The Great Ocean Road stretches 243 kilometres from Torquay in the east to Allansford, near Warrnambool, in the west. Most people allow 3 to 5 days to drive the full route comfortably, though you could absolutely stretch it to a week or more if you want to explore every nook and cranny.
Road Tripping on The Great Ocean Road: Complete Guide
Drive 243km of Victoria's most spectacular coastline.
Book nowPublished: 14/05/2026
TL;DR
The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia's most iconic drives, stretching over 240 kilometres along Victoria's rugged and spectacular coastline. This guide covers everything you need to plan the perfect road trip: the best things to do, where to stay, which campervan sites and camping areas to book, a day-by-day itinerary, and all the must-see highlights from the 12 Apostles to the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie. Whether you're starting from Melbourne or coming in from Adelaide, this is your go-to playbook for doing the Great Ocean Road right. And spoiler alert: a JUCY campervan makes it so much better.
Why the Great Ocean Road Should Be on Your Bucket List
Okay, real talk. Some roads exist just to get you from A to B. And then there's the Great Ocean Road.
Built by returned soldiers after World War One and dedicated to those who served, the Great Ocean Road is one of the world's great coastal drives. Winding along the Southern Ocean from Torquay to Allansford in Victoria, it passes through towering rainforests, dramatic sea stacks, sleepy surf towns, and wildlife-filled national parks. There's nothing quite like it in Australia, and honestly, not much that touches it anywhere in the world.
The Great Ocean Road in Victoria delivers one of those rare travel experiences where the journey itself is just as thrilling as the destinations along the way. So pack your bags, grab the keys to a JUCY campervan, and let's hit the road.
Getting There: Melbourne to Great Ocean Road (and Adelaide Too)
Starting from Melbourne
The Melbourne to Great Ocean Road route is the classic entry point. Torquay, the surf capital of Australia and the official start of the road, sits just 100km southwest of Melbourne's CBD. You're looking at about an hour and a half by car, which means you can be breathing sea air and watching surfers tackle the breaks at Bells Beach before lunch.
From Melbourne, head southwest on the Princes Freeway (M1) through Geelong, then follow signs toward Torquay. Simple, scenic, and absolutely worth it.
Coming from Adelaide
The Adelaide to Great Ocean Road route is a longer but equally spectacular option. Adelaide sits roughly 900km from Torquay, so most travellers either fly into Melbourne and pick up their campervan there, or make the full drive a multi-day adventure in itself, stopping through Mount Gambier and the Coonawarra wine region along the way.
If you're renting a JUCY campervan in Melbourne, you can arrange to pick up in Melbourne and drop off elsewhere, giving you full flexibility to shape the trip on your own terms.
Your Great Ocean Road Itinerary: Day by Day
Here's a cracking 5-day Great Ocean Road itinerary that gives you time to actually breathe it all in. Not just drive-and-go, but genuinely experience it.
Day 1: Torquay to Lorne
Kick things off in Torquay with a surf lesson at Bells Beach or just a walk along the sand. Stop in at the Surf World Museum if you want a bit of history, then cruise along the road with the ocean beside you. Anglesea is worth a slow roll through. Pull up at the Anglesea caravan park area by the river and keep an eye out for kangaroos on the golf course. Yes, actual kangaroos. Anglesea is one of the most reliable spots in Victoria to see them in the wild, and they treat the golf course fairways like their personal backyard.From Anglesea, wind your way to Lorne for the night. Set up camp, wander the main street, grab dinner, and watch the sun drop into the Southern Ocean. Perfect.
Highlights:
- Bells Beach surf break
- Anglesea kangaroos on the golf course
- Erskine Falls near Lorne
- Sunset from the Lorne foreshore
Day 2: Lorne to Apollo Bay
This stretch of road is genuinely jaw-dropping. Steep ranges rise to your left, the ocean crashes below to your right, and every corner reveals something new. Don't rush it! Apollo Bay is a gem of a town. Grab fresh fish and chips from the harbour, explore the Saturday morning farmers market if you're there on the weekend, and consider a detour up into the Otway Ranges to walk among ancient myrtle beech trees and visit Triplet Falls.
