I’d been hyping this drive up for months. Five days, rented Corolla, no real plan. Turns out the Great Ocean Road absolutely lives up to the hype — but the stuff worth knowing isn’t in any brochure.
Get there before 7am or don’t bother
The Twelve Apostles at 6:30am is genuinely one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. By 10am it’s a car park with a view. I set my alarm three days in a row just to catch different light. Worth every lost hour of sleep, no question.
Stop at Kennett River
Most people blow straight past this little spot chasing the big ticket sights. Big mistake. There’s a side road behind the caravan park where koalas are just… everywhere. In the trees, napping, completely unbothered by humans staring up at them. I counted nine in under half an hour. No crowds, no entry fee, no queue.
The food situation
Apollo Bay has a bakery that opens at 6am and the pies are genuinely excellent. If you’re watching the budget, pack a cooler and eat on the beach — that’s honestly the best meal you’ll have anyway. Five days felt like just enough. Block out more time than you think you need. You’ll use every bit of it.