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The Great Ocean Road is a string of small towns rather than a single city, and each stop has a different feel. Torquay and Lorne are the busiest surf and beach bases, Apollo Bay is the working fishing town at the road’s halfway point, and Port Campbell and Warrnambool anchor the wild Shipwreck Coast. Hotel prices below are approximate mid year and January highs, and they swing hard with the school calendar. For a fuller accommodation breakdown, see where to stay guide, and our Great Ocean Road guide covers the route end to end.
Great Ocean Road Towns: The Surf Coast
Torquay
Torquay is the official start of the Great Ocean Road and the home of Australian surf brands Rip Curl and Quiksilver, both born here in 1969. The town suits surfers and families, with patrolled beaches at Torquay Surf Beach and Cosy Corner, and the Australian National Surfing Museum on Surf Coast Highway. It is the closest coast town to Melbourne, about 100 km and 90 minutes by car, which makes it the busiest weekend base. Hotels run from AUD 120 for a motel room to AUD 300 plus for beachfront apartments, and doubles in January.
Anglesea
Anglesea sits 35 km west of Torquay where the coast meets the Anglesea River and the heathland of the Great Otway National Park. It is quieter and cheaper than Lorne, and suits families and walkers, with the Surf Coast Walk passing through town and kangaroos often grazing on the golf course. The river mouth beach is safe for small children, and the town has a supermarket, bakery and surf shop. Motel rooms start around AUD 110 a night and holiday houses near the river run AUD 200 to AUD 350.
Lorne
Lorne is the coast’s classic holiday town, tucked between the Otway forest and Louttit Bay, 47 km from Torquay. Its patrolled beach, pier and the Erskine Falls rainforest on the edge of town make it the most popular overnight stop on the Surf Coast, and Mountjoy Parade runs thick with cafes, gelato shops and a craft market on summer weekends. It suits families and couples, and fills completely over Christmas and Easter. Beachfront apartments cost AUD 250 to AUD 500 a night in summer, dropping to about AUD 150 in winter.
Great Ocean Road Towns: The Otway Coast
Apollo Bay
Apollo Bay is the largest town between Lorne and Port Campbell and the gateway to the Otway rainforest, sitting at the foot of the ranges 45 km west of Lorne. It is a working fishing port, so the harbour sells fresh Southern Rock Lobster, and the long patrolled beach is the calmest on this stretch of coast. It suits families, hikers heading to the Otway waterfalls and anyone driving the road over two days, since it is the natural overnight midpoint. Motel rooms run AUD 100 to AUD 160 a night, seafront apartments AUD 180 to AUD 300.
Wye River
Wye River is a tiny settlement wedged between the road and the sea, 15 km west of Lorne, known for its surf beach at the mouth of the Wye River and the Wye River General Store, a favourite coffee and provisions stop. There is one general store, a couple of holiday houses and not much else, which is the point. It suits surfers and couples who want quiet, and the small number of rentals means prices run AUD 180 to AUD 350 a night with little seasonal discount.
Great Ocean Road Towns: The Shipwreck Coast
Port Campbell
Port Campbell is the compact base for the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Arch, sitting inside a sheltered bay 96 km west of Apollo Bay. The town is small, with a handful of cafes, a pub and a general store, and it empties after sunset once the tour buses leave. It suits photographers and anyone who wants to shoot the Apostles at sunrise without a long drive, which is calmest in autumn per our best time to visit guide. Motel rooms run AUD 90 to AUD 140, and the caravan park cabins cost about AUD 120 for a family cabin.
Warrnambool
Warrnambool is the largest city on the route, at the western end about 65 km past Port Campbell, with a population near 35,000. It is the whale watching capital of the region from June to September, with Southern Right Whales calving at Logan’s Beach as listed in our events and festivals guide, and it has the widest choice of restaurants, supermarkets and hotels on the coast. It suits families, whale watchers and anyone ending the drive who wants a real town rather than a village. Rooms run AUD 110 to AUD 180 for a motel and AUD 200 to AUD 350 for a waterfront hotel, and its weather stays mild all year per our weather by month guide.
Great Ocean Road Towns: Choosing Where to Base Yourself
Split a two night trip between Apollo Bay and Port Campbell to avoid backtracking, or stay in Lorne for three nights if you want one base with the best beach and cafes. Families do best in Lorne or Apollo Bay, surfers in Torquay or Wye River, and photographers in Port Campbell. Check travel tips guide for driving distances and things to do guide for what to see at each stop.
