Region

South West Coast

Drive it westbound from Torquay in 2–3 days; one day end-to-end is 600 km (373 mi) from Melbourne and leaves no time to stop.Drive it westbound from Torquay in 2–3 days; one day end-to-end is 373 mi (600 km) from Melbourne and leaves no time to stop.

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Key facts · Australia

Best months: Nov–Feb
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: Australian dollar (AUD, A$)
Language: English
Plugs: I · 230 V
Time zone: UTC+10 east

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 10

Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
Victoria ↗Myki covers Melbourne trains, trams and buses, and V/Line within the commuter belt; beyond that you need a booked V/Line ticket.
Victoria ↗Fresh fruit, vegetables, plants, seeds and soil cannot cross into Victoria; quarantine bins sit at airports and on the Hume and Princes highways.
Victoria ↗V/Line daily fare cap is A$11.40 (2026 estimate) — regional trains are the cheapest way to move around the state.

This is a driving region: the Great Ocean Road runs 243 km from Torquay to Allansford near Warrnambool, and almost nothing on it is reachable by public transport. Two nights is the working minimum — one around Apollo Bay or Lorne, one at Port Campbell for the Twelve Apostles at the far end. Three nights lets you walk the Otways and still arrive at the rock stacks before the tour buses.

Where to sleep

10 places in this region

Sleep base

LorneCity guide
First overnight for most drivers; beach town with the road running through it.
Best Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov
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Apollo BayCity guide
Second overnight; Otways trailheads and the V/Line bus terminus.
Best Nov–Apr
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Port CampbellCity guide
Closest beds to the Twelve Apostles; the only food near the national park.
Best Nov–Apr
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WarrnamboolCity guide
Western end of the drive; rail back to Melbourne and the inland highway.
Best Jun, Sep, Nov–Apr
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Day trip

Port FairyCity guide
Half an hour further west; a quieter second night than Warrnambool.
Best Nov–Apr
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PortlandCity guide
Victoria's first British settlement, 1834; near the South Australian border.
Best Jun, Nov–Apr
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ColacCity guide
Inland service town on the fast return route via the Princes Highway.
Best Oct–Apr
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CamperdownCity guide
Inland farming town below the volcanic lakes and craters.
Best Oct–Apr
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Aireys InletCity guide
Split Point lighthouse and the start of the Surf Coast Walk.
Best Nov–Apr
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Also here

TorquayCity guide
Eastern end of the road, 22 km (14 mi) from Geelong; surf museum and Bells Beach.Eastern end of the road, 14 mi (22 km) from Geelong; surf museum and Bells Beach.
Best Nov–Apr
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Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

2 nights: Night 1 Apollo Bay or Lorne, night 2 Port Campbell; Apostles early on day 3, then inland to Melbourne
3 nights: Add a night at Lorne or Apollo Bay for an Otways walk and a Surf Coast Walk section
4 nights: Add Port Fairy or Warrnambool, then return via Colac on the Princes Highway

Driving Melbourne to Warrnambool and back in one day is 600 km (373 mi) minimum and leaves almost no sightseeing time.Driving Melbourne to Warrnambool and back in one day is 373 mi (600 km) minimum and leaves almost no sightseeing time.
Bushfires have closed sections of this road before; check fire warnings and road closures on hot, windy days.
Fuel and food are sparse between Apollo Bay and Port Campbell — fill up before the Otways stretch.

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Port Campbell National Park	Port Campbell	15 min	unknown	Twelve Apostles, London Bridge and Loch Ard Gorge; go before 09:00 or after 16:00 to miss the coach groups.Twelve Apostles, London Bridge and Loch Ard Gorge; go before 9:00 AM or after 4:00 PM to miss the coach groups.
Cape Otway Lighthouse	Apollo Bay	45 min	unknown	Unsealed access road; the lightstation has been running since 1848.
Otway Fly Treetop Walk	Apollo Bay	50 min	unknown	Elevated walkway about 25 m up in cool temperate rainforest; book ahead in peak season.
Port Fairy	Warrnambool	30 min	unknown	Easy add-on if you have a fourth night.

Bags between cities

Luggage forwarding is not part of this trip: you drive your own bags, so pack one small case per person and leave the rest at your Melbourne hotel. If you take a one-way V/Line coach or train leg instead of driving, V/Line does not carry unaccompanied luggage — check current rules before relying on it.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
Lorne	ok	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	go	go	ok
Apollo Bay	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×	×	ok	ok	go	go
Port Campbell	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×	×	ok	ok	go	go
Warrnambool	go	go	go	go	ok	go	ok	ok	go	ok	go	go
Port Fairy	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	×	×	ok	ok	go	go
Portland	go	go	go	go	ok	go	ok	ok	ok	ok	go	go
Colac	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	×	×	ok	go	go	go
Camperdown	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×	×	ok	go	go	go
Aireys Inlet	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×	×	ok	ok	go	go
Torquay	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×	×	ok	ok	go	go
Victoria (country-wide)	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Surf Coast and OtwaysTorquay to Cape Otway	best	best	ok	ok	cool	cool	cool	cool	ok	ok	best	best
Shipwreck CoastCape Otway to Portland	best	best	ok	ok	cool	cool	cool	cool	ok	ok	best	best

best: dry, mildok: workablecool: jacket, grey

Surf Coast and Otways: Coolest and wettest of the region; the Otways catch rain year-round, so pack a shell. Summer weekends sell out.
Shipwreck Coast: Southern Ocean weather changes fast; the cliffs are windy and often wet even in summer. Winter days are short and cold.

November to April is the reliable window. School holidays and long weekends double accommodation prices and fill the road with traffic.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes1 partGet in

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	p50	Note
Melbourne	Torquay	Car via the M1 and Surf Coast Highway	~1 h 15	Torquay is 95 km (59 mi) from Melbourne and 22 km (14 mi) from Geelong; this is where the road proper starts.Torquay is 59 mi (95 km) from Melbourne and 14 mi (22 km) from Geelong; this is where the road proper starts.
Avalon Airport (AVV)	Torquay	Car hire at the airport	~40 min	Much closer to the start of the road than Melbourne Tullamarine; serviced by Jetstar.
Geelong	Apollo Bay	V/Line coach along the Great Ocean Road	~2 h 30	Three services Monday–Friday, two on weekends; on Friday one continues to Warrnambool.
Melbourne	Warrnambool	V/Line train (inland route)	~3 h 20	Daily trains run inland via Colac, not along the coast.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works

Dish	Where	Timing / trap
Cafes and bakeries in Port Campbell	Port Campbell	The only place to eat near Port Campbell National Park; kitchens close early.
Seafood and pub meals	Apollo Bay, Lorne, Warrnambool	Book dinner in summer; walk-ins wait.
Dairy and cheese	Inland farms around Colac and Camperdown	This is Victoria's dairy country; look for farm-gate and factory outlets.

Go next

Victoria

Return via the Great Ocean Road or inland via Colac on the Princes Highway

The inland route is a similar distance but faster.

Australia

Fly out of Melbourne (MEL) or Avalon (AVV)

Most trips pair this drive with Melbourne.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep: 4 bases
Day trips: 4, 15 min to 50 min
Nights suggested: 2–4 nights
Ways in: 4 listed
Best months: Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec (all zones)

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

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Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

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Sources

Ask about South West Coast

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