Things to see & do on the Great Ocean Road

Find out more about the fishermen’s co-ops by the wharfs in Apollo Bay, Port Campbell, Port Fairy and Portland. Learn about Aboriginal heritage in Geelong, Moyjil and at the Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve. Or simply sit and stare at the Southern Ocean from Split Point Lighthouse at Aireys Inlet or Cape Patton Lookout, just outside Apollo Bay.

Come and observe indigenous animals in the company of a local wildlife expert. Stay with friendly farmers who've turned their hands to eco-tourism to supplement their income. Not only will they happily host with hearty homemade dishes, but many farmers are warming to wild animals – such as the much maligned kangaroo – as they realise just how much their guests love to see them.

Chat to local hosts and wildlife guides as you find out how you can help to make a difference to environmental conservation rather than contributing to its demise. Begin to understand the issues facing land owners and why the loss of native plants is bad news for ever-changing ecosystems.

There's a lot to be said for visiting Victoria with an open mind but just make sure you're also equipped with a few facts as well as walking boots, binoculars and fine-dining guide book.

Janine Duffy is co-founder and co-owner of our Great Ocean Road tour experts Echidna Walkabout: “We used to send travelers to stay overnight with a couple of delightful old dairy farmers. You know, real salt of the earth types. The wife was always in hair curlers and the husband had hands as big as Christmas hams! Exactly as you'd picture. However, these guys were really open minded and loved receiving foreign guests. They'd be the type of landowners who'd welcome the opportunity to change the natural landscape back to something closer to its original state.”

Eat

Coastal communities on the Great Ocean Road have rightly established themselves as proud purveyors of regional produce. Dairy, fruit and veg farmers, co-operative fishing groups and wine estates have long supplied local establishments with food and drink that's been produced just a few klicks from the kitchen.

Farmers’ markets, too, are regular events in Aireys Inlet, Apollo Bay, Port Fairy, Torquay and Warrnambool, and offer chances to chat to farmers and local folk as well as tasting fab foodie fare.

Linger a little longer

We offer some excellent small group tours of the Great Ocean Road that will introduce you to the area’s off beat natural highlights as well as the award-winning regional restaurants and coastal cafes. Although these trips are just for two or three days this doesn’t mean that you can’t expand your vacation either side of designated tour dates. Staying with local hosts on the Great Ocean Road is a great way to find out more about the issues concerning farmers and animal lovers as well as opening up opportunities to visit local locations once the crowds have buggered off back to Melbourne.

Here’s what Janine Duffy, from our Great Ocean Road tour experts Echidna Walkabout, has to say about staying for multiple days: “Day trippers are certainly not something we encourage. It's far more beneficial for self drive or small groups to stay in the area for multiple days. This not only gives back to the local economy and allows more interaction with local folk but you'll also get to see more of the natural highlights that short stays always miss. For instance, if you're visiting from September to April, check out the sunset at the Twelve Apostles once the crowds have gone. Not only is it much more peaceful but you'll also see squillions of short-tailed shearwaters returning to the area en masse. The skies literally darken there are so many birds. It's quite a sight but not many people stay long enough to appreciate it.”