Destination Great Ocean Road

The Twelve Apostles - Great Ocean Road The Great Ocean Road region hugs the contours of Victoria's rugged south west coast and offers visitors one of Australia's greatest and most spectacular coastal drives.

Start your journey in Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula and discover beautiful beaches, great eateries, a fascinating heritage and an enormous range of recreational opportunities from fishing and golfing to diving and surfing. Take in the colourful and lively ambience of bayside Geelong, Victoria's second largest city, or visit quaint Queenscliff and discover the town's rich maritime history, excellent restaurants and heritage hotels.

Along the coast, seaside resort towns such as Lorne and Apollo Bay are the perfect base for a seaside escape. They offer stunning beaches and water sports as well as some of Australia's best rainforest scenery in the nearby Otway Ranges.

One of the most visited stretches of the road is Port Campbell. Buffeted by wild seas and fierce winds, the coastline around Port Campbell has been sculpted over millions of years to form a series of striking rock stacks that rise out of the Southern Ocean. Known as the Twelve Apostles, they are one of the most spectacular natural attractions in Victoria.

The Great Ocean Road region also has a rich maritime past. Historic towns such as Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Portland allow you to enjoy seafaring village life, with their fishing wharves, beautifully preserved colonial buildings and maritime museums recounting the stories of ships that have foundered off the rugged shipwreck coast.

Articles

Beach heaven

Some of the world's best beaches are found along the Great Ocean Road. From protected family coves to pounding surf there is a stretch of coast to suit. Some beaches are patrolled by lifeguards in summer. more

Drive the Great Ocean Road

One of the world's most spectacular coastal drives, the Great Ocean Road winds past quiet bays and beaches, rainforests, and historic shipwreck sites for some 106 kilometres west of Geelong. First stop is Torquay - Australia's 'Surf City'. This magnificent stretch of coastline produces the best waves this side of Hawaii. Every April, Bells Beach hosts the Rip Curl Pro and Sun Smart Classic, the most prestigious World Championship Tour event in the world. At nearby Anglesea, golfers tee off among kangaroos that relax under shady trees and graze the fairways. Further along the coast is Lorne and the surrounding Otway Ranges, where waterfalls, crystal-clear rivers and bubbling streams swirl beneath canopies of giant trees and ferns to the ocean below. Explore the Otway National Park, with its lush rainforest scenery complete with bush tracks, picnic spots and Otway Fly Tree Top Walk that leads visitors through the forest canopy. For most the Great Ocean Road's highlight is Port Campbell National Park, home of the Twelve Apostles and other natural landmarks, such as London Bridge and the Bay of Islands. The ancient limestone stacks were formed by thousands of years of the sea and wind erosion, are can be seen from scenic flights that take off nearby, or by following boardwalks to lookouts. The Shipwreck Coast is a graveyard for over 160 ships that foundered in the treacherous seas. It is also a popular destination for whale watching. From May to September rare southern right whales calve in the shallow waters off Logans Beach at Warrnambool. The historic fishing village of Port Fairy, once home to a large Irish community, boasts colonial architecture, cafes, galleries and historic boutique accommodation. more

Great Ocean Road

While the Twelve Apostles area is known for its scenic beauty, there is also plenty of adventure to enjoy. The brave can try abseiling and rock climbing, while those who like to get their feet wet can enjoy surfing, canoeing and kayaking. Bushwalking and mountain bike climbing gets you up-close to nature, while coach or four-wheel drive tours are ideal for a day's rest. more

Shipwreck coast

Aboriginal people knew this shore well and cut steps into the cliffs to reach marine food sources. European explorers realised the coastline's dangers and mostly gave it a wide berth, but it still claimed vessels and the title the Shipwreck Coast. more

Whales and Wildlife

In winter, the Great Ocean Road becomes a viewing spot for southern right whales as they migrate to give birth. One of the best vantage points is a viewing platform on Logan's Beach, Warrnambool Foreshore, where you may also see bottlenose dolphins. Australian fur seals are best seen from Cape Bridgewater's viewing platform. On the land, koalas and kangaroos are often seen, and for birdwatchers, Griffiths Island at Port Fairy has a large colony of short-tailed shearwaters.

Facilities

Accommodation
Banking Facilities
Beach
Boat Ramp
Chemist
Coach Stop
Dentist
Fuel
Golf
Jetty

National Park
Newsagent
Post Office
Public Bar
Public Telephone
Restaurant
Supermarket
Takeaway Food
Visitor Centres

Experiences/Activities

Active:
Adventure:
Beach:
Caravan and Camping:
Cruise:
Diving:
Environmental:
Fishing:
Golf:
Historic/Heritage:
Indulgence/Luxury:
Marine:
National Park:
Nature based:
Rainforest:
Relaxation:
Remote:
Sport:
Water based:
Wilderness:
Caravan and Camping:
Cruising:
Cycling:
Fishing - Beach:
Fishing - Deep Sea:
Golfing:
Marine Animal watching:
Scenic Flight:
Scuba-Diving:
Surfing:
Swimming:
Walking:
Water-based:

is suited to

18-35's
Backpacking/Unstructured
Budget
Empty Nesters
Family
Group
Romantic
Self-Drive
Senior

Great Ocean Road region directory

Victoria link directory

The Great Ocean Road region hugs the contours of Victoria's rugged south west coast and offers visitors one of Australia's greatest and most spectacular coastal drives. Start your journey in Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula and discover beautiful beaches, great eateries, a fascinating heritage and an enormous range of recreational opportunities from fishing and golfing to diving and surfing. Take in the colourful and lively ambience of bayside Geelong, Victoria's second largest city, or visit quaint Queenscliff and discover the town's rich maritime history, excellent restaurants and heritage hotels. Along the coast, seaside resort towns such as Lorne and Apollo Bay are the perfect base for a seaside escape. They offer stunning beaches and water sports as well as some of Australia's best rainforest scenery in the nearby Otway Ranges. One of the most visited stretches of the road is Port Campbell. Buffeted by wild seas and fierce winds, the coastline around Port Campbell has been sculpted over millions of years to form a series of striking rock stacks that rise out of the Southern Ocean. Known as the Twelve Apostles, they are one of the most spectacular natural attractions in Victoria. The Great Ocean Road region also has a rich maritime past. Historic towns such as Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Portland allow you to enjoy seafaring village life, with their fishing wharves, beautifully preserved colonial buildings and maritime museums recounting the stories of ships that have foundered off the rugged shipwreck coast.
Articles Beach heaven Some of the world's best beaches are found along the Great Ocean Road. From protected family coves to pounding surf there is a stretch of coast to suit. Some beaches are patrolled by lifeguards in summer. more Drive the Great Ocean Road One of the world's most spectacular coastal drives, the Great Ocean Road winds past quiet bays and beaches, rainforests, and historic shipwreck sites for some 106 kilometres west of Geelong. First stop is Torquay - Australia's 'Surf City'. This magnificent stretch of coastline produces the best waves this side of Hawaii. Every April, Bells Beach hosts the Rip Curl Pro and Sun Smart Classic, the most prestigious World Championship Tour event in the world. At nearby Anglesea, golfers tee off among kangaroos that relax under shady trees and graze the fairways. Further along the coast is Lorne and the surrounding Otway Ranges, where waterfalls, crystal-clear rivers and bubbling streams swirl beneath canopies of giant trees and ferns to the ocean below. Explore the Otway National Park, with its lush rainforest scenery complete with bush tracks, picnic spots and Otway Fly Tree Top Walk that leads visitors through the forest canopy. For most the Great Ocean Road's highlight is Port Campbell National Park, home of the Twelve Apostles and other natural landmarks, such as London Bridge and the Bay of Islands. The ancient limestone stacks were formed by thousands of years of the sea and wind erosion, are can be seen from scenic flights that take off nearby, or by following boardwalks to lookouts. The Shipwreck Coast is a graveyard for over 160 ships that foundered in the treacherous seas. It is also a popular destination for whale watching. From May to September rare southern right whales calve in the shallow waters off Logans Beach at Warrnambool. The historic fishing village of Port Fairy, once home to a large Irish community, boasts colonial architecture, cafes, galleries and historic boutique accommodation. more Great Ocean Road While the Twelve Apostles area is known for its scenic beauty, there is also plenty of adventure to enjoy. The brave can try abseiling and rock climbing, while those who like to get their feet wet can enjoy surfing, canoeing and kayaking. Bushwalking and mountain bike climbing gets you up-close to nature, while coach or four-wheel drive tours are ideal for a day's rest. more Shipwreck coast Aboriginal people knew this shore well and cut steps into the cliffs to reach marine food sources. European explorers realised the coastline's dangers and mostly gave it a wide berth, but it still claimed vessels and the title the Shipwreck Coast. more Whales and Wildlife In winter, the Great Ocean Road becomes a viewing spot for southern right whales as they migrate to give birth. One of the best vantage points is a viewing platform on Logan's Beach, Warrnambool Foreshore, where you may also see bottlenose dolphins. Australian fur seals are best seen from Cape Bridgewater's viewing platform. On the land, koalas and kangaroos are often seen, and for birdwatchers, Griffiths Island at Port Fairy has a large colony of short-tailed shearwaters.
Facilities
Accommodation Banking Facilities Beach Boat Ramp Chemist Coach Stop Dentist Fuel Golf Jetty	National Park Newsagent Post Office Public Bar Public Telephone Restaurant Supermarket Takeaway Food Visitor Centres
Experiences/Activities
Active: Adventure: Beach: Caravan and Camping: Cruise: Diving: Environmental: Fishing: Golf: Historic/Heritage: Indulgence/Luxury: Marine: National Park: Nature based: Rainforest: Relaxation: Remote: Sport: Water based: Wilderness: Caravan and Camping: Cruising: Cycling: Fishing - Beach: Fishing - Deep Sea: Golfing: Marine Animal watching: Scenic Flight: Scuba-Diving: Surfing: Swimming: Walking: Water-based:
is suited to
18-35's Backpacking/Unstructured Budget Empty Nesters Family Group Romantic Self-Drive Senior