Visiting Melbourne on a longer trip and want to know what the best weekend getaway from Melbourne is? Then this post is for you.
As a local and frequent road tripper in the Melbourne area, I have discovered some of the region’s best holiday spots. There are plenty of places to explore in the area, but if you’re in Melbourne without a doubt you need to visit the world-famous Great Ocean Road.
This article is written for a self-drive vacation but don’t worry if you don’t have a car there are many Great Ocean Road tours you can join and still have a fantastic trip!
The Great Ocean Road is blessed with beautiful natural attractions, native wildlife, seaside villages, and of course, the incredible Twelve Apostles rock formations.
Table of Contents
Day One
Stop One: Torquay
Torquay will be your first stop on the Great Ocean Road, said to be the birthplace of Australian surfing it’s where the surf brands Rip Curl and Billabong come from. If you’re looking to buy some surf gear there are heaps of surf shops in town as well as cheap factory outlets.
As one of the larger towns on the Great Ocean Road, Torquay has a lot to offer travellers from beautiful beaches to restaurants and breweries, it even has a winery. For something a little different stop by the Australian National Surfing Museum.
Stop Two: Bells Beach
You can’t visit Torquay without making a stop at Bells Beach. This small windswept beach is famous amongst surfers for its wild surf and craggy cliffs. Every year at Easter elite surfers from around the world arrive at Bells Beach to compete in the Rip Curl Pro Surfing Competition.
Stop Three: Split Point Lighthouse
From Torquay head towards Lorne stopping at Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet along the way. Guided tours are available here every day.
Lasting around 40 minutes you can learn about maritime history and hear stories about the lighthouse keepers’ lives. Climb to the top for panoramic views of the coastline.
Stop Four: Lunch in Lorne
Lorne is pretty as a picture with its main street framed by the golden sands of Louttit Bay and the lush Otway hinterland.
The town boasts a number of excellent cafes so it’s the perfect place to stop for lunch. Fill up with a hearty burger from Pit Stop or grab some fish and chips and head to the beach.
Take a walk along the pier at the west end of town before heading into the Otway National Park.
Stop Five: Erskine Falls
For nature enthusiasts, a Great Ocean Road trip must include a visit to Erskine Falls. Located 13 minutes inland from Lorne this popular waterfall stands over 30 metres in height surrounded by lush green vegetation.
Two lookouts accessible via a short walk from the car park offer different perspectives.
The first lookout has offers a view from the top, while the lower one is much closer to the waterfall’s base but requires descending (and ascending!) 240 steep steps.
Stop Six: Kennett River Koalas
At the top of most visitors to Australia’s bucket list is seeing koalas in the wild. One of the best places to see them is at Kennett River on the Great Ocean Road.
After leaving Erskine Falls head northwest for 45 minutes to reach the cute seaside town of Kennett River. Park at the General Store and take a stroll along the Kennett River Koala Walk looking up into the crooks of tree branches as they are a favoured spot for koalas to take a nap.
If you’re feeling peckish the General Store has a café where you can grab a drink and snack. They also sell souvenirs.
Overnight Stop: Apollo Bay
You’ll spend your first night along the Great Ocean Road at Apollo Bay. This coastal town is a good size without being too big or too small and has all the amenities you need for an overnight stop.
Walk or drive up to Marriner’s Lookout for sunset then head to Chris’s Beacon Point Restaurant and Villas for dinner.
The villas here have stunning views and are a top choice when staying in Apollo Bay. For the budget minded the Coastal Motel is value-for-money and has a beachside location.
Day 2
Following a morning coffee, some brekky, and a leisurely stroll along the beach, hop in the car ready for a spectacular day on the Great Ocean Road.
The second day of your weekend getaway will take you from Apollo Bay to Port Campbell visiting all the top sites along the way. The journey should only take about 1 hour and 20 minutes, but you’ll be slowed down by all the things to see and do along the way.
Stop One: Melba Gully
The first stop involves an easy walk along the Madsens Track at the magical Melba Gully. As one of the wettest areas in Victoria, the gully features a dense rainforest with giant ferns and ancient mossy trees.
