Driving the Great Ocean Road

Setting off in a convertible car hire along the Great Ocean Road is an adventure not to be missed if you are visiting Melbourne. Discover the magnificent scenery and diverse landscape of the picturesque coastline, whilst indulging in some great food and wine.

Whether you have 1 day or 5 days, there are plenty of travel options for you to choose from:

1 Day trip — Melbourne — Lorne — Apollo Bay — Melbourne

The Great Ocean Road is a 1½ hour drive from the heart of Melbourne. Though it is preferable to stay and enjoy a few days along the Great Ocean Road, it is possible to do a round trip from Melbourne to Apollo Bay, via Torquay and Lorne, and then back to Melbourne within a single day.

Start your trip as early as you can, taking the Princes Highway over the Westgate Bridge towards Geelong. As you approach Geelong, take the Geelong bypass towards Torquay. Though you don’t travel through Torquay to get to Lorne, it is only a short detour if you want to visit. You will soon find yourself on the coast and the Great Ocean Road, with beautiful a coastal view and some windy roads. Stop at Lorne for a morning tea break and a short walk along the beach. Between Lorne and Apollo Bay you will travel right along the coast. Take time to stop and enjoy the sights, it is also the opportunity to get some great photos of your trip.

Stop for lunch at Apollo Bay, then start your return journey by travelling back towards Lorne. To return via the inland route, turn left at Skenes Creek and head up through the lush forests of the Otway National Park. Follow the signs to Winchelsea, where you can stop and stretch your legs with some afternoon tea. From Winchelsea, it is a leisurely drive back along the Princes Highway into Melbourne.

You will cover almost 400 kilometres on this day trip, so it will be a long day. If you are not in a hurry, make it a 2 day trip and stay overnight at Apollo Bay, you won’t regret it.

5 Day Trip — Melbourne — Apollo Bay — Port Fairy — Halls Gap — Ballarat

On your first day, travel from Melbourne to Apollo Bay via Torquay and Lorne. The road between Lorne and Apollo Bay hugs the coastline, with magnificent coastal views on one side, and the lush Otway National Park on the other. After staying overnight at Apollo Bay, spend the next day travelling to Port Fairy, where your journey starts with a drive through the Otway National Park. Don’t forget to stop at the famous 12 Apostles at Port Campbell. Before you reach Port Fairy, you will pass through Warrnambool, where you can explore the maritime history of the south west coast.

At Port Fairy, spend time on your 3rd morning getting to know the charm of this historic fishing village. You can then travel to Halls Gap via Dunkeld, where the roads will take you through some stunning National Parks. After staying overnight in luxury at Halls Gap, Ballarat is only 2 hours away. On arrival, check out the food and wine scene and take a visit to the famous Sovereign Hill attraction.

On your last day, you will have plenty of time to explore the Ballarat in the morning before making your way back to Melbourne. You may wish to do a detour via Hepburn Springs to experience the relaxing spas and mineral springs.

This 5 day trip covers approximately 850 kilometres and along the way you will have seen many of the highlights that the south west coast provides.

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