Great Ocean Road Tourism Statistics

Published

At a glance

  • Built by soldiers returning from World War I in honour of their fallen comrades1, the Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations.
  • It stretches for about 240 km along the Victorian coastline1, past the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and the Great Otway National Park.
  • About 4.1 million domestic trips were made to the region in 2025.2
  • About 127,000 international visitors came in 2025, 17% fewer than in 2024.3
  • Domestic visitors spent about AUD 1.68 billion in the region in 2025.2
  • International visitors stayed 9.0 nights on average in 2025.3

How many tourists visit the Great Ocean Road each year?

About 4.1 million domestic trips were made to the Great Ocean Road region in 2025.2 The region also received about 127,000 international visitors in 2025, 17% fewer than in 2024.3 The latest quarter, June 2026, brought about 939,000 domestic trips.2

In 2024, 5,739,100 people visited the region: 5,586,000 domestic and 153,100 international visitors.4 Note: years before 2025 use a different survey method.

  • 7,037,900 visitors (domestic and international) in 2019 before the pandemic hit.35
  • 3,828,000 in 2020, 44% fewer domestic visitors than 2019's 6,795,000, due to the pandemic. No international figures were published for 2020 to 2022, so these years count domestic visitors only.5
  • 4,380,000 in 2021, a 14% increase from 2020.5
  • 5,545,000 in 2022, a 27% increase from 2021, still 18% below 2019's domestic visitors.5
  • 5,448,800 in 2023, including 5,320,000 domestic visitors, 4% fewer than in 2022.34
  • 5,739,100 in 2024, a 5% increase from 2023, still 18% below 2019.4
Total Visitors to the Great Ocean Road by YearDomestic and international visitors combined, 2017–20242M4M6M8M7,037,9003,828,00020172018201920202021202220232024YearTotal visitors
Total visitors to the Great Ocean Road region per year, 2017–2024: domestic plus international visitors. The 2020–2022 totals are domestic visitors only, as international figures were not published for those years. Source: Tourism Research Australia National Visitor Survey and International Visitor Survey, via Business Victoria and the Victorian Government.

Who visited the Great Ocean Road?

International visitor numbers fell to about 127,000 in 2025, 17% fewer than in 2024 and 48% below 2019, but those who came stayed longer: 9.0 nights on average.3 About 5.7 million visitors came to the Great Ocean Road region in 2024: 5.6 million domestic and 153,000 international visitors, still below the 7.0 million recorded in 2019.4

  • This consisted of 97% domestic visitors and 3% international visitors, with international visitor numbers still 37% below 2019.4
Great Ocean Road Visitors by Year: Domestic and InternationalDomestic and international visitors, 2017–2024Domestic visitorsInternational visitors2M4M6M8M20172018201920202021202220232024Year
Domestic and international visitors to the Great Ocean Road region per year, 2017–2024. International figures were not published for 2020–2022. Source: Tourism Research Australia National Visitor Survey and International Visitor Survey, via Business Victoria and the Victorian Government.

How much do tourists visiting the Great Ocean Road spend each year?

Domestic visitors spent about AUD 1.68 billion in the Great Ocean Road region in 2025.2 International visitors spent about AUD 127 million in 2025, 25% more than in 2024,3 and domestic visitors spent about AUD 389 million in the June quarter 2026.2 Across 2024–25, tourism added about AUD 1.41 billion to the region's economy and supported about 13,200 jobs.6 Note: years before 2025 use a different survey method.

