Depart Torquay around 8:00 AM for the Great Ocean Road, following the coastal route towards Apollo Bay. The full drive is about 115 km and takes roughly three hours without stops, so this schedule works best with an early start. Begin with Bells Beach near Jan Juc, around 8:30–9:00 AM. Allow 30 minutes to walk to the lookout, watch the surfers and take in the dramatic cliffs; stay behind the marked barriers, as the exposure can be strong. Continue for approximately 25 minutes to Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet, arriving around 9:30 AM. The lighthouse exterior and clifftop paths are free to visit, while guided tours generally operate at set times and incur a fee—check the current Doers tour schedule before travelling, particularly in winter. This is the lighthouse made famous by Round the Twist, and the surrounding paths offer excellent views even if you do not join a tour.
From Aireys Inlet, follow the Great Ocean Road for about 15 minutes to the Memorial Arch at Eastern View. Make this the planned two-minute photograph stop around 10:35 AM, taking care when crossing or parking because the roadside area can be busy. Continue another 35–40 minutes to Lorne, arriving around 11:20 AM. Lorne is a good place to slow down, use the public toilets and have lunch; cafés and casual restaurants along Mountjoy Parade typically suit a budget of about A$25–45 per person. Allow until 12:30 PM, and check opening hours that morning because winter trading can be shorter on weekdays.
Leave Lorne for Erskine Falls, allowing about an hour for the winding drive inland, the walk to the lower viewing area and the return to the car. Aim to arrive around 1:30 PM and spend until 2:30 PM. The track can be damp, slippery and uneven in August, so wear shoes with good grip and take a light rain jacket; avoid climbing over barriers or approaching the creek edge. National park access is generally free, but the road is narrow in places and mobile reception can be unreliable. After returning to the coast, continue south through Wye River, a scenic stretch of forested road with occasional ocean glimpses, before carrying on to Apollo Bay. Expect to arrive around 3:30–4:00 PM, depending on traffic and photo pauses. Check VicTraffic before departure for closures, fallen trees or weather-related delays, and keep fuel topped up in Torquay or Lorne, as services become less frequent along the coast.