Start early at Bake Bola in Geelong CBD for coffee, pastries, and a proper breakfast before you get on the road — think A$15–25 per person and roughly 45 minutes so you’re not rushing. If you’re arriving around 6:15am and want something open and reliable, this is the easiest reset after the airport or ferry/drive. From there, make a short hop to Geelong Waterfront / Eastern Beach for a quick leg-stretch along the bay; it’s a flat, easy promenade and a nice way to see the city wake up before the long scenic drive begins. Give yourself about an hour here, especially if you want a few photos by the palms, the promenade, or the swimming enclosure.
Head west along the Great Ocean Road toward Aireys Inlet, where Split Point Lighthouse is the first classic coastal stop worth slowing down for. The views are best when the weather’s clear, and the short visit is perfect before the road gets busier farther along. After that, continue to Eastern View for the Memorial Arch — it’s quick, iconic, and usually crowded with cars, so just pull over, snap your photo, and move on. By mid-afternoon, the drive becomes even more scenic as you roll into Lorne and stop at Teddy’s Lookout; this is one of the best viewpoints on the entire stretch, with a sweeping look over the winding coastline and the river mouth below. Parking is straightforward but limited on busy days, so plan about 30 minutes and don’t be surprised if you want to linger longer.
Keep the last stretch relaxed and aim for Apollo Bay before dinner. The town is compact, so once you’re in, everything is easy on foot — perfect after a full day in the car. Finish with dinner at The Bottle of Milk, a casual local favorite for burgers and beach-town comfort food, usually around A$20–35 per person and about an hour if it’s not too busy. If you still have energy after dinner, walk down to the foreshore for a sunset look at the bay; otherwise, call it an early night so you’re fresh for the next day’s bigger coastal stops.
Start with an easy reset at Apollo Bay Beach — a short stroll along the foreshore is the best way to wake up before the big-sight day kicks in. If the tide is low and the wind’s calm, this is a lovely 20–30 minute wander for photos and a quiet coffee in hand. From there, head straight to Koala Cafe for breakfast and a proper caffeine refill; it’s a practical stop right in town, and you’ll usually be looking at about A$15–25 per person for eggs, toast, coffee, and something sweet to take along if you’re in a hurry. Give yourself around 45 minutes here, then continue up to Marriner’s Lookout in the hills behind Apollo Bay for that classic sweep over the curved bay and the green hinterland. It’s a quick detour, but the view is worth the extra few minutes — especially in the morning light when the coastline looks its cleanest and least hazy.
Once you roll into Port Campbell, make a beeline for Sow and Piglets Bakery and grab a scallop pie or a savory pastry before the crowds build. This is one of those very local, very practical stops that makes the day easier; budget A$12–22 per person and don’t expect to linger too long unless you want to sit down for lunch in town. After that, head to Gibson Steps first, while your energy is still good. The walk down to the beach is short but steep enough to feel like a real descent, and from the sand you get a dramatic view back toward the cliffs and stacks. Plan around 45 minutes here, and if conditions are rough or the tide is high, just enjoy the lookout area rather than pushing the beach access.
Save the marquee stop, The Twelve Apostles, for the best afternoon light; the viewing platforms are easy to access and usually need a solid hour if you want to walk between lookouts without rushing. From there, continue the westbound cluster in order: Loch Ard Gorge, Razorback, The Grotto, and London Arch. This section works best as a relaxed circuit, with each stop giving you a different angle on the same wild coastline — cliffs, blowholes, natural bridges, and those huge limestone formations that make this part of the road unforgettable. Expect roughly 2 hours for the whole sequence, depending on how many photos you take and whether you want to do the short walks down to the viewing points. If you’re making good time, you can keep going to Warrnambool for the night; if not, it’s completely sensible to linger in the Port Campbell National Park area and keep the pace slower rather than forcing the final drive.