Ease into your first day with a relaxed beachfront start at Apollo Bay Foreshore, grabbing a takeaway coffee from Stella's Bakery and watching the surf while planning the day. Afterward, take the pleasant short walk to Horseshoe Bay for tidepool spotting and coastal photography, then wander back through the town center to browse local galleries and produce at Apollo Bay General Store before lunch.
After a relaxed morning, head to Marriners Lookout for sweeping coastal panoramas and a short, sunlit stroll along the clifftop trails, then descend toward Shelly Beach to explore its sheltered sand and rock ledges at low tide. Follow this with a late-afternoon stop at La Bimba or Apollo Bay Hotel for a seaside drink or early dinner-watch the sky change over the bay while planning an easy evening walk along the foreshore to round out your first day.
As the sun lowers, take a gentle stroll from the foreshore to Gibson's Steps Lookout for a different coastal angle, then settle in at The Great Ocean Road Brewhouse for a local craft beer and shared plates while listening to live music or quiet ocean sounds. Finish the night with a short moonlit walk to Point Bunbury to watch lights glimmer on the water and plan tomorrow's drive along the Great Ocean Road.
Start early with a scenic drive west along the Great Ocean Road to Cape Otway Lightstation, where you can climb the historic lighthouse and scan the horizon for whales from the clifftop viewing platforms. Continue to Maits Rest Rainforest Walk for an easy, boardwalked stroll beneath towering eucalyptus and ferns-perfect after yesterday's coastal time-and finish the morning with a hearty brunch at Otway Estate or their nearby café before heading deeper into the rainforest.
After a morning among lighthouses and boardwalks, drive east along the Great Ocean Road to Kennett River for a relaxed koala-spotting stop and a riverside picnic-bring binoculars for birdwatching along the Grey River mouth. Continue to Moggs Creek for a cliff-top stroll and late-afternoon surf-watch, then wind inland to the cool fern gullies of Melba Gully for a short trail beneath towering tree ferns before settling into a cosy evening at a nearby country pub.
Unwind after a day on the road with a coastal sunset dinner at Apollo Bay Fishermen's Co-op sampling freshly caught seafood and local wines on the wharf, then head to SkyHigh Observatory (or a nearby low-light vantage) for stargazing-clear skies here bring out the Milky Way above the headland. Finish with a peaceful nightcap and live-acoustic set (when available) at La Bimba or a moonlit walk along the quieter stretch of Dunne's Point Reserve, letting the sound of waves and forest breezes stitch together your Great Ocean Road day.