Great Ocean Road Guides Attractions Events in Victoria

Located at the foothills of the Otways and in the heart of the Great Ocean Road region, Apollo Bay has been called "Paradise by the Sea". Discover the town's wide, crescent-shaped sandy swimming beach, backdrop of rolling green Otway hills, relaxed lifestyle, waterfalls, and national and state parks.

Like many places along the Great Ocean Road, the beach is a focus for activity all year round. Swim in the clear water, sea kayak with local seals, indulge in some deep-sea fishing, learn to surf, or horse ride along the beach at sunset.

Head to Marriners Lookout Road for panoramic views over the town and coast. Another favourite lookout is Cape Patton, east of Apollo Bay near Wye River. Or take to the air for spectacular views of the nearby Twelve Apostles on one of many charter flights available from the local airport.

Fishing is an important local industry and seafood is always on the menu at the local cafés and restaurants. For great views try Chris's at Beacon Point high in the hills overlooking the sea. Shop for art and curios in the many gift shops, galleries and tea houses and peruse the regular Saturday foreshore market for local crafts and produce.

Head into the Otways to find mainland Australia's oldest lighthouse. Explore nearby forest and waterfall walks or enjoy an exhilarating ride through the ranges on a mountain bike. Take a treetop walk along the Otway Fly and enjoy a bird's eye view of the spectacular Otways rainforest.

Apollo Bay is located 195 kilometres south-west of Melbourne, a scenic 3.5 hour drive by car via the Great Ocean Road. A shorter alternative route is via Forrest and Birregurra, which takes just under three hours. Daily coach services are available from Melbourne or rail/coach services via Geelong.

Nestled at the mouth of the Barwon River on Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula, Barwon Heads found fame in the popular Australian television series, SeaChange, which depicted a quiet holiday hamlet. In many ways it lives up to this reputation with quiet river beaches on its doorstep, one main shopping street and a large hotel to provide for locals and the summer influx of visitors.

The wide and picturesque river estuary is used for many water-based activities year-round including swimming and fishing. Enjoy safe swimming along the sandy river foreshore at the river mouth. There is also lively surf action over the Bluff at Thirteenth Beach, and on the ocean beach, high hummocks shelter one of Australia's best links golf courses.

Cross Victoria's longest wooden bridge (built 1927) to reach Ocean Grove, where you'll find one of the most impressive sweeps of beach anywhere in Victoria. From the heads at Point Lonsdale, the unbroken stretch of sand reaches out to the mouth of the Barwon River many kilometres away and it is one of the most popular ocean beaches for surfing and swimming in Victoria.

Barwon Heads is 95 kilometres south-west of Melbourne, or about 90 minutes' drive, on the Princes Highway and Barwon Heads Road.

Geelong is Victoria's second largest city and offers a diverse range of food, wine, cultural and recreation attractions and colonial history. A waterfront city, it is also the major gateway to the Bellarine Peninsula and Great Ocean Road.

Geelong takes full advantage of its unique north-facing bay with fabulous waterfront eateries, landscaped gardens and walking paths set against the backdrop of Corio Bay. Stroll past the sculptured bollards dotted along the foreshore that chronicle characters from the city's past and present, including dapper young ladies in neck-to-knee bathing costumes, 1930s lifesavers, traditional Aussie families, a Geelong footballer, jaunty sailors, fishermen and a town band.

Close by is Eastern Beach, which features an art deco-style pool, promenade complex and the restored pavilion that houses a pleasant restaurant, café and kiosk.

Pakington Street, the wide tree-lined avenue linking the suburbs of Geelong West and Newtown and home to the annual Pako Festa, is only a few minutes from the city. There are many different restaurants and eateries to try as well as delicatessens, wine merchants, a park to relax in and a street ambience to experience.

Explore the city's 100 National Trust listed buildings and delve into the history of wool at the National Wool Museum, housed in an impressive three storey historic bluestone wool store dating back to 1872. Take in the Geelong Art Gallery's outstanding collection of Australian paintings, sculpture and decorative arts.

From horse racing to multicultural festivals, Geelong is a city of major events. Each January Corio Bay is home to Australia's oldest and largest sailing regatta – Skandia Geelong Week. And the Australian International Airshow fills the skies at Geelong's Avalon Airport every two years in March.

Geelong is about one hour from Melbourne via the Princes Highway. Daily rail and coach services are available from Melbourne.

