Great Ocean Road
The magnificent coastline called the Great Ocean Road
stretches from Geelong in Victoria all the way east to the border
of South Australia. It is lined with awesome views and spectacular
natural attractions, most notably the Twelve Apostles and London
Arch.
Accommodation is found along the way in relaxed country beachside
towns such as Apollo Bay and Port Fairy, and there are some beautiful
beaches, fantastic National Parks, and some great surfing spots
around there too, although the water is a bit chilly! Wildlife abounds
and you can see fairy penguins along this coastline too.
If you do the Great Ocean Road in an easterly direction the first
place you will come across is the Port Campbell National Park, which
has some fabulous rock formations. The first formation you will
see is London Arch, a natural arch formed through erosion, which
used to be called London Bridge due to the close resemblance to
the actual bridge, until it collapsed in 1990.
After Port Campbell you will pass Mutton Bird Island and The Blowhole,
which is spectacular on a windy day. You will also come across Loch
Ard Gorge where the Loch Ard clipper came to grief in 1878, only
two people survived. One of the most spectacular sights is the Twelve
Apostles, countless photographs have been shot here, possibly the
best at sunrise or sunset. You can also get down to Gibson Beach
here, but as with all beaches along this wild coastline please be
careful, most are too dangerous to swim and you can get stranded
when the tide comes in.
Driving further east you'll pass the Melba Gully State Park, before
reaching Cape Otway and the Otway National Park, some spectacular
lush rainforest grows here. The Pacific Highway heads inland from
here through the beautiful rainforest of the national park at this
point, but there are several tracks which take you down to coastal
spots.
More worthwhile stops are at Blanket Bay which offers bush camping
and walking trails, Elliott River picnic area, Maits Rest rainforest
boardwalk offer rainforest treks, the Otway Lighthouse, Bimbi Park
horse ranch and lots of pretty beaches, including beautiful Shelly
Beach.
When the highway meets the coast again you will reach Apollo Bay,
a pretty fishing town with some popular beaches. Further east is
the popular coastal resort of Lorne and after that you pass through
the Angahook-Lorne State Park before reaching the town of Aireys
Inlet. There are a few choices in accommodation at Aireys Inlet
and also some good beaches. Continue to travel east and arrive at
the towns of Anglesea, more great beaches as well as good surf,
and Torquay.
London Arch, one of the many striking features on the Great
Ocean Road
The children's song "London Bridge has fallen
down" became reality in january 1990 when the above rock formation
then known as London Bridge suddenly collapsed. For many years day
trippers had walked out along this natural bridge to the big rock
at the end but after sitting there for possible millions of years
the bridge spontaneously collapsed in January 1997 leaving two people
stranded on the rock who had to wait several hours for a helicipter
to arrive to ferry them back to the mainland. There is an urban
myth that these two people were not actually a couple but both cheating
on their repective partners and then got caught out getting their
faces on national television but we do not know if this holds truth
or not.
The rock formation was then renamed to London Arch.
Although the rock formations of the 12 Apostles are very large,
they are quite soft and made up of a combination of limestone, sandstone
and fossils, and the ocean waves erode them slowly at the rate of
a centimetre a year.
The latest big crash happened in 2005, tourists that witnessed it
said it was an awesome experience to see the 6000 year old 70 metre
high rockformation topple over. Currently there are only eight Apostles,
but this can change any time, as the ocean erodes rocky outcropped
headlands new ones can be formed, and just as likely other Apostles
can fall over, so the name 12 Apostles in never going to be accurate
for long.
How to get to the Great Ocean
Road
Unless you live in Victoria you will have to fly to
the nearest airport Melbourne first.
Cheap flights are readily available on the internet now as competition
along the east coast is tough, try the handy search box below or
see more cheap
flights to Melbourne here.
Rent a car to see the Great
Ocean Road
If you enjoy your freedom to go when and wherer you
want rent a car to get around! RentNewCars.com.au
is an Australian company that exclusively distributes Europcar &
Thrifty's Australian fleet of 16,000 new vehicles and offers access
to over 200 locations around Australia via the RentNewCars
web site. They also guarantee that through their True Quotes™
Promises that your final corrected payment will be the same as what
they quoted - and if they are wrong then they will refund you DOUBLE
the difference to your credit card.
Relax and let someone else do
the driving!
Great
Ocean Road in a day |
The Twelve Apostles
© Tourism Victoria
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There's a kaleidoscope
of experiences awaiting you along Victoria's Great
Ocean Road on this private excursion with Parkwood
Tours. See some of the world's most spectacular
coastal scenery, visit sites brimming with history,
wonder at the beauty of nature at it's best. Follow
the Great Ocean Road to the surging Surf coast and
magnificent Otways rainforest.
See hundreds of kangaroos living on the fairways
at the Anglesea Golf Course, try spotting koalas
in the wild !!! Let your imagination run wild along
the rugged Shipwreck Coast. Linger a while to take
in some of nature's handiwork - the Twelve Apostles,
Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge and the huge limestone
cliffs. Lunch is at one of many gourmet cafes at
Lorne or Apollo Bay. This afternoon, you return
to Melbourne through the rich farming regions of
Colac and Geelong. More
info....
