route.

Day-tripping tourists from Melbourne rush in and out of the area in less than 12 hours, but in a perfect world you’d spend at least a week here.

Explore Great Ocean Road

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Great Ocean Road.

  • Landmark

    Twelve Apostles

    The most iconic sight and enduring image for most visitors to the Great Ocean Road, the Twelve Apostles provide a fitting climax to the journey. Jutting…

  • Lighthouse

    Cape Otway Lightstation

    The oldest surviving lighthouse in mainland Australia, Cape Otway Lightstation was built in 1848 without mortar by more than 40 stonemasons. There are…

  • Distillery

    Timboon Railway Shed Distillery

    One of the main reasons to stop at TImboon is this historic railway shed that's been converted into a vibrant whisky distillery and cafe. Inspired by…

  • Gallery

    Warrnambool Art Gallery

    One of Australia's oldest art galleries (established 1886), WAG has a stellar collection of works by prominent Australian painters. Its most famous piece…

  • Historic Site

    Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village

    The world-class Flagstaff Hill precinct is of equal interest for its shipwreck museum, heritage-listed lighthouses and garrison as for its reproduction of…

  • Museum

    Australian National Surfing Museum

    The perfect starting point for those embarking on a surfing safari is this superbly curated museum that pays homage to Australian surfing. Here you'll see…

  • Gallery

    F Project Gallery

    Set up in a former funeral home by local art collective the F Project, this contemporary gallery always has something interesting showing at its monthly…

  • Visitor Centre

    Tower Hill Natural History Centre

    Managed by the Worn Gundidj Aboriginal Cooperative, this centre runs daily bushwalks led by Indigenous guides that include boomerang throwing and bush…

  • Lighthouse

    Split Point Lighthouse

    Scale the 136 steps to the top of the beautiful 'White Queen' lighthouse for sensational 360-degree views. Built in 1891, the 34m-high lighthouse is still…

  • Viewpoint

    Bay of Islands Coastal Park

    Past Peterborough (12km west of Port Campbell), the lesser-visited Bay of Martyrs and Bay of Islands have spectacular lookout points from which to see…

  • Gallery

    Qdos Art Gallery

    Set amid the lush forest behind Lorne, Qdos always has something interesting showing at its contemporary gallery, to go with its open-air sculpture garden…

  • Cave

    Princess Margaret Rose Cave

    Opened to the public in 1940, this limestone cave with surreal, gleaming calcite formations remains one of Australia's finest show caves. It can only be…

  • Distillery

    Whiskery

    Set up by a local family who know their stuff, this gin distillery produces everything on-site and has a tasting room to sample the goods, accompanied by…

  • Public Art

    Street Art

    Over the years Warrnambool has gained a reputation for its public art. One of its most striking pieces is the colossal Ngatanwarr (Welcome) mural, which…

  • Gardens

    Botanic Gardens

    Geelong's botanic gardens (established in 1851) are the fourth oldest in Australia and make for a peaceful stroll or picnic. Aim to get here for a…

  • Waterfront

    Geelong Waterfront

    Geelong's sparkling revamped waterfront precinct is a great place to stroll, with plenty of restaurants set on scenic piers, plus historical landmarks, a…

  • Cultural Centre

    Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre

    The Wathaurung people – the original inhabitants and traditional custodians of Geelong – called the area Jillong, and this precinct on its outskirts…

  • Bird Sanctuary

    Point Danger Gannet Colony

    Bird-lovers won't want to miss the opportunity to visit Australia's only mainland gannet colony, which can be viewed from a platform at Point Danger…

  • Historic Site

    Fort Queenscliff

    Queencliff's fort was first used as a coastal defence in 1882 to protect Melbourne from a feared Russian invasion. It remained a base until 1946, and was…

  • Viewpoint

    Whale-Watching Platform

    Set along the Great South West Walk is this superb purpose-built whale-viewing platform that looks out to stupendous views of the ocean. Free mounted…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Great Ocean Road.

  • Activities

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