Why base yourself in Torquay
Most Great Ocean Road itineraries have you packing the car every morning and checking into somewhere new every night. You don't have to. Torquay is where the road starts, so you can do it as three day trips, each going a bit further than the last, and come back to the same house every evening.
The road runs about 240 km from Torquay to Allansford, near Warrnambool. Returned soldiers built it between 1919 and 1932 as a memorial to those killed in the First World War. You won't drive all of it in three days, and you don't need to. The best bits for a short stay are the first stretch to Lorne, the rainforest and koala country around Apollo Bay, and the limestone stacks at the Twelve Apostles.
Here's how we'd split it. Swap the days around to suit the weather. Save the longest drive for the clearest day.
Day 1: Anglesea, Aireys Inlet and Lorne
An easy first day. Lorne is about 45 minutes away without stops, so you can take the morning slowly and still be home for an early dinner.
Bells Beach and Anglesea
Bells Beach is a 10-minute drive from the house, and the clifftop lookout is worth a quick stop even if you don't surf. Anglesea is about 18 km from Torquay. The Anglesea Golf Club runs 25-minute kangaroo tours on the course. Total fire bans, strong winds or heat over 37°C can also pause tours; see our Anglesea day trip guide for details.
Aireys Inlet and the Memorial Arch
Next is Aireys Inlet, with the white Split Point Lighthouse up on the headland (see our Split Point Lighthouse guide). A few minutes on is the Memorial Arch at Eastern View, about 30 to 35 minutes from Torquay. It honours the returned servicemen who built the road. A quick photo, then on you go. From here the road hugs the coast and the driving gets slower.
Lorne
Lunch, a walk along the foreshore, maybe a dip if it's warm. For the view, Teddy's Lookout is at the end of George Street, about 2 km from the middle of town, with a small car park right by it. There are no toilets up there and dogs aren't allowed. Our Lorne day trip guide covers the town properly.
A note on the Lorne waterfalls
The January 2026 floods did real damage to the walking tracks around Lorne. On 17 October, the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority still listed Erskine Falls, Phantom Falls, Won Wondah and Henderson Falls, St Georges River Loop and Cora Lynn Cascades as closed. At Erskine Falls, the Authority told us on 19 October that the upper platform is open and the bottom platform is closed, with no date to reopen. Some tracks lost bridges, and repairs will take a while.
Day 2: Kennett River, Apollo Bay and the Otways
A longer one. Apollo Bay is about 1 hour 50 minutes from Torquay, and past Lorne the road really starts to wind along the cliffs. Leave by mid-morning at the latest. You already did the Day 1 stops, so drive straight through to Lorne and start the day from there.
Kennett River koalas
Between Lorne and Apollo Bay, stop at Wye River before continuing to Kennett. The village beach and hotel make a good break; our Wye River guide has the details. Kennett River is one of the best-known places to see wild koalas. Walk a little way up Grey River Road and look up into the gums. Keep your distance and don't feed anything, birds included. The car park, roads and toilets there were upgraded in 2026, which helps on a busy day. More in our Kennett River koalas guide.
Apollo Bay
A good spot for a late lunch and a wander by the harbour. Top up the fuel here if you're going any further west. For the harbour, Cape Otway Lightstation and Maits Rest in more detail, see our Cape Otway and Apollo Bay guide.
Into the Otways
A short drive west of Apollo Bay, the road climbs into tall, wet rainforest. Maits Rest Rainforest Walk is the easy way to see it, and it wasn't on the closed list when we checked. If you want to make the Otways the main event from Torquay, our Otway Fly day trip guide covers the treetop walk, waterfalls and inland route. If you've got a dog with you, remember national parks generally don't allow them, so check Parks Victoria first.
Getting home
Come back the way you came, which is about 1 hour 50 minutes from Apollo Bay without stops. Aim to be through the twisty section before dark, when the wildlife comes out. Then it's the hot tub, and a fire if the evening's cool.