The trail is a straightforward 1.5-kilometre circuit walk that includes small bridges and passes by Anne’s Cascades. The path is well-maintained allowing visitors to enjoy the sights and sounds of the forest.
While Melba Gully is beautiful during the day, it transforms into a one-of-a-kind experience at night. Exploring after dark reveals thousands of glow worms lining the track. To see them it’s recommended to intermittently turn off your torch and inspect the banks as you walk.
Be careful not to shine the light directly on the glow worms as it may harm them and cause them to stop glowing.
Stop Two: Gibson Steps
After your walk continue driving along the Great Ocean road through the Otway forest back to the coast stopping at Gibson Steps. From here you’ll see two limestone stacks, Gog and Magog rising out of the ocean.
To reach the beach below there are 82 steps to climb down that were carved out of the cliff by one of the first settlers, Hugh Gibson.
For those inclined, there’s an option to walk the 1 kilometre trail to the Twelve Apostles. Otherwise, it’s time to get back into the car and onto the next stop.
Stop Three: The Twelve Apostles
The dramatic rock formations of the Twelve Apostles stand out as one of the most well-known attractions along the Great Ocean Road. Be sure to take a moment to soak up this awe-inspiring landscape of towering stacks exploding out of the sea.
While the stacks are beautiful at any time of day the light is soft and moody at sunrise and sunset. Sunset can be a busy time so consider visiting early on the morning of your last day.
Stop Four: Loch Ard Gorge
Loch Ard Gorge is located just a few minutes down the road from the Twelve Apostles and is just as stunning as the iconic rock stacks. The beach is surrounded by golden cliffs and the bay boasts turquoise waters.
Visitors can read about the famous shipwreck Loch Ard and the dramatic rescue that took place here, on plaques dotted around the clifftop.
Stop Five: London Arch (London Bridge)
Another great place to admire the sunset is London Bridge which was named for its likeness to its namesake. However, it’s now known as the London Arch due to a huge chunk of the bridge collapsing into the ocean.
Two tourists were left stranded on the piece that was left behind (luckily no one was injured) and had to wait for hours to be rescued by helicopter! The collapse of London Bridge is a reminder of the ever-changing nature of this wild coastline.
Stop Six: The Grotto
Situated 9 kilometers west of Port Campbell, The Grotto is an incredible sight that many tourists don’t get to see. Most people are tired by this stage of the drive having encountered so many natural wonders leading up to it.
However, The Grotto stands out as one of the most captivating rock formations in this region, showcasing characteristics of a blowhole, archway, and cave. Inside, it features boulders and rock pools carved out of limestone.
Positioned about halfway up the cliff from sea level, a decked staircase descends from the viewing platform at the top, giving you the option to view the formation from above or at eye level.
For the best perspective, walk down to the lower viewing platform where you can take in the horizon, the pools, and the distinctive rock formations simultaneously.
Overnight In Port Campbell
The compact town of Port Campbell is the ideal place to end your Great Ocean Road weekend getaway from Melbourne. Despite its small size, the town has a range of restaurants and accommodation options catering to all tastes and budgets.
Celebrate your journey’s end with a craft beer at the Sow and Piglets microbrewery, then head over to 12 Rocks for dinner overlooking the beach.
For an overnight stay, Sea Foam Villas situated directly across from the beach is an ideal choice. Alternatively, if you’re keen to return to Melbourne it’s a 2 hour drive inland back to the CBD.
Conclusion
A weekend Great Ocean Road trip is enough to check out the highlights, but you could easily spend a week exploring it all.
If you don’t like the idea of driving yourself (it can be hard to used to driving on the left) then I recommend joining a bus tour for a stress-free trip.
Either way, whether you drive yourself or take a tour, visiting the Great Ocean Road is not to be missed!
Sorrento is another choice for weekend getaway near Melbourne
About the Author:
Audrey is the principal blogger behind Victoria Uncovered. A site that helps people get the most out of their visit to Victoria Australia. Book Lover | Breakfast Nut | Aussie Gal | She’s usually craving coffee.
There are 4 comments
What a well-planned trip. Places look great in your pictures.
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