What to See on The Great Ocean Road

It’s one of the most iconic drives in all of Australia, reminiscent of California’s Pacific Coast Highway. The GOR has miles and miles of lush green forests, rocky beaches, and laid-back surfer towns. Although it’s not on everyone’s Australian to-do list like the Sydney Opera House and Great Barrier Reef, it’s something that you should make time for.

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Lorne

We started our journey down the Great Ocean Road in the town of Lorne. It has a decent strip of cafes and shops, enough for a quick stop on your way. There aren’t any hostels here, so opt for a hotel or camping.

Where to Eat

There are plenty of good looking cafes in town, but I’m glad we picked Kafe Kaos (possibly closed). I had a tasty chicken caesar wrap and a Coke for $15, which isn’t too shabby for this country (52 Mountjoy Parade).

What to See

My sometimes handy Let’s Go Australia guidebook pointed out a spot between Lorne and Apollo Bay to see koalas. Koala Cove, right after the Kennet River sign on Grey River Road, has a cafe and photo op spot for tourists. It had just started raining and it was us and a campervan or two, so we could see the creatures burrowing their heads into their chests. By the time we let, two tour buses had stopped, so you might have to fight for a parking spot.

Apollo Bay

Another seaside town, Apollo Bay is significantly quieter than Lorne in the summer, which is part of its appeal.

Where to Sleep

The Apollo Bay Backpacker’s Lodge is labeled Otway Lodge on the sign and resembles a refurbished motel. The four bed dorm was $28 AUD per night and includes breakfast of tea, toast, cereal, jam and coffee. Luckily for us, the other two roommates never turned up, so it was significantly quieter than our last dorm experience in Melbourne. The bathrooms are clean and it’s close to town, so I had no complaints. (23 Pascoe Street). Apollo Bay Eco YHA is another option.

Where to Eat

I had intended on saving money by purchasing $2 Cup-A-Soup at IGA, but when I realized it tasted like potatoey water, I knew I needed something else. After a few glasses of Penfolds Shiraz and a mild temper tantrum, we walked to George’s Food Court for dinner.

It was 9 p.m. at that point, so most of the restaurant had closed, but I got a small chicken pizza for $10, which was big enough for us to share. During normal business hours, they have everything from breakfast to fish to souvlaki to pasta. (111-115 Great Ocean Road).

Where to Drink

The Great Ocean Hotel (possibly closed) was one of the only pubs in town but had a good selection of moderately priced beers on draft, as well as a full restaurant and upstairs accommodations. (29 Great Ocean Road).

What to See

The Cape Otway Light Station facility is home to the mainland’s oldest lighthouse, built way back in 1848 to signal ships making the trip from Tasmania. It is also the southernmost point on the mainland. Tickets are $15.50 concessions and $17.50 for adults.

You can see where the lighthouse keepers lived, climb to the top of the lighthouse itself, talk to the characters wandering the grounds, explore the World War II radar bunker or learn about Aboriginal culture in a replica hut (Otway Lighthouse Road).

Twelve Apostles

I finally had my “Australia moment” at the Twelve Apostles because the pictures I took didn’t look real, but instead could be on a green screen. It’s that perfect. Even though many of the Apostles have crashed into the ocean over the years, they’re beautiful in their fragility. Even the busloads of tourists crowding the platform couldn’t mar the experience for me. I was all peace, love and harmony, baby.

London Bridge

London Bridge is the second-most famous rock formation on the Shipwreck Coast, even though it’s not so much a bridge anymore. I’d hate to have been one of those two tourists back in 1990 who fell into the ocean when the bridge collapsed.

Port Campbell

While it seems to be a small town, with only two main streets, Port Campbell was the place to be when we were there, with people covering every inch of sand and water, picnicking or taking surfing lessons. Port Campbell Hostel is the only budget accommodation in the area.

Where to Eat

Room Six (possibly closed) is a cute restaurant that had ample outdoor seating, a must-have for a nice summer day, in addition to a $10 lunch special. I opted for the fish and chips since they were one of the specials and it seemed to be the specialty of the town (28 Lord Street).

Warrnambool

This impossible to pronounce town is the largest on the Great Ocean Road and signals the end of it. It’s an adorable seaside spot geared towards vacationing families, with activities like mini golf, whale watching, horseback riding and kayaking.

Where to Sleep

Although it’s not that close to town, Warrnambool Beach Backpackers beachside locale makes you forget about it. We got a double room, usually reserved for bus drivers, for $70, which included a tv. Dorms run for $23 and the hostel also has internet, a bar, a tv lounge, full kitchen, parking, laundry and rental of boogie boards, fishing rods and whatever else you need to make your holiday memorable (17 Stanley Street).

What to See

If you take a right out of the hostel, you’ll come to the Stingray River footbridge, which will take you to the rocky cliffs overlooking the ocean. To your left is Middle Island, which is home to a colony of fairy penguins protected by Maremma Guardian dogs. The island is closed to the public, but the cliffs on the mainland are the perfect place to watch the sun set.