How many days do I need for the Great Ocean Road?

Three days and two nights is the best fit for most people driving from Melbourne. Two days (one night) is the practical minimum if you want to get out of the car. A one-day trip is doable, but you'll spend most of it driving. Visit Victoria itself frames the route as a three-day self-drive touring route .

Who it's for (and who should skip it)

Pick one day if:

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• Melbourne is a short stopover and the Twelve Apostles are your one must-see.
• You'd rather have a guide drive than do it yourself.
• You accept a very long day with short stops.

Pick two days (one night) if:

• You have a rental car and a long weekend.
• You want to sleep on the coast, not in the car.

Pick three days (two nights) if:

• You want the Otways rainforest, beaches and the Twelve Apostles without rushing.
• You like short walks, lookouts and a long lunch.
• You'd like to reach the Apostles early or late, when the crowds are thinner.

Pick four or more days if:

• You want waterfalls, Cape Otway, Port Fairy and a slow pace.
• You're traveling with kids or older relatives and want short driving days.

Skip the full drive if:

• You only have a spare half day. Spend it in Melbourne, or do a short run to Torquay and Bells Beach instead.

Why it takes longer than the map suggests

The road officially runs from Torquay to Allansford near Warrnambool. It's typically quoted at roughly 240 km. That sounds short, but three things stretch the day:

• You start about an hour from Melbourne. Melbourne to Torquay is just over an hour .
• The road is slow. It's winding and coastal. Visit Victoria lists Melbourne to Apollo Bay at 187 km, about 3 hours . That's driving time before any stops.
• The best stops are off the road. Lookouts, beach stairs, waterfalls and short walks each take 30 to 60 minutes.

For scale, Visit Victoria lists its three-day touring route at 664 km, about 9.5 hours of driving . Spread over three days, that's a comfortable rhythm.

The Twelve Apostles changed in October 2026

This matters for your timing, because the main attraction now works differently.

• New visitor centre. The $126 million Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre opens to the public on 16 October 2026, according to the Regional Development Victoria announcement .
• Booking is required. Bookings to the Twelve Apostles are now required before arriving and to secure a car park, with no fee until April 2027 . A booking fee will be introduced after that. We couldn't find the amount, so check the booking page before you go.
• Hours. The visitor centre is listed as open 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, last arrival 7pm, with the car park open 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM . Hours can change by season, so confirm on that page.
• Where it is. The precinct is about 7 kilometres east of Port Campbell .

How this affects your plan: you now need a booked time slot, so fix the Apostles day first and build the rest around it. It also rewards an overnight nearby. The official Visit Great Ocean Road page suggests staying overnight to see the stacks at first light, also the quietest time of day .

Your options, day by day

One day: the sprint

Leave Melbourne early. You'll typically spend roughly five to six hours driving in total and see the Apostles plus a couple of stops. It's hard to enjoy the Otways, and any traffic or fog will squeeze it. If you do it, a guided day tour takes the driving off your hands.

Two days: the weekender

Day one is Melbourne to Apollo Bay, with stops at Torquay, Anglesea or Lorne along the way. Day two continues to the Twelve Apostles and then back to Melbourne. It works, but the return drive is long, and you'll skip the Otways waterfalls.

Three days: the sweet spot

Visit Melbourne's three-day getaway has you stay in Apollo Bay overnight, then reach the Shipwreck Coast, and make Warrnambool your final destination . That gives you:

• Day 1: Surf Coast and Lorne, ending in Apollo Bay.
• Day 2: the Otways or Cape Otway, then the Twelve Apostles and Shipwreck Coast.
• Day 3: a slow morning, then home.

On the Shipwreck Coast, Visit Melbourne's itinerary mentions the Gibson Steps, which descend a 70-metre cliff face, and rock formations such as London Bridge, The Arch and The Grotto . The same page notes that beach access steps at Loch Ard Gorge were temporarily closed, so check ahead .

Four to five days: the full version

Add a second night in the Otways for waterfalls and forest walks. Or extend west to Port Fairy, where Visit Victoria's route ends. It suggests spending the morning at the charming fishing village of Port Fairy, wandering the river and following historic walking trails .

If you don't have a car

Public transport makes the trip longer, so give yourself at least two days. V/Line publishes a Melbourne to Apollo Bay to Warrnambool timetable. It runs Melbourne to Apollo Bay to Warrnambool via Geelong, Anglesea and Lorne . Services and days vary by season, so check the current timetable at vline.com.au before you plan around a specific coach. Coaches stop only at set points, which makes sunrise at the Apostles or flexible stops hard. A small-group tour or a one-day rental car for the Apostles leg can fill the gaps.

Where to sleep

The two most useful bases are:

• Apollo Bay, roughly the midpoint, with a foreshore town centre. The Great Ocean Road Visitor Information Centre is at 100 Great Ocean Road, and Visit Melbourne lists it as open daily 9:00am to 5:00pm, closed 25 Dec 2026 .
• Port Campbell, closest to the Apostles. Its visitor information centre is at 26 Morris Street .

Lorne and Torquay also work for a first night. Book early for school holidays and summer weekends. If you use points for hotels, see our guide to transfer partners, and check which hotel programs actually have properties on this coast.

Road conditions and weather

Weather can change a plan quickly. In past closures, Apollo Bay's council pointed drivers to an inland route through Lorne, then the C151 and C119 via Forrest to Apollo Bay, which adds about 40km . The same page notes that the 12 Apostles can be reached via inland routes. Closures vary with storms and bushfire risk. Check VicTraffic and VicEmergency on the morning you drive, and build a spare half day into the middle of your trip if you can.