With its Mediterranean feel and picture-postcard scenery, this beautiful seaside town has been attracting visitors for more than a century. Set between the waters of Loutit Bay and the cool Otway forests, Lorne has a charm that’s hard to surpass. The mild weather superb cafes, unique shops, boutiques and galleries make it one of the Great Ocean Road's most popular holiday destinations.
Over 100 years ago the Victorian government declared Lorne an area of 'special significance and natural beauty'. Today visitors still come to enjoy the same natural features. The sheltered 2-kilometre beach is safe and is bordered by lawn, gum trees and picnic and barbecue areas. Discover the Erskine Falls cascading into a beautiful fern gully in the Great Otway National Park. At Cumberland River, a few kilometres south of the town, the scenery is picturesque, with dense bush, a rugged cliff face beside the river, and an idyllic grassed camping and picnicking area.
Sip on a cold beer at the local pub, or on the pier where you can watch the fishing fleet unload its catch. Visit the local fishing co-op where you can buy fresh locally caught seafood.
Fitness fanatics and lovers of the outdoors flock to the many endurance events held in Lorne each year. The Pier to Pub Swim and the Mountain to Surf Run are both held in January and attract large numbers of competitors. The Great Ocean Road Marathon kicks off in May and the Anaconda Adventure Race in December is a popular way to get the blood pumping.
For those who prefer to get their thrills from the raw energy of rock music, The Falls Festival, held every New Year’s Eve, is an essential experience.
Lorne is 140 kilometres south of Melbourne, approximately a 2-hour drive. Travel by car via the Great Ocean Road. Daily coach services are available from Melbourne or rail/coach services via Geelong.

Towards the western end of the Great Ocean Road, Port Campbell is nestled among some of Victoria's most spectacular coastline scenery, including Port Campbell National Park and the Twelve Apostles. Sheltered by cliffs and Norfolk pines, it has the atmosphere of a haven on the edge of wild nature.

A colourful and lively seaside village, Port Campbell is home to restaurants and cafés with views of the beach, bakeries selling homemade goodies and vibrant shops and galleries to explore.

Port Campbell is a great base for seeing the Twelve Apostles, the dramatic rock stacks that have made this coastline famous. Take to the air for a bird's-eye view of the Twelve Apostles, or join a boat tour around them to experience their immense size. Other stunning coastal features include Loch Ard Gorge, Gibson Steps and the Bay of Islands.

Creeks and the harbour offer excellent fishing and Two Mile Bay is revered by surfers as one of the best big-wave breaks in Australia. Join a dive tour and visit large canyons and gorges on the sea floor or a boat tour taking anglers and passengers close to the stacks, caves and arches in the area.

Port Campbell is 283 kilometres south-west of Melbourne. Travel by car via the Great Ocean Road.

Discover history in every corner of this charming old fishing village on Victoria's Great Ocean Road. Port Fairy's wide streets are lined by nineteenth century cottages, great Norfolk pines, old stone churches, boarding houses and inns. Many fine examples of the architecture of the 1800s remain intact, and more than 50 buildings are classified by the National Trust.

Follow one of the town's historic walking trails and discover charming, fully restored white washed cottages built by whalers and seamen beside Georgian-style merchants' homes and grand public buildings.

The world-famous Port Fairy Folk Festival takes over the town over the Labour Day weekend each March, drawing thousands of people from all parts of the globe.

At the local port, one of the busiest fishing ports in Victoria, fishermen unload their catch of crayfish and abalone at the dockside, cruising boats and racing yachts dock and anglers try their luck.

From the wharf you can head out to sea on a guided fishing trip or a whale watching tour in winter. Another option is to sit back and enjoy a four-hour cruise to Lady Julia Percy Island, home to one of the largest seal colonies in southern Australia. It is estimated that there are four different breeds and between 15,000 and 20,000 seals on the small island.

There's also a range of boutique, antique, art and craft shops to peruse, local artists to see at work and museums to explore. Or you can relax and enjoy the fine food and wine on offer at one of the many great pubs, cafés and restaurants in town.

Port Fairy is 290 kilometres west of Melbourne. Travel by car via the Princes Highway, or take the scenic route via the Great Ocean Road. Daily rail and coach services are available from Melbourne.

Portland, located in south-west Victoria, offers visitors a wealth of opportunities to explore rugged landscapes, discover a colourful history, get back to nature, surf some great waves, hoist a sail in a brisk wind, catch a fish, wander historic streets and dine on great local food and wine.

Portland became Victoria's first permanent European settlement in 1834. Today it boasts more than 200 beautifully maintained heritage buildings and private residences. Take the Portland self-guided Historic Buildings Walk for a closer look at the city's hundreds of heritage buildings. For an insight into Portland's long seafaring history, visit the Maritime Discovery Centre.

Portland's waterfront is alive with activity – see big ships from around the world come in to load up local produce and the local fishing fleet unload its catch. Take a ride on the foreshore cable tram and watch for whales during the winter months.

For those who like fishing, Portland is an angler's paradise. From a boat or the beach the range of fish that can be hooked is extensive, including King George whiting, flathead, snapper, tuna and mulloway.

While locals may want to keep it quiet, Portland also has some of the best surf this side of Bells Beach. The choice spots are Bridgewater Bay, the Watertower, Blacknose, Crumpets, Yellow Rock, Whites Beach and Murrells.

Beginning and ending at the Portland Visitor Information Centre is the 250 kilometre Great South West Walk. Try one section or tackle the entire walk and see stunning forests, river gorges, capes and beaches along the way.

