Great Ocean Road self drive from Melbourne
The Great Ocean Road starts at Torquay and finishes at Allansford near Warrnambool, 243 km later. Torquay is just over an hour from Melbourne, and Visit Victoria's touring route takes three days, starting with Melbourne to Apollo Bay at 187 km and about 3 hours. The new Twelve Apostles visitor centre will require advance booking, so plan that stop before you go.
Updated
Key facts
- Length
- 243 km, from Torquay to Allansford near Warrnambool
- Melbourne to Torquay
- Just over an hour's drive to Torquay, the gateway to the Great Ocean Road
- Airport to Torquay
- Melbourne Airport is 110 km from Torquay and Avalon Airport is 49 km
- Melbourne to Apollo Bay
- 187 km, about 3 hours
- Melbourne to Twelve Apostles
- About 4.5 hours by road along the Great Ocean Road
- Twelve Apostles Visitor Centre
- Due to open in late 2026 (the visitor site says October) with advance booking required; a booking guarantees a parking spot at a set time
- Wildlife
- Be mindful of wildlife, particularly at dawn and dusk
- Rental desks
- Melbourne Airport desks are on the ground floor of the T123 car park opposite Terminal 2; Avalon Airport desks are staffed only when a booking has been made
Torquay to Allansford (near Warrnambool)
243 km along the Great Ocean Road; Melbourne to Apollo Bay is 187 km · About 3 hours Melbourne to Apollo Bay; about 4.5 hours Melbourne to the Twelve Apostles
Torquay
just over an hour from Melbourne
Where the Great Ocean Road begins and the surf coast starts; Bells Beach is nearby.
Lorne
first overnight stop in the 3 day plan
Erskine Falls and Teddy's Lookout are close; the drive on to Apollo Bay is about 45 minutes.
Apollo Bay
187 km from Melbourne, about 3 hours
Visit Victoria's day one finish and a base for the Great Otway National Park and Cape Otway.
Lavers Hill
47 km after Apollo Bay
The road leaves the coast here for the run to the Twelve Apostles.
Twelve Apostles
about 4.5 hours from Melbourne
Booking is required at the new visitor centre; Loch Ard Gorge, The Grotto, London Bridge and Bay of Islands are within 30 minutes.
Warrnambool and Allansford
The Great Ocean Road ends at Allansford near Warrnambool; Port Fairy is a further stop on Visit Victoria's route.
- Allansford (near Warrnambool)
Where does the Great Ocean Road start and finish?
The road starts at Torquay on the Surf Coast and runs west along Victoria's south-west coast for 243 km, finishing at Allansford near Warrnambool. Some tourism material describes the end simply as Warrnambool, which is about 12 km further on, so the signposted finish and the town you sleep in are not the same place.
Torquay is just over an hour's drive from Melbourne. Published itineraries from the regional tourism body and Visit Victoria all run west from Torquay.
How many days do you need to drive the Great Ocean Road?
The regional tourism body publishes itineraries of 1, 3 and 5 days, and its own guide says it is impossible to see everything in one day. Visit Victoria's touring route is three days: Melbourne to Apollo Bay (187 km, about 3 hours), Apollo Bay to Port Fairy (189 km, about 3 hours), then back to Melbourne inland via Colac (288 km, about 3.5 hours). The total is 664 km and about 9.5 hours of driving.
A same-day return from Melbourne to the Twelve Apostles is possible, since the outbound drive is about 4.5 hours, but the regional guide discourages it because you miss too much of the coast. If you only have one day, drive to Lorne or Apollo Bay and turn around instead of racing to the Apostles.
Which way should you drive it, and how do you start from the airport?
The published plans all drive west, from Torquay towards Warrnambool, and Visit Victoria returns inland via Colac so the loop back to Melbourne does not repeat the coast.
From Melbourne Airport it is 110 km to Torquay. Avalon Airport is 49 km from Torquay, which makes it the shorter start if you are flying in and heading straight to the coast. Both airports and central Melbourne have hire cars.
Twelve Apostles visitor centre and car park
The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority says the new Twelve Apostles Visitor Centre will introduce a booking and fee model. It is due to open in late 2026, and the official visitor site says October and that you must book to visit. A booking guarantees a parking spot at a specified time, and the car park has been expanded. The authority says fees will be in line with other popular nature-based attractions.
Because the rules at this site are changing, confirm the current arrangement at twelveapostles.org.au before you plan a sunset or sunrise visit. The wider site has toilets, lookout platforms, shelters, picnic tables and a cafe, and dogs are not allowed. Public access to Gibson Steps and Loch Ard Gorge is unchanged by the booking model.
Is the Great Ocean Road hard to drive, and can you drive it at night?
It is a winding coastal road with tight bends and lookouts, and the regional guide advises drivers to take regular breaks at rest areas, drive on the left and watch the speed limits. Stop only in lookouts and designated car parks, because stopping on the road itself is not allowed.
Kangaroos and koalas often cross the road unexpectedly, particularly at dawn and dusk, so plan to reach your last stop before dark. Check VicTraffic and VicEmergency before you leave.
- Stay behind safety barriers at viewpoints.
- Check the weather forecast; conditions can change suddenly, especially in winter.
- Use VicTraffic for road status and VicEmergency for warnings.
Hire car for the Great Ocean Road: pickup, one-way and unsealed roads
Melbourne Airport's rental desks are on the ground floor of the T123 car park opposite Terminal 2, and Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Redspot and SIXT operate there. At Avalon Airport, Budget, Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Sixt, Turnbull's and Kangaroo Rentals are in the arrivals hall, but their staff are present only when a booking has been made, so book ahead rather than turning up.
A one-way rental, for example ending in Adelaide, may carry a fee and is not always allowed. Hertz's terms, as one example, say you are told at reservation whether a different return location is permitted and what the fee is. The same terms list driving on unsealed roads as a prohibited use, so check the agreement before taking any gravel detour to a lookout or beach. Coverage rules vary by company and sit in your rental agreement.
Compare cars at Melbourne Airport
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Check the pickup point and what the agreement allows on the roads in this guide before you book.
Preparing live car hire search
Questions people ask
Where does the Great Ocean Road start and finish?
It starts at Torquay and finishes at Allansford near Warrnambool, 243 km later.
How many days do you need to drive the Great Ocean Road?
Visit Victoria's self-drive route takes three days, with 664 km and about 9.5 hours of driving including an inland return via Colac. The regional tourism body publishes 1, 3 and 5 day plans.
Can you drive the Great Ocean Road in one day from Melbourne?
You can reach the Twelve Apostles in about 4.5 hours, so a same-day return is possible, but the regional guide discourages it. A shorter out-and-back to Lorne or Apollo Bay is more realistic.
Is the Great Ocean Road hard to drive?
It is winding, with tight bends and lookout turn-offs. Take regular breaks, stop only in designated car parks and watch for wildlife at dawn and dusk.
How far is Melbourne Airport from the Great Ocean Road?
Melbourne Airport is 110 km from Torquay, where the road starts. Avalon Airport is 49 km from Torquay.
Do you need to book the Twelve Apostles?
The new visitor centre requires advance booking, and a booking guarantees a parking spot at a set time. Check twelveapostles.org.au for the current arrangement and fees.