Towards the end of our stay on the dairy farm near Kerang, we decided it would be a good idea to drive across the country to our next job in WA. We purchased an old Ford Futura for $6000 two weeks before heading off, and kept our fingers crossed that no warning lights would appear on the dash.

Early in the morning on October 8th 2022 we bid farewell to the lovely family we had been working for and headed straight to Melbourne airport, where we picked up two old friends from Devon and a new friend from Melbourne. From there, we started our Great Ocean Road Adventure.

Day One:

Our first stop was the beach at Torquay. Between showers of rain, we were able to enjoy the rolling waves and the dramatic sandstone cliffs stretching around the headlands. We grabbed a coffee and a light lunch before continuing west past Anglesea and Aireys Inlet, and arriving at the famous Great Ocean Road gateway. We very quickly realised that this would not be an efficient journey; every bend in the road reveals a new beach, cliff, inlet, or tourist attractions to stop at. We were barely able to drive for a mile at a time without jumping out to take photos and investigate tourist signs.

Just after the famous gateway, we visited one of our favourite places on the road. Erskine Falls is well signposted from the road, but can only be reached by foot down a steep flight of steps. The waterfall is truly stunning though, and definitely worth the scramble!

Next up was the Kennet River Koala Walk. Although it was slightly wet underfoot, this walk along the river and into the eucalyptus forest is very peaceful, and we were able to spot koalas, kangaroos, and plenty of bird species. We even saw a koala doing a poo which was a highlight of our entire trip to Australia.

At the end of the day we were treated to a fantastic rainbow over a choppy sea, before settling down for a night in a motel in Apollo Bay. Far from the negative image most people have of motels, the Australians have reinvented the niche, and our accommodation for the night was a modern and spacious three-bedroom apartment. Motels also work out cheaper than hostels if you have a few people in your group, and you are allowed to bring your own booze (which was banned in many Australian hostels we visited).

Day two:

After a quick bacon roll in Apollo Bay, we started the second day of our trip by visiting Maits Rest Rainforest Walk. This wooden boardwalk takes about 30 minutes to walk around, and we learned a lot about the indigenous flora and fauna of Australia. This is a special place, and when you’re surrounded by giant tree ferns and ancient looming trees and canopies, it is easy to imagine you’ve travelled back to a time before humans.

A few miles down the road, we stopped at Cape Otway Lightstation. Once an essential building for saving lives at sea, the lighthouse now offers spectacular views of the cliffs and seas around Cape Otway. This is also a good place to spot whales, although we missed the whale migration by only a few days. There is a small cafe in the old lighthouse keeper’s cottage which is ideal for a quick lunch.

We continued past Castle Cove Lookout and Crowes Lookout to the Great Ocean Road Wildlife Park. Here you can pet wallabies and emus, see kangaroos and deers, and even see a mated pair of dingos up close. If you haven’t had a chance to see any iconic Australian animals, this place is worth a visit.

We stretched our legs again at Princetown Beach. The weather was on our side, so we had a paddle in the sea and a bit of a sit-down in the sun. There are dozens of equally gorgeous beaches along the ocean road, so it was good to have loads of time and no need to rush. After Princetown, we stopped to see the main attraction on the Great Ocean Road. The Twelve Apostles stood proudly against the buffeting waves, silhouetted by the sun and the reflection of the water. We counted less than a dozen limestone pillars, but they still looked very impressive.

We spent the night in Port Campbell the the Sow and Pigets Brewery and Hostel. This a great venue and produces some cracking beer. Port Campbell itself is a quiet but scenic coastal town with a few cafés, motels and B&Bs, making it a good place to spend the night.

Day three:

London Bridge did not disappoint. Located much more scenically than the original London Bridge, this limestone island makes a stunning picture against the blue ocean. We had a quick look over the cliffs at the bay of Martyrs, and stopped again at the Bay of Islands for a quick paddle and a photoshoot in the sun. The crystal-clear water and yellow sand here are what you imagine when you think of Australian beaches, and the sun was very welcome after a long winter in Victoria.

Sadly, at this point we had to rush to Warrnambool to drop off two of our friends at the train station. The countryside around this last leg of the journey is very pleasant, and is made up of rolling hills dotted with sheep, beef and dairy farms. Once in Warnambool, we grabbed some lunch before heading on westwards. We would, however, recommend budgeting an entire day for this leg of the trip, as there are a lot of beaches and attractions to have a look at.

We continued driving all the way to Esperance, and will make another post in the future about this adventure! If you have access to transport, the Great Ocean Road is a must-do activity. We would suggest you book accommodation ahead and budget plenty of time to see as much as you can! Mostly though, relax and enjoy the drive across some of the most scenic coastline in Australia.