Driving the Great Ocean Road

6 min read Updated November 2026

The Great Ocean Road is the coast road from Torquay to Allansford, just east of Warrnambool. Its length is given as 243 km by several sources and about 240 km by others; either way, the part most visitors drive is the 180 km from Torquay to the Twelve Apostles. Returned servicemen built it between 1919 and 1932, about 3,000 of them and mostly with hand tools, as a memorial to those who served in the First World War. The Memorial Arch at Eastern View, between Aireys Inlet and Lorne, marks that history. The first arch there went up in 1939 and has since been replaced.

Section by section

From Torquay the road runs along the Surf Coast past Anglesea and Aireys Inlet and through the Memorial Arch on the way to Lorne. Between Lorne and Apollo Bay the speed limit is 80 km/h, but one independent driving guide notes that most drivers average 50 to 60 km/h, so the section can take longer than the table shows. Kennett River, roughly halfway, is known for koalas in the trees of the Great Otway National Park.

West of Apollo Bay, the 85 km to the Twelve Apostles take about 1 hour 19 minutes. The Cape Otway Lightstation lies off this section; it is the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia, open Friday to Tuesday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, and its tower is closed for conservation works at the time of writing. Past the Apostles, Gibson Steps and Loch Ard Gorge, which is only minutes away, the road continues to Port Campbell, London Bridge and the Bay of Islands. For the return to Melbourne, the inland road via Colac is about an hour quicker than the coast.

Road rules for visitors

Transport Victoria sets out the basics for tourists. Drive on the left at all times. A valid international licence lets you drive in Victoria for up to six months. Give way at intersections and roundabouts, and never use a phone at the wheel, as it is illegal. Take a break every two hours, and watch for wildlife on the road, especially at dawn and dusk. Children in a hire car follow the same rules as in a private car: under seven, they need a child restraint or booster seat.

Closures and road works

This coast road is exposed to landslips and storms. In January 2026 it was closed in both directions between Lorne and Skenes Creek after extreme weather, flooding and possible landslips. Transport Victoria repaired landslips between Kennett River and Grey River from late May 2026, with single-lane closures and traffic lights on weekdays, and finished in August 2026. The inland road from Colac to Lavers Hill followed in September. According to its update of October 2026, works on the Cobden to Port Campbell and Timboon to Port Campbell roads are expected to be completed in late 2026, so expect traffic lights and lower speed limits there if you take the inland route home. Check VicTraffic or VicEmergency on the morning you drive, and report damage or hazards to VicRoads on 13 11 70.

Fire danger days

The Otways and the coast are bushfire country. The CFA asks travellers to check the Fire Danger Rating forecast every day over summer, to save the VicEmergency Hotline (1800 226 226) and to download the VicEmergency app before setting out. On a day declared Catastrophic, do not travel into high-risk bushfire areas; on hot, dry and windy days, have a plan B in a town or city.

Parking at the sights

Since the Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre opened on 16 October 2026, a booking is required before you arrive at the Twelve Apostles, and it secures a space in the car park for a set time. The new car park has room for more than 950 vehicles, and the public can book up to one month ahead. Booking is free until April 2027, when a fee will be introduced. Access to Loch Ard Gorge and Gibson Steps stays as before. At London Bridge, the viewing area for The Arch is closed because of unstable cliffs and track erosion. Dogs are not allowed anywhere in Port Campbell National Park.

A self-drive day fits better once you know the times. The tour or self-drive comparison weighs the long day at the wheel against a tour, and the itineraries split the drive over two or three days.