Ah, the Great Ocean Road — it’s one of Australia’s most popular getaway routes for good reason. And between the easygoing surf towns, the quiet coastal villages and the rural hinterland escapes, long-standing businesses and more recent sea- and tree-changers are constantly elevating the region’s hospitality game to greater heights.

Stretching for about 240 kilometres from Torquay to Allansford along Victoria’s western fringe, the GOR is made for a stop-start adventure. See a picturesque spot? Pull over and soak it up. Hear about an unmissable inland pub? Say goodbye to the coastline for a while. If you’ve got time to spare, you won’t struggle to fill it.

Of course, you won’t be alone. The Great Ocean Road is one of the world’s most famous drives, attracting an estimated 6.8 million visitors each year. However, with the communities both directly along the GOR and in the surrounding regions thriving with activity, each visit is greeted with new stays, new restaurants and new adventures.

When it comes to exploring the Great Ocean Road, it’s pretty hard to miss. Departing from Melbourne CBD, it’ll take about an hour to reach Geelong. Pull in to wander the waterfront or hit up a happening restaurant. Then, continue onwards to Torquay, about 20 minutes away, to reach the starting point of the GOR.

While getting behind the wheel is the most common way to explore the Great Ocean Road, you might be surprised to learn that catching public transport is an option. This might not be new per se — lesser-known, perhaps — but it’s a compelling idea if speed isn’t a factor.

V/Line trains depart Melbourne from Southern Cross bound for Geelong, with comfortable connecting buses stopping at tourist attractions in Torquay, Lorne, Apollo Bay and Warrnambool. Sure, the experience is tailored for a slower, more relaxed pace. But don’t overlook a car-free adventure if it suits your schedule.

With so many people exploring the Great Ocean Road each year, finding a beachfront vista or a winery escape is relatively simple. Yet for something a little more playful, The Monty stands out. Joining a growing list of retro motel conversions capturing attention — Crescent Head’s Sea Sea Hotel recently received a landmark nod — this newly opened Palm Springs-inspired drive-in stay brings abundant colour and throwback style to Anglesea.

Dating back to the 1970s, this classic Aussie motor inn has assuredly never looked so good. Now owned by the same long-standing operators of the nearby Great Ocean Road Resort and Airey Inlet’s Sunnymead Hotel — a similarly stylish motel conversion — The Monty is drenched in retro orange and pastel tones. Inside, the rooms make the most of Fenton & Fenton’s El Rancho Collection, a furniture lineup practically dripping with sun-soaked nostalgia.

Meanwhile, each room features one of four collages designed exclusively by Brunswick’s The Paper Joint. Inspired by the Palm Springs desert landscape and mid-century modernist design, this vibrant cocktail of vignettes pairs with the space’s tactile finishes and resonant textures that feel simultaneously fresh and of a different era. What’s more, this experience extends to The Monty’s evocative lobby area.

Lining the edge of the Great Ocean Road, this spot will soon become home to Nina Cantina — a relaxed Mexican-influenced eatery brimming with all the classics, and a few surprises too. Think aguachile that doesn’t skimp on lime or spice, tacos with soft-shredded confit pork, and carne asada with grilled flat iron steak. Then perch outside on the terrace around a white-washed picnic table to sip back margaritas and spritzes as the day’s warmth ebbs away.

Within a quick drive of Torquay, Airey’s Inlet and Lorne, The Monty’s stretch of the GOR might just be its busiest. But for those looking for a little more quiet, heading to the end of this famed route, past Allenford to Port Fairy, offers a different kind of stay. Nestled amid the award-winning vines of Basalt Wines, Basalt Retreat is a pair of villas described as the only vineyard accommodation on the Great Ocean Road.

Tucked into the rear of this cool-climate vineyard — one of the coldest terroirs on mainland Australia, in fact — the aptly named Villa Tempranillo and Villa Pinot Noir overlook their eponymous vines from within the rows themselves. Modern but layered with ornate details, the experience is thoughtfully peaceful: espresso on your private terrace, a bottle chilling in the wine cooler, and a cast-iron bed waiting at day’s end.

From here it’s just a short walk to Basalt Wines’ on-site kitchen for lunch on the patio or in the cosy dining room. The menu leans Mediterranean, with starters like Kataifi pastry-wrapped goat’s cheese, three-cheese platters with fruit and Basalt-made honey, and larger mains such as half confit duck served with braised lentils. Of course, the wine is stellar, with a glass (or bottle) of Basalt’s top-rated riesling an easy order. Then, mosey back to your private retreat feeling grounded in coastal-countryside bliss.

