What is the best way to travel along the Great Ocean Road and can I get between places efficiently by public transport?

Find out in this chapter.

Rent a car at Melbourne Airport

Travelling by car

Most natural attractions, can only be conveniently reached by car or by long-distance walking. In particular, the inland Great Otway National Park and many beaches along the south coast are accessible only by car.

Therefore, renting a car is the most common option for getting around the Great Ocean Road.

We've compiled a detailed section on prices, traffic rules and attractions - read Car Hire on the Great Ocean Road.

Public transport - buses

Bus services serve the main coast road only and are operated by V/Line.

Several services a week also run from Apollo Bay across the hinterland to Colac town, but due to the lack of frequency and the absence of stops at natural attractions, these are virtually unusable by tourists.

To find connections and timetables, visit vline.com.au/Timetables.

For a specific timetable for a line running on the Great Ocean Road, search Coach Timetables -> South Western Victoria -> Warrnambool-Melbourne (via Great Ocean Road).

The bus route, which is also referred to as 101, is divided into two sections:

• Geelong - Torquay - Anglesea - Aireys Inlet - Lorne - Apollo Bay
  • 4 times a day
  • In Geelong, the frequent V/Line trains connect to Melbourne
  • Stops are only in towns and places of permanent habitation, bus does not stop at any natural attractions outside towns
• Apollo Bay - Lavers Hill - 12 Apostles - Port Campbell - Bay of Islands - Warrnambool
  • 3 times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
  • At Warrnambool, V/Line trains connect to Melbourne 4 times a day
  • This line is especially for tourists as it stops at the most famous natural attractions so that you have time for a short tour
  • Bay of Islands - stop for 10 minutes
  • London Bridge - stop for 10 minutes
  • Loch-Ard Gorge - stop 15 minutes
  • 12 Apostles - stop for 30 minutes

Both Geelong and Warrnambool are served by frequent V/Line trains to/from Melbourne.

At Apollo Bay, buses wait for each other so that transfers between them are possible.

In the direction from Torquay to Warrnambool, the transfer time at Apollo Bay is only 10 minutes, while in the other direction you will have a transfer time of over 2.5 hours at Apollo Bay.

Top 10 hotels - Great Ocean Road

Tickets and prices

You can buy your ticket online at vline.com.au/Plan-trip-buy-tickets, which we recommend especially in peak season (December-March) with at least 5-7 days' notice.

Tickets are also sold by the driver (you can pay by card), but it is not possible to board the bus if it is full.

If you want to use the tourist line between Warrnambool and Apollo Bay with short stops at the three natural monuments mentioned above, including the Twelve Apostles, just buy a one-way ticket Warrnambool - Apollo Bay.

Price examples:

• Warrnambool - Apollo Bay
  • 11 aud Adults
  • 5,50 aud Children under 18
• Melbourne - Apollo Bay (one train ticket from Melbourne to Geelong followed by a bus to Apollo Bay)
  • 11 aud Adults
  • 5,50 aud Children under 18
• 12 Apostles - Warrnambool
  • 11 aud Adults
  • 5,50 aud Children under 18