The Great Ocean Road is one of the world's ultimate bucket list road trips. While you can easily join a coach trip from Melbourne to see the tourist highlights, hiring a car and taking your time will allow for a much more relaxed experience, plus you can hang around until sunset when the tour groups will have left to look for penguins and glow worms!
The Twelve Apostles are undoubtedly a must-see on your Australian itinerary, but the Great Ocean Road offers a treasure trove of experiences beyond those iconic rock formations. From hundreds of magical glow worms to close encounters with koalas, an unmissable ice creamerie and a rainforest canopy walk, this legendary road trip is brimming with unique adventures. So, ditch the crowds (at least some of the time!) and explore these 10 unforgettable stops on the Great Ocean Road apart from the 12 Apostles...
A Starry Night on the Forest Floor: Melba Gully's Glow Worms: For a magical end to a day exploring Great Otway National Park, or something to do after watching the sunset at the Twelve Apostles, follow the Great Ocean Road inland towards Lavers Hill and park at the Melba Gully trailhead. Once it's dark, follow the path clockwise towards Anne's Cascades and as your eyes become accustomed to the dark you'll see thousands of iridescent blue pin pricks covering the banks and vegetation - the glow worms!
Top tip, bring a head torch with a red light setting and hold it pointing at your feet for navigating the path from the car park - white light will ruin your night vision - and don't shine any light at the glow worms, it frightens them and makes them stop glowing!
Sweet treats at Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamerie: Indulge your sweet tooth at this delightful stop halfway between Anglesea and Bells Beach. Watch chocolatiers at work, sample delicious treats, and cool down with some artisanal ice cream. It's the perfect mid-road trip pick-me-up.
Watch for whales at Logan's Point: During the whale migration season (typically May to September), Logan's Point, just outside Warrnambool, is a prime spot for whale watching. Bring your binoculars, take a seat on one of the lookouts wooden benches and ep an eye out for majestic Southern Right Whales breaching and playing in the ocean.
Other Australia blogs you might find useful:
Elevate your rainforest experience at the Great Otway Fly Treetop Adventures: Discover a thrilling new perspective as you explore the magnificent Otway rainforest from above. Stroll along a breathtaking 600-meter suspended walkway, weaving among the towering trees as you climb to canopy height. For a truly unique experience, ascend the 47m Spiral Tower, where even more spectacular views await. For adventurous souls, you can book an exhilarating 2.5 hour guided zipline ride provides an adrenaline rush as you soar through the forest canopy.
Treetop Walkway is open daily from 10am-5pm (last entry 3:30pm)
Adults $27.50 ($24.80 online), child $21.50. Under 2s free and prams are permitted on the walkway- N.B. No dogs are allowed.
2.5 hour guided zipline tours are $120 for adults ($108 online) and $85 for 5-15 year olds ($76.50 online). Minimum height 125cm, maximum weight 117kgs.
Take a Kangaroo Tour at Anglesea Golf Course: One of our favourite wildlife encounters! Anglesea Golf Course is home to a large population of kangaroos, and you can take a guided tour at Anglesea Golf Club - take a ride on a golf cart around the golf course where around 300 Eastern Grey kangaroos have lived for the last 70 years. Your driver will tell you all about these animals as they relax and graze around the fairways, and if you're lucky, you might even see some baby joeys peeking out of their mums' pouches!
Watch the Surfers at Bell's Beach: Witness the skill and bravery of surfers tackling the world-famous waves at Bells Beach from designated clifftop lookouts. Even if you're not a surfer yourself, it's an exhilarating spectacle to watch. Bring your binoculars, and if you're lucky, you might even see dolphins playing and riding in the waves.
Surf's up at Bells Beach Learn all about the Shipwreck Coast at Port Campbell Visitor Centre: Immerse yourself in the captivating and often tragic maritime history of the Victoria's coastline at this compact visitor centre. Here, you can delve into the dramatic tales of the many ships that met their untimely end along this stretch of coastline. Discover fascinating artifacts recovered from the depths, learn about the powerful forces of nature – the wild Southern Ocean swells, the unpredictable currents, and the jagged, hidden reefs – that made this route so treacherous and explore the stories behind each wreck, from the grand clipper ships laden with valuable cargo to the smaller, more humble vessels carrying hopeful settlers.
The staff at the centre are also tremendously helpful and knowledgeable, and can help you with any questions you might have about the surrounding area, from recommendations for lunch, to things to do in Great Otway National Park and the best places to look for penguins. Speaking of which...
Witness the penguins coming ashore at dusk: Did you know that Australia has penguins? Every night at sunset, you can see a colony of Little Penguins (also known as Fairy Penguins) surf in on the waves and run up the beach to their burrows beneath the cliffs at London Bridge and the Twelve Apostles. Take up your spot on the viewing platforms at either of these iconic Great Ocean Road rock formations and keep your eyes on the shoreline. Just as the sun dips below the horizon, as each wave washes in, little rafts of penguins ride the water ashore and huddle beside the ocean. Once they've gathered enough numbers to feel safe, they scurry up the beach and disappear into their burrows.
Bring your binoculars- you'll be looking down at the penguins from a height so these aren't the close up views you get at Melbourne's Philip Island's Penguin Parade, but it feels more authentically wild and less like a tourist attraction. You'll also want to wear a jacket and hat as the temperature drops dramatically once the sun is down.
Visit gorgeous Erskine Falls: Only 15 minute drive from Lorne, a short, accessible walk through a cool, fern-lined gully leads to the main viewing platform, where the falls cascade dramatically 30 meters into a tranquil pool below. You can also take the 300 steps down to the base of the falls, be warned, the climb back up is a heart pounder! Surrounding the falls, the rainforest thrives, with towering trees, vibrant green ferns, and diverse birdlife.
Stunning Erskine Falls near Lorne, Victoria Coffee and koalas at Kennett River: For an almost guaranteed chance of seeing Australia's most famous resident head to Kafe Koala at Kennett River, about half an hour's drive from Apollo Bay. If you get there for opening time at 8:30am, not only will you miss the Melbourne tour bus rush, but you can also grab one of the café's amazing meat pies and coffee for breakfast.
To find koalas at Kennett River, walk up Grey River road to the left of the café and keep scanning the gum trees on both sides for a grey fuzzy ball in the fork where branches meet. You'll most likely see plenty of kookaburras and sulphur crested cockatoos a well!
These 10 experiences offer a taste of the diverse wonders the Great Ocean Road has to offer, beyond the well-trodden path to the Twelve Apostles. So, pack your bags, grab your camera, and get ready for an unforgettable road trip!
Pin this blog for later!
