How long is the Great Ocean Road?

The length of the Great Ocean Road is 243km. However, if doing a road trip from Melbourne to Warrnambool along the Victorian coast, the distance is 356km.

The Great Ocean Road in Victoria is perhaps the classic Australian road trip. The drive along the Victorian coast packs in wildlife, beach towns, national parks and spectacular coastal scenery.

The road was built as a war memorial by soldiers returning from World War I. This was partly a scheme to create work, partly a tribute to the fallen.

7 fantastic Great Ocean Road experiences
1. Crowd-beating reverse direction tour. 2. Surfing lessons in Anglesea. 3. Split Point Lighthouse climb. 4. Shockwave Zip-Coaster. 5. Guided wildlife walk. 6. Budj Bim National Park tour. 7. Great Ocean Road by motorbike.

Great Ocean Road length

But how long is the Great Ocean Road? Well, perhaps not as long as many people think. The length of the Great Ocean Road is 243km. The road doesn’t start in Melbourne, however, as many people assume. You have to drive 104km out of Melbourne before you reach the Great Ocean Road.

This makes doing the Great Ocean Road as a day trip a fairly tough slog. It’s perfectly doable, but you’re much better off taking two or three days, staying at a coastal town such as Lorne, Aireys Inlet, Apollo Bay or Port Campbell.

view of the Great Ocean Road from Teddy's Lookout in Lorne. — The view of the Great Ocean Road from Teddy’s Lookout in Lorne. Photo courtesy of Visit Victoria.

Where does the Great Ocean Road start?

The Great Ocean Road starts in Torquay, Victoria, at a roundabout where the Surf Coast Highway goes down from a dual carriageway to a normal road. It’s the roundabout just before the crossing of Spring Creek.

The Great Ocean Road ends in Allansford, Victoria, where it joins the Princes Highway. In practice, though, most people continue on a few extra kilometres to the coastal city of Warrnambool. The full Melbourne to Warrnambool drive, following the Great Ocean Road, is 356km long.

Pick the right Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne

For wildlife and nature focus: One day tour with koalas and guided forest walk.
To beat the crowds: Reverse direction Great Ocean Road day tour.
For adventure: Two day camping and surfing trip.
For backpackers: One day highlights tour aimed at younger travellers.
For exclusivity and flexibility: Private tour where you can pick the sights you want to see.
For an extended trip: Three day Melbourne to Adelaide tour.