Tourist Attractions – The Great Ocean Road & Otways

Great Ocean Road Tourist Attractions

I’m often asked what are the major highlights that I have to see on my Great Ocean Road trip. I have separated all the tourist attractions and local highlights into the closest town so you can decide where you might stay based on how many tourist attractions from each location you choose:

Torquay Tourist Attractions

• Bells Beach – world famous surf location
• Point Addis – stunning views of the surrounding cliffs
• Surfing Museum – history of surf museum in the surfing mecca
• Blackmans Brewery – great local beers to taste. Great for lunch and dinner.

• Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery – chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate. Great place for lunch too.

Aireys Inlet Tourist Attractions

• Anglesea Beach – stunning for sunrise photos, learning to surf, or just a day at the beach with the kids
• Point Roadknight – interesting rock formation jutting out from the surrounding beaches
• Spilt Point Lighthouse – stunning views of the coastline
• Eagle Rock lookout – interesting rock island and the lookout has the best views
• Memorial Arch – a memorial to all the veterans that created the Great Ocean Road on their reintegration to society after the war.

Lorne Tourist Attractions

• Lorne Swing Bridge – great for some beautiful pictures and walk by the coast
• Great Ocean Road Story – find out how the Great Ocean Road was created in this interactive museum attached to the tourist information centre.
• Teddy’s Lookout – epic vantage point to take in the views of the Great Ocean Road
• Lorne Pier – great for a photo when storms roll through the region
• Live Wire Park – great time out for the kids
• QDOS Fine Arts – amazing outdoor sculpture garden
• Erskine Falls – tallest waterfall in the Otways
• Phantom Falls – beautiful waterfall with a great walk
• Sheoak Falls – waterfall that often creates beautiful patterns in the pool below
• Cumberland Valley & Jebb’s Pool – stunning walk through the valley with the opportunity for a swim at Jebb’s Pool and plenty of kangaroos
• Lower Kalimna Falls – pretty walk through the rainforest and the ability to walk behind the waterfall
• Artillery Rocks – most unusual rock formations in the region
• Wye River Rock Platforms – opportunity to see petrified wood and other unusual rock formations
• Kennett River wildlife – koalas and birds are plentiful in this area

Apollo Bay Tourist Attractions

• Carisbrook Falls- waterfall with close access to the Great Ocean Road
• Marriner’s Lookout – best views over Apollo Bay
• Apollo Bay harbour – a must stop for some local fish and chips
• Apollo Bay Distillery – for gin tasting of course
• Maits Rest – pretty walk through the rainforest 
• Wildlife Wonders – the place to view the native wildlife in the region
• Parker Inlet – a challenging walk down to a secluded area
• Cape Otway Lightstation – a step back in time to explore what made this region the ship wreck capital. Also the opportunity to stay in one of the old colonial buildings. 
• Castle Cove lookout – lookout close to Great Ocean Road with beach views
• Melba Gully – pretty walk through the rainforest 
• Beauchamp Falls – one of the best walks in the region to one of the prettiest waterfalls in the region
• Hopetoun Falls – my favourite waterfall but can get busy so visit early
• Triplet Falls – a high volume waterfall plus a walk past the old logging equipment in the region
• Little Aire Falls – one of my favourite walks and best to combine with the walk to Triplet Falls
• Californian Redwoods – not as big or famous as the original but still worth a detour
• Otway Fly – amazing way to walk through the treetops in the rainforest. Other fun activities are available for kids including zip lines and a fairy garden.

Forrest Tourist Attractions

• Lake Elizabeth – prettiest reflections you will see in any lake
• Stevensons Falls – short walk through the forest to this waterfall

Port Campbell Tourist Attractions

• Wreck Beach Anchors – see some of the remnants of two shipwrecks for those that are fit enough to tackle the stairs and soft sand. Check the tide and swell heights before attempting this walk as there are no exit points once down on the beach.
• Point Ronald – scenic headland that is stunning at sunrise
• Gibson Beach – the best place to get up close to the limestone stacks that the region is so famous for.
• Twelve Apostles – the most famous tourist attraction in the region is best at sunset and sunrise. Get there early if you want to photograph the sunset.
• Loch Ard Gorge – The Razorback, Tom and Eva Lookout, Loch Ard Gorge, Muttonbird Lookout, Thunder Cave, Sherbrook River – so much to see in this area
• The Arch (currently closed)
• London Bridge – This rock island famously separated from the mainland in the 90’s stranding tourists on the newly formed island. Rescued by helicopter hours later, it is still a great place to take photos at any time of the day.
• The Grotto – Interesting arch in the rock creating a hole in the rock headland with an opportunity to photograph the sea through the hole
• Worm Bay – pretty little beach area
• Bay of Martyrs lookout – great view of the rock islands in the area
• Bay of Islands Lookout – great view of the Bay of Islands
• Bay of Islands Beach (Boat Bay) Lookout – great view of the Bay of Islands
• Timboon Distillery – great for whisky tasing and a meal.
• Timboon Ice Creamery – best ice cream ever
• Shultz Organic Dairy – best milk and cultured butter I have ever tasted. Also has some great cafe food.

Warrnambool Tourist Attractions

• Sandy Cove – highlight location for photographers.
• Murnanes Bay – pretty bay on the way to the more popular Childer’s Cove.
• Childers Cove – stunning location and another popular spot for photographers.
• Hopkins Falls – wide waterfall with a great viewing area just meters from the carpark.
• Point Richie – pretty spot and idea for both sunrise and sunset photos.
• Stingray Bay – picturesque bay with views of Merri and Middle Island that contain the protected little penguin colonies
• Merri Merri Sanctuary – great walk along the boardwalk to reach this pretty bay with opportunities to find macro sea life
• Hot Springs – great place to relax
• Flagstaff Hill – check out the night light show
• Tower Hill Reserve – amazing opportunity to view native wildlife

All of these locations and almost 100 more can be found in my upcoming book entitled A Photographer’s Guide – The Great Ocean Road & Otways.