Great Ocean Road with Kids: The Best Things to Do From Melbourne-Warrnambool
Are you looking for the best things to do along the Great Ocean Road?
With or without kids, there are so many gorgeous stops along the Great Ocean Road. Families with kids of all ages will be able to find so many amazing stops along the Great Ocean Road, the problem is how to fit them all in!
We took our kids (6 and 8 at the time) on a 3-night adventure down the Great Ocean Road. I had been once before, but it had been a decade since our last drive down the Great Ocean Road.
We drove all of the way from Melbourne to Warrnambool and made as many stops as we could along the way.
Read below for our tips and recommendations for the best places to stop along the Great Ocean Road with (or even without) kids.
How Long is the Great Ocean Road?
The area of south-eastern Victoria, Australia that makes up the Great Ocean Road is about 240 kilometers (150 miles) long.
To complete the entire Great Ocean Road, which ends in Allansford, near Warrnambool, takes about 4 hours of driving time without stopping. Of course, allow yourself plenty of time for stops. The Great Ocean Road is best seen over a few days.
The drive along the Great Ocean Road has many amazing and unique natural sites, with the 12 Apostles being the most popular site.
The Great Ocean Road is a memorial for the soldiers killed during World War 1.
The Great Ocean Road starts in Torquay, which is about 100 kilometers southwest of Melbourne. Since the drive from Melbourne to the start of the Great Ocean Road just takes about an hour and 15 minutes, many people will drive down for the day.
We spent 3 nights along the Great Ocean Road and did not get to see it all. While it was our kids’ first visit to the Great Ocean Road, we went on a day trip from Melbourne way back before we were married.
Geelong with Kids
While Geelong is not part of the Great Ocean Road, it is between Melbourne and the start of the Great Ocean Road and Geelong has plenty for kids to do.
Our first stop out of Melbourne was a little less than an hour away. We stopped at Big Rock at You Yangs Regional Park.
As the name states, it is a Big Rock. The kids love to climb rocks and this one did not disappoint. There are a few hiking trails nearby, but we stuck with the rock as we wanted to be in Geelong for lunch and our day had started a little slowly as we needed to get a rental car for this trip.
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Like many Australian towns, Geelong has a strip of restaurants. We chose to eat at 63 Degrees and we all enjoyed our meals.
Unfortunately, we needed to move on before seeing the rest of Geelong, but here are a few things to do in Geelong with kids if you have more time.
Torquay
Though the official Great Ocean Road sign (Memorial Arch) isn’t for another 35 kilometers, Torquay is the beginning of the Great Ocean Road.
If you are looking for a family beach, Torquay Front Beach is generally calm and suited for swimming. There are BBQ and picnic areas nearby as well as toilets. Torquay Front Beach is close to lots of restaurants.
The Australian National Surfing Museum is also located in Torquay. The small museum documents the history of surfing and includes a few interactive activities for kids. Kids can also get a passport in the Visitor’s Center to use throughout the museum.
Popular surf brands such as Rip Curl and Billabong have shops and outlets in Torquay. Rip Curl was started in Torquay.
For those interested in family surfing lessons, Go Ride a Wave offers surfing lessons in Torquay as well as other areas along the Great Ocean Road.
AmazingCo offers a Mystery Picnic in Torquay. Families can solve clues and riddles while searching for items that will become a picnic lunch to enjoy along the Great Ocean Road.
Bells Beach
Bells Beach is a well-known surf beach where surfing competitions are held. There is a parking lot with stairs down to the beach, and areas to look out and watch the surfers.
Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery
Not far from Bells Beach is a chocolate factory, shop, and cafe called The Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery.
The Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie offers many activities for kids and also has space for them to run around.
From chocolate storytime to kid’s chocolate workshops, and family high teas to school holiday workshops, there is always something for kids to do at The Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie.
For those just passing through, there is a window into the factory so that you can watch the chocolate being made. The shop has just about every kind of chocolate you could want, and there is also a cafe that serves breakfast, lunch, drinks, and desserts.
Outside of the cafe, there is a large fenced-in area that is perfect for running around and searching for Oompa Loompas.
Airey’s Inlet
I don’t know if we would have stopped at Airey’s Inlet if not to visit family, but I am certainly glad that we did. Besides being beautiful, Split Point Lighthouse was one of my kids’ favorite parts about The Great Ocean Road.
Having grown up in Australia, my husband watched Around the Twist as a kid and recently showed our kids a few episodes. While I haven’t seen any of it, they love it. From what I have heard, it is about a family that comes to live in the lighthouse.
We took a walk down to Split Point Lighthouse, which is worth doing even if you don’t do the tour. There are plenty of trails near the lighthouse, both along the road and down to the beaches.
