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Australia & OceaniaCliffs, koalas, surf breaks, Twelve Apostles at sunset

Great Ocean Road (Australia)

Melbourne to Adelaide via the world's most scenic coastal drive

Built by returned WWI soldiers as the world's largest war memorial. The 243 km 'Great Ocean Road' proper runs Torquay → Allansford; most travellers continue to Adelaide (a further 500 km via Grampians). Drive east-to-west so viewpoints are on your left (safer pull-offs).

Distance
664 km
Suggested time
3–5 days
Best months
November – April (Southern Hemisphere summer)
Budget / day (2 people)
AUD 250–400 (car + fuel + motel + pub meal)
Car type
Small SUV — some Grampians tracks are gravel. Automatic (Aussies drive on the LEFT).
Best for
Photographers · First-time Australia · Surf fans

Day-by-day route

Day 1
190 km
Melbourne → Apollo Bay

Bells Beach surf + Kennett River koalas (free, wild)

Day 2
100 km
Apollo Bay → Port Campbell

Twelve Apostles at sunset + Loch Ard Gorge

Day 3
220 km
Port Campbell → Grampians NP

The Grampians — MacKenzie Falls + Pinnacle hike

Day 4
500 km
Grampians → Adelaide

Coonawarra wine region + Naracoorte Caves

Book these before you fly

Apollo Bay + Port Campbell accommodation 2–3 months out for peak, Twelve Apostles helicopter flight (worth the AUD 200).

The honest downside

Left-hand-side driving. Kangaroos at dawn/dusk — don't drive after sunset. Twelve Apostles gets 10,000 visitors/day at 4pm — go early or wait for sunset.

Other road trips worth planning

Iceland Ring Road (Route 1)
Iceland
Scotland's North Coast 500
Scotland
Amalfi Coast + Cilento loop
Italy
Norway — Atlantic Road + Trollstigen
Norway
Pacific Coast Highway (California)
USA
Route 66 — Chicago to Santa Monica
USA

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