  • AUD 1.46 billion spent by domestic visitors in 2019, the last full pre-pandemic year.5
  • AUD 1.03 billion in 2020, a 29% drop due to COVID.5
  • AUD 1.45 billion in 2021, a 40% rise from 2020 and close to 2019 levels.5
  • AUD 1.82 billion in 2022, a 26% increase from 2021 and 25% above 2019.5
  • AUD 1.94 billion in 2023, a 6% increase from 2022.4
  • AUD 1.90 billion in 2024, 2% lower than in 2023 but 30% above 2019.4
Visitor Spending on the Great Ocean Road by Year: Domestic and InternationalVisitor spending in AUD, 2017–2024Domestic visitor spend (AUD)International visitor spend (AUD)$500M$1B$1.5B$2B20172018201920202021202220232024Year
Domestic and international visitor spending in the Great Ocean Road region per year, 2017–2024 (AUD). International spending is shown for 2017–2019 and 2024 only: figures were not published for 2020–2022, and no 2023 regional dollar figure has been published (the 2024 report says international spending fell 12% from 2023, which puts 2023 at roughly AUD 115 million). Source: Tourism Research Australia National Visitor Survey and International Visitor Survey, via Business Victoria and the Victorian Government.

When is the best time to visit the Great Ocean Road?

  • The best time to visit the Great Ocean Road is March to May (autumn) and September to November (spring) due to mild weather, fewer crowds and great views.
  • Winter (June–August) is ideal for avoiding crowds. This time isn’t the best for activities due to colder temperatures.

How long do tourists spend on the Great Ocean Road?

  • International visitors: 9.0 nights on average in 2025,3 up from 5.9 nights in the Great Ocean Road region in 2024.4
  • Domestic visitors: 2.6 nights on average for overnight trips in 20244, often combining trips with Melbourne or other nearby regions.
  • Visitor nights: about 6.4 million domestic and 899,000 international visitor nights in 2024.4
  • Day trips: about 3.1 million domestic day-trippers visited in 2024, more than half of all domestic visitors, many of them from Melbourne. They spent about AUD 135 each on average.4

How many people go caravanning and camping on the Great Ocean Road?

The Great Ocean Road region had about 552,000 caravan and camping trips in 2024, 14% more than in 2023, making it the 7th most popular caravan and camping region in Australia.7

  • 1.8 million caravan and camping nights in 2024, up 13% on 2023.7
  • The 2nd most popular caravan and camping region in Victoria, after the High Country.7
  • 10 caravan parks between Torquay and Port Campbell are run by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority, which recorded about 780,000 visitor nights in 2023–24.8

Latest available: 2024. Regional figures for 2025 have not been published yet.

Campervan hire in Australia

What are the most popular attractions on the Great Ocean Road?

  • Twelve Apostles: the road's best-known attraction, with more than 2 million visitors a year.9
  • Loch Ard Gorge: a sheltered cove named after a famous shipwreck.
  • London Arch: a well-known rock formation on the same stretch of coast.
  • Great Otway National Park: waterfalls, rainforests and wildlife.
  • Bells Beach: a world-famous surf spot.

How many people visit the Twelve Apostles each year?

More than 2 million people visit the Twelve Apostles each year.9

From 16 October 2026, visitors need to book ahead to enter the new AUD 126 million visitor centre and see the sights.10 Visiting stays free until April 2027, when an entry fee starts; the amount has not been announced, and locals and Traditional Owners will be exempt. Bookings are meant to help manage overcrowding at peak times.

How many tourists are visiting the Great Ocean Road in 2026?

Full-year 2026 figures are not out yet, and no year-to-date total is published for the region. The latest official figures are:

  • 939,000 domestic trips in the June quarter 2026, with 1.19 million visitor nights.2
  • 102,000 international visitors in the year to June 2026, 31% fewer than a year earlier.3

How much are tourists spending on the Great Ocean Road in 2026?

  • Domestic visitors spent about AUD 389 million in the June quarter 2026.2
  • International visitors spent AUD 119 million in the year to June 2026, 12% more than a year earlier, or about AUD 1,166 per trip.3

What is the tourism forecast for the Great Ocean Road?

No official forecast is published for the Great Ocean Road region itself. For Victoria as a whole, visitors are forecast to reach 133.1 million and visitor spending AUD 57.2 billion by 2030, up 11.3% and 22.2% on 2025.11

Other Resources

How many tourists visit the Great Ocean Road compared with 2019?

There were about 7.0 million visitors in 2019 (6.8 million domestic and 243,000 international). In 2024 the total was about 5.7 million, so visitor numbers had not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.4

  • Total visitor spending reached about AUD 2.0 billion in 2024, above 2019 (about AUD 1.57 billion).4
  • International visitors made up about 3.5% of all visitors in 2019 and about 2.7% in 2024, with international numbers still 37% below 2019.4

How much does an average visitor spend per trip?

An average visitor spent about AUD 350 per trip to the Great Ocean Road region in 2024 (about AUD 2.0 billion across 5.7 million visitors), but spending depends on the trip.4

  • Day-trippers spent AUD 135 per trip on average.4
  • Domestic overnight visitors spent AUD 599 per trip on average.4
  • International visitors spent AUD 996 per trip on average in 2025,3 up from AUD 661 in 2024.4

Frequently asked questions

Where does the Great Ocean Road start and end?

It runs from Torquay in the east to Allansford in the west, on Victoria's south-west coast.1

When was the Great Ocean Road built?

Surveying began in August 1918 and construction started in 1919.12 The road was officially opened on 26 November 1932.

Do you have to pay a toll to drive the Great Ocean Road?

No. Drivers paid a toll from December 1922 to help repay the cost of building the road, but it was lifted on 2 October 1936.13

Can you see wildlife along the Great Ocean Road?

Yes. Little penguins can sometimes be seen at dusk near the Twelve Apostles and London Bridge, thousands of short-tailed shearwaters return to Mutton Bird Island between October and April, and whales are often spotted from coastal lookouts such as Port Campbell during migration season.14

Is the Great Ocean Road heritage listed?

Yes. The Australian Heritage Council found the road and its scenic environs, from Torquay to Allansford, to be a place of outstanding national heritage significance.1 The protected views include the Twelve Apostles, the Bay of Islands and the Bay of Martyrs.

References

  1. Great Ocean Road and its scenic environs – National Heritage assessment · dcceew.gov.au ↑ b c d
  2. Domestic tourism data for Victoria's tourism regions (Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions; Tourism Research Australia Domestic Tourism Statistics) · djsir.vic.gov.au ↑ b c d e f g h
  3. International tourism data for Victoria's tourism regions (Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions; Tourism Research Australia International Visitor Survey) · djsir.vic.gov.au ↑ b c d e f g h i j k
  4. Victoria's Tourism Performance, year ending December 2024 (Victorian Government Tourism and Events research; Tourism Research Australia NVS and IVS) · destinationcentralvictoria.com.au ↑ b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r
  5. Domestic visitor and expenditure estimates, year ending December 2022 (Business Victoria / Tourism Research Australia) · business.vic.gov.au ↑ b c d e f g h
  6. State and Regional Tourism Satellite Accounts 2024–25: Great Ocean Road (Tourism Research Australia) · Tourism Research Australia ↑
  7. Caravan Industry Association of Australia — Caravan and Camping State of Industry 2025 · assets.pc.gov.au ↑ b c
  8. Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority Annual Report 2023-24 · parliament.vic.gov.au ↑
  9. Construction begins on Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre (Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions) · djsir.vic.gov.au ↑ b
  10. Tourists must pay and book ahead to see iconic Twelve Apostles (ABC News) · abc.net.au ↑
  11. Research and Insights: visitation statistics and forecasts for Victoria (Visit Victoria) · corporate.visitvictoria.com ↑
  12. 'Diggers constructing Ocean Road' (Australian War Memorial collection, P10221.006) · awm.gov.au ↑
  13. The history of the Great Ocean Road (Lorne Historical Society) · lornehistoricalsociety.org.au ↑
  14. Port Campbell National Park (Parks Victoria) · parks.vic.gov.au ↑
  15. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism Statistics (Visit Victoria) · corporate.visitvictoria.com
  1. Camper Champ
    2. >
  2. Statistics
    3. >
  3. Australia
    4. >
  4. Great Ocean Road Tourism Statistics
Get in touch
Info

Camper Champ © 2026 All rights reserved.