The Split Point Lighthouse Tour is self-guided. There is a guide at the bottom of the lighthouse and another at the top to answer any of your questions. Lots of information is on the walls of the lighthouse which you can read on the way up or down. There are 134 stairs leading up to the top of the lighthouse where there are 360-degree views of Airey’s Inlet. Kids need to be at least 5 years old to climb to the top of the lighthouse.
The Lighthouse Tearooms is a cute cafe near the lighthouse. The Lighthouse Teamrooms serve delicious French pastries, toasties, and scones daily. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. There is a small parking lot at the cafe, but plenty more parking right before the road leading to the lighthouse.
For locals, French lessons are offered at the Lighthouse Tearooms weekly.
Great Ocean Road Sign
Memorial Arch, otherwise known as the Great Ocean Road Sign, includes an area to park your car and a memorial to honor the soldiers who fought in World War 1 and then came home and completed the stretch of road that is now known as The Great Ocean Road.
The sign itself is a popular spot for pictures along the Great Ocean Road.
Lorne
Lorne is a great place to stop for a meal or the night as there are plenty of options for hotels and restaurants. The city of Lorne is located about 2 hours southwest of Melbourne and is about 45 minutes into the Great Ocean Road.
For those ready for a hike, Erskine Falls and Sheoak Falls have walking tracks.
Teddy’s Lookout is worth the stop. It is a short walk from the car park to the lookout and the views are stunning.
Those looking for adventure can check out Live Wire Park. Live Wire Park has multiple circuits suitable for various age groups. The circuits include ziplining and ropes courses. There is also a zip coaster
Koala Sleeping Tree
About 30 minutes down the Great Ocean Road from Lorne is the Koala Sleeping Tree, which as the name suggests, is a koala sleeping in a tree.
Of course, we can’t control nature, but chances are, you can see a koala sleeping in a tree. We could see a koala, a lorikeet, and a cockatoo in the same tree.
The tree is a short walk from the parking lot and Koala Cafe.
Apollo Bay
Apollo Bay has plenty of options for restaurants and accommodations and is a great stop for families along the Great Ocean Road. Since Apollo Bay is located about 3 hours from Melbourne, it makes a great stopping place, especially for those who want to spend multiple nights in the same location. It is easy to complete the Great Ocean Road and return to Apollo Beach for the night.
Apollo Beach is located almost in the middle of the Great Ocean Road. It has beautiful beaches, gorgeous waterfalls, and plenty of options for adventures.
Otway Fly Treetop Adventures has a 600-meter walk through a rainforest and ziplining. Kids 5+ can join in on the ziplining tour, as long as they meet height restrictions.
Cape Otway Light Station is the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia. For those traveling to Australia from Europe, Asia, and North America in the 1800s, the lighthouse was the first thing they saw on land after months of travel throughout the ocean. Lighthouse tours are available and there is a cafe, gift shop, and even accommodations available.
Mait’s Rest Rainforest Walk
Slightly off of the Great Ocean Road is Mait’s Rest Rainforest Walk, a wooden boardwalk through a rainforest. The entire loop is 800 meters long and takes about 30 minutes to complete.
12 Apostles Gourmet Trail
The 12 Apostles Gourmet Trail can take a day (or more) for those who wish to complete it, or you can make a few stops and then continue along the Great Ocean Road.
The total distance of the 12 Apostles Gourmet Trail is 88 kilometers and they suggest that you allow 5 hours to complete the entire trail.
Stops include a dairy, fudge shop, brewery, artisan gnocchi, and so much more. We stopped for a cheese platter at Apostle Whey Cheese and some chocolate at Gorge Chocolate. Unfortunately, we did not allow more time for the 12 Apostles Gourmet Trail, but now that we know about it, it will be on the list for the next visit to the Great Ocean Road.
Gibson Steps
The Great Ocean Road is known for its stunning rock formations in and along the water, and while the beginning of the Great Ocean Road is beautiful when we think of the Great Ocean Road, it starts at Gibson Steps.
Gibson Steps is my favorite location along the Great Ocean Road. Don’t skip them and just drive to the 12 Apostles, which are just a 2-minute drive down the road.
Gibson Steps, as the name suggests, includes stairs. It is an area of cliffs with stairs leading from the parking lot down to the beach. The stairs are steep and there are a lot of them. Even if you don’t climb all of the way down (which I suggest you do), the views from the stairs are worth it.
12 Apostles
Another 2 minutes down the road from Gibson Steps are the 12 Apostles, the most popular stop along the Great Ocean Road.
Each “apostle” is a limestone rock stack sticking out of the water, and there are currently 7 still standing.
There is a large parking lot at the 12 Apostles as well as a visitor center with toilets and a kiosk with food, drinks, and souvenirs.