Highlights:
- Kennett River koala spotting (seriously, they're everywhere in the trees)
- Cape Otway Lightstation
- Otway Fly Treetop Walk
- Apollo Bay harbour and beach
Day 3: Apollo Bay to Port Campbell (12 Apostles Day!)
This is the big one. The section of the Great Ocean Road that most people come for. Leave Apollo Bay and head inland briefly through the Otway Ranges before the road delivers you to the Shipwreck Coast, where the scenery shifts from lush rainforest to open, windswept clifftops. The feeling is completely different, raw and wild and ancient.
The 12 Apostles Great Ocean Road is the undisputed headline act. These towering limestone stacks rising from the Southern Ocean are genuinely one of Australia's most extraordinary natural sights. There were once nine apostles visible (despite the name), and erosion continues to reshape the coastline over time. Get there for sunrise if you can manage it; the light is unreal and the crowds haven't arrived yet. Nearby, Loch Ard Gorge tells the story of a shipwreck that claimed all but two lives aboard the iron clipper Loch Ard in 1878. It's beautiful and haunting in equal measure.
Highlights:
- 12 Apostles at sunrise
- Loch Ard Gorge
- Gibson Steps (walk down to the beach beneath the apostles)
- The Arch and London Bridge rock formations
- Twelve Apostles Marine National Park
Day 4: Port Campbell to Warrnambool
Port Campbell is a tiny town with a big personality. Spend the morning exploring more of the Shipwreck Coast before heading west toward Warrnambool. Between June and September, Logans Beach in Warrnambool is one of the best places in Australia to see Southern Right Whales calving right from the shore. No boat required.
Highlights:
- The Grotto near Port Campbell
- Bay of Islands Coastal Park
- Whale watching at Logans Beach (seasonal)
- Warrnambool's Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village
Day 5: Warrnambool to Allansford (and Beyond)
The official end of the Great Ocean Road sits at Allansford, just past Warrnambool. But before you wrap it all up, there's one more stop that absolutely should not be missed. The Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery near Anglesea is a destination all on its own. With over 200 varieties of handcrafted chocolate, daily demonstrations, and a cafe with views into the chocolate kitchen, it's the kind of place you walk into thinking you'll spend 20 minutes and somehow emerge two hours later absolutely delighted. Pick up gifts, treat yourself to something ridiculous, and leave very, very happy.
Things to Do on The Great Ocean Road: The Full Hit List
There's no shortage of things to do on the Great Ocean Road. Here's a snapshot of the best:
- Walk the Great Ocean Walk (a multi-day trail from Apollo Bay to the 12 Apostles)
- Spot koalas at Kennett River
- See kangaroos at Anglesea Golf Course
- Visit the Great Ocean Road Wildlife Park near Port Campbell
- Surf Bells Beach
- Kayak or snorkel at Apollo Bay
- Explore Otway Fly Treetop Walk
- Tour Cape Otway Lightstation, Australia's oldest surviving lighthouse on the mainland
- Watch whales from Logans Beach in Warrnambool
- Taste your way through the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie
- Discover Loch Ard Gorge and the Twelve Apostles
- Wander Erskine Falls in Lorne
Where to Stay: Great Ocean Road Accommodation in a JUCY Campervan
Here's the thing about Great Ocean Road accommodation: hotels and rental houses are fine, but they anchor you to one spot. A JUCY campervan? That's freedom. Real, genuine, wake-up-wherever-you-want freedom.
With a JUCY campervan, your accommodation moves with you. Every morning, you pick where you're headed. Every evening, you find your spot and make it home. No check-in times, no checkout stress, no Uber to dinner because the restaurant is walkable from your tent.
Best Campervan Sites Great Ocean Road
There are some excellent camping areas Great Ocean Road travellers love, ranging from beachfront powered sites to peaceful bush camps:
- Anglesea Family Caravan Park (Anglesea): One of the most popular caravan parks on the road, right next to the Anglesea River with easy beach access. Book ahead, especially in peak season.
- Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park (Lorne): Smack in the middle of Lorne's buzzing foreshore. Wake up and you're metres from the beach.
- Blanket Bay (Otway National Park): A stunning, low-key bush camp in the national park. Completely off the grid and absolutely beautiful.
Port Campbell National Park campsites: Several options near the 12 Apostles. Perfectly placed for that sunrise walk out to the clifftops.
- Peterborough Caravan Park: A quieter option on the western stretch, close to the Bay of Islands formations.
- Warrnambool Surfside Holiday Park: Beachfront camping in Warrnambool with great facilities, ideal for families or anyone who likes a hot shower after a long day.
Pro JUCY tip: Great Ocean Road camping fills up fast over summer and long weekends. Book your sites before you leave home so you're not scrambling.
Why JUCY is the Perfect Way to Do the Great Ocean Road
Adventure's calling. You better answer.
JUCY campervans are built for exactly this kind of trip. Compact enough to handle the winding coastal road, fully kitted out with everything you need, and guaranteed to make every photo look like something out of a travel magazine.
Here's what makes JUCY the right choice:
- Couples: Grab a JUCY Coaster or Chill’d by JUCY Cloudbreak or Malibu. Everything you need for two people, no more, no less. Perfect for a romantic coastal escape.
- Small groups and friends:The JUCY Crib Plus or Condo gives you a bit more room to breathe. Great for mates doing a road trip together.
- Solo travellers: A JUCY campervan is the ultimate solo travel companion. Your home, your schedule, your adventure.
- Budget-conscious explorers: Combining your transport and accommodation into one saves serious money, especially over a multi-day trip where hotel rates add up fast. Check out the retro and budget-friendly Chill'd campervan hire range while you're at it.
Every JUCY campervan comes equipped with a bed, kitchenette, storage, and everything you need to hit the road. The vans are easy to drive, fun to look at (that iconic green is hard to miss), and backed by JUCY's 24/7 roadside support so you're never out there alone.
Whether you're a first-time campervan renter or a seasoned van lifer, JUCY's friendly team walks you through everything before you head off. Because the only thing better than the journey is knowing you're sorted before it starts.
Great Ocean Road Fast Facts
- Length of the Great Ocean Road: 243 kilometres, running from Torquay to Allansford in Victoria
- Location: Great Ocean Road Victoria, along the Southern Ocean coastline
- Best time to visit: Year round, but summer (December to February) and autumn (March to May) offer the most reliable weather. Winter brings dramatic scenery and whale watching season.
- Recommended trip length: 3 to 7 days to really do it justice
- Drive time without stops: Around 3.5 hours from end to end. But nobody does it without stops.
Ready to Find Your Happy on the Great Ocean Road? Book your JUCY campervan today and let the adventure begin.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Great Ocean Road is in Victoria, Australia, running along the state's southwest coastline beside the Southern Ocean. It begins at Torquay, about 100km southwest of Melbourne, and ends at Allansford near Warrnambool.
The 12 Apostles are located within Port Campbell National Park, near the town of Port Campbell on the Shipwreck Coast section of the Great Ocean Road. They sit approximately 275km southwest of Melbourne. The viewing platforms are free to access and the site is open 24 hours, making it ideal for sunrise or sunset visits.
Honestly? A JUCY campervan is the answer. It gives you the flexibility to stay wherever the road takes you. The Great Ocean Road has a fantastic range of campervan sites and caravan parks from Torquay all the way to Warrnambool. Anglesea caravan park, Lorne Foreshore, Blanket Bay, and Port Campbell National Park campsites are all brilliant options. If you're travelling in peak season, book your campervan sites well in advance.
Absolutely! The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia's most popular routes for campervan travel. The road is sealed and well-maintained for its full length. Some of the side roads into national park campsites are unsealed but generally accessible in a standard campervan. Just check conditions before heading off the main road.
