If you’ve spent any time in Victoria, chances are you’ve travelled the Great Ocean Road and seen the Twelve Apostles. But the Great Ocean Road hugs 300 kilometres of the state’s coastline, and offers plenty more to see and do if you know where to look. Here are our favourite Great Ocean Road attractions to get you started.

Drop in on the animals

Drive the Great Ocean Road and you will be entering the wild and spectacular Port Campbell National Park, whose coastline features the unmistakable ocean-sculpted rocks that make this area world-famous. A great way to experience the Port Campbell National Park is via the Port Campbell Discovery Walk.

Walk among the treetops

For a unique view of this majestic region, head to the Otways and ascend into the sky! Here, you will find the 600-metre-long, 30-metre-high Rainforest and Treetop Walk, which takes you 1.9 kilometres through the tree canopy, where you can get a unique view of the rainforest.

Meet local wildlife

Located five kilometres outside of Apollo Bay, Wildlife Wonders offers ecotourism experiences that immerse you in the local environment. All profits from Wildlife Wonders go towards the Conservation Ecology Centre for use in protecting the flora and fauna in the region.

Lounge around at Lorne

With a relaxed pace of life, plenty of village shops, a tranquil ocean beach, and forest and river ecosystems, Lorne offers something for all visitors. Walk to Erskine Falls for a rejuvenating escape into nature, or stop at the Great Ocean Road Story exhibit at the Great Ocean Road Heritage Centre for an insight into the recent history of the region.

Surf for real

For experienced surfers, a visit to Bells Beach is a must while you’re in the region. For non-surfers, Bells Beach offers a rugged and pristine ocean beach that makes a wonderful backdrop for an afternoon spent on the sand.

Drive into a volcano

Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve is a must-visit destination, with plenty of koalas, emus, echidnas, birds and kangaroos to spot. The reserve centres around a giant crater made by a volcanic eruption 30,000 years ago, and visitors can experience the unforgettable excitement of driving down the side of the crater!

To read more of our top picks along the Great Ocean Road, check out the Summer 2021–2022 edition of Caravanning Australia.