The Great Ocean Road, which wiggles and squiggles along the southern coast of Australia just west of Melbourne, offers one incredible experience after the next. Whether you’re looking for fuzzy animals and cute towns or iconic lighthouses and out-of-this-world coastlines, this guide to must-see Great Ocean Road stops will take you to the most memorable places along the way. Here’s an east-to-west rundown of our favorite Great Ocean Road highlights.

Torquay

What We Loved: This is where the Great Ocean Road begins! Plus, Doc Hughes serves chai so good that I went back for a second cup.

Winki Pop (aka Winkipop)

What We Loved: The name — what’s not to love about a spot called “Winkipop?” And we had a great time watching the surfers out on the break.

Aireys Inlet

What We Loved: Split Point Lighthouse (you can climb to the top!)

Kennett River

What We Loved: Koalas at dusk — and if you’re willing to drive up, up, up the hill to the Grey River picnic area, glow worms at night!

Cape Otway

What We Loved: The Most Significant Lighthouse in Australia, the history, the wind-swept terrain, and more koalas. Check out my full post here.

The Great Ocean Walk

What We Loved: That there’s a 110-kilometer walk all along this tremendous shoreline … and that you can stroll along just a tiny fraction of it if you haven’t planned for more.

The 12 Apostles

What We Loved: The views, of course (though you can find less crowded places with views just as spectacular) … but what we really loved was that, if you wait until it’s nearly dark and you’re half-frozen into a popsicle, you can watch a colony of little blue penguins trundle up onto the beach to sleep for the night.

Loch Ard Gorge

What We Loved: Cool rock formations, great walks, shipwreck history … I wish we’d spent more time here.

Port Campbell

What We Loved: Stairs labeled “Stairs,” The Port Campbell Lolly Shop (try the crazy-good caramel logs), mochas at the Grassroots Deli Cafe, carrot cake at 12 Rocks Beach Bar Cafe (the best of the trip), and watching the surf crash on the rocks from the jetty.

London Bridge

What We Loved: A great rock structure and a spectacular sunset

The Grotto

What We Loved: A cliff, a cave, and spectacular colors

This Guy

What We Loved: Driving inland on Curdievale-Port Campbell Road and stumbling on propane tank art (and camels — this farm has camels!)

Bay of Islands

What We Loved: A wild walk at the top of the cliffs

Murnanes Bay

What We Loved: A long stretch of beach all to ourselves

Childer’s Cove

What We Loved: Vividly colored rocks at another completely empty beach (also, the friendly folks at Childers Cove Cheese Company are right nearby)

Magic Rock

What We Loved: Trekking out to a rock that somehow stands and holds its own against the ocean. This was so great that I wrote a whole post about it.

The Great Ocean Road technically ends just ten minutes north of this, but we kept heading west — and I feel like I would be remiss if I failed to mention three more amazing places:

Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve

What We Loved: Koalas and emus and kangaroos, oh my! We saw so many animals here, often at close range. In addition to the larger creatures, we saw all sorts of tiny birds, including Eurasian coots, European goldfinches, golden whistlers, and grey fantails. I am a huge splendid fairywren fan.

Killarney

What We Loved: One of the most stunning sunrises I have ever seen from the bedroom of our wonderful Airbnb, followed by a morning walk to a long, flat stretch of rock-strewn beach

Port Fairy

What We Loved: Nineteenth-century buildings, cozy cottages, cute shops, good food. We could happily have spent multiple days here.

How to Enjoy These Great Ocean Road Highlights

• Take At Least Three Days. You could technically drive the entire road in one day. We did it in five and wished for more.
• Find Amazing Places to Stay. I still remember our Airbnbs in Killarney (spectacular sunrise windows) and Port Campbell (cozy old schoolhouse) with great fondness.
• Book Ahead: If you want the cutest houses, the most expansive views, or the best access to wildlife or the sea — especially during the summer and school holidays — it pays to do your homework and reserve spots in advance.