Road Tripping: Hotels on the Great Ocean Road

“Imagine cruising around a clifftop bend with gorgeous greenery to your right and the bluest ocean you could possibly imagine, dotted with ancient, ruggedly beautiful rock formations to your left. Sound appealing? Good, because that’s what Australia’s Great Ocean Road does consistently for 150 miles, with the odd detour inland through Victoria’s rainforest and endlessly rolling hills. It’s unquestionably one of the world’s greatest road trips, with unbeatable scenery and masses to do, whether you want to surf, party or hike in the rainforest. Here are five hotel picks in the key stops along the way.

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Torquay: Surf City Motel
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The town that marks the start of the Great Ocean Road is dominated and defined by one thing: surfing. Just 10 minutes down the coast is Bells Beach, Australia’s most legendary surf break and home to the Rip Curl Pro each April – professional surfing’s most prestigious event. Surf City Motel proudly makes a play of the town’s pedigree and puts you right on the seafront at the southern end of Torquay’s Esplanade. A short walk into the town, the waterfront location sets the tone for the trip nicely.

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Lorne: Sandridge Motel
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As one of the larger towns on the GOR, Lorne has a good selection of hotels, and it’s worth stopping here not only for the beach, but also the very pretty Erskine Falls, which is a short drive inland from the town. Head back towards the ocean and you can stay just over the road from the waterfront with some outstanding sea views and bright rooms at Lorne’s Sandridge Motel.

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Apollo Bay: Comfort Inn The International
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Next stop is Apollo Bay – not just a gorgeous seaside town but also the gateway to Great Otway National Park, where you can explore the rainforest on some beautiful and well-marked hiking routes, and visit natural landmarks such as Triplet Falls. Apollo Bay is one of the most popular stop-offs on the GORs so there’s a good range of hotels; Comfort Inn The International is another with a foreshore location, and also has an outdoor pool.

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Port Campbell: Port O’ Call Motel
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Although you only reach Port Campbell after visiting the Twelve Apostles, it’s worth stopping here to get up early and head back to the Apostles for sunrise. Port O’ Call Motel is in the heart of the little town and – most importantly – minutes’ walk from Port Campbell’s fish and chip shops, and the beach where it’s as good as compulsory to eat your flake and chips, watching local kids shove each other off the jetty.

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Port Fairy: Oscars Waterfront Boutique Hotel
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Technically the GOR ends at Allansford just before the city of Warnambool, where most road trippers end their travels. However, those in the know carry on to quaint little Port Fairy, with its olde worlde tea rooms, quiet beach and cosy B&Bs. One such is Oscars Waterfront Boutique Hotel, which feels decidedly more English townhouse than Aussie surf shack.”