12 apostles
12 Apostles along the Great Ocean Road. Photo courtesy of sukhchander.

If you love beautiful views, adventure and beaches, the Great Ocean Road, a scenic 1,000 kilometer- (621-mile) stretch from Melbourne to Adelaide, can be a fun option.

Even the word “breathtaking” doesn’t adequately describe the scenery you can experience during your travels along Australia’s southeastern coastline.

That being, the road trip offers more than just photography opportunities, as there are beaches, hiking, zipling, caves, wildlife spotting experiences, popular attractions, wine tasting, restaurants, and much more.

Five Days On The Road

Though, you can technically drive the Great Ocean Road in one day, your timing will depend on how many stops you make and how many hours you spend at each attraction.

My recommendation is five days if you really want to enjoy a range of interesting experiences.

Take your time and really enjoy experience the Great Ocean Road instead of just seeing it.

First there are the beaches.

If you are a surfer or have any interest in surfing, Bells and Torquay Beaches are must-stops.

Additionally, Point Addis and Jan Juc are two other great beaches for a dip or to soak up some sun.

On The Way To Lorne

Lorne is about a two hours drive from Melbourne.

Quick note: There are many fun and secret places to visit in Melbourne, so definitely spend time to getting to know this interesting city, too! 

But anyway, on the way from Melbourne to Lorne, I passed through the Bellarine Peninsula and the infamous Geelong, home to Eastern Beach, the Bellarine Rail Trail, the National Wool Museum, Geelong Gallery and Geelong Botanical Gardens.

It’s also part of the Geelong Wine Region, where you can sample Shiraz and Chardonnay made in a subtle European style.

Between Geelong and Lorne you’ll find Bells Beach, the iconic surfing spot made famous by the movie Point Break and annual Rip Curl Pro Surfing Competition.

Lorne is a great stop, especially for those wanting a mix of adventure and delicious food. There is a wide range of restaurants here, with some top choices being Maple Tree for something upscale, the Bottle of Milk for burgers, Saporitalia for Italian, and Chopstix Noodle Bar for Asian.

For a satisfying snack head to Grand Shields Bakery for her legendary meat pies. Dine outside to see plenty of Sulphur-crested cockatoos searching for food.

Staying overnight in Lorne is a good idea, as there are a number of beautiful beaches nearby.

For example, you can spend your first day visiting Bells and Torquay Beaches, both great options for surfers. The next day, head to the nearby Otway National Park to see koalas, bird-watch and hike.

Next Stop, Port Fairy

Port Fairy is central to many of the Great Ocean Road’s iconic and outdoor attractions.

When there, I was able to explore glow worm caves, waterfalls and ancient rainforest. Visit the Loch Ard Gorge and Twelve Apostles to get beautiful pictures of the rising limestone towers, as well as the Shipwreck Coast, named after the rough sea that sent hundreds of ships crashing into the rocks here.

Within an hour you can also reach the Southern Grampians, Mount Eccles and Hamilton, the Wool Capital of the World.

Between May and October, nearby Warrnambool’s Logan Beach is popular for whale watching.

Port Fairy To Adelaide

After staying overnight in Port Fairy, I made my way to Adelaide via Robe and Victor Harbor.

Along the way, you can stop in Portland, first European settlement in Victoria. Continue your journey to the Cape Nelson State Park and Cape Bridgewater, both a must stop for travelers looking for scenic views.

Passing by these famous attractions, you can reach Robe or Coonawarra — a region renowned for its high quality Cabernet Sauvignon — where you can stay for another night. The road from Robe to Victor Harbor is packed with lookout points and attractions to enjoy while getting out to stretch your legs.

From Victor harbor, you can reach the city of Adelaide within an hour.

All in all, if you are looking for an adventurous journey, pack your bags for the mesmerizing road trip from the Melbourne to Adelaide.

Don’t forget to find great hotel deals with Hotelscan, a service for finding accommodation.

Alice Mayer is a travel blogger and the author of the above sponsored post

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Jessica Festa

Jessica Festa is the editor of Epicure & Culture as well as Jessie on a Journey. She enjoys getting lost in new cities and having experiences you don’t read about in guidebooks. Some of her favorite travel experiences have been teaching English in Thailand, trekking her way through South America, backpacking Europe solo, road tripping through Australia, agritouring through Tuscany, and volunteering in Ghana.

Jessica Festa

Jessica Festa is the editor of Epicure & Culture as well as Jessie on a Journey. She enjoys getting lost in new cities and having experiences you don’t read about in guidebooks. Some of her favorite travel experiences have been teaching English in Thailand, trekking her way through South America, backpacking Europe solo, road tripping through Australia, agritouring through Tuscany, and volunteering in Ghana.

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