Lorne to Apollo Bay road trip guide: Distance, driving time & stops
The Lorne to Apollo Bay drive is 45.5km in distance, with a driving time of around 53 minutes. Things to do on this stretch of the Great Ocean Road include koala-spotting at Kennett River and swimming at Skenes Beach.
The drive from Lorne to Apollo Bay covers one of the most beautiful stretches of the Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. It’s not a long distance, but you can easily turn it into a day trip, stopping off for walks and beaches along the way.
Find the best deals on Apollo Bay accommodation.
Lorne to Apollo Bay distance and driving time
The Lorne to Apollo Bay drive is 45.5km long. That makes for a driving time of around 53 minutes if you do it in one stint. But chances are, you’ll want to stop somewhere on the way.
3 great experiences to try in Lorne
- Learn to surf – with a beginner’s surfing lesson at Lorne Beach.
- Swing, clamber and balance through the tree tops – on the Live Wire Park super circuit.
- Travel through the trees at 40km/h – on the Shockwave Zip Coaster.
Best places to stay in Lorne
The top Lorne accommodation options are:
- For overall quality: Cumberland Lorne Resort.
- For adults-only apartments with spa baths: Lorne Surf Apartments.
- On a budget: Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park.
- For an affordable, good quality motel: Lorne Anchorage Motel and Villas.
First, you might want to venture inland from Lorne into the Great Otway National Park forests. There are several excellent bushwalks here. The 7.5km Erskine Falls walk from the town passes several Great Ocean Road waterfalls on the way to the 30 metre cascade, but it’s much quicker if you drive up and take the short walk from the Erskine Falls car park. Sheoak Falls is also worth visiting, and you can go ziplining through the forest at Live Wire Park.
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.
Lorne to Apollo Bay road trip stops: Kennett River
On the way out of Lorne, stop at Teddy’s Lookout for superlative views of the coastline.
About halfway along the drive from Lorne to Apollo Bay is Kennett River. Here, you’ll find dozens of brazen cockatoos strutting outside Kafe Koala. Kennett River is best known for its koala population, though. Take a walk along Grey River Road and you’ll spot plenty of koalas up trees.
The Cape Patton Lookout offers fabulous coastal views about 5km further along.
Lorne to Apollo Bay drive attractions: Skenes Creek
The next major stop is Skenes Creek, where Skenes Beach is a popular swimming spot. You can also camp right next to the beach. The Skenes Creek Road heads inland from here for a series of worthwhile attractions. Try canoeing with platypus on Lake Elizabeth, tackling the Otway Fly treetop adventure course and walking to Hopetoun Falls in Beech Forest.
From Skenes Creek, it’s about 8km to Apollo Bay. And a cold beer awaits at the Apollo Bay Hotel.
Apollo Bay accommodation options include the budget-friendly Apollo Bay Eco YHA, the in-town Dolphin Apartments and the romantic Beacon Point Ocean View Villas on the hilltop.
The other legs of the Great Ocean Road journey worth knowing about are: Melbourne to Torquay | Torquay to Lorne | Apollo Bay to Warrnambool | Warrnambool to Portland.
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.
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