Things to do in  Great Ocean Road

Editor's note: Parts of the Great Ocean Road remain in recovery after flooding in early 2026. See official sources for the most up-to-date information, and use caution when driving and walking in the area. Victoria’s Great Ocean Road offers scenic surprises at every turn. In signature Australian style, dense pockets of rainforest, charming coastal towns, and canopies populated by koalas flank endless stretches of white, sandy beaches. While driving yourself grants you more independence, it does mean you can’t spend as much time gazing at the scenery. Organized tours let you focus on the sights rather than the road.

The star attraction of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, the Twelve Apostles showcase the power of nature with the raw coastal scenery of rock formations separated from their nearby cliffs. While you won’t see 12 sea stacks—there are only seven limestone pillars now, and there weren’t even 12 to begin with—what remains is one of the most iconic views in Australia that people rarely miss when coming to Melbourne.

Located on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, Great Otway National Park is a lush area of forests, waterfalls, and windswept coastline. Whether you want to hike for an hour or several days, enjoy panoramic views from an historical lighthouse, bike through fern gullies, gaze at picture-perfect waterfalls, or seek out glowworms, there’s a lot to do here.

Best known as the home of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, which takes place in Melbourne every March, Albert Park is a leafy inner-city retreat that has a lake with swans, as well as sports venues, playgrounds, and a skyline view. Take a stroll along the lakeside boardwalk, or rent a boat to explore the lake.

Completed in 1997, the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) is one of the largest athletic centers in the southern hemisphere. Host of the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships, the center caters to both serious swimmers and recreational users—it’s home to aquatic facilities ranging from indoor and outdoor Olympic swimming pools to a steam room and sauna, and has other sports facilities as well.

Built around the 19th-century Lady Bay lighthouses, the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village hosts spectacular shipwreck memorabilia amid recreations of 1870s shops. Evenings see the multimillion-dollar sound and light show Tales of the Shipwreck Coast. You might also meet Maremma dogs that protect nesting penguins from foxes.