Tips and tricks

1. Book the Twelve Apostles slot first. It's now required, and it anchors the rest of the trip. Use the booking page at twelveapostles.org.au.
2. Drive west, Torquay to Port Campbell. The ocean is on your side of the car, and you finish at the Apostles in the afternoon.
3. Leave Melbourne early. The road takes longer than the distance suggests, so start before the day-tour buses do.
4. Aim for first or last light at the Apostles. The car park is listed as opening at 6:00 AM . Midday is when tour coaches typically peak.
5. Don't drive between towns after dark. Wildlife is active at dawn and dusk, and the road is winding.
6. Stop at a visitor centre. Staff will know about current closures and track conditions. Visit Great Ocean Road lists centres in Torquay, Lorne, Apollo Bay, Port Campbell and Port Fairy .
7. Check ahead for beach stairs. Loch Ard Gorge's beach steps were flagged as temporarily closed, so confirm before you plan around them.
8. Keep one flexible slot. Fog, rain or a closure can rewrite a day. A half-day buffer saves the trip.

Worked example (illustrative)

This is a three-day, two-night plan from Melbourne, with no prices because rates vary by date.

Day 1: Melbourne to Apollo Bay.

• Leave Melbourne in the morning, and reach Torquay in just over an hour.
• Take coastal stops at Bells Beach, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet and Lorne.
• Allow most of the day for the 187 km, about 3 hours of driving, plus stops.
• Check in at Apollo Bay and have dinner on the foreshore.

Day 2: Otways, Apostles and Shipwreck Coast.

• Take a short rainforest walk or waterfall stop in the Otways, or visit Cape Otway.
• Continue west to Port Campbell National Park and check Gibson Steps and Loch Ard Gorge access.
• Arrive at your booked Twelve Apostles slot in the late afternoon, then stay near Port Campbell.

Day 3: Return.

• Take a sunrise visit to the Apostles if the booking system offers a slot.
• Visit London Bridge, The Arch and The Grotto, then breakfast in Port Campbell.
• Drive back inland toward Melbourne, typically around three to four hours, so give yourself buffer if you're catching a flight.

If you have a fourth night, spend it in Port Fairy and shorten the last drive.

FAQ

Can I do the Great Ocean Road in one day?

Yes, but only as a very long day with limited stops. You'll typically spend most of it driving, with the Twelve Apostles as your main stop. If you do it, leave early, skip the detours, and consider a guided tour so you aren't driving after dark. Most guides, including Visit Victoria's itinerary, suggest at least three days.

Is two days enough?

Two days is workable. Sleep in Apollo Bay or Lorne, then spend day two on the Apostles and Shipwreck Coast before driving back. You'll cover the highlights but skip the Otways waterfalls and walks. Add a night if you want it to feel like a holiday.

Do I need to book the Twelve Apostles?

Yes. Bookings are required before arriving and to secure a car park, with no fee until April 2027 . A fee will follow. Check the official booking page for slots, rules and prices before you go.

Which direction should I drive?

Most people drive west from Torquay toward Allansford or Warrnambool. The ocean stays on your side of the car, and you reach the Twelve Apostles later in the day. You can drive east, but you'll have the cliffs on the wrong side and the Apostles earlier in the day.

Where should I stay overnight?

Apollo Bay is the usual midpoint base, and Port Campbell is closest to the Apostles. Lorne and Torquay suit a first night. Book early for school holidays and summer weekends. Staying near Port Campbell also makes a sunrise visit easier.

Can I do it without a car?

Yes, but plan at least two days and expect fixed stops. V/Line runs coaches along the route via Geelong, Anglesea and Lorne . Services change by day and season, so check vline.com.au. A small-group tour fills the gaps.

Want the whole trip planned? The PerkJolt Melbourne + Great Ocean Road guide puts the routes, timing and points strategy in one place. Get the Melbourne + Great Ocean Road guide

More questions about Melbourne + Great Ocean Road

• How many days should I spend in Melbourne?
• How much does a Great Ocean Road day trip cost?
• What is the best time of year to visit Melbourne?

See every question about Melbourne + Great Ocean Road → /answers/melbourne/

Last verified: 2026-10-12. The Twelve Apostles hours, booking rules and fee are the most likely to change, so check twelveapostles.org.au before you go.

Good to know before you go

. Confirm hours, fees, schedules and road or trail status on the official page before you book or go.

Sources

• https://www.visitvictoria.com/regions/great-ocean-road/see-and-do/road-trips-and-itineraries/great-ocean-road-touring-route
• https://www.visitmelbourne.com/regions/great-ocean-road/see-and-do/road-trips-and-itineraries/3-day-great-ocean-road-getaway
• https://www.twelveapostles.org.au/plan-your-visit/
• https://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/news/new-visitor-centre-completed-at-twelve-apostles
• https://visitgreatoceanroad.org.au/visit12apostles/the-12-apostles/
• https://www.visitmelbourne.com/regions/great-ocean-road/practical-information/visitor-information-centres/great-ocean-road-visitor-information-centre
• https://visitgreatoceanroad.org.au/info/port-campbell-visitor-information-centre/
• https://visitgreatoceanroad.org.au/plan-your-trip/visitor-centres/
• https://apollobay.vic.au/en/apollo-bay-news/services-infrastructure-news/great-ocean-road-update
• https://www.vline.com.au/getattachment/93d42f8c-6dff-4560-88de-c8defbd9c292/Warrnambool-Melbourne-(via-Great-Ocean-Road)-(1)

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