The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s natural icons. The stunning coastal formations combined with the little towns along the way will piece together a great trip for any traveler. It’s a must-do if you’re in the area, and although it can be done in a day, spending multiple days here will be time wisely spent. So what are some of the things that make this road so great?

The Towns

Between Lorne, Apollo Bay, Princetown, and Port Campbell (just to name a few), the little towns along the Great Ocean Road are, simply put, adorable. Each one has that rustic little sea-side charm that beach towns tend to exhibit. Apollo Bay has a fun strip of shops and cafes looking directly over the ocean. Princetown may be tiny but it’s an ideal place for a picnic by the river. In addition to being my favorite town along the Great Ocean Road, Port Campbell is full of friendly people, good eats, and my favorite hostel.

Port Campbell Hostel is the recommended budget-friendly place to stay. The staff is welcoming, wifi is fast, beds are comfy, and the atmosphere is laid back. Individual hostels don’t tend to stick out to me, but this one certainly did. Plus, Port Campbell is the closest town to 12 Apostles which makes it a good place to spend the night.

The Beaches

Bells Beach

The surf scene in the original Point Break was filmed here and it’s obvious why. There are surfers galore trying to catch the perfect wave. I grabbed a sandwich at Torquay, the town just before the Bells Beach, and parked myself in the sand. Few people go past the lookout and come down to the beach so lunch was very peaceful.

Gibson Steps

There are 86 steps between you and the beach but it’s well worth it. Not only is this beach wide and roomy but the Gog and Magog sea stacks are here. This is a great example of what is up the road at 12 Apostles. If you can’t make it down the steps there is a lookout at the top with views over Gog and Magog.

Johanna Beach

It’s off the beaten path but this beach is gorgeous and secluded and there is a great view of the surrounding coastline too. Though the road is not as frequented as others it’s easily derivable with a regular car. If you’re looking for a quiet beach without the regular Joe, Johanna Beach is a good bet.

Wreck Beach

I walked through here during my 3-day hike and it turned out to be my favorite beach on the Great Ocean Road. Wreck Beach has…you guessed it, a wreck on it. Well, not a whole wreck, but parts of a wreck. The rocks are covered in bright green moss and there are lots of tide pools to explore. Tons of shells lay along the beach so it’s easy to spend a lot of time exploring. Wreck beach is accessible by car as well.

Town Beaches

Most of the towns along the way are directly across from the ocean. The beach at Apollo Bay for example, stretches alongside the entire town. The beach at Port Campbell is smaller but is in a nice protected cove. These are just a couple examples but all of the beaches I saw were prime suspects for wasting an entire day lying in the sun.

The Wildlife

I love “checking wildlife off my list,” and I got to check off a couple critters while I was here. If you want to see koalas head down the road to Cape Otway Lightstation. It’s lined with eucalyptus trees which are a koala’s primary food source. I would have been happy to see one koala but I saw four! The trees are high so the koakals aren’t super close, but they are close enough to get a decent picture.

I also checked the echidna off my list. These are small porcupines which burrow their heads into the ground when they feel threatened, and that’s exactly what my echidna did. It may seem silly to for it to hide its face while the rest of the body is showing, but the hope is that whatever is threatening it won’t touch the spikes. Still… is it bad to say it looked kinda cute and cuddly?

I had most of my wildlife sightings during my 3-day hike. The best way to see some unique Australian wildlife is to hit the trail. There were a ton of skinks, kangaroos, and even a turtle. The best time to see wildlife is early in the day or late in the evening.

The Food

There is a foodie trail that makes a loop around Port Campbell. I only had time to make a couple stops but at least I got a taste (pun intended) of the Great Ocean Road offerings. There are also some wineries to try but sadly I couldn’t go because I was driving.

Cheese

Wine and cheese were on my mind and the first stop was Apostle Whey Cheese. When I pulled up I was greeted by a pair of big glossy eyes belonging to an adorable pup. She led me to the entrance and I was given a good sampling of cheese by the lovely ladies inside.

