Cruising along Australia’s most scenic highway is a once-in-a-lifetime trip. With 243 kilometres of rugged coastline to explore, you can essentially design your dream vacation. Your first step to exploring the wonders of this road is renting the perfect Great Ocean Road car hire to take you from the city to the beach. There are plenty of deals to take advantage of, and tons of cars to choose from.
Pass afternoons in seaside towns, hunt for the perfect surfing destinations, or check out the Kennett River Koala Walk to — you guessed it — spot koalas, the opportunities are as endless as the open ocean road.
Finding the Best Great Ocean Road Car Hire
There are no car rentals along the Great Ocean Road itself. The closest car rental locations are Melbourne, Geelong or Adelaide. If you not returning to the same location you have departed from, in many cases, you can choose a different drop off location like Melbourne to Adelaide or vice versa.
For the best deals, pay attention to previous customer reviews, the drop off time, and the car hire service’s fuel and gas mileage policies. The best option is to use a site like Discover Cars, which compares over 500 car rental companies to get you the best price.
What do I need to rent a car to travel the Great Ocean Road?
In order to get a rental car to travel along the Great Ocean Road, you need four key things; your driver’s licence, a form of identification such as a passport, a credit card, and a voucher or reservation.
What is the best pick up location to hire a car on the Great Ocean Road?
As we mentioned earlier, there are no car rentals along the Great Ocean Road itself. However, there are several locations where you can hire a car rental nearby.
The most convenient pickup locations tend to be the Melbourne airport or Melbourne’s city center since many people start their trip there. Geelong is another picturesque city close to the beginning of the Great Ocean Road where to can pick up a car rental. Consider spending some time there if you have an extra day. It is a 1 hour and 15-minute drive from Melbourne to Torquay and a 22-minute drive from Geelong to Torquay.
How do I find the best car rental deals for the Great Ocean Road?
One way to find the best car rental deals is to compare offers and discounts from a wide variety of car hire services. Websites like Discover Cars, let you filters prices offered by over 500 car hire services so that you can sort through all available Great Ocean Road car rentals.
You can access discounts more frequently when you book a rental car early — prices tend to rise the closer that you are to the booking date. We tend to find the best deals on Discover Cars and we love that you can always cancel for free or reschedule your drop-off time if you change your mind.
FAQ’s About Exploring the Great Ocean Road with your Car Hire
The most popular way to explore the Great Ocean Road is by car. We have all the answers you need to travel the Great Ocean Road by car so that you can focus on hitting the beach.
Is the Great Ocean Road safe to drive?
The Great Ocean Road is a two-lane highway along the ocean coast of Australia. It has some twists and turns that can become dangerous during poor weather conditions. Your best bet is to check the weather before hitting the road. However, if you follow the rules of the road and take it slow you should have no problem along the road. There are a lot of turns off to take in the view so you don’t get distracted while driving.
What is the speed limit on the Great Ocean Road?
The average speed limit ranges from 50 km/hr to 100 km/hr. It’s important to note that in Australia, driving is done on the left-hand side of the road. With so many foreign tourists travelling along the Great Ocean Road there some signs reminding drivers to stay to the left.
As long as you keep your cool and take your time, you’ll be able to take in all the sights that the Great Ocean Road has to offer. Make time to complement the ocean views with a rainforest drive through The Otways, one of Victoria’s National Parks.
Is it possible to drive the whole Great Ocean Road in one day?
Yes, it is possible to drive the Great Ocean Road in a single day. Check out the Great Ocean Road day trip. However, if you have more time we would suggest that you spend at least 3 days to maximise your experience.
Read Next: Self Drive Great Ocean Road Day Trip
How long does it take to drive the Great Ocean Road?
A reasonable timeframe to take in the breathtaking wonders of the Great Ocean Road is three days. A few days gives you enough time to see all the sights without rushing through the experience.
We’ve taken the time to complete the Quintessential Great Ocean Road Tour Itinerary that ensures you can enjoy the town of Lorne, spend time catching waves at Bells Beach, soak in the sunset views of Apollo Bay, and even visit the Twelve Apostles limestone pillars near Loch Ard Gorge.
How do I plan a Great Ocean Road trip by car?
A good rule of thumb when planning a Great Ocean Road car adventure is to create an itinerary that can act as your guide along the vast stretch of historic road. We’ve compiled a list of the top 20 Great Ocean Road attractions so you can take note of your favourites.
If you’d like to take the scenic route, driving West from Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road ensures that you are closer to the ocean views, as cars drive along the left side of the road in Australia.
How much does it cost to drive the Great Ocean Road?
Although the open road is free, the cost of your adventure can vary depending on what car hire deals you can snag, as well as the price of gas, hotels, restaurants, and admission fees to various tourist attractions.
A good rule of thumb is to plan early so you can get good deals on Great Ocean Road car rentals and hotels while planning your itinerary. Then, the only thing left to do is to head out and hit the road!
