July 27, 2026, 3:00 pm | Read time: 5 minutes

Blue ocean emerging behind wild bushland and crashing as giant waves against equally giant cliffs, while a kangaroo occasionally hops through the surreal scenery–that’s how I imagined the drive on the Great Ocean Road. And that’s exactly how it was. The wonderful cliff road in the state of Victoria is worth it, especially in the off-season. Depending on what else you have planned for your trip to Australia, it’s best to drive or fly to Melbourne and start your journey to the Great Ocean Road from there. The famous Twelve Apostles are essentially the destination. The Great Ocean Road continues a bit beyond that, but by the time you reach there, you’ve covered most of it.

All the tips and inspiration from this article are also available to listen to in the following podcast episode of “In 5 Minuten um die Welt.”

See the Twelve Apostles, the highlight of the Great Ocean Road

The highlight of the Great Ocean Road is the massive rock formations, especially the so-called Twelve Apostles, which are actually down to eight. These are huge limestone rocks that rise from the sea without any connection to the mainland. Years ago, they were part of the cliffs, but over time and due to strong waves, they became separated from the mainland. Interestingly, the rocks weren’t always called the “Twelve Apostles”; they were once referred to as the “Sow and her Piglets.” For marketing purposes, they were renamed the Twelve Apostles. And the marketing definitely worked–the massive limestone formations are one of the top sightseeing destinations in Australia.

If you’re already there, I would recommend continuing at least to Loch Ard Gorge and exploring the surrounding area. Besides the Twelve Apostles, there are several other impressive rock formations in the region.

Also interesting: Why are the Twelve Apostles in Australia only eight?

Don’t underestimate the tourist crowds

The Twelve Apostles themselves are not overrated, not at all, but anyone expecting peace and quiet in nature will definitely be disappointed. There are an overwhelming number of tourists, and the area is designed for it. I visited at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was still crowded. That was different on the rest of the Great Ocean Road. I would definitely recommend seeing the Twelve Apostles, but be prepared to share the best photo spots with other tourists.

Visit Torquay

One of my favorite places was Torquay. Torquay isn’t big, and there’s not much going on; it’s simply a charming, typical surfer town, quite laid-back and relaxed. You’ll find the typical surfer types and even hippies here, and there are beautiful beaches nearby, such as Torquay Surf Beach or Bells Beach a bit further away.

Camp for free

If you’re looking to save money, you can do so here: Along the Great Ocean Road, as in many other places in Australia, you can camp for free. The app Campermate is recommended. It works in New Zealand and Australia and also shows free campsites. They aren’t necessarily well-equipped, but there are usually toilets, sometimes even showers. We’ve found beautiful spots with it that aren’t listed in every travel guide and therefore aren’t too crowded. Often, these free spots are a bit inland, so you drive away from the Great Ocean Road, but it’s worth it, often just for the drive. And if you don’t need toilets, showers, etc., you can stand for free in many places anyway.

Be spontaneous with accommodation choices

Along the Great Ocean Road, there are many nice small and larger towns worth staying in. I’ve already mentioned Torquay, and there’s also Apollo Bay, among others. On the Great Ocean Road, it’s usually best to stay spontaneous and just see how far you want to drive and where you like it. There are hotels and motels all along the cliff road. If it’s not peak season, spontaneity works well–and if it is, there are always the free campsites off the coastal road.

Also interesting: Tips for the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand

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Nice restaurants along the way

On the Great Ocean Road, there are some nice restaurants with delicious food ranging from burgers to seafood to hipster creations. For example, you can find really tasty burgers at Blackmans Brewery in Torquay. In Geelong, there are several good hipster cafes and bistros.

Here is the Great Ocean Road

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