Leave Melbourne CBD as early as you can — if you’re out the door before 7:00 am, you’ll beat a lot of the weekend traffic and have a much calmer run down the coast. The drive to Apollo Bay via the Great Ocean Road is usually about 5.5–7 hours total with stops, but that can stretch on a Sunday if you linger too long in the scenic bits. The first stretch is easiest on the freeway until Torquay, and then it becomes a slower, winding coastal road with limited passing lanes, so keep the pace relaxed and build in time for parking at the bigger lookouts and towns. First stop: Bells Beach in Torquay, where the clifftop car park makes for an easy leg-stretch and a proper ocean reset. Expect roughly 30–45 minutes here; it’s mostly about the view, the surf, and a quick photo, especially on a day when the swell is doing something dramatic.
Continue along the coast to Memorial Arch at Eastern View, the classic “you’ve arrived on the Great Ocean Road” photo stop. It’s a quick stop — 20–30 minutes is plenty — but worth it because it breaks up the drive and gives you that iconic moment under the timber arch. From there, keep heading west with the road hugging the coastline and cliff edges, then detour into Kennett River Koala Walk for a midday wildlife break. Give yourself 45–60 minutes to wander the roadside gums and look up slowly; the koalas are often higher than you expect, and the local parrots can be noisy enough to lead you straight to them. It’s a very casual stop, not a formal walk, so just park thoughtfully, keep an eye out in the treetops, and don’t rush — this is one of the best low-effort animal sightings on the route.
Roll into Apollo Bay Foreshore in the late afternoon and let the day slow down. The beach here has a gentler, small-town feel than the bigger surf stops earlier in the drive, and the foreshore promenade is ideal for a relaxed wander after a lot of time in the car. If the weather’s decent, sit for a while near the sand and watch the light drop; if it’s blustery, a coffee or warm drink nearby makes just as much sense. For dinner, head toward Apollo Bay Harbour and pick a well-reviewed seafood spot or pub-style meal — think fresh fish, calamari, chips, or a solid bowl of something warming — with most places landing around A$30–60 per person. In a small town like this, dinner timing matters: aim to arrive before the kitchen rush, especially if it’s a weekend, and you’ll have a much easier time getting a good table without feeling hurried.