Torquay (Bells Beach)Story N° 84
Great Ocean Road — Twelve Apostles, Otway Forests
Three days driving the Great Ocean Road from Torquay to Port Campbell — surfer-beach Bells, Otway temperate rainforest, the Twelve Apostles limestone stacks at sunset, London Arch + Loch Ard Gorge, koalas in the wild at Kennett River.
The itinerary.
3 days · 12 stops
Friday
Day One
MEL airport, drive 1h45 south-west to Lorne, afternoon Bells Beach + Erskine Falls.
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MEL → Lorne
Through Geelong + Torquay — 1h45 by car. Avis + Hertz at MEL. Avoid the Friday 14:00–18:00 Geelong rush window.
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Bells Beach
World-famous Easter Rip Curl Pro venue — 1.5 km of right-hand reef break. Surf watch from the cliff. Coffee at Bells Beach Surf Shop.
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Erskine Falls, Lorne
30 m waterfall in the Otways behind Lorne — 250-step descent from the lookout to the base. Free.
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Mantra Lorne
Heritage-listed 1875 Lorne Hotel reopened as a 273-room beach property — pool, four restaurants, walk to Lorne Pier.
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Hotel
Mantra Lorne mantra.com.au
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Getting around
- MEL → Lorne: 1h45 by car.
Saturday
Day Two
The drive — Lorne south to Apollo Bay, Kennett River koalas, Otway rainforest walk, Twelve Apostles at sundown.
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Kennett River koalas
Eucalypt-canopy walk from Grey River Road carpark — wild koalas in the trees, cockatoos at your feet. Free, 30-min slow walk.
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Maits Rest Rainforest Walk
30-min loop through the Otway temperate rainforest — myrtle beech + tree ferns + 300-year-old mountain ash. Free.
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Cape Otway Lighthouse
Mainland Australia's oldest lighthouse (1848) — guided tour available, climb the tower.
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Gibson Steps + Twelve Apostles
The Twelve Apostles aren't twelve any more (seven stand; the rest collapsed) but the sundown postcard view from the boardwalk is the whole reason you drove. Gibson Steps next door let you walk down to the beach below. Free.
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Twelve Apostles Lodge
5-room luxury B&B on a Port Campbell farm — 5 min from the Apostles, hosts pour gin from the home gin cellar at sundown.
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Hotel
Twelve Apostles Lodge twelveapostleslodge.com
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Getting around
- Lorne → Apollo Bay: 1h. Apollo Bay → Twelve Apostles: 1h. Park at Visitor Centre + walk.
Sunday
Day Three
Loch Ard Gorge + London Arch morning, drive back to Melbourne via inland route, fly out.
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Loch Ard Gorge
10 min west of the Apostles — the 1878 Loch Ard shipwreck's two teenage survivors washed up on this beach. Boardwalk down to the sand. Free.
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London Arch (formerly London Bridge)
Two-arch sea stack — the inner arch collapsed January 1990, stranding tourists on the outer rock (helicoptered to safety, no injuries). What's left is still photograph-worthy. Free.
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Port Campbell → MEL inland
Take the A1 Princes Highway inland (3h) instead of the Great Ocean Road back. Quicker, lets you stop at the You Yangs lookout. Allow 3h before international departures from MEL.
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Hotel
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Getting around
- Port Campbell → MEL: 3h via A1 inland or 4h back on the GOR.
Location.
Frequently asked
How many days do you need for Great Ocean Road — Twelve Apostles, Otway Forests?
3 days. The itinerary runs from Friday to Sunday and covers 12 curated stops across 3 days.
How much does Great Ocean Road — Twelve Apostles, Otway Forests cost?
Premium — premium lodging and signature experiences included.
Where do you stay during Great Ocean Road — Twelve Apostles, Otway Forests?
Mantra Lorne is the recommended base for the trip; the full hotel list per day is in the itinerary section.
What's included in the Great Ocean Road — Twelve Apostles, Otway Forests itinerary?
Day-by-day stops at 12 restaurants, museums, viewpoints and landmarks; transportation hints between each leg; and a hotel base in Torquay (Bells Beach).
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