Great ocean road attractions: a guide to Victoria’s ultimate road trip
There is so much more than just driving this legendary road and we have found where to stay, eat, the best wineries to visit and even where to watch horses swim in the sea.
There is so much more than just driving this legendary road and we have found where to stay, eat, the best wineries to visit and even where to watch horses swim in the sea.
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1. More than just a road
Millions of tourists travel the Great Ocean Road each year, often just for hurried daytrips to behold those golden limestone sea stacks, the 12 Apostles. There are many reasons to linger along this 243km route, however, as it twists and turns between Torquay 100km southwest of central Melbourne, and Warrnambool’s outskirts further west. Explore some side roads less travelled too, including through the ancient volcanic terrain of craters, cone-shaped hills, lava caves and canals at Budj Bim National Park and Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve (where you’ll likely be greeted by emus). Better yet, take an Aboriginal-led tour of this UNESCO World Heritage-listed landscape near Warrnambool, where remnants of the Gunditjmara people’s stone dwellings and extensive aquaculture system date back more than 6000 years. The lakeside Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre offers two-hour, half-day and full-day tours (adults from $89, children $69) that reveal piled rocks and carved channels used for harvesting eels, or kooyang, as well as a tree where they were smoked. From creation stories to tasks traditionally undertaken across six seasons, the tours uncover an extraordinary culture that was almost obliterated. The 2022 centre’s design is inspired by cultural touchstones such as a rare possum-skin cloak made nearby in 1872. See eels in the display tank, and try the cafe’s signature kooyang tasting plate, which includes smoked eel pate.
2. The best pub
The Oak and Anchor Hotel has been part of Port Fairy’s picturesque heritage streetscape since the 1850s, but a 2020 makeover transformed what’s beyond its sturdy stone facade. Contemporary restaurant-bar Sidro embraces original rustic features such as rough basalt walls, and introduces clean lines and luxurious textures, such as translucent curtains and velvety, mid-century-style armchairs. The menu includes tender confit duck with herb, pomegranate, pear and walnut salad. The drinks list is crowned with 10 indulgent affogatos, including amaretto and single-malt whisky options. Ground level also offers a laid-back indoor-outdoor space and “lawn bar” for warmer weather, while upstairs are seven boutique suites (from $320 a night). These gorgeous havens have a 1970s beach aesthetic, with pale natural hues, soft fabrics, woven cane and terrazzo.
3. Hot springs and spa
There are larger, more popular mineral-bathing destinations in Victoria, but Warrnambool’s Deep Blue Hot Springs has the advantage of usually being uncrowded and peaceful. On a Sunday afternoon I find just a few people enjoying each of the 15 outdoor bathing experiences, and sometimes have an aquatic cave, cul-de-sac, cascade or pool to myself. Nestled among native plants and rocks, and fed by geothermal water drawn from 850m underground, they range from 35C to 42C, plus there’s a cold plunge pool. Timed bathing sessions start at $33, while indoor options include spa treatments, salt therapy in a low-sensory room, and a cafe serving light meals. On-site accommodation means relaxation needn’t end abruptly.
4. Where to watch horses swimming
A frequent breakfast bonus at Warrnambool’s Pavilion Cafe and Bar is seeing racehorses being exercised in the surf below. This generously proportioned, elevated space is wrapped with windows, while the terrace is prime real estate for Lady Bay watching on sunny days. The interior’s casual contemporary style – concrete and glass softened by plants and timber – is reflected in the menu. While locals pop in for takeaway coffees, dine-in options include mixed-mushroom bruschetta with tasty, textural elements such as stracciatella and fried kale. Later, seafood seems apropos; perhaps Greek-inspired prawn skewers with a summery cocktail.
5. Another way to see the 12 Apostles
Any Great Ocean Road journey should include the 12 Apostles, if only seen from the cantilevered viewing platform that opened in June. Other nearby rock stars in Port Campbell National Park include The Grotto, London Bridge and Loch Ard Gorge’s sheltered beach. See them all from above with 12 Apostles Helicopters, which has frequent flights departing near the visitor centre. The shortest, a 16-minute jaunt ($175 a person), packs in five highlights, including the “apostles” in a postcard-perfect row beside snaking cliffs, with the Southern Ocean lapping at their 50m-high grandeur. This spot also marks the 104km Great Ocean Walk’s end.
6. The best walks
Renowned for coastal vistas, The Great Ocean Road actually heads inland through the Otway Ranges for a while. Even short walks in Great Otway National Park are rewarded in this rainforest of tree ferns, tall trees and waterfalls. Hinterland highlights include Erskine, Hopetoun and Triplet falls, Maits Rest walk, and The Redwoods, an unexpected, tranquil grove of Californian sequoias. On the coast, discover more epic scenery and an 1848 lighthouse. Otway Fly Treetop Adventures’ main attraction is a 600m elevated walkway (adults $27.50, children $21.50) that gradually ascends 30m among mountain ash, satinwood and myrtle beech. The walk culminates in a platform that wobbles gently above a creek, and 47m-high spiral staircase lookout. A 2½-hour guided zipline tour is a more energetic option, while little kids love the Enchanted Forest’s fairies, pixies and dragons.
7. Check out the wineries
Although this isn’t an official wine region, there are several vineyards worth visiting. At easygoing Basalt, for example, the lineup includes complex pinot noir and fun pink prosecco, while simple dishes showcase the local bounty from land and sea, including the winery’s honey. Pod accommodation with vine and sea views is expected next autumn. At Keayang Maar’s smart little cellar door perched on a vast, verdant volcanic crater’s rim, pours include vibrant viognier and peppery shiraz. Grazing fare such as cheese and homemade relish is sourced within 50km. A major operation, Mt Duneed Estate has a strong focus on events, including A Day on the Green concerts (January 11 and February 1, 2025), new pod accommodation, and wining and dining. Restaurant offerings cover generous seared beef rump with satisfying chunks of smoked bacon, while crisp blanc de blanc and rich sparkling shiraz are among the extensive wine range made using grapes from around Victoria.
8. Where to eat
An ever-expanding place of pleasure and rest since its establishment in 1876, Lorne’s eponymous hotel added Sydney import Totti’s to its offerings last year. This restaurant with slick, retro lounge-meets-trattoria style is the Great Ocean Road’s hottest dining destination, but if you’re feeling casual, head upstairs to the hotel’s spacious bistro and deck. With an ocean panorama seen through leafy eucalypts (a popular cockatoo hangout), glimpses of Art Nouveau heritage, and good food and drinks, it’s no poor cousin. Alongside pub classics such as chicken parmigiana and burgers, seafood is a strength – including a special of buttery, peppered scallops-on-shell during my visit. Warm chocolate brownie with pistachio ice cream is a must-have dessert of swoon-inducing flavours and textures. There are drinks aplenty, including the signature Lorne Island Iced Tea. Less boozy than its inspiration, this lemony beverage will make a refreshing sundowner on the rooftop opening this summer.
9. Surfing history
A stone’s throw from Bells Beach, Torquay has been synonymous with surfing since the sport’s early days on our shores. It’s home to the Australian National Surfing Museum, which was established with local treasures in 1993 before quickly adding artefacts from around the nation. Like surfer dudes themselves, it’s more passionate than polished, but will fascinate even the uninitiated. Dozens of surfboards reveal their development, from massive wooden planks to smaller, lighter foam and fibreglass versions, the addition of fins, and historical quirks such as elaborately painted 1970s boards and a 60s motorised design. Incorporating the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame, the museum also displays everything from early 20th-century photos to a wetsuit from 1991 film Point Break. Interactive experiences include the Talk Story Surf Shack, where visitors can record their tales on video. Adults $12, children $8.
10. Where to stay
The Elux collection of grand Great Ocean Road homes includes Aireys Inlet’s Casa Lux, 120km from central Melbourne and a stroll to the beach. It’s made for easy, breezy self-contained good times, with views of the ocean and the 1891 lighthouse from the master bedroom and main open-plan living area. Sleeping up to 15 across six bedrooms, with bathrooms and powder rooms seemingly everywhere, this light-filled, three-storey house also features a sauna, elevator and two remote-controlled fireplaces. Balancing streamlined modernity and beachy comfort, the interior has a cohesive contemporary style of neutral tones and natural materials, including blond wood, stone tiles and woollen textiles. Relaxation continues in uncluttered outdoor spaces, from balcony to pool-spa to built-in trampoline. From $1950 a night.
Patricia Maunder was a guest of Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism.
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