Scenic Drive on the Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is one of the world's great coast drives — carved along the cliffs of Australia's southern edge, swinging from surf beaches into rainforest and back to the sea.

Melbourne · Drive · about 1 hr 45 min · 57 miles · Pleasantness: Very High

Why this route is pleasant

• Hugs the cliffs of Australia's wild southern coast
• Built by returned WWI soldiers as a coastal memorial road
• Swings between surf beaches, headlands and rainforest
• Koalas in the gums and the Otway forest inland
• One of the most celebrated scenic drives anywhere

What you'll see

• The surf coast at Bells Beach and Torquay
• The Memorial Arch at Eastern View
• Cliffs and lighthouses around Lorne and Aireys Inlet
• Rainforest and koalas in the Otways near Apollo Bay

Best time to go

A clear day with time to stop often — the drive is the destination, so don't rush it.

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