Wildlife along the road
The Great Ocean Road is as much a wildlife trip as a scenic drive. Wild koalas doze in roadside gums, kangaroos graze a famous golf course, whales calve off Warrnambool in winter, and emus roam a volcanic crater near the western end. Here's where to find them — and how to do it responsibly.
Kennett River & Cape Otway
For wild koalas, two spots stand out: Kennett River (on Grey River Road, between Lorne and Apollo Bay) — one of Australia's most reliable koala-spotting places — and Lighthouse Road to Cape Otway. Look up into the manna gums and you'll often find them dozing in the forks. Kennett River also buzzes with colourful king parrots and cockatoos. Drive slowly, keep your distance, and never feed or approach the animals.
Golf-course roos & winter whales
For kangaroos, the Anglesea Golf Club is famous — a resident mob grazes the fairways, viewable from the clubhouse or on a guided tour. At the western end, Warrnambool becomes a southern right whale nursery from about June to September, when females and calves come close to shore at Logans Beach, watched from a clifftop platform. Winter drives are quieter — and the whales are a spectacular reward for going the full distance.
A crater full of wildlife
Near Warrnambool, Tower Hill sits inside a dormant volcanic crater — a free, family-friendly reserve where emus, koalas, kangaroos and echidnas roam freely among walking trails, with Aboriginal-guided tours through Worn Gundidj. Wherever you watch wildlife on the road, do it responsibly: never feed or handle animals, keep your distance, take your rubbish, and drive slowly at dawn and dusk when they're near the road. Wild and undisturbed is the whole point.
Wildlife: your questions
The two best-known spots are Kennett River (on Grey River Road, between Lorne and Apollo Bay) and Lighthouse Road to Cape Otway — both have wild koalas in the roadside manna gums. Kennett River is famously one of the most reliable koala-spotting places in Australia, and also draws colourful king parrots and cockatoos. Drive slowly, look up into the trees, and never approach, touch or feed the wildlife.
The classic spot is the Anglesea Golf Club, where a resident mob of eastern grey kangaroos grazes the fairways — you can see them from the clubhouse or take a guided kangaroo tour. You'll also spot roos and wallabies around dawn and dusk in grassy areas and reserves along the coast, and at Tower Hill near Warrnambool. Always drive carefully at dawn and dusk, when wildlife is most active near the roads.
Yes — Warrnambool, at the western end, is a southern right whale nursery: from about June to September, females come close to shore at Logans Beach to calve, viewable from a dedicated clifftop platform. Humpbacks pass by too. Sightings vary year to year and day to day, so check recent reports. It's a wonderful reason to drive the full length of the road in winter.
Tower Hill, near Warrnambool, is a wildlife reserve set inside a dormant volcanic crater — a striking landscape teeming with emus, koalas, kangaroos and echidnas roaming freely, plus abundant birdlife. There are walking trails and a visitor centre, and Aboriginal-guided tours run through Worn Gundidj. It's free to enter, family-friendly, and one of the best (and most underrated) wildlife stops on the whole road.
No — please don't feed the animals, however tempting. Feeding koalas, kangaroos and parrots (including the famous king parrots at Kennett River) harms their health and behaviour, and it's discouraged or prohibited. Keep your distance, never handle wildlife, drive slowly especially at dawn and dusk, and take your rubbish with you. Watching these animals wild and undisturbed is the whole magic — let's keep them that way.