Last Updated on December 6, 2023 by Natalia
With stunning scenery all along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, there are plenty of amazing lookouts and viewpoints to visit along the way. The Great Ocean Road is known for being one of the best road trips in Australia, and is a popular trip for visitors to Melbourne. There is plenty to see along the road, from native wildlife such as koalas and kangaroos to the rugged cliffs and unique limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles. With such amazing landscape and scenery, there are some unmissable views and lookouts to enjoy on the Great Ocean Road. This post covers 8 of the best Great Ocean Road lookouts so that you don’t miss any of the best views on your trip!
Find out where to stay on your trip with our guide to the best places to stay on the Great Ocean Road, and if you’re visiting Melbourne before or after then make sure to check out our four day Melbourne itinerary for inspiration!
Best Viewpoints and Lookouts on the Great Ocean Road
Teddy’s Lookout
Teddy’s Lookout is one of the best Great Ocean Road lookouts, offering beautiful views of the ocean, hills, and nearby forest. It’s one of the best lookouts for getting a view of the Great Ocean Road itself, which you can see winding along the coastline in front of the stunning blue sea.
It only takes a couple of minutes to walk from the car park to Teddy’s Lookout, so you don’t have to wait long until you can enjoy this lovely view. Located just outside the town of Lorne, the lookout is a few minutes drive off the Great Ocean Road – but it’s well worth the slight detour.
Between June and October, whales can be seen along the Great Ocean Road – with the whales sometimes visible from Teddy’s Lookout. Of course you will need a bit of good luck with timing if you are to see whales, so have your fingers crossed! Click here to find out more about the whales in this part of Victoria.
One thing to be mindful of is that snakes are present in the area, but don’t let this put you off visiting. We actually did see a snake in the road as we were driving off from the lookout, which was lovely to see (especially from the safety of the inside of our campervan!).
In terms of getting to the lookout, we recommend going along Otway Street and then George Street. Some of the other streets in the area are very steep, which can make it hard for some cars and campervans to drive up. It’s also worth heading back down the same way unless you’re comfortable going downhill on very steep roads!
Loch Ard Gorge
Loch Ard Gorge is a beautiful coastal gorge, just a few minutes drive from the famous Twelve Apostles. It’s an extremely picturesque spot thanks to the dazzling blue water and the rocky cliff faces surrounding it – and for us is one of the essential stops on any Great Ocean Road itinerary.
There are a few different lookouts at the Loch Ard Gorge, with the Island Arch lookout offering views into the famous gorge. The Loch Ard Gorge Beach is accessible via some stairs, and partway down you get a different viewpoint of the gorge to enjoy.
Loch Ard Gorge takes its name from a ship named Loch Ard that crashed and sank in the area in 1878, with only two survivors. The nearby Tom and Eva Lookout (pictured below) is named after the two survivors of the shipwreck, and has wonderful views of two towering rock formations rising from the choppy seawater.
All of the above lookouts are just a short walk from the Loch Ard Gorge car park, and are well worth including on your trip along the Great Ocean Road.
Marriner’s Lookout
Marriner’s Lookout is one of the most breathtaking lookouts on the Great Ocean Road. Located near the town of Apollo Bay, the lookout offers panoramic views of the ocean and nearby beaches as well as nearby to some attractions on the Great Ocean Road.
Despite the wonderful views, the lookout is fairly quiet and is one of the hidden gems along the Great Ocean Road. It’s around a 5-minute drive uphill from the main road up to the Marriner’s Lookout car park, and from there it’s a short walk up to the viewpoint.
The walk up to the lookout should take around 5-10 minutes, and is fairly steep at points. At the end of the trail is an open grassy area from which you get wonderful views of Apollo Bay and the coastline of the Great Ocean Road.
It’s worth the short climb to appreciate the area’s beauty from above, with the stunning turquoise waters and beaches looking particularly impressive from the lookout. Marriner’s Lookout is one of our favourite lookouts along the Great Ocean Road, and is definitely worth the short detour for the fabulous views of Apollo Bay and the area’s natural beauty.
Bay of Martyrs
The Bay of Martyrs is home to one of the best lookouts on the Great Ocean Road. Located around a 25-minute drive from the Twelve Apostles, the lookout has views of jagged cliffs and offshore rock stacks, as well as the bay’s beach and beautifully-blue waters.
A free car park is located almost directly next to the Bay of Martyrs lookout, making it an easy stop on your trip along the Great Ocean Road. If you’re in a rush you can enjoy the area’s beauty quickly and continue on your way, but if you have the time there is more to enjoy here.
One option is to take the cliff top path to Halladale Point, where you can enjoy more lovely views of the area. Alternatively, follow the steps down and wander along this beautiful stretch of beach whilst enjoying wonderful views and the waves crashing at your feet.
London Bridge
London Bridge is a magnificent offshore rock arch located on the Great Ocean Road. Previously this rock formation consisted of two arches and was connected to the mainland, but in January 1990 the arch connecting it to land collapsed.
Thankfully, the resulting rock formation is still an impressive sight – and is one of the most popular lookouts on the Great Ocean Road. From the lookout you get a lovely view of the stunning blue sea of the Southern Ocean, with waves crashing against the rock formation as well as onto the beach below the lookout.
If you visit the London Bridge lookout near sunset then you may even see some little penguins making their way out of the sea and back to their nests. The penguins are only seen around dusk, but are fascinating to see if you get the chance.
The London Bridge car park is well signposted along the road, and has space for both cars and campervans. It’s less than a 5 minute walk from the car park to the London Bridge viewing platform, so only a short stop is required here to enjoy one of the best lookouts along the Great Ocean Road.
Bay of Islands
A quieter alternative to the famous Twelve Apostles, the Bay of Islands lookout points offer some of the best views on the Great Ocean Road. There are two lookouts to visit at this spot, offering wonderful views of unique limestone rock formations, rugged cliffs, and the sparkling blue waters of the Southern Ocean.
The two lookout points are both easily accessible from the Bay of Islands car park, with a flat path leading to the viewing platforms on top of the cliffs. It’s only a short walk from the car park, with both viewpoints located less than 5 minutes from the parking area.
With such stunning scenery, the Bay of Islands offers some of the best lookouts on the Great Ocean Road. The viewing platforms can get a little busy with other visitors, but compared to the popular Twelve Apostles it was fairly quiet on our visit.
Twelve Apostles
The Twelve Apostles are perhaps the most famous and iconic lookout along the Great Ocean Road, and it’s easy to see why. This stunning natural wonder is a series of limestone stacks that rise majestically out of the ocean, just offshore from the coastline’s beaches and rocky cliffs.
To reach the Twelve Apostles lookout, park in the free car park at the visitors centre and follow the marked path towards the viewpoints. There are a number of different lookout points to enjoy, each offering a unique view of the apostles themselves and this beautiful stretch of coast.
As one of the best and most popular lookouts on the Great Ocean Road, the Twelve Apostles is often quite busy. It’s a beautiful spot to visit at sunrise or sunset, but can be particularly busy at sunset. If you want to avoid the crowds we recommend getting there early in the morning, as it’s often quieter than later in the day.
If you want a really special experience then it’s even possible to take a helicopter trip to get an aerial view of the apostles – which is one of the most unique things to do on the Great Ocean Road.
Castle Cove Lookout
Castle Cove Lookout is conveniently located just a few steps from the roadside along the Great Ocean Road, providing a beautiful view of the rugged coastline and wonderfully-blue waters of the Southern Ocean. It’s a brilliant spot for a quick stop off, and is one of the less busy lookouts along this famous stretch of road.
The small viewing platform at Castle Cove Lookout is just a couple of minutes walk from the lay-by parking area. On a sunny day it’s a particularly spectacular view, with the beach and sea below lighting up in good weather.
If you have the time then you may want to walk down to the secluded beach, which quite often you will have entirely to yourself. Most people only take a quick stop here to enjoy the lovely views, but if you don’t mind walking down a number of steps then visiting the beach is a nice option too.
Looking for other great road trips to do in Australia? Try the Great Ocean Drive in Esperance or our 3 week East Coast Australia itinerary!
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