Great Ocean Road - Great Ocean Road

Great Ocean Road
The formation of the 12 Apostles
Itinerary typeAutomotive
StateAustralia
Federated stateVictoria
StartTorquay
endPortland
Length243 km
Tourism site

Great Ocean Road is an itinerary that takes place through the southern coast ofAustralia in the State of Victoria.

Introduction

The Great Ocean Road is more than just a road - it represents the southwestern coastal region of State of Victoria, in Australia, between the Bellarine Peninsula close Geelong until Portland near the South Australian border. The Great Ocean Road was built as a working project for WWI veterans and was completed in 1932. The highway B100 from Torquay near Allansford Warrnambool it is the main part and is 243 kilometers long.

One of the most scenic and evocative areas is the one between Port Campbell and Peterborough inside the Port Campbell National Park where important rock formations are found.

It is very beautiful to walk not only for the view but also for the roads overlooking the cliffs.

How to get

Normally you get to Melbourne which is 95 km from Torquay. You can also try flying to nearby Avalon Airport Geelong, much closer to the start of the road. There you can rent a car with the service of Jetstar and Tiger Airways.

By bus

The buses V / Line they run from Geelong along the Great Ocean Road to Apollo Bay. There are also daily V / Line trains to Warrnambool, but they travel within.

How to get around

The car is the best way to use.

There are many places to see away from the cities and along the coast. Reaching them by public transport would be difficult.

There are so many attractions that it can get tiring to stop, make detours, and so on. Plan your trip well.

Stages

City

Coastal town from east to west with distance from Torquay

City inside:

Simply put, you won't need a route or map for the Great Ocean Road. Start from Geelong or Warrnambool and follow the directions. The east limit starts in Torquay, 22km from Geelong. Attractions are well signposted as are nearby attractions. There are information boards at all places of interest and attractions. The road has excellent tourist infrastructure, regular information, places to eat, refuel and find accommodation.

It can be done in one day, but taking a few more days is a better idea if you want to see the cities better and see the various attractions and at the same time relax, go for walks or enjoy the beaches and the sea.

If you are leaving Melbourne remember that there are almost 100km before the Great Ocean Road starts in Torquay and another 264km from Warrnambool along the Princes Highway inland. That is about 600 km round trip, do them in one day and it can be tiring.

What see

Split Point Lighthouse
Waterfall in Otway National Park
  • Bells Beach surf mecca - surfers waves and many kangaroos that are seen especially in the early morning
  • