The Best Great Ocean Road Activities

Great Ocean Road activities include tandem skydives over the Surf Coast, surf lessons at Torquay and Lorne, a guided wildlife walk in the Otways and Aboriginal cultural tours at Budj Bim. They suit travellers who'd rather get out and do something than watch the coast go past a bus window. For coach and small-group sightseeing, see the Great Ocean Road tours page.

Skydiving on the Great Ocean Road

Great Ocean Road tandem skydives jump from up to 15,000ft, with up to a minute of free fall. The Great Ocean Road Weekday Tandem Skydive runs Monday to Friday at 8am with return transfers from Southbank in Melbourne, and the weekend tandem skydive with transfers collects from the same Southbank stop. The Tandem Skydive Over Great Ocean Road is based in Torquay, runs daily except Tuesdays, and ends with a beach landing on Bells Beach.

Closer to the city, the Tandem Skydive over the Yarra Valley starts at Lilydale Airport in Yering, a 45-minute drive from the CBD, and looks over the Dandenong and Yarra Ranges. The Great Ocean Road skydiving page lists every drop zone.

Surf lessons at Torquay and Lorne

The 2-Hour Surf Experience in Torquay meets at the Go Ride A Wave shop on Bell Street at 10am, with a soft beginner board, leg rope and wetsuit or rashie included. The Great Ocean Road Surf Lesson in Lorne meets at Lorne Beach with sessions at 10am, 12pm and 1.30pm, and also sells as a 3-lesson course.

If one lesson won't be enough, the 3 x 2-Hour Progressive Surf Course in Torquay runs three lessons with lifeguard-qualified instructors, 12 online theory modules and personal feedback after each session.

Wildlife and cultural activities

The Walk with Wildlife Guided Conservation Tour at Wildlife Wonders in Apollo Bay is a 75-minute walk along a 1.4km all-abilities path, with a visit to the Conservation Ecology Centre Research Hub and sessions every hour from 10am to 3pm.

The Kooyang Yana Cultural Full Day Tour is a 7-hour day with a Gunditjmara guide, starting at 9.30am at the Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre and visiting ancient stone eel traps in the Kurtonitj Indigenous Protected Area. Morning tea and a light lunch are included.

Day trips with a hands-on stop

The Phillip Island Penguins Day Tour includes hand-feeding kangaroos and wallabies at Moonlit Sanctuary before the Penguin Parade at sunset. The Lake Mountain Snow Play Full Day Tour adds tobogganing and cross-country skiing, subject to natural snowfall.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need experience to learn to surf on the Great Ocean Road?

No. The 2-hour surf lessons at Torquay and Lorne start with a safety introduction, and the board and wetsuit are supplied, so beginners can book without any surfing background.

Where do the Great Ocean Road skydives take off?

The Skydive Australia listings use the Barwon Heads Airport drop zone at Connewarre, a 1.5-hour drive from Melbourne CBD, and the Torquay listing is based on Blackgate Road.

Can I skydive over the Great Ocean Road without a car?

Yes. The Great Ocean Road Weekday Tandem Skydive includes return transfers from Southbank in Melbourne, and a weekend listing collects from the same stop.

What is the minimum age for a Great Ocean Road skydive?

The Skydive Australia and Torquay listings set a minimum age of 16, and anyone under 18 at the Torquay drop zone needs parent or guardian consent.

Pick the Great Ocean Road activity that suits your energy levels, then book it online for the date you're in the region.