One long day
When people picture the Great Ocean Road, they picture the Twelve Apostles. Limestone stacks standing out of the Southern Ocean near Port Campbell, going gold late in the day. They're also a long way from anywhere. From Torquay, where the Great Ocean Road starts, the coast drive alone is around three hours without stops. And you'll want to stop a lot.
So this is the one Great Ocean Road outing that really does take the whole day. Our Great Ocean Road guide has the shorter trips to Lorne and Apollo Bay. This page is only about the big one: how to time it, where to stop, what's changed at the Apostles in 2026, and how to get home in one piece.
The good thing about doing it from Torquay is you only do it once, on whichever day the weather looks best, and you don't have to pack up the car to go. Leave early, take your time and come back to the same bed that night. After a 370 km day, the private hot tub at Holyday House is a good place to end up.
Book first: the new visitor centre
The Twelve Apostles precinct has been rebuilt. The new Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre opened on 16 October 2026, with interpretive displays, food, shops and a rooftop observation deck. From the centre it's a winding walk of about 2 km return out to the viewing platforms, so leave time for it and wear comfy shoes.
The big change: every visitor needs a booking. Choose an arrival time at twelveapostles.org.au; the booking holds your car park too. It's free until April 2027, when a fee is planned. The amount hasn't been published. Book online before you leave Torquay.
Sort out the drive first, then pick your slot. If you're following the itinerary below, early to mid-afternoon works. If you're going straight there on the inland route, you can get there late morning. Check the official site for current booking times and conditions before you go.
Coast out, inland back
The usual plan is the coast road one way and the quicker inland roads the other. From Torquay it's roughly 185 km along the Great Ocean Road to the Apostles, about three hours of driving with no stops. All those bends keep your average speed well under the limit. Add the stops and an easygoing run takes most of the day.
Coming back inland, through Colac and Winchelsea, is usually around two to two and a half hours. The whole loop is about 370 km.
We'd do the coast in the morning and inland in the evening. You see the scenery while you're fresh, you get to the Apostles in the afternoon light, and you're not on the winding coast road after dark. If you'd rather see the Apostles early and quiet, flip it. Drive inland first, get there mid-morning and take the coast home. Just leave enough time to be off the narrow bits before dusk.
A timed itinerary
These times assume an early start on a clear day. Add some for school holidays and summer weekends, when the coast road gets busy.
| Time | Stop | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00am | Leave Torquay | Head west on the Great Ocean Road from the edge of town |
| 7:10am | Bells Beach | A quick look from the clifftop lookout |
| 7:45am | Split Point Lighthouse & Memorial Arch | Aireys Inlet and Eastern View, a photo stop each |
| 8:15am | Lorne | Coffee and breakfast on the foreshore |
| 9:30am | Kennett River | Look for koalas along Grey River Road |
| 10:30am | Apollo Bay | Fuel, a stretch and an early lunch |
| 12:00pm | Great Otway National Park | A short rainforest walk on the way through the Otways |
| 2:00pm | Gibson Steps | Walk down to the beach beneath the cliffs |
| 2:30pm | Twelve Apostles | Your booked arrival at the new visitor centre |
| 4:00pm | Loch Ard Gorge & London Bridge | Lookouts a few minutes further west |
| 5:00pm | Head home inland | Via Colac and Winchelsea, which is quicker than the coast |
The stops, in order
Bells Beach to Aireys Inlet
Bells Beach is about ten minutes from the house. Today, a quick look from the lookout will do. Anglesea's next, then Aireys Inlet, with the white Split Point Lighthouse up on the headland. A few minutes on, the Memorial Arch at Eastern View honours the returned servicemen who built the road. Both are quick photo stops.
Lorne
About 45 minutes from Torquay, and the obvious place for brekkie. Get a coffee on the foreshore and stretch your legs, but don't get too comfy. The Apostles are still a long way west.
Kennett River
Kennett River, between Lorne and Apollo Bay, is one of the best-known spots for wild koalas. Walk a little way up Grey River Road from the coast and look up into the gums. Keep your distance, don't feed the birds or the koalas, and park well off the road. Our Kennett River koalas guide has more.
Apollo Bay
About 90 km and around 1 hour 50 minutes from Torquay. Fill the tank here. Once the road heads inland through the Otways the towns are small, and there's not much fuel until Port Campbell. It's a good spot for an early lunch by the harbour, too. For a slower visit to Apollo Bay, Lighthouse Road and Maits Rest, see our Cape Otway and Apollo Bay guide.
