The Great Ocean Road & The 12 Apostles, Australia
How Long Does It Take To Drive The Great Ocean Road?
The journey from Torquay to the end of the Great Ocean Road near Allansford covers 238 km, with a total driving time, excluding stops, of 3 hours and 47 minutes.
It is an excellent drive. While it might seem like a leisurely road trip and not a vast distance overall, the reality is that visitors will want to stop at beaches, seaside towns, waterfalls, and well-known lookout spots.
What to expect on your Great Ocean Road drive
Most of the Great Ocean Road follows the coast, winding around cliffs, sometimes climbing high to offer distant views along the coast and out to the Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean, other times dipping down to sea level where travellers can feel the thunder of the waves and explore the many beaches and rock pools.
Several viewpoints along the Great Ocean Road offer visitors a chance to take in the salty air and read historical markers.
The ocean road then goes inland through rainforest and farmland before climbing over the top of the Otway Ranges and back down to what is known as the ‘Shipwreck Coast’ before reaching the famous rock formations of the Twelve Apostles.
50 Best Things to See – Great Ocean Road Map
The return Great Ocean Road trip from Melbourne is more than 500 km and best explored over two days or more if time allows. Please take a look at the interactive map and read our list of the 50 Best things to see and do when visiting the region.
Lorne and Apollo Bay are ideal locations to use as a base for extended holidays in the region.
Caravan parks and campgrounds are easily accessible along the coast, offering a range of options that vary from resort-style caravan parks, ideal for families, to basic bush camping spots. A limited number of free camping sites are also available.
HISTORY OF THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD
The Great Ocean Road is a memorial to those who fought and lost their lives in World War I. Built by returned servicemen, it was a huge engineering task that ended many years of isolation for the township of Lorne and the surrounding communities.
Plans first began in the 1880s and became a reality towards the end of the First World War. The proposal was made to provide funds for employing returned soldiers to build roads in underpopulated regions. The plan was described as the ‘South Coast Road’ following the coast around Cape Otway and ending near Warrnambool.