Yet beyond the dining offerings at the above stays, as good as they are, the Great Ocean Road is also a food-lovers’ dream drive. Working your way from town to town, the pit stops on this route are virtually unmatched, with upscale restaurants, inviting cellar doors and more than a few distilleries offering plenty of options beyond fish and chips by the beach — as much as we love a battered flake.

Before you even start your journey on the Great Ocean Road, Torquay has a couple of new spots to check out. Along the esplanade opposite Torquay Front Beach, Ela’s modern Greek fare spans traditional salads, elevated crispy saganaki and supremely fresh seafood, such as chargrilled octopus. Leaning into its Mediterranean aesthetics, the restaurant hums at sunset, where diners can’t help but get caught up in the idea of meze and philoxenia. Nearby, the Torquay Taphouse by Great Ocean Road Brewing features a stellar selection of craft beers on tap, plus pool tables, shuffleboards, and live sports on a huge projector screen.

In Aireys Inlet, Le Comptoir is a local highlight. Opened in 2022 by Samuel Roig-Sclafer and his partner Asher Healey, it’s the kind of place you’d see on most Parisian corners — or Bordeaux, near where Roig-Sclafer grew up. The compact menu is largely light and fresh, with entrees such as fig tarte tatin served alongside mains like 200-gram eye fillet. For a lighter bite, artisan cheeses, charcuterie and pastries are served from a long glass cabinet — hence the restaurant’s name — while the all-French wine list ramps up the easygoing Gallic vibe. Close by, the recently opened Anglesea outpost of Daylesford’s popular Winespeake is a kindred spirit, pouring European wines alongside local cheeses and fancy meats.

Taking the inland route through the Otways, a recently launched tasting room sets a different tone. Based in Birregurra, the opening of Brae in 2013 helped put this rural community on both the local and global culinary map. It was here that the former owner of the Forrest General Store, Otways Distillery’s Sally Richardson, turned her attention to small-batch distilling in 2019. Made in collaboration with Wayne Bourke at Bathtub Gin, there’s an ever-evolving lineup, headlined by gin, vodka and brandy cream, that extends to orangecello, limoncello, ouzo and more. Three years in the making, the Otways Distillery’s tasting room is now open.

Then, if you’re heading to the end of the Great Ocean Road, you’ve earned the right to reward yourself with a top-notch dinner. After 12 years in Warrnambool, Pippies by the Bay made the move to Port Fairy in September 2025, bringing its down-to-earth approach to regional produce and seafood. Think pan-seared scallops wrapped in prosciutto, seafood linguine and King George whiting fillets, plus an expansive wine selection and beers from renowned breweries such as Noodledoof in Koroit — also a worthy visit if you have time to journey just a few kilometres up into the hinterland.

When you cruise the Great Ocean Road, you’ll be spending a lot of time admiring the waves as they barrel into shore. But it’s possible to get amongst them, with beginners and more experienced surfers alike invited to grab a board and dive in with the help of Go Ride a Wave. Established in Anglesea in 1987, this long-standing surf school will help you get acquainted with the basics, so you can safely navigate the water like a pro.

Speaking of, if there’s one annual event that captures the imagination of the collective Great Ocean Road community, it’s the Rip Curl Pro. Held at the iconic Bells Beach since 1962, it’s the longest-running event in professional surfing, taking over one of Australia’s most famed beaches from late March to early April. Forming a cornerstone stop on the World Surf League tour, 36 men and 24 women compete for the trophy (and to ring the bell), with visitors catching all the action from the clifftops or the beachfront. Meanwhile, the event grows each year, with a festival-like atmosphere featuring stellar food, live music, and activations across the historic site.

Whether you’re resting up after riding the waves or just looking for a touch of coastal serenity, a trip to About Time Bathhouse delivers immense relaxation. Opened in the final days of 2024, this wellness sanctuary offers a restorative indoor and outdoor experience, complete with magnesium pools, cold plunges, rock saunas and steam rooms. Plus, it’s located right next door to the Torquay Taphouse, so you can relax before or after your spa encounter with lunch and a drink.

Once you’ve admired the Great Ocean Road’s most popular highlights, put time aside to explore some that fly a little under the radar. A new addition to the most popular tourist route is Poombeeyt Koontapool, a stunning lookout overlooking The Blowhole near Loch Ard Gorge, featuring a design inspired by the Southern right whale. Away from the crowds, the western end of the GOR is stacked with picture-perfect highlights. Head to Childers Cove to discover a secluded shoreline that feels like your own private beach, or take a drive to Tower Hill, where wildlife like kangaroos, emus and koalas call a dormant volcanic crater home.

Concrete Playground stayed as a guest of Visit Victoria.

Images: Hudson Brown / Supplied.

Want to explore other regions? Check out these guides to make the most of a trip to the Grampians or a Hobart adventure.

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