Portland is 362 kilometres west of Melbourne. Travel by car via the Great Ocean Road, Princes or Henty Highways. Daily rail and coach services are available from Melbourne. Daily air flights are available from Melbourne Airport.

Queenscliff is an historic seaside village 100 kilometres from Melbourne on the sandy shores of Port Phillip Bay.

Reminders of Queenscliff's elegant past are everywhere you look – from imposing Victorian-era hotels, a huge military fortress guarding the entrance to Port Phillip, solid old churches and quaint fishermen's cottages. But there's more to Queenscliff than nineteenth century history, including art galleries, shops, great places to dine, safe beaches and a tree-lined foreshore.

Queenscliff attracts visitors from all points of the compass who come to enjoy the beach, a picnic under the giant foreshore pines, the village charm or even a game of golf. Ferries sail regularly between Sorrento and Queenscliff taking around 40 minutes to transport passengers and their cars from one side of Port Phillip Bay to the other.

Port Phillip Bay offers seemingly endless opportunities for water activities. Take a dip or hoist a sail, try water-skiing or simply laze on the shores. The bay's southern reaches offer some of Australia's best diving on reefs and shipwrecks. Fishing from piers, beaches and boats is popular with all ages.

In the last weekend of November musicians and music fans converge on Queenscliff for the annual Queenscliff Music Festival, offering an eclectic mix of Australian artists and international guests.

Queenscliff is 103 kilometres south-west of Melbourne, about 1.5 hours by car on the Princess and Bellarine Highways. A vehicle and passenger ferry operates between Queenscliff and Sorrento taking approximately 40 minutes.

Torquay is Victoria's surfing capital, attracting beach lovers from far and wide to its fabulous beaches and the Great Ocean Road beyond. Torquay has protected family beaches, and wilder, more invigorating surf beaches like Jan Juc. Bells Beach, where the big swells are definitely for experienced surfers, is the next stop along the coast. This world famous beach is the venue for the Rip Curl Pro, one of the most sought after surfing titles on the World Championship Tour, which is held every Easter. There are plenty of opportunities for novices to learn to surf all year round, or you can just sit and watch the waves roll in. Just a short drive away, Point Addis provides breathtaking views out to sea and back to the gently arching bay. The dense bush and towering yellow cliffs contrast with the ocean’s wide blue expanse through to Anglesea and beyond.
Torquay is a popular destination at any time of year. There are great walks, shops, eateries and excellent accommodation. Check out the colourful Cowrie Community Market on the third Sunday of every month.
A hike around the Surf Coast is spectacular in any weather. The Surf Coast Walk is a well established trail stretching more than 35 kilometres from Jan Juc, near Torquay, to Moggs Creek and past Anglesea. Explore thick verdant forest and colourful heathland. You are bound to see many rare and endangered native birds and other wildlife, such as and kangaroos and wallabies. The more adventurous sightseer can take to the air in a chartered vintage Tiger Moth for spectacular Great Ocean Road views.
Some of the biggest names in surf wear and accessories have their headquarters in Torquay, with huge retail outlets at Surf City Plaza selling everything connected with the sport. The Surfworld Museum captures the spirit of surfing in a vibrant range of exhibits that will absorb the interest of anyone who has ever jumped into a wetsuit and onto a board.
Torquay is located 95 kilometres south west of Melbourne. Travel by car via the Surf Coast Highway. Daily rail services are available from Melbourne to Geelong. Local bus services are available from Geelong.

Warrnambool is nestled into the rising contour of Victoria's south-west coast amid green dairying country and overlooking the deep blue of the Southern Ocean.

The only city on the rugged Shipwreck Coast, Warrnambool has had a long and colourful history linked with the sea. Today much of this history is on show at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum. With original buildings, a lighthouse and recreated port complete with ships, the museum provides a fascinating insight into the nineteenth century life of the city.

Warrnambool is known as Victoria's Southern Right Whale nursery. These giants return to Logan's Beach every May to October and can often be seen just 100 metres off the shore.

Located on the wide sweep of Lady Bay, the city has marvellous beaches that attract crowds during warmer months. In the cooler parts of the year, the beach is a great place to stroll with interesting coastal features, including Pickering Point, Thunder Point and Point Ritchie around the mouths of the Merri and Hopkins rivers. Explore numerous coastal reserves and walking tracks with secluded beaches and rocky points, penguin colonies, and some good places for fishing and bird watching.

The city has a thriving arts and events scene, excellent restaurants serving the best and freshest local produce and a relaxed café scene, most evident at the bottom end of Liebig Street.

A few kilometres west of town is Tower Hill State Game Reserve, home to an ancient volcanic crater complete with lake and lava tongue. Discover a unique microcosm of botany and wildlife along the walking tracks here.

Warrnambool is located 270 kilometres west of Melbourne. Travel by car via the Princes Highway or Great Ocean Road. Daily rail or coach services are available from Melbourne.