The track to the 12 Apostles viewing area is a 1-kilometer return path and is completely paved. Those who wish can take longer trails to other sites along the Great Ocean Road, or you can drive between them.
Loch and Gorge
Six minutes down the road from the 12 Apostles are Loch and Gorge. A 330-meter Shipwreck walk is available from the parking lot, and there are stairs leading down to the beach. Walks from Loch and Gorge vary up to 3.2 kilometers return.
We chose to just take the stairs down to the beach. The sand is soft and deep. We walked to the shore and let the kids play in the sand for a while. It is easy to run from location to location, but important to stop and enjoy them as well.
On my way back up the stairs, someone told me that there was an echidna along the back wall. We have no idea how an echidna got there, as it is cliffs and water, but sure enough, there it was. It was the first time the kids saw an echidna in the wild.
Thunder Cave
Three more minutes down the Great Ocean Road is Thunder Cave. To access the view, it is a 530-meter walk from the car park, making the return journey a little over 1 kilometer. The path is pretty flat.
The Baker’s Oven
The Baker’s Oven is located about 6 minutes away from Thunder Cave.
We skipped The Baker’s Oven as we needed to be in Warrnambool for dinner and had a few more stops to look at, but for those who want another lookout, The Baker’s Oven is yet another beautiful stop along the Great Ocean Road, and it is one of the more quiet stops.
Port Campbell
We drove all of the way to Warrnambool for the night to meet a friend, but if we hadn’t Port Campbell is a nice place to stop for the night.
There are plenty of accommodations and restaurants in Port Campbell, plus beautiful views. It is an easy drive to the final few stops along the Great Ocean Road from Port Campbell.
London Bridge
It is a short walk from the car park to London Bridge, which can be viewed from a viewing platform.
The connecting section broke off and stranded those who were climbing London Bridge on the other side back in 1990. They had to be rescued by helicopter. It is no longer possible to climb the London Bridge.
London Bridge got its name for its similarity to London Bridge in England.
The Grotto
Just a few minutes down the road from London Bridge is The Grotto, which requires a 700-meter return walk.
Bay of Martyrs
The Bay of Martyrs can be seen from the parking lot. It is a beautiful spot and worth getting out of the car for a closer look.
Bay of Islands
Kid-Friendly Great Ocean Road Tours from Melbourne
For those who do not want to rent a car and drive the Great Ocean Road, there are plenty of options for guided day tours as well as options for 2 and 3-day-long tours.
Day Tours:
- Great Ocean Road Full-Day Trip: small group eco-tour with an optional helicopter ride
- Coastal Highlights, Forest, and Wildlife Tour
- Full-Day Great Ocean Road Tour
- 12 Apostles, Great Otways, and Great Ocean Road
- Great Ocean Road in Reverse Tour for those who want smaller crowds
- Great Ocean Road Private Tour by Car
Multi-Day Tours:
- 2-Day Small-Group Great Ocean Road Tour
- 2 Day Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island Tour
- 3 Day Great Ocean Road Tour
- 3 Day Melbourne-Adelaide Tour including Great Ocean Road
Would you rather rent a car and drive the Great Ocean Road on your own? Check out RentalCars.com for great prices and comparisions on rental car companies.
Kid-Friendly Tours and Activities along the Great Ocean Road
- Torquay Surf lessons
- Anglesea Surf lessons
- Lorne Surf lessons
- Ropes course for kids in Lorne
- Zip Coaster in Lorne
- Split Point Lighthouse Tour
- Warrnanbool Wanderer Tour
Hotels and Kid-Friendly Accommodations along the Great Ocean Road
We spent 2 nights with family and 1 night at the BIG4 in Warrnambool on our drive with kids down the Great Ocean Road. The kids loved BIG4 not only because it had bunk beds, but there was also an indoor pool, playground, and game room.
Kid-Friendly Accommodations in Torquay
Kid-Friendly Accommodations in Lorne
Kid-Friendly Accommodations in Apollo Bay
Kid-Friendly Accommodations in Port Campbell
Kid-Friendly Accommodations in Warrnambool
- BIG4 Warrnambool Figtree Holiday Park
- BIG4 NRMA Warrnambool Riverside Holiday Park
- Deep Blue Hotel and Hot Springs
Returning to Melbourne from the Great Ocean Road
For those who need to return to Melbourne, there are a few options. Of course, you can go back the way you came and either drive straight through or stop to see new sights.
Driving inland and seeing more parks and waterfalls is another option.
We chose to drive to Sovereign Hill in Ballarat on our way back to Melbourne.
More Family Fun in Victoria
- Sovereign Hill Day Trip from Melbourne
- Queen Victoria Market Food Tour
- Melbourne with Kids
- Phillip Island with Kids
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