Great Ocean Road - Scenic Route
Great Ocean Road
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/ The Twelve Apostles on the Australian coast within the famous Twelve Apostles National ParkPhoto: CC0, Max Pixel
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/ The stunning coastline of the Twelve Apostles National ParkPhoto: Jorge Láscar, CC BY, flickr.com
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/ Coastline at Port Campbell National ParkPhoto: Chintohere , Wikimedia Commons
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/ Torquay's picturesque coastlinePhoto: Alex Proimos, CC BY, Wikimedia Commons
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/ Surfers on the coast at TorquayPhoto: CC0, Wikimedia Commons
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/ Just wonderful: White Beach at TorquayPhoto: JamesMcNamara , CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
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/ Beauchamp FallsPhoto: Philli b 123 , CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
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/ The main attraction at Great Otway are its koalas.Photo: Diliff , CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
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/ The Gibson steps lead down to Gibson beach.Photo: Diceman, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
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/ The picturesque Twelve Apostles are located at the coastline.Photo: CC0, pixabay.com
With its large sandy beaches and impressive cliffs, Australia’s southern coast offers a great diversity of landscapes. Among all the panoramic routes of the continent, the Great Ocean Road is one of the most spectacular ones. Hardly any other road is better suited for exploring the huge coastline.
The Great Ocean Road is a panoramic street between Torquay and Allansford in the state of Victoria at Australia’s southern coast. In 2001 this street was officially listed as Australian National Heritage. There are millions of visitors every year enjoying the stunning views of the seascapes.
Great Ocean Road starts in Torquay which is also labelled the “Surfing Capital of Australia“. This is where surfers from all over the world are coming together to enjoy the huge waves and the stunning scenery of this picturesque spot. Lovers of the nature as well as hobby photographer are gathering in Torquay to capture the charm and magic of one of Australia’s most impressive locations.
The landscape of Great Ocean Road is as diverse as it is stunning. You can find here cliffs alongside sandy beaches and spectacular viewpoints next to the road. In between you can see beautiful spots of wildlife, a stunning setting for souvenir photos. Another rewarding stop are porth Campbell and Great Otway National Park. This is where you can observe koalas and other exotic animals at close range as well as explore picturesque waterfalls.
You can go snorkelling or rafting, do a canoa tour or go for a ride in order to grasp the beauty of the Australian coastline.
At the end of the road you’ll find one of the most impressive spots along Great Ocean Road: the famous Twelve Apostles. These distinctive rock formations rise above the water and will take your breath away.
If you want to go for a walk along the route, you shouldn’t miss the chance to take a look at Great Ocean Walk. If you’re lucky you’ll even spot whales and dolphins near the coast.
Author’s recommendation
In order to be more flexible you should hire a car in Australia. That way you will even get to the remotest locations. You’ll find rental cars in most of the bigger cities.
Safety information
Australians drive on the left side of the road and the majority of vehicles have the steering wheel on their right side.
Equipment
Although Australia is among the driest continents and has a temperate climate, you should take with out warm clothes and rainwear. For the stopovers along the road you’ll need sturdy shoes with a good profile.
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
Departing from Torquay, we take the Great Ocean Road (B 100) southwards toward Anglesea, pass by Aireys Inlet and Fairhaven until we arrive at Lorne. We continue on the B 100 across the Great Otway National Park until we reach Apollo Bay, where Great Ocean Walk starts. The route passes through Lavers and gets to Twelve Apostles Marine National Park at the coastline. It includes the famous Twelve Apostles. Directly next to main street you can find the Twelve Apostles Visitor Centre. We continue on the B 100 until we reach Port Campbell. This is where the national park with the same name is located. A few kilometers ahead lies the destination of the road: Allansford, a small location about 10 km from Warrnambool.
Public transport
Public transport friendly
Take the T3 Sky bus from Melbourne Airport until Marshall Railway Station in Geelong, then take bus line 51 to Jan Juc until Surf Coast Highway, Torquay (total duration: about 3 h).
Getting there
Take the M2 from Melbourne Airport to Tullamarine, then continue on the M1 until Torquay (total length: about 115 km).
Parking
There are designated parking areas alongside Great Ocean Road.
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