Travel Guides and Stories

The Great Ocean Road was the main focus of our self-drive tour, so we only spent one day in Melbourne's CBD. For those visiting Melbourne, I strongly recommend staying in the city center, where most attractions are concentrated, including St Patricks Cathedral, Federation Square, Royal Arcade, and various architectural landmarks. You can get detailed maps and tourist information from the Information Centre next to Federation Square. If you're just exploring the CBD, walking is the best option - attractions are within easy walking distance, and the streets are filled with diverse shops, so you'll never get bored.
After daytime sightseeing, I recommend heading to the opposite side of the Yarra River to view the stunning CBD nightscape.
Accommodation: We stayed at the City Square Motel in the heart of the CBD, as the name suggests, it's opposite City Square. A twin room costs AUD 105 per night. The rooms are well-appointed and comfortable. The only drawback is the small entrance which can be tricky to find on your first visit, but it's still worth recommending.
Food: Restaurants are everywhere... We tried two noteworthy places: One is a dumpling restaurant called SHANGHAI in Chinatown. We noticed it had the longest queue, so we decided to try it. It was great - they offer a set menu for two at AUD 30 including two main dishes, soup, and a plate of dumplings. The other is a Korean restaurant called KIM CHI tray opposite the train station, also popular with great presentation and taste. Set meals cost around AUD 10 per person.
Dining tips: The busiest times are around 12:30 PM for lunch and after 6 PM for dinner. I suggest walking around and choosing restaurants with lots of customers. Avoid empty restaurants - we once went to a claypot rice place that was empty, and the food was disappointing, not even as good as my girlfriend's cooking...
Photography spots: First, check out postcards in souvenir shops for inspiration. For city shots, night photography is ideal, especially along the Yarra River. After dinner, take a stroll along the river - there are numerous excellent photo opportunities. No tripod? No problem - you can stabilize your camera on the low walls or benches along the river and use the self-timer to avoid camera shake. That's how I captured most of my night shots.
St Patrick's Cathedral, one of the main attractions, is reportedly the largest Catholic cathedral in the Southern Hemisphere. The best time for photography is early morning, as it's backlit from afternoon to sunset (I unfortunately shot it in the afternoon... resulting in an overexposed sky). I found just one spot where you can capture the entire cathedral without any unwanted elements - refer to my photos for the location.
Regarding panoramic views of Melbourne: I couldn't find the perfect spot. There used to be an Observation Deck in the Rialto Tower, but it's now closed. Photography enthusiasts might want to explore other tall buildings for vantage points.

Day 1 of the Great Ocean Road: Melbourne——M1 Highway——Geelong (transfer to B100 Great Ocean Road)——Torquay——Bells Beach——Anglesea——Eagle Rock——Overnight in Lorne Most car rental companies in Melbourne are located on Franklin St. Book your car 2-3 weeks in advance online - no immediate payment required, just pay at the counter when collecting. Remember to bring your driver's license with translation and a credit card. After checking the vehicle, set your GPS to Torquay and choose routes avoiding toll roads, as CITYLINK has charges. Watch for highway signs - blue signs indicate toll roads, green signs are free routes. The speed limit is 100 km/h, maximum 107 km/h, and there are speed cameras in some places, so drive carefully. Car Rental Tips: Strongly recommend an automatic transmission - you'll get tired of shifting gears on the Great Ocean Road otherwise. I rented a Toyota Corolla for AUD 44 per day; booking earlier might get you better rates. Insurance isn't mandatory - I didn't take it, but basic coverage costs AUD 24 per day. Ask at the counter for details. We reached Torquay around lunchtime and ate at KFC - the most economical option. Then we headed to Bells Beach, our first beach stop. During Easter, they hold surfing competitions with paid entry, but it's usually free. There are often surfers here, and with a good zoom lens, you can capture some great surfing shots. Continuing to Anglesea, this is where the true Great Ocean Road experience begins - steep cliffs on one side, stunning ocean views on the other, truly one of the world's most beautiful coastal drives. The B100 features various beaches, all free, with clear signs indicating swimming areas, boat launches, and BBQ spots. Follow the posted rules. B100 has a 100 km/h speed limit with two-way traffic - avoid random overtaking or roadside parking. Overtaking lanes appear every few kilometers (marked as "takeover lane") - keep left if there's traffic behind you. Each scenic spot has a designated parking area marked as "lookout" with distance and direction indicators. Slow down early if you want to stop. After reaching Anglesea, take time to explore the town if interested. Before Aireys Inlet, there's an important attraction - follow signs to Split Point Lighthouse (The White Queen). It's less famous than Cape Otway Lighthouse, so entry is free. You can climb the lighthouse at specific times. Further along is Eagle Rock, a magnificent natural sculpture. Our final stop was Lorne, arriving around 4 PM. After checking in, we visited Erskine Falls, a small waterfall in the rainforest. Returning at dusk, we had dinner at a fish & chips place - AUD 37 for a seafood package, quite good. There's no KFC or McDonald's here; western restaurants cost AUD 20+ per person and might not be filling. There's a supermarket nearby for snacks. Accommodation Recommendation: Chatby Lane B&B (Bed & Breakfast) offers special rooms for AUD 99, couples only. Rooms are elegant with WiFi, and breakfast is excellent. Highly recommended. Dining: No Chinese restaurants along the Great Ocean Road. KFC and McDonald's are cheapest (around AUD 15 for two). Fish & chips are everywhere (about AUD 25 for two); western restaurants typically cost AUD 40+ for two and might not be filling. Stock up on snacks from supermarkets. If you want instant noodles, buy them in Melbourne (like Kangshifu) - local instant noodles are terrible... my girlfriend and I learned this the hard way...

Day 2 of the Great Ocean Road:
Lorne——Apollo Bay——The Twelve Apostles——Overnight at Port Campbell
We enjoyed a leisurely morning, sleeping until 9 AM. After a shower, we found breakfast waiting at our door - it was delightful to enjoy the morning sunshine while having our meal. After checking out, we continued our journey.
Following the town's coastline, we drove to Lorne Pier to enjoy the sea breeze and watch the local fishermen - a pleasant way to spend some time.
The drive from Lorne to Apollo Bay isn't particularly long, but there are many scenic spots along the way. With frequent stops, we arrived in Apollo Bay around noon and looked for lunch. This town is similar to Lorne - we found a small food court and bought roast chicken and fish & chips, enjoying them on the sunny lawn. The meal cost around AUD 30. Afterward, we picked up maps from the Information Centre, set our GPS, and hit the road.
There are numerous attractions around Apollo Bay, all detailed on the map. I recommend selecting a few that interest you rather than trying to see everything to avoid scenic fatigue. There's a lookout point on the eastern hills offering panoramic views of the town, but it's on private property and requires an entrance fee. We opted to view it from the roadside instead.
Heading west on B100 after leaving town, you'll soon enter rainforest territory. The road becomes more challenging here, with many S-curves, and sunlight filtering through the rainforest can be disorienting. Drive carefully and pay attention to the speed reduction signs at every bend - safety first.
Along this rainforest stretch, you'll find road C157, which leads to the famous Cape Otway Lighthouse - the oldest surviving lighthouse in southern Australia. There's an entrance fee, and since we figured lighthouses are somewhat similar, we just admired it from afar.
Continuing on B100, the route moves mostly inland, so we headed directly to The Twelve Apostles for sunset. Perhaps it wasn't the right season - there was strong backlighting before sunset, and we didn't get the postcard-perfect golden hues afterward. Nevertheless, the majestic views of the Twelve Apostles kept us captivated, and even after dark, visitors continued to stream in.
Finally, we left for Port Campbell, about 10 minutes drive away, where we had fish & chips and snacks for dinner.
Accommodation: We stayed at the Port Campbell Holiday Park's new Studio, AUD 80 per night, with good facilities.

Day 3 of the Great Ocean Road:
Port Campbell——Gibson's Steps——Twelve Apostles——Loch Ard Gorge——The Arch——London Bridge——The Grotto
The coastline extending several kilometers around Port Campbell features the most concentrated and spectacular attractions along the Great Ocean Road. Each site reveals different moods from sunrise to sunset, from overcast skies to brilliant sunshine. This inspired us to revisit several locations we'd seen before.
We set out around 9:30 AM, enjoying a Western breakfast at a restaurant called WAVE (around AUD 20 for two), then headed to Gibson's Steps, which we'd missed earlier. It's the only beach offering ground-level views of the Twelve Apostles. As we arrived, the sun retreated behind thick clouds and a light drizzle began. The towering cliffs surrounding the turbulent deep blue ocean, highlighted by the grey clouds, created such a magnificent scene that even the widest camera lens couldn't capture its full grandeur.
Next, we returned to the Twelve Apostles to experience it in different conditions. The stunning colors that were hidden during yesterday's sunset now complemented the moving clouds perfectly. Years of erosion by sea and wind have carved fascinating patterns into these massive rock formations. If possible, I'd love to spend all four seasons here facing the ocean - it must be spectacular throughout the year.
Not far from the Twelve Apostles lies Loch Ard Gorge, a dramatically structured coastline with several lookout points. It takes about two hours to see everything, including one spot where you can descend to the beach - my girlfriend rated this as the most beautiful place along the Great Ocean Road. The water rushes in through a natural gateway formed by tall cliffs on both sides, creating a pool of deep blue-green water. While it was too cold for swimming in winter, some tourists still dipped their feet in the water.
We returned to Port Campbell for lunch, bought some snacks, and rested at our accommodation as the sun began to shine brighter. During our Great Ocean Road trip, the weather alternated between cloudy and sunny, though cloudy periods rarely lasted beyond noon.
After changing into lighter clothes, we headed west to The Grotto, passing the famous London Bridge (sadly, part of it has collapsed) and The Arch, another rock formation shaped by wind and water erosion. To truly appreciate these sights, you have to experience them in person - no photos or words can adequately describe their beauty.
At dusk, the entire coastline took on a golden hue. The deep blue of the ocean, pure white clouds, and golden sunset coast created a perfect, heavenly scene.
Dinner: Finally tired of fish & chips, we opted for a BBQ meal at a Western restaurant, which included grilled steak, sausages, salad, and potatoes (potatoes are everywhere here...). It was good value at AUD 22, though not quite enough for two people - remember to order some side dishes.

Day 4 of the Great Ocean Road:
Port Campbell——Bay of Islands——Warrnambool——Colac
This was our final day on the Great Ocean Road. Departing from Campbell, we visited the Bay of Islands and several similar attractions before reaching the town of Warrnambool, where the B100 route ends. If you have extra time, you might want to explore the charming Port Fairy town further ahead.
After enjoying a long-awaited KFC meal in Warrnambool, we took the A1 highway to begin our countryside journey back to Melbourne. The scenery here offers a completely different experience from the coastal views of the Great Ocean Road, featuring typical rural Australian landscapes. It's particularly beautiful at sunset, when the silhouettes of tall trees stand majestically against the vast fields.
This was our longest driving stretch, taking about two hours to reach Colac. We found a hotel there and enjoyed a delicious curry at a Thai restaurant. We watched the World Cup final that evening, and the next day we headed back to Melbourne, making a worthwhile detour to visit Queenscliff town along the way, bringing our wonderful journey to an end.