Why Honeymoon on the Great Ocean Road
A road trip is one of the best ways to start married life. It gives you time together, unplanned stops and a sense that you are discovering a place yourselves. The Great Ocean Road delivers on all of that, with lookouts every few miles, small towns made for lingering and a mix of beaches, forests and cliffs.
It also works well as a counterpoint to the rest of an Australian trip. After the tropical north or the red desert, the cool, wild Southern Ocean feels entirely different. The light is softer, the waves are big and the coast has a rugged, windswept beauty.
It is easy to combine with Melbourne. A few days in the city, with its laneway restaurants, coffee bars and galleries, followed by a few days on the coast, makes a balanced week. You can drive out one way and return inland in about three and a half hours.
When to Go
November to March is the warmest and most popular time. Days are usually in the 70s, long evenings stretch the Apostles sunset past 8:30 pm and the beaches are at their best. It is also busy, especially during the Christmas and January school holidays, when towns fill and accommodation books out.
April and May bring cooler weather and fewer crowds, often with calm, clear autumn days. September and October are spring, with green hills and wildflowers, though weather can change quickly.
June to August is winter. It is cold, often wet and windy, with highs in the 50s. The coast can look dramatic in storms and southern right whales visit Warrnambool's Logans Beach from around June to September. Pack warm layers and a rain jacket if you visit in winter.
Where to Stay
Break the drive into two or three nights. Good bases include Lorne, Apollo Bay and Port Campbell.
Lorne is the most polished town, with a long beach, cafés and restaurants. It is close to Erskine Falls and the Otway forests. Apollo Bay is a working fishing town with a relaxed feel and access to the Great Otway National Park and Cape Otway. Port Campbell is the closest town to the Twelve Apostles, ideal for sunset and sunrise visits.
Beyond the towns, look for rainforest cabins in the Otways, clifftop guesthouses with ocean views and boutique bed and breakfasts. Many have spa baths and fireplaces, ideal for cool evenings. Book well ahead in summer, as the most romantic options are small and fill quickly.
Romantic Things to Do
See the Twelve Apostles at sunset, when the limestone glows gold. A helicopter flight from the visitor center gives a view of the full coastline and is worth the splurge.
Walk down the stairs into Loch Ard Gorge, named after a ship that wrecked here in 1878. The cove is sheltered and quiet, a short walk from the Apostles.
Look for wild koalas in the trees along the Grey River Road at Kennett River. Spotting them is not guaranteed, but they are often there.
Visit Cape Otway Lightstation, mainland Australia's oldest surviving lighthouse, with views over the ocean.
Walk through the rainforest at Maits Rest or Melba Gully. At night, Melba Gully's glow worms light up the ferns.
Take a section of the Great Ocean Walk, a long-distance trail that follows the coast from Apollo Bay toward the Apostles. Short sections make good half-day hikes.
Getting There and Around
Fly into Melbourne, which has nonstop flights from the US West Coast. Pick up a rental car at the airport and drive about an hour and a half to Torquay, the start of the road.
Plan to drive west along the coast and return to Melbourne inland via the faster highway. A loop takes two or three days at a relaxed pace. Avoid trying to do the whole road as a day trip from Melbourne, as it means up to ten hours of driving.
The road is winding and narrow in places, with steep drops. Drive on the left, take your time and use pullouts to let faster traffic pass. Watch for wildlife, particularly at dawn and dusk.
If you do not want to drive, small-group and private tours run from Melbourne, though you lose the freedom to stop where you like.
Food and Drink
Seafood is the specialty. Look for crayfish (rock lobster) in season, fresh fish at Apollo Bay's harbor and oysters at restaurants along the way.
Lorne and Apollo Bay have the widest range of restaurants, from casual fish and chips to modern Australian dining. Port Campbell has a smaller selection, so book ahead for dinner.
The Otways produce cheese, berries and craft beer. Several small breweries and farm-gate shops are worth a stop. Just inland from the road, cool-climate wineries in the Geelong region and the Bellarine Peninsula pour Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
In Melbourne, take time for the dining scene. The city is known for its coffee, laneway bars and restaurants, which many Australians consider the best in the country.
Honeymoon Tips
Drive west, so the ocean is on your side of the road and lookouts are easier to access.
Time your visit to the Twelve Apostles for sunset or early morning. Midday brings tour buses and harsh light.
Book helicopter flights and accommodation ahead in summer.
Pack layers. The weather on this coast can change quickly, even in summer.
Do not swim at unpatrolled beaches. The Southern Ocean has strong rips and cold water. Lorne and Apollo Bay have patrolled beaches in summer.
Allow time in Melbourne before or after your drive to enjoy the city.
Fill up with fuel in Apollo Bay or Lorne before the Otway stretch, where stations are scarce and phone signal drops out in places.
