Three days on the Great Ocean Road: A luxury road trip

Think road trips are for travellers on a budget? Think again. This route on the Great Ocean Road offers luxurious accommodation, gourmet delights and wellness experiences in spades

Some road trips are about the destination; others are about the feeling. The Great Ocean Road is the latter – the kind of journey where time stretches, ocean views shift with every bend, and the simple act of driving feels immersive. Over three days, I follow the coastline from Warrnambool to Lorne, stopping at hot springs, boutique hotels and tiny coastal towns that seem frozen in time. Along the way, there are standout moments – some planned, others unexpected – that make this stretch of Victoria feel like a world of its own.

Day One

The drive west from Melbourne is long but rewarding. By the time I arrive in Warrnambool, the salty air is a welcome contrast to the city’s humidity. A late lunch at Pavilion Café & Bar sets the tone for the journey ahead – fresh, seasonal, and relaxed, with views across the Southern Ocean. Just up the road, Deep Blue Hot Springs, with its steaming mineral pools tucked into an outdoor sanctuary, offers the perfect reset. Guests quietly glide between warm and cold therapy zones as the ocean breeze drifts through the air, and I find the business of my Melbourne life melting away. I could easily spend hours here, but Port Fairy is calling.

From the moment I arrive, it’s obvious why this town is so loved. There’s a strong sense of history, from the stone cottages to the working docks. The walk to Griffiths Island Lighthouse is the perfect way to take it all in, the late afternoon sun catching the waves as they roll into the shore. That evening, I check into The Oak & Anchor, a boutique stay housed in a heritage building with just six suites. The interiors are a mix of high ceilings, moody tones, and contemporary furnishings that evoke a sense of laid-back luxury. Dinner at Sidro Restaurant & Bar is seafood-focused and beautifully prepared – the kind of meal that lets the ingredients speak for themselves.

Day Two

The next morning, the road stretches ahead as it guides us towards the 12 Apostles. I’ve seen them before, but their scale never quite translates until you’re standing at the edge of the viewing platform, watching the waves carve endlessly at the limestone. Taking in the coastline from a 12 Apostles Helicopters flight, though, offers an entirely different perspective – one that makes the landscape feel both vast and impossibly fragile at the same time.

By midday, the drive led to Apollo Bay, where the promise of fresh seafood at Fisherman’s Co-op is enough reason to stop. A crayfish platter for two (for one) might seem indulgent, but considering where I am, surely it would have been rude not to. The next stretch of the drive is my favourite: Winding through the Great Otway National Park, then stopping at Sheoak Falls and Teddy’s Lookout – this is the part of the trip where the road and the ocean blurs into one.

But nothing prepares me for Lorne House. Set on the beachfront, this is more than just a stay – it is a destination in itself, and one of the most gorgeous houses I have seen along the coast in a long time. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the ocean, making it feel as though the water is an extension of the living space. I leave the doors open that evening, letting the sound of the waves filter through the room. Raas Leela, just a short drive away, is the perfect dinner spot, its contemporary Indian menu a welcome contrast to the casual coastal fare of the previous days.

Day Three

By the final morning, I am not quite ready to leave, so take my time over breakfast at Lorne Central before making a detour to Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet. In Anglesea I enjoy a final act of indulgence with a massage at Lux Spa & Wellness, easing me back into reality before the drive home. One last stop at RACV Torquay Resort for lunch at Hardings Lounge, followed by a Hammam bathing session at One Spa, feels like the perfect way to close the trip – bookending it with the same focus on relaxation it started with.

Heading back towards Melbourne, I can’t shake the feeling that I am leaving something behind. The Great Ocean Road is stunning, yes, but it’s the places along the way – the quiet corners, the boutique stays, the unexpected stops – that make it what it is. Three days are not enough, but maybe they weren’t meant to be. Maybe that’s the beauty of it.