The Great Ocean Road is a 150 mile (240 km) road along the south coast of Victoria, southwest of Melbourne. It spreads between Torquay in the east, and Allansford/Warrnambool in the west. As Melbourne is the nearest city, most travelers get to the Great Ocean Road from there, but it's also accessible from other parts of Australia. Here's how to get to the Great Ocean Road.
From Melbourne
By Private Car
As the Great Ocean Road offers a road trip experience, it makes sense to get there and around by private car.
The starting point of the Great Ocean Road, Torquay, is 64 miles (103 km) from Melbourne, and takes about 75 minutes to drive to (depending on traffic in Melbourne). The Freeway Extension bypasses Geelong, south-west of Melbourne, as going through that city would add to the journey time. Get on the M1 leaving Melbourne, going in the direction of Geelong, and then follow the signs to Torquay.
By Tour
If you don't want to drive yourself, it's easy to get a day or overnight tour from Melbourne to the Great Ocean Road. Tours cater to a range of needs and interests, so speak to your local specialist to arrange the ideal tour for you.
While buses and trains to places along the Great Ocean Road are available from Melbourne, these modes of transport limit your ability to travel easily along the Great Ocean Road. So, if you plan to see more than just one or two towns along the coast, we don't recommend taking a bus or train.
From Adelaide
By Private Car
Although a longer trip than coming from Melbourne, some travelers like to drive to the Great Ocean Road from Adelaide. This means beginning the road from the west near Warrnambool, rather than from Torquay in the east, as you would from Melbourne. The journey is about 370 miles (600 km), taking around six hours to Warrnambool. You could do the journey to Warrnambool in one day, or take your time and go via Mount Gambier, an attractive area of lakes and volcanic formations.
From Elsewhere in Australia
The most straightforward way of getting from elsewhere in Australia to the Great Ocean Road is to travel to Melbourne first, and then go overland from there. However, if you want to fly closer to the Great Ocean Road, Avalon Airport is just outside Geelong, which is about a 1.5-hour drive from central Melbourne. Avalon Airport receives flights from Sydney, the Gold Coast, Adelaide, and Hobart, and is about a half-hour drive from Torquay.