Things to do on the Great Ocean Road.

The Great Ocean Road runs 243 kilometres, from Torquay to Allansford near Warrnambool. About 3,000 returned servicemen built it after the First World War, and it opened in 1932. The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority calls it the largest war memorial in the world.

Visit Great Ocean Road puts Torquay, the gateway to the road, just over an hour's drive from Melbourne. Wye River is further along, about two and a half hours from Melbourne when the roads are clear. The road winds, so allow more time than the kilometres suggest, and more again in summer.

You can drive from Melbourne to the Twelve Apostles and back in a day, but Visit Great Ocean Road doesn't recommend it. Staying at Wye River and doing the coast in pieces works better.

Wye River is a small town on the Great Ocean Road, between Lorne and Apollo Bay. It has a sandy beach, rocky cliffs, a general store and a hotel that looks over the beach. The Great Otway National Park forest sits behind it.

Wye General Store is a beach cafe and general store on the Great Ocean Road. It does an all day brunch menu, sells everything from newspapers to fruit and veg, and doubles as the post office.

The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority says the rainforest around Wye River is known for koalas in the trees and kangaroos on the ground. Look up when you walk, and keep your distance.

The Great Otway National Park runs from Torquay along the coast and deep into the hills. It has rugged coastline, tall forest, fern gullies and waterfalls. Wye River sits in this landscape.

Two bodies look after it. The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority manages the southern and coastal areas, including Erskine Falls, Maits Rest, Melba Gully and the Great Ocean Walk. Parks Victoria manages the hinterland, including Triplet Falls, Hopetoun Falls and Lake Elizabeth.

Kennett River is a few minutes' drive from Wye River, halfway between Lorne and Apollo Bay. Visit Victoria lists it, with Cape Otway, as a place to see koalas in the wild. Look up into the gum trees, and try the late afternoon, when koalas are most active.

Don't stop on the roadside to watch koalas. Visit Great Ocean Road asks you to watch from a walking trail or viewing area, from a respectful distance, because koalas are territorial. Don't feed or touch any wildlife. The Authority finished upgrades to the Kennett River precinct in October 2026, including a new public toilet building and changes to the car park and paths.

Lorne and Apollo Bay are the two towns you'll use most. Lorne's main street has cafes, restaurants, boutiques and day spas, plus a big wooden playground and a skate park. Apollo Bay is the southernmost town on the Great Ocean Road, with a harbour and a long beach.

Apollo Bay has two markets. The community market runs on the foreshore on Saturdays, weather permitting, and the farmers market is on the third Sunday of the month. Market days can change, so check before you go.

Light rain suits the waterfalls and the rainforest. Heavy rain calls for an indoor day. Tracks are slippery after rain, so wear shoes with grip, and check the forecast and warnings with the Bureau of Meteorology.

Almost every year between June and September, female southern right whales come back to Logans Beach at Warrnambool to calve. Warrnambool City Council says they often swim within a hundred metres of the shore. You watch from a platform built in the sand dunes, or from the beach. It is free and open at all times.

Visit Great Ocean Road says sightings usually start in late May and run to October. Sometimes the whales aren't visible even when they're in the area. The council suggests ringing the Warrnambool Visitor Information Centre first, making time for more than one visit, and bringing binoculars. Dress for wind and wet.

Warrnambool is at the far western end of the road, about 2 hours 40 minutes from Wye River. It is a winter trip, so plan an overnight stay or a long day. The Authority says whales are also often spotted from lookouts along the coast during migration, including at Port Campbell.

Book direct with us and you get 10% off most tours, attractions and tickets on our Experience Oz page, like Great Ocean Road day tours, a two-hour surf experience in Torquay and wildlife tours. We'll make sure you have the link once you've booked. Experience Oz takes the booking and looks after any changes.

Check the pickup point and the time before you book, because some tours leave from Melbourne.

Visit Great Ocean Road says the busiest times are the summer holidays, from late December to January, and the Easter long weekend. Autumn and winter are quieter, with waterfalls running and whales along the coast. Victorian school term 4 ends on Friday 18 December 2026, and government school students go back on Thursday 28 January 2027.