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Great
Ocean Road in a day |
Twelve Apostles
© Australian Pacific Touring
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Enjoy one of the world's
greatest coastal drives with its dramatic scenery
of striking contrasts. The region boasts powerful
seas, golden beaches, peaceful townships, giant
cliffs and lush forests. Enjoy views of Melbourne
and Port Phillip Bay from the West Gate Bridge.
Stroll along the pristine sandy beaches and wander
through sleepy seaside holiday towns. View majestic
monoliths abruptly rising from the sea. Discover
the deep fern gullies and eucalypt trees as they
meet the sheer coast that plunges into the sparking
Southern Ocean. Hear the legends of the 'Shipwreck
Coast', enjoy traditional Aussie billy tea, stop
for photos and relax while watching breathtaking
coastal panoramas. Bring spare camera film and prepare
yourself for a wonderful day. More
info....
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Great
Ocean Road & Grampians |
The Twelve Apostles
© Tourism Victoria
|
Travel by private vehicle
with your Parkwood Tours guide and explore the Great
Southern Touring Route and country Victoria. Enjoy
the stunning scenery of one of the most famous drives
in the world – the Great Ocean Road and overnight
at a historic restored property.
Visit the Grampians National Park, rich in natural
beauty and then overnight in Ballarat, well known
for its Goldmining heritage. Explore Sovereign Hill
and the Ballarat Wildlife Park, with Australian
native animals before returning to Melbourne. More
info.... |
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The
Great Ocean Road on a Harley Davidson |
© HD Chauffeur Ride PtyLtd
|
Experience the exhilaration
of cruising the open road on a classic, Harley Davidson
Motorbike… Feel the wind on your face; hear
the classic Harley rumble as we accelerate past
the city and suburban crowds onto the open road.
Spend a day on the Great Ocean Road, the world's
best motorcycle touring route. Experience the thrill
of a winding road that hugs the famous Shipwreck
Coast. Travel down the Princess Highway to Geelong,
stopping over at Torquay. From here travel on to
Apollo Bay for lunch and enjoy a scenic stop at
Anglesea to catch your breath!
There is no better way to experience the beauty
of the Great Ocean Road More
info.... |
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Adelaide
to Melbourne |
The Twelve Apostles - Great Ocean Road
© Tourism Victoria
|
Need to get from Adelaide
to Melbourne? This 3 day / 2 night tour will get
you from A to B (or is that A to M?) and show you
the spectacular Great Ocean Road at the same time!
Witness some of Victoria's spectacular scenery -
from the lofty lookouts in the Grampians National
Park to the rugged coastline of the Great Ocean
Road. Learn about the razor blade sharp lime stone
cliffs at 'The Grotto' and 'The London Bridge',
intriguing stories of the great ship 'Lord Ard'
on her fatal journey when she crashed into the cliffs
of Mutton Bird Island in 1878… More
info....
More
info on Melbourne to Adelaide.... |
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Great Ocean Road accommodation
Standbyrates.com.au
is a great place to shop for some last minute discounts,
find luxury accommodation for the price of budget accommodation
!
WYTONIA
1 , Port Fairy - Watch the sunset from WYTONIA 1,
a luxury ground floor self contained suite located on 10 acres
of beachfront with magnificent views. Spectacular as it is,the
location is within easy walking distance of Port Fairy's main
attractions.
AMHURST
, Port Fairy - AMHURST offers spectacular views of the mighty
Southern Ocean with direct access to our sandy beach, rock pools
and lagoon. Stroll on the beach, curl up with a book, or just
sit in peace on your own private verandah.
Horizons
Beachfront Apartment , Port Fairy - Imagine this
Perched in the middle, overlooking popular East Beach bay, you
have uninterrupted views out over the Ocean and along the coast
Relax inside or outside and enjoy the ever-changing moods of the
sea.
Killara
Bed & Breakfast , Killarney - Killara is located
by the ocean along the Great Ocean Road, this beautiful, stylish,
peaceful 4 star bed & breakfast accommodation with rural views
by the ocean. within walking distance to secluded sandy beaches
ideal for swimming, surfing,fishing.
Southern
Heights Bed & Breakfast , Lavers Hill - We offer
an EXCLUSIVELY FOR ADULTS modern, peaceful smoke-free environment
set in landscaped gardens high atop a ridge with sumptuous views
across valleys of rainforest to the Great Southern Ocean, close
to most of the regions greatest attractions.
Great
Ocean Road accommodation - Apollo Bay at Apollos
View. Balcony views of Apollo Bay beaches and country, Villa accommodation
on the great ocean road.
SEE
THE FULL RANGE OF GREAT OCEAN ROAD ACCOMMODATION HERE
Sheoak
Tinntean - Great Ocean Road |
At the end of a day's
travelling, relax where all your comforts have been
catered for - in the peaceful atmosphere of Sheoak
Tinntean's modern, studio style rooms that boast
180 degree sea views.
Enjoy your continental breakfast while you watch
the passing ocean traffic.
Sheoak Tinntean is situated in a quiet location,
five minutes drive from the centre of Portland,
and within walking distance of the beach.
Take a short drive to the magnificent Bridgewater
Bay or Lower Glenelg National Park. From here you
can explore the Discovery Coast or access the Great
South West Walk and experience the forests and the
rugged and spectacular coastline of southwest Victoria.
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