Most people could drive 186 miles in less than three or four hoursas they keep the gas pedal pressed and their eyes focused on thedestination. But when those 186 miles wind along high rocky clifftops, around breathtaking peninsulas, down to wave-crashing beaches,next to giant gorges and through lush rainforests, all while offeringbreath-taking views at every turn, then at least three or foursdays will be needed.
Such is the Great Ocean Road, one of the world's most scenic drives,as it follows the stunning coastline of Australia's south-easternstate of Victoria. A feast of spectacular scenery, the road stretchesfrom Geelong, just south of Melbourne,to the South Australian border. En route, drivers can find everyelement of a great vacation, from one-of-a-kind golf courses youhave to share with kangaroos, cozy accommodations in seaside resortvillages, fascinating heritage sites with more shipwrecks than youcan shake a rusted anchor at, monster waves that draw surfers fromaround the world, and a local cuisine scene that prides itself onfresh fish and regional wines.
Along the Great Ocean Road
Photo: George Apostolidisby/
Tourism Australia
With so much to do in so few miles, travel agents advise theirclients to spend an entire week on the Great Ocean Road insteadof trying to hit the highlights in one breakneck afternoon. Forthis stretch of pristine pavement is more than just a way to getfrom Apollo Bay to Bridgewater; it's a journey of eye-poppinggrandeur and historical intrigue that should be experienced at apace as leisurely as a koala bear's eucalyptus lunch.
The Great Ocean Road doesn't waste any time in wowing youwhen you begin your drive west from Geelong through the towns ofTorquay and Lorne, a stretch that many claim to be the most picturesque.Here, the highway is carved into sheer cliffs that drop straightinto the ocean, forcing many to slow down at each bend to glimpsethe waves as they swell and crash onto the rocks below.
Around this time the road takes a detour away from the coast andinto the untouched rainforests of Otway National Park. But soonyou're back on the coast, driving along the cliff tops straightto Port Campbell National Park and the Twelve Apostles, the GreatOcean Road's true rock stars. Recognized the world over, theTwelve Apostles are grandiose rock formations that have been carvedout of the limestone cliffs for more than 20 million years by thefierce, relentless waves of the Southern Ocean. The result is aseries of giant rock stacks that soar up to 45 meters high fromthe swirling waters, standing one beside the other like haggardsoldiers protecting the coast.
Currently only eight remain standing, as one crumbled into thesea as recently as 2005. Yet what remains is still an incrediblesight to behold, especially at sunrise and sunset when the Apostleschange color from a foreboding, iridescent purple to a radiant sandyyellow. The views are spectacular anytime of day, and a networkof boardwalks and viewing platforms give you a chance to see themonoliths from many angles.
The same powers that created the Twelve Apostles also whittledpieces of giant rock art up and down the coast, including IslandArch, the Razorback, Muttonbird Island, Thunder Cave, the Blowhole,Bakers Oven and London Arch, which was called the London Bridgeuntil it partially crumbled down in 1990, leaving two tourists temporarilystranded.
Loch Ard Gorge
Photo by TravelSense Community member Heather F
Danger is nothing new to this coastline, for Loch Ard Gorge, agorgeous rocky cove near the Twelve Apostles, is named for a clippership that crashed against its shores in 1878, killing all aboardexcept for two 18-year-olds. More than 180 ships crashed along thistreacherous section, earning it the apt name Shipwreck Coast. Atrail of plaques will tell you terrifying tales of dozens of wrecksand their final resting places, including the popular Wreck Beachwhere two giant, rust-coated anchors are still visible in the surf.
More maritime history of the non-wrecked kind can be found in historictowns up and down the coast, such as Warrnambool, Port Fairy andPortland, where the seafaring village life is still on display.Fishing wharves and beautifully-preserved colonial buildings areprevalent fixtures in these scenic seaside towns, where it'seasy to imagine how sailors lived in centuries past.
The country's vast and varied wildlife is also on displayalong the Great Ocean Road. You can spot southern right whales calvingalong Logan's Beach; emus and water birds living on a volcano'srim in the Tower Hill State Game Reserve; hundreds of kangaroos along the fringes—and often in the sand traps!—of the Anglesea Golf Course; one of the largest seal colonies in the countryat Lady Julia Percy Island; the mind-boggling light show from glowworms in the Melba Gully State Park; wild platypuses swimming inLake Elizabeth; and koalas just about anywhere, though they'reoften hard to spot up in the trees.
In that regard, koala bears are a lot like great travel deals—they'rethere, but they're often hard to find. That's why youshould turn to a trusted travel agent to find the best deals toAustralia. Travel agents use years of experience and personal connectionsto combine various components of your vacation—plane tickets,rental cars, hotel accommodations—at a price you simply cannoton your own. Plus they can extend your holiday so that you can exploremore of Melbourne, Sydney or the GreatBarrier Reef.
Get your motor running, mate! Contacta travel agent today and start planning your Great Ocean Roadtrip today.
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