Great Ocean Road Trip

If you’re heading over to Victoria a trip along the Great Ocean Road is an absolute must and is usually referred to as one of the top reasons to visit Victoria. Winding along the amazing south western coast of the State, the Great Ocean Road offers some of the most picturesque views you are likely to come across anywhere in the country. It is without doubt the most spectacular coastal drive you’ll ever enjoy, as you come across awe-inspiring scenery, top beaches, quaint coastal towns and an eclectic mix of the country’s famous wildlife.

If you have your own transport then you can drive the entire length of the road in a day with the trip taking roughly five-and-a-half hours to cover all the main sights. However, if you do have the time it’s well worth setting aside a few nights on the road to take in the region’s true beauty. There is plenty of accommodation along the way in the various seaside towns and marine villages.

If you don’t have your own transport then there are a number of day tours that will take you from Melbourne, stopping off at the various hotspots along the way. Tours cost anywhere around $100 and run the entire year round. Although most trips will start in Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road region actually starts in the town of Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula, running all the way to Nelson on the South Australian border.

The Great Ocean Road runs along the Bass Strait, which separates mainland Australia from Tasmania. The strait is renowned for its rough seas, which over the years have battered the Victoria coast creating an amazing series of natural phenomenon along the way.

Your road trip will begin in Geelong, Victoria’s second largest city, before taking in the historic Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale, which overlook The Rip, the narrow and deadly entrance to Port Phillip Bay.

The ocean side of the Bellarine Peninsula on which the area sits has some of the country’s best surfing beaches. Among these is Torquay, which boasts some of the best waves west of Hawaii. It is also home to the Surfworld Surfing Museum. Bells Beach is also popular and frequently hosts major international surfing competitions.

As you travel along the coast you will come across a series of seaside resort towns such as Lorne and Apollo Bay, which are perfect escapes from the city life. The region has top beaches and a fantastic water sport culture, and is also close to the amazing rainforest scenery at the nearby Otway Ranges.

One of the most popular stretches of all the Great Ocean Road has to be around Port Campbell National Park, where the world famous Twelve Apostles lie. These are without doubt the highlight of any trip down this famous route, and will live long in the memories of anyone who sees them. The coastline around Port Campbell has been sculpted over millions of years to form these striking limestone formations that leap out of the ocean.

There are several lookout spots, including one at which steps lead down a 70 metre cliff face near the Apostles to a beach to give a different and close up view of this spectacular geological phenomenon.

Further along the coast, the large town of Warrnambool offers a chance for a look out on the breeding grounds of the rare Southern Right Wales, which arrive from the waters of the Southern Ocean around Antarctica between May and September to give birth. Surf fishing, estuarine fishing, ocean fishing, lake fishing and fishing in mountain streams are all available near the Great Ocean Road. Common catches include trevally, snapper, whiting and trout.

Take to the Great Ocean Road for a perfect road trip that will leave you speechless and in amazement.