The Great Ocean Road: 10 Most Photogenic Places
Driving along the spectacular Great Ocean Road feels almost surreal, as you leave the hectic hustle and bustle of city life behind you. Instead of concrete jungles, you are surrounded by emerald waves and lush green forests. You can actually hear the birds sing and see native wildlife in their natural habitats. The coastline reminded me a little of New Zealand with beautiful surf spots and smooth looking waves. Beauty is everywhere and nature was therapy after weeks in the city.
We had roughly two days to explore this coastal gem and I’m so excited to share some of these beautiful places with you. A few of them are located in the Great Otway National Park, just inland from the Great Ocean Road. I decided to include them in this list because I thought the forests were just as beautiful and unique as the coastal attractions.
Without further ado, here is my list of the 10 Most Photogenic Places for a road trip to the Great Ocean Road:
1. Torquay to Apollo Bay Scenic Drive
If you’re driving from Melbourne towards the Great Ocean Road, then you’ll pass the funky surf town of Torquay. You’ll see surf shops everywhere and beach cafes. From Torquay, the road down to Apollo Bay is also very scenic with plenty of Lookout Points to pull over and snap a few photos. The light was especially beautiful in the late evening. We even fit in a little picnic dinner on a beach near Apollo Bay, just as the sun was setting.
Cafe Tip in Torquay: I can highly recommend - The Ginger Monkey Cafe - for brunch or lunch. Super cool and hip cafe with cozy, creative vibes. Food and coffee were excellent!
2. The 12 Apostles
The most visited and photographed spot along the Great Ocean Road… and for good reason! These rock structures are simply stunning and so incredibly photogenic, it would be rude not to stop by. Since we knew it would get busy later in the day, we arrived just before 8am. From the car park, it’s a short 3-5 mins walk to the lookout point.
There are actually two other lookout points nearby: Castle Rock and Gibson Steps. Unfortunately we didn’t go down the Gibson Steps, but it’s only a medium short walk away and you can get all the way down to the beach itself! Definitely something I’d recommend if you have the time :)
3. Island Arch Lookout & Loch Ard Gorge
Next stop was another stunner. The Loch Ard Gorge was impressive in so many ways. From the cave like pinnacle rock structures to the most photogenic beach. Thanks to the rocky cliff-like barriers, the water was very clear and calm… I’d love to have gone for a swim in there!
4. Tom and Eva Lookout & The Razorback
These two lookout points are actually very close (within walking distance) from the Loch Ard Gorge above. They bring you to the other side, where you get to see some more cool rock structures.
5. Thunder Cave & Mutton Bird Lookout
Another couple of lookout points close to each other, which offer some unique perspectives of the surrounding coastal rock formations. If you’re creative with your compositions, you can definitely get a few goodies here :)
6. Port Campbell
We had a long break here for lunch and the boys also decided to go for a swim. They said it was cool but refreshing. Beach was nice and sandy with public outdoor showers on site. Good town to stop for a little cafe break.
Cafe Tip: The Alcove Cafe has some great vegetarian/vegan option that are filling and affordable.
7. The Arch & London Bridge
In 1990, one of the Arches gave way and crumbled down into the ocean. You can see a few documented photos of how it used to look like back then vs now. We even talked to some elderlies who had seen what this rock formation used to look like prior to 1990’s!
There were definitely a good crowd (bus loads) of people here around noon. But apart from that, I thought this place was especially beautiful with the long sandy beaches and rolling emerald waves. This was our last stop before heading inland to the Great Otway National Park.
8. Triplet Falls
Waterfalls are something I didn’t think Australia had. That might sound silly, but isn’t everyone always saying how dry Australia is? I just had this spitting image of dry, desert-like plains. So it was a pleasant surprise to have that myth dispelled.
I was overjoyed to see lush green forests, clear streams and a forest path leading us to a gushing waterfall. The walk to Triplet Falls should only take about 15-20 mins from the car park to the top of the waterfall lookout point. Unfortunately, during our visit (Dec 2019), the last stretch of the walk down to the actual waterfall itself was out-of-bounds due to natural hazards.
9. Hopetoun Falls
Fern shrubs and board walks through yet another lush green forest - it made my heart so happy! We were lucky enough to enjoy the beautiful waterfall all to ourselves and I get the impression that it’s not super well known, which is a good thing! The walk only took us about 15-20 mins one way and it’s a very scenic walk down :)
10. Forrest & Lake Elizabeth
A magical place that stole my heart for a multitude of reasons: from wild hopping wallabies crossing the road just metres from our car, to my first ever sighting of a Kookaburra, and it was here that my dream of seeing a wild koala came true! The fluffiness factor was a 10/10, cuteness overload and absolutely the most surreal moment to stare into the eyes of a fluffy leaf munching koala!
Ok for reals though, Forrest (yes spelt with two r’s) was full of wildlife and we honestly felt like we were driving through a scene from Jurassic Park or something, especially with the gravel dirt roads and massively dense forests. It was so special to see the wildlife in their natural habitat.
We camped overnight at Lake Elizabeth campsite, which also stole my heart with its natural charm and beauty. Giant trees separated the camp into various little clusters and very few people were there - about 3-4 other groups only? You can reach Lake Elizabeth from the car park in about 30mins, through dense forest and mildly hilly terrain.
The morning mist hugged the water’s still reflection and it had me absolutely enraptured. I honestly swelled up with happy tears at the sight of such a majestic place... the photos don't even do this place justice. Totally worth the effort! If you have more time, you can loop around Lake Elizabeth for a couple more hours. Keep an eye out for the rare platypus, supposedly they are most often seen in the early morning or late evening!
Extras Places worth Seeing
There were two other locations, which I would’ve like to have visited and those are:
The Grotto
A very photogenic spot with a hole through the rock structure. Located along the Great Ocean Road, just after the Arch and the London Bridge.Beauchamp Falls
A slightly longer walk (over an hour) to a very photogenic waterfall. It’s situated between Triplet Falls and Hopetoun Falls.
… and I saved the best for last: photo of a wild koala … isn’t it just the cutest?! Until next time!
Have you ever been to the Great Ocean Road? What were some of your favourite places? If you have any more tips or recommendations that aren’t on this list, I would love to read them in the comments below! Alternatively, feel free to reach out to me @emilypeilan on Instagram if you have any questions :)