Great Otway National Park
West of Apollo Bay the road climbs up into tall rainforest. A short rainforest walk is the easy way to see it. If you've got time, the detour down Lighthouse Road to Cape Otway is worth it, and it's another good spot for koalas. But it adds roughly an hour or more, so make the call before you leave Apollo Bay. Check Parks Victoria for any track closures.
Gibson Steps
Just before the Apostles, a steep staircase cut into the cliff takes you down to the beach, where you can look up at two stacks from sea level. The steps reopened in February 2026 after being closed for a rockfall. Conditions change here, though, so follow the signs on the day and stay off the sand when the sea's big.
The Twelve Apostles
Park at the visitor centre at your booked time and walk out to the viewing platforms. Despite the name, there are far fewer than twelve stacks standing now, and the sea keeps reshaping them. The light's usually best late in the arvo. If you want the view from above, there are scenic helicopter flights near the Apostles. Check with the operators for current flights and prices.
Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge
A few minutes west is Loch Ard Gorge, named after the 1878 shipwreck. The clifftop lookouts are the main event. The staircase down to the gorge's beach has been shut since 2023 for safety reasons, so check the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority for where that's at. Past Port Campbell, London Bridge (the arch whose span collapsed in 1990) is a short drive further on if you've got the time.
Getting home safely
The drive home is where a good day can go wrong. Plan it as carefully as the drive out.
- Know when the sun sets. Near Port Campbell it's close to 9pm in midsummer but around 5:15pm in midwinter. In the cooler months, a late look at the Apostles means driving home in the dark
- Watch for wildlife at dusk. Kangaroos and wallabies are most active around dawn and dusk, on the inland roads as well as the coast. Slow down and use high beams where it's safe
- Share the driving. It's a long day behind the wheel. Swap at Apollo Bay and again for the run home
- Use the pull-over bays. If a queue builds up behind you on the coast road, let it go past. Keep left, especially on blind bends, where visitors sometimes drift across
- Check the road first. Storms and landslips sometimes close parts of the Great Ocean Road, like the stretch between Lorne and Skenes Creek in January 2026. Look at VicTraffic the morning you leave
If you've got kids, pack snacks, water and something to do in the car, and expect a quiet trip home. The next morning can be a slow one: the house has fibre internet and streaming, and the Surf Coast Walk starts 400m away at Whites Beach if your legs need a stretch. Visiting in winter or spring? Keep an eye on the water as you drive. Our whale watching guide tells you where to look.
Twelve Apostles day trip FAQ
How far are the Twelve Apostles from Torquay?
Roughly 185 km along the Great Ocean Road, so about three hours of driving without stops. The inland route via Colac is usually around two to two and a half hours.
Can you do the Twelve Apostles as a day trip from Torquay?
Yes, but it's a full day. Leave by about 7am, take the coast out and come back inland, and allow ten to twelve hours door to door. The itinerary on this page gets you home around 7pm.
Do I need to book to see the Twelve Apostles?
Yes. Everyone needs a booked arrival through twelveapostles.org.au, and that holds your parking too. Booking is free until April 2027, when a fee is planned; the amount hasn't been published.
Where should we stop for fuel?
Fill up in Torquay before you go and top up in Apollo Bay. There's not much fuel through the Otways until Port Campbell.
What's the best time of day to see the Apostles?
Late afternoon is the classic, for the light. Early morning is quieter. If you hang around for sunset, plan on driving home in the dark and take the inland route.
Is the trip suitable for kids?
Yes, with plenty of stops. Koala spotting at Kennett River and the beach at Gibson Steps break up the drive. The walk to the viewing platforms is about 2 km return, and keep a close eye on kids on the paths near cliff edges.
Want the Great Ocean Road as part of a longer stay? Check dates at Holyday House, or have a look at things to do in Torquay for the days in between. Rather not do it all in one hit? Try our three-day Great Ocean Road itinerary.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 13 October 2026. Opening hours, patrols, rules and closures change — check with the source before you go.
- New 12 Apostles Visitor Centre Opens — Premier of Victoria
- Twelve Apostles Visitor Centre — Visit Great Ocean Road
- Twelve Apostles bookings — Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority
- Gibson Steps Reopens to Visitors — Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority
- Getting to Torquay — Great Ocean Road Tourism
- Great Otway National Park — Parks Victoria