Surf beaches, rainforest & the Twelve Apostles
This is leg 1 of 2, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Great Ocean Road
Melbourne to Torquay
Melbourne and Torquay sit about 80 km (50 mi) apart in a straight line, with Torquay to the south-west. It is leg 1 of 2 on our Great Ocean Road itinerary, a 5-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 80 km · 50 mi
- Est. road distance
- 96–112 km
- Est. drive time
- 1 h 15 min – 2 h 15 min
- Direction
- Heading south-west
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Great Ocean Road itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 96–112 km (60–70 mi) of road and 1 h 15 min – 2 h 15 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Driving is by far the most common way to do this route, since the road itself is the attraction and there are many viewpoints and short walks. Tours from Melbourne are an option if you would rather not drive yourselves.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Torquay
Stay a day for surf culture, cliff walks and the first stretch of the road.
Bells Beach
Surf break and home of the Rip Curl Pro each Easter; good lookouts.
Australian National Surfing Museum
Museum of surf history and boards at Surf City Plaza.
Bomboras
Beachside kiosk and bar overlooking Fisherman's Beach.
Blackman's Brewery
Local brewery with a taproom.
Surf Coast Walk
Coastal walk linking Torquay, Jan Juc, Bells and Point Addis.
Point Addis Marine National Park
Clifftop lookouts and Koorie Cultural Walk over sheltered beaches.
Before you leave Melbourne
Spend two days on laneway food, galleries and the gardens before driving the coast.
On this curated route
Where Melbourne → Torquay sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Torquay to Melbourne is the same 80 km in a straight line, heading north-east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in January, when Torquay averages highs 5°C cooler than Melbourne.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne high | 26° | 25° | 24° | 20° | 16° | 14° | 13° | 14° | 16° | 19° | 22° | 24° |
| Torquay high | 21° | 21° | 20° | 18° | 16° | 14° | 13° | 13° | 14° | 16° | 18° | 19° |
| Melbourne rain | 45 | 49 | 46 | 61 | 60 | 65 | 64 | 70 | 61 | 61 | 74 | 60 |
| Torquay rain | 49 | 44 | 43 | 64 | 66 | 77 | 79 | 86 | 71 | 64 | 68 | 53 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Torquay month guides.
Melbourne to Torquay: questions travelers ask
How far is Melbourne from Torquay?
Melbourne is about 80 km (50 mi) from Torquay in a straight line, with Torquay to the south-west. By road, we estimate 96–112 km (60–70 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Melbourne to Torquay?
An estimated 1 h 15 min – 2 h 15 min, assuming 96–112 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Melbourne to Torquay?
Our Great Ocean Road itinerary includes this leg. Great Ocean Road runs about 5 days across 3 stops, best in Nov – Mar.
Onward from Torquay
- Torquay to Port Campbell 120 km
Guides for both ends
- Melbourne travel guide
- Melbourne weather best time to visit
- Torquay travel guide
- Torquay weather best time to visit
Torquay by month
Plan Melbourne → Torquay with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.