Photo: Emily Godfrey,
courtesy of Visit Victoria 
Photo: William Watt,
courtesy of Visit Victoria Day 3: the Twelve Apostles
The big one. The Twelve Apostles are about 3 hours from Torquay along the Great Ocean Road, or 2 to 2.5 hours on the inland route. The usual plan is to drive one way on each. Since you've already seen the coast as far as Apollo Bay, you could go inland in the morning, have a proper look at the Apostles, Gibson Steps and Loch Ard Gorge, and be home at a reasonable hour.
The Apostles now have a new visitor centre, and you book an arrival time at twelveapostles.org.au. We've put the timings, stops, booking details and tips for the drive home in our Twelve Apostles day trip guide, so we won't repeat it here.
Check before you go
The Great Ocean Road is cut into cliffs, and weather can close it. In January 2026, flash flooding shut the road between Lorne and Skenes Creek, and the detour inland through Colac adds a lot of time and distance. Closures like that don't happen often, but a quick check each morning saves you a wasted drive.
Roads
VicTraffic (traffic.transport.vic.gov.au) shows live closures, roadworks and detours. Look the morning you leave. Planned roadworks show up there too, so you'll know about any delays before you leave.
Parks, walks and waterfalls
The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority and Parks Victoria post track closures and alerts. Check them before you set out for a particular walk, especially around Lorne since the floods.
Fire danger
In summer, check the fire danger rating and any total fire ban on the CFA site or the VicEmergency app. On Extreme days, CFA advises reconsidering travel through bushfire risk areas. On the worst days whole parks can shut: on 9 January 2026, public land in the South West district, including the Great Otway National Park, was closed. If it's a bad day, stay close to town and save the drive.
Events
Big events close the road too. Amy's Gran Fondo, a big cycling event, closes the road between Lorne and Skenes Creek for most of the day. The next one is listed for Sunday 12 September 2027. Check the event sites if your dates are close.
Three-day Great Ocean Road FAQ
Is three days enough for the Great Ocean Road?
For the highlights, yes. Three day trips from Torquay cover Lorne, Kennett River, Apollo Bay, the Otways and the Twelve Apostles. You won't see every town, but you won't be rushing either.
Why not stay somewhere new each night?
You can, but you'll spend a lot of time packing and unpacking. From one base you can swap days around for the weather and leave the bags where they are.
Which day should I do the Twelve Apostles?
Whichever day has the best forecast. It's the longest drive and the one most worth clear weather. Book your arrival time once you've picked the day.
Are the waterfalls near Lorne open?
Partly. On 19 October 2026 the Authority told us Erskine Falls' upper platform is open but the bottom platform is closed, with no reopening date, and several other Lorne walks are still closed after the January floods. Check the live trail closures map before you go.
How do I know if the Great Ocean Road is closed?
Check VicTraffic on the morning you leave, and VicEmergency in summer for fires. If part of the road is shut, the detour is usually inland through Colac and takes much longer.
Can I bring the dog?
Each town and beach has its own dog rules, so check the local signs. In the national parks and at places like Teddy's Lookout, no. Get in touch with us first about bringing your dog to the house, and remember dogs can't be left alone inside while you're out for the day.
Want the shorter version? Our Great Ocean Road guide covers the easy day trips, and the whale watching guide tells you where to look in winter and spring. Not driving? See getting to Torquay without a car. And for the days you stay put, there's things to do in Torquay. Ready to plan it? Check dates and send us an enquiry.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 19 October 2026. Opening hours, patrols, rules and closures change — check with the source before you go.
- Lorne Walking Trail Closures (live map) — Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority
- Walks and Attractions (Teddy's Lookout page and navigation) — Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority
- Storm Recovery Update: Closures in Eastern Great Otway National Park — Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority
- Phantom Falls Walk - Temporarily closed — Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority
- Kennett River Improvements Complete — Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority
- Kangaroo Tours — Anglesea Golf Club
- Great Ocean Road to close for car recovery — Bay 93.9
- CFA bracing for horror fire day — Bay 93.9
- Amy's Gran Fondo community information — Amy's Gran Fondo
- Great Ocean Road — Wikipedia