EV route · VIC

Great Ocean Road in an EV: Torquay to the Twelve Apostles

Australia's most famous coastal drive is an easy EV day trip — 243km one way with destination charging in Lorne and Apollo Bay. The only trick is leaving Melbourne with enough charge to skip Geelong entirely.

Last verified: 5 October 2026 · Chargers re-verified against live check-in data before every holiday season.

Distance
243 km
Total time
~4h driving + photo stops
Key stops
3

The charging stops

1

Torquay (95km)

50kW

Network: Chargefox

Plugs: 2 × 50kW

Amenities: Surf town cafes

If broken: Geelong ultra-rapid (20km back)

2

Lorne (140km)

11kW

Network: Destination AC

Plugs: Type 2 AC

Amenities: Lunch stop — charge while you eat

If broken: Apollo Bay DC

3

Apollo Bay (185km)

75kW

Network: Evie

Plugs: 2 × 75kW

Amenities: Foreshore, bakery

If broken: Colac Chargefox (75km)

Seasonal notes

Peak-season crowds mean charger queues at Apollo Bay — arrive before 11am. Winter storms are spectacular but range drops in headwinds along the exposed coast.

Road-trip FAQ

For most modern EVs (60kWh+, 450km+ WLTP), plan one 20–30 minute stop per 400–500km of highway driving at 110km/h. Smaller-battery cars should plan on one stop per 250–300km. Arriving with 15–20% is comfortable; below 10% is gambling with headwinds.

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