The First Road Trips of Spring
Spring on the coast isn’t loud. It’s the season of the soft reset. Of fresh air, quieter roads, and new adventures waiting just beyond the bend.
Here are 10 reasons to pack the car and make your first road trip of the season a spring one. Complete with the best places to stop along the way.
1. That Fresh Start Feeling – Torquay
Torquay, the gateway to the Great Ocean Road, is where the shift hits first. Head out early, grab a coffee from Pond or Surfcoast Wholefoods, and walk the Esplanade. You’ll feel it in the air: cool, clean, and charged with that spring energy.
2. Blossoms in Bloom – Anglesea Heath & Aireys Inlet
Anglesea Heath bursts into bloom in spring, with over a quarter of Victoria’s plant species flowering in vibrant yellows, purples, and whites. Take a short walk at Distillery Creek near Aireys Inlet and you’ll see wattles and wildflowers popping up under the gums. Post-walk, Salt Brewing Co is a must.
3. Clear Skies, Coastal Drives – Fairhaven to Lorne
This stretch is the showstopper. Spring skies mean unobstructed views. Waves crashing below, cliffs rising high. Pull in at Cinema Point or Teddys Lookout just outside Lorne for panoramic views made even more vivid by clear spring light.
4. The Return of Outdoor Dining – Lorne & Wye River
With the weather warming, outdoor tables at The Bottle of Milk (Lorne) or the Wye Beach Hotel are the places to be. Sunny, sea-breezy, and paired with fish and chips or a crisp local cider. These are the first outdoor meals that feel like a celebration of winter's ending.
5. Waterfalls on Full Volume – Erskine Falls & Beauchamp Falls
All that winter rain? It’s now cascading through the forest. Erskine Falls near Lorne is just a short drive and walk from town, and Beauchamp Falls (near Beech Forest) in the Otways is lush and loud this time of year. The trails are fresh, the ferns are glistening, and the photo ops are endless.
6. Baby Wildlife and Quiet Encounters – Tower Hill & Cape Otway
Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve near Warrnambool is a springtime paradise for spotting emus, wallabies, and koalas with their young. Cape Otway Lightstation is also a favourite for koala sightings - often snoozing right above the road in the eucalyptus trees. Keep your camera handy (and your distance).
7. Off-Season Adventures Without the Wait – Otway Fly Treetop Walk & Lake Elizabeth
Fancy a kayak on Lake Elizabeth? A treetop zip-line in the Otways? A surfing lesson in Apollo Bay? Spring means fewer bookings, smaller groups, and more time to chat with the locals who run these incredible experiences. It's a chance to really sink into the moment.
8. Beaches That Are Yours Alone – Johanna Beach & Point Addis
Johanna Beach is wild, rugged, and blissfully uncrowded in spring. Perfect for a meditative stroll. Point Addis, between Anglesea and Torquay, offers dramatic cliffs and near-empty sands with boardwalks for easy exploring. You’ll often have the whole vista to yourself.
9. Roadside Produce and Farmers Markets – Apollo Bay & Birregurra
Spring means stalls are popping up again. The Apollo Bay Farmers Market (3rd Sunday of the month) brings together fresh veggies, jams, and pastries—ideal for a picnic stop. Birregurra, just inland, is a food lover’s haven in spring. Worth the slight detour.
10. A Trip That Feels Like a Reset – Port Campbell & The Grotto
End your road trip with a moment of calm at Port Campbell. The coastal trails here lead to some of the region’s most iconic views—Gibson Steps, The Grotto, and Loch Ard Gorge. In spring, it’s quieter. Just the wind, the waves, and that feeling of space to breathe again.
So if you’ve been waiting for a sign to hit the road again, here it is.
Spring is here and the Great Ocean Road is ready to welcome you back.
Planning your spring reset? Explore our accommodation options across the Great Ocean Road region and start fresh this season.