There is an area to watch the cheese making in progress and the cute property is also worth exploring. Plus you’ll have an adorable sidekick following you around.

Chocolate

Gorge chocolates is right down the road from Apostle Whey Cheese. They also had samples and I happily munched on them as I gazed through their many chocolate offerings. I planned to get a hot cocoa but the poor lady at the counter was hot-cocoa swamped. As a result I got a mixed goody bag of various treats instead. No regrets!

There are food trail maps at Gorge Chocolate, and there are certainly more places to go that just the cheese and chocolate shops. I could have easily made a day out of it.

The Sights

The Great Ocean Road is known for its offshore sea stacks. These are remnants of limestone coastline which have been eroded overtime by waves and weather. The stacks erode at a rate of about two centimeters per year. While these are beautiful there are plenty of other sights along the Great Ocean Road to get excited about too.

Split Point Lighthouse

The road to get here meanders through a cute seaside neighborhood in Aireys Inlet. Park at the end of the road and walk past your dream home on the way to the lighthouse. There is also a teahouse here offering refreshments. While the lighthouse itself leaves something to be desired (and under construction at the time), it looks out at an impressive offshore stack called Eagle Rock.

Memorial Arch

The Great Ocean Road goes directly under this arch. Pull off to the side and learn about the history of road and how it was built. When soldiers returned home from WWI they needed jobs. Reintegrating them back into society and getting them settled into civilian life was a big priority for the state. Their hard work gave us the beautiful road we drive on today.

Cape Otway Lightstation

It’s a bit of a drive from the main road but this lighthouse is a pretty little thing. Unfortunately I didn’t realize the Lightstation opens at 9am and I was there too early at 7am. The lighthouse isn’t visible from the parking lot and there is a $20 entrance fee to see it. This fee also provides access to a cafe, WWII bunker, and telegraph station. Since I didn’t want to wait two hours until opening I did an easy walk to the Cape Otway Lightstation Lookout. Although the views aren’t super impressive there is a gist of the lighthouse.

Loch Ard Gorge

I fell in love with this part of the coastline and I’m certainly not the only one. Loch Ard Gorge is named after the clipper Loch Ard that wrecked here in 1878. There are three walks and I would suggest doing them all. Everything is stunning. Pack some water, a hat, and sunscreen because it’s easy to spend a couple hours here.

12 Apostles

This is what the Great Ocean Road is really known for. The 12 Apostles are a group of 12 sea stacks standing directly offshore. Not all 12 Apostles are visible, so don’t expect to see them all unless you go on a helicopter ride (which is available nearby). There is a mass of people but many of them just walk up, snap a picture, and walk away. If you’re waiting for that perfect spot to become available just be patient. I didn’t have to wait long before I was front and center on the viewing platform.

The Hike

Ah yes, the hike. We all know this is what I was most excited about. Although the Great Ocean Road is beautiful I had my heart set on the Great Ocean Walk. I did not get to do the whole thing which is a 100km hike that takes around 8 days to complete. I did, however, get the chance to hike the last three days of it.

I started from Johanna Beach and unfortunately there is no easy way to get here if you’re by yourself. Most everything I read recommend taking two cars and leaving one at the trail head and one at the finish. Of course this isn’t possible with just yourself. There are shuttles from Port Campbell and Apollo Bay but many sections of this hike, such as Johanna Beach, are off the beaten path. I got a ride from Timboon Taxis, an independent taxi that services all of the Great Ocean Walk. I was picked up at 8am from my car at 12 Apostles (my end point) and paid $80 for a 45 minute ride to Johanna Beach. The driver was very likable and everything worked out well. He even had a Great Ocean Walk guidebook for me to look at.

Johanna Beach to Ryan’s Den

Before starting my hike I went down to Johanna Beach and snapped a picture. I inspected the coastline knowing the trail would eventually take me past everything I was looking at. I started the hike with a bundle of enthusiasm.

The first section heads up through a calming grassy hillside. Much of the hike is on private property and the trail goes through gates and over fences. There are a decent amount of ups and downs on this day and the trail winds through huge properties and country neighborhoods. One home had a cooler with homemade jams for sale. I didn’t have need for them, but I could imagine a hiker on their 6^th day being very excited for something sweet.

In this next section there is an option to hike either the beach or the countryside, depending on the tides and personal preference. I chose the hillside and was rewarded with some great views.

It’s a 14.8 kilometer hike from Johanna Beach to Ryan’s Den. I got to camp around 3pm and had plenty of time to relax. I set up camp and spent the rest of the afternoon lounging around and looking over the coast. The campsite spoils you for views and is in my top 3 for awesome campsites.

Ryan’s Den to Devil’s Kitchen

This 15.3 kilometer day starts with the same up and down as yesterday. There are some fairly steep inclines but none of them last very long. The trail goes through more grassy hills and runs past some beautiful seaside homes.

When the trail begins to descend it eventually comes out at Wreck Beach. This is another opportunity to either walk on the beach or stay on the trail above, and because the tides were on my side I decided to walk the beach. This was my favorite part of the entire hike because not only was it a beautiful day but wreck beach was amazing. I ate lunch here and spent an hour watching the clouds and snoozing.

There are old ship parts scattered across the beach, including two anchors and other unidentifiable parts. If you trust yourself not to slip it’s worth walking on the rocks and trying to spot something in the tide pools. Just be careful because the bright green moss is slippery. There are also a ton of shells here and a good chunk of time can be spent finding the perfect one.

It looked like the next section around the point was impassible, but upon inspection I found there was enough space to pass. With the tide coming in it wouldn’t be that way for much longer, but I felt comfortable clambering over the rocks and around the point. Thought it’s a little scary this section is short and quickly turns into another sandy beach. Since camp is very close this is a good place to spend the rest of the afternoon.

After another 30 minutes uphill the trail comes to Devil’s Kitchen and another amazing view. Even the bathroom has a window looking out over the ocean. I spent the evening on a bench overlooking the coast and got spoiled with a beautiful sunset.

Devil’s Kitchen to 12 Apostles

There are 14.1 kilometers of trail to look forward to on this last day, which include some slight inclines, but nothing like the previous two days. It begins with a nice walk through forest and coastal brush. When it reaches Princetown the trail turns sandy while it follows the river, and after crossing the bridge there’s a lovely grassy area that is perfect for a snack break.

After Princetown you’re on the home stretch. The closer you get to the finish line the more the trail opens up and offers gorgeous unblocked views of the ocean. This last section is easy and after a while you will start to see the 12 Apostles. Soon enough there is a big wooden platform that says “Great Ocean Walk.” This is where you can take pictures and be proud of yourself for your accomplishment!

There’s still 1 kilometer to go after the platform. I kicked it into high gear and got to the 12 Apostles Visitor’s Center in no time. After I dropped off my pack and changed into my sandals I made my way down to the lookout. Gazing out over the 12 Apostles is a perfect ending to a great hike.

Interested in Visiting the Great Ocean Road?

For those of you wanting to get away from Melbourne the Great Ocean Road is a wonderful option. There are a ton of budget-friendly tours leaving the city on a daily basis. Most of them offer 1-3 day tours and I’d recommend spending at least 2 days checking out the sights.

If you’re interested in the Great Ocean Walk you can either rent a car or try and hitch a ride with one of the many tours heading out that way. As I explained above it’s tricky getting transportation to spots like Johanna Beach, but I was satisfied with how it turned out. To make things easy Timboon Taxis will go to any part of the Great Ocean Walk.

If you plan to hike the entire Great Ocean Walk transportation is a little easier (this is according to someone I met who was hiking the whole thing). Buses run from Melbourne to Apollo Bay, where the trek begins. The hike finishes at Port Campbell where you can catch a shuttle back to Apollo Bay and from there bus it back to Melbourne.

If you want to read more stories about the Great Ocean Road be sure to read Caitlyn’s experience here.