The road was built by returned soldiers after the First World War and it hugs the coast in a way modern engineering would probably avoid. The scenery peaks in the western section, which is exactly where day trippers from Melbourne are already tired.
Two days, not one
Sleep in Apollo Bay or Port Campbell. That splits the drive and puts you at the Twelve Apostles for sunrise or late light rather than at midday with four coaches.
Stops worth the time
- Kennett River for wild koalas in the roadside gums
- Great Otway National Park for rainforest and waterfalls
- Loch Ard Gorge, which is quieter than its famous neighbour and more interesting
Drive west to east if you want the sun behind you in the afternoon, though most itineraries run the other way. Either works, the traffic pattern is the real variable.
