One of the most beautiful tours I have ever done in my life, admiring magnificent places and a nature unknown to me. That touch of Australia outside the city makes you understand how special this country is. The great ocean road has to be done once in life and on this 1 day itinerary tour I will tell you and show you the places you are going to visit.
I lived in Melbourne (Australia) for eight months of my life and it is from there that you can reach the Great Ocean Road. You can do it, as I did, with a guided tour of which I leave you the booking link below. Ready for a wild touch of Australia? Iamme ià.
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Great Ocean Road itinerary 1 day: stops of the tour
- Torquay Surf Beach
- Very popular selfie with the Great Ocean Road sign
- Apollo bay (where you also stop for lunch)
- Walk in the popular Australian rainforest
- Gibson Steps from where you can admire the magnificent 12 Apostles and their immense beauty
- Loch Ard Gorge: a unique natural rock formation and a spectacle for the eyes
The surprises of this tour don't end with these locations (at each stop you will stop for approximately 30 minutes). Yes, because during the tour you will admire the uniqueness of Australian fauna . Koalas, parrots and kangaroos in complete freedom… Believe me when I tell you that observing them in their natural habitat has a completely different effect. But my photos will do the rest to entice you to book the ticket.
Torquay Surf Beach
It's the first stop and as you get there you can start to admire the beautiful coast from the bus. In addition to admiring the 1st beach, famous for being perfect for surf, you can go to the bathroom.
Selfie at the memorial arch on the great ocean road
A moment definitely worth immortalizing. I am a photographer and I know what it means to immortalize memories. Photos are our memories, moments imprinted and not only in the mind... A photo is a moment that lasts forever. Here the stop will be quick, take advantage of it for a selfie with the famous memorial arch.
Apollo Bay
Apollo bay is another important stop on the tour (also because we finally eat something). I'll take this opportunity to give you some advice: order food first and then, afterward, go for a walk on the beach. The reason is that there are many guided tours on the Great Ocean Road and you may find a crowd to order. Another advice I give you is to order takeaway so you can take your food to the beach. Here too the stop lasts about 30 minutes.
Walk in the rainforest
Now that's a great experience. Australia is very famous for its “rain forests” which are of incredible peculiarity. During the tour, you will stop for about 30 minutes in one of them where you can immerse yourself in nature. The flora is one of a kind and for me (coming from Italy) it was a beautiful experience to live.
Gibson steps and the 12 Apostles
The main reason everyone does this tour. The main reason why the great ocean road is known throughout the world. The reason why it will make you buy the ticket for the tour (link to book at the end of the article). The 12 Apostles are a spectacle of nature and they are familiar to me anyway. Just think that where I live, in Naples, we have the very famous faraglioni of Capri. Those on the Great Ocean Road are many more and charm unique.
Once here (30-minute stop) take the opportunity to take some photos. I tell you this because, due to the strong wind and waves, in the future the 12 Apostles may disappear. In what sense? I'll explain it to you right away by telling you that in reality, the 12 Apostles are not even 12 but 7, I'll leave you some curiosities about them.
Curiosities about the 12 Apostles
- The 12 Apostles are actually 7 (originally there were 9 but when they were renamed "12 Apostles" they had already become 8).
- I wrote renamed above because the original name was “The sow and Piglets”. It was changed to "12 Apostles" to attract tourists and because the apostles, as we well know, are 12.
- In July 2005 a stack collapsed and since then there have been 7 left. This is also the reason why it is recommended to visit them if you are in Australia. Especially if you are in Melbourne.
Loch and Gorge
The last and beautiful stop of the tour is Loch and Gorge. A conformation of natural rocks of extraordinary beauty. Together with the "12 Apostles" it is the most beautiful stop of the tour and the landscape is extraordinary. Here too, is a 30-minute stop before returning to Melbourne.
Great ocean road itinerary 1 day: among koalas, parrots, and kangaroos
I think when you think of Australia the first thing that comes to mind is koalas and kangaroos. Along the great ocean road you will have the opportunity to observe them in complete nature and freedom. I was very lucky during my tour thanks to my expert guide. Luckily for us she was a biologist and knew exactly where and how look for koalas (and other animals).
Koalas on great ocean road
I was lucky to spot a koala awake and perky (rare during the day). Obviously I took advantage of it as a good nature photographer to take some incredible photos. In addition to koalas you will have a 101% encounter with parrots and (if you're lucky) kangaroos . I absolutely loved this part of the tour meeting Australian wildlife. An unforgettable and unprecedented experience that I will have in my heart forever.
Great ocean road: duration and info
- It lasts about 12 hours (from 7 in the morning to 7/8 in the evening)
- Bring with you a bag with water, some snacks while traveling on the bus
- Do a meter check before booking to make sure it's a good day. (Or at least it doesn't rain)
Conclusions
I hope you liked the article and found it useful. I tell you, especially if you are in Melbourne, don't leave the city without visiting the great ocean road. As a travel blogger and photographer I tell you that it is a 101% unique experience and not to be missed. See you the next trip and remember…those who travel live twice.
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Well-written content, easy to understand.
Thanks for the kind words 🙂