The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia's most iconic drives — and Geelong sits right at the start of it. But here's something most visitors don't consider: you don't need to be the one driving to enjoy it. In fact, some of the best Great Ocean Road experiences happen when you're not white-knuckling a hire car around coastal bends while trying to spot the Twelve Apostles in your rear-view mirror.
The Great Ocean Road officially begins at Torquay, just 21 kilometres south of Geelong's CBD — about a 25-minute drive. From there, it winds along the Victoria coastline through Anglesea, Lorne, Apollo Bay and eventually to the Twelve Apostles near Port Campbell, approximately 240 kilometres from Geelong.
A full Great Ocean Road drive to the Twelve Apostles and back in a single day is ambitious — it's around 5–6 hours of driving alone, before you stop anywhere. Most visitors either do the Surf Coast section (Torquay to Lorne) as a half-day trip, or the full road as a long full-day experience with an early start.
The stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay is where the road gets genuinely spectacular — tight coastal curves, cliff faces dropping to the ocean, and almost no phone reception. This is exactly the section where you want to be looking out the window, not at the road. Having a driver handle this section changes the experience completely.
Here are the stops worth building your day around, in order from Geelong heading west:
The surf capital of Australia. Bells Beach is one of the world's most famous surf breaks — even if the swell is flat when you visit, the clifftop views are worth the short walk. Torquay's main street has good coffee and the Surf Coast Walk starts here.
📍 21km from Geelong CBD · 25 min driveA relaxed coastal town at the mouth of the Anglesea River. The main beach is great for a swim in summer and the golf course is genuinely famous for its resident kangaroos — hundreds of them graze the fairways daily. Worth a 20-minute stop.
📍 44km from Geelong CBD · 45 min driveThe iconic red-and-white striped lighthouse featured in the Australian TV series Round the Twist. Free to visit, short walk up from the car park, and the coastal views from the top are excellent. The lighthouse tours run on weekends.
📍 52km from Geelong CBD · 55 min driveThe most popular town on the Great Ocean Road — and for good reason. Good restaurants, a beautiful main beach, and the Erskine Falls a short drive inland. Lorne gets very busy on summer weekends; parking is a genuine problem. Having a driver drop you at the main street and pick you up later is a real advantage here.
📍 73km from Geelong CBD · 1 hr 10 min driveA working fishing town with a great harbour, fresh seafood, and a more relaxed atmosphere than Lorne. If you're doing the full road in a day, Apollo Bay is a natural lunch stop. The Saturday morning farmers market is excellent if you happen to be there.
📍 183km from Geelong CBD · Approx 2 hr 15 min driveThe most visited natural attraction in Victoria. The limestone stacks rising from the Southern Ocean are genuinely impressive — but the car park and viewing platform get extremely crowded, especially at sunrise and sunset. There are currently 7 stacks remaining — the formation originally had 9 when named, with one collapsing in 2005 and another in 2009. Erosion is ongoing. Allow at least an hour at the site.
📍 278km from Geelong CBD · Approx 3 hr 15 min driveThe Twelve Apostles car park fills completely by 10am on summer weekends and public holidays. If you're self-driving, you'll often spend 30–40 minutes just circling for parking. With a taxi, your driver waits while you walk the viewing platforms — no parking stress, no time wasted.
Perfect if you only have half a day or are travelling with younger children. Relaxed pace, easy stops, back in Geelong by early afternoon.
An early start is essential. This is a long day — expect to be out for 10–12 hours — but it's one of the best day trips in Victoria.
Most people don't realise the return trip from the Twelve Apostles doesn't have to retrace the Great Ocean Road. The inland route via Colac and Winchelsea is significantly faster — about 2.5 hours back to Geelong versus 3+ hours on the coast road. We always recommend this for the return leg on a long day trip.
Hiring a car seems like the obvious choice for the Great Ocean Road — but there are genuine reasons why a private taxi transfer makes more sense, particularly for visitors:
🌊 Loch Ard Gorge, just a few kilometres past the Twelve Apostles, is one of the most dramatic coastal sites in Victoria — and far less crowded than the Apostles themselves. Don't skip it.
Beyond the main Great Ocean Road route, we regularly run trips to other popular destinations in the region:
Call us to arrange a private transfer — we'll pick you up from anywhere in Geelong and handle the driving while you enjoy the scenery.
From Geelong to the Twelve Apostles is approximately 3 hours of driving each way without stops. A full day trip with stops along the way takes 10–12 hours total. The Surf Coast section to Lorne is about 1 hour 10 minutes from Geelong.
Yes — we run full-day private transfers to the Twelve Apostles and back from anywhere in the Geelong region. Call us on 0452 387 715 to arrange a quote and itinerary.
The cost depends on your group size, pickup location, and the itinerary you choose. A private transfer is often comparable to hire car costs when you factor in fuel and parking — and you get a local driver who knows the road. Call us for a personalised quote.
Absolutely. Our Maxi Taxi accommodates up to 11 passengers — perfect for family groups, friend groups and corporate outings. Everyone travels together, and nobody has to drive.
Summer (December–February) is busiest and warmest. Autumn (March–May) offers mild weather and fewer crowds — often the best time to visit. Winter can be dramatic and moody, with big swells at Bells Beach. Spring brings wildflowers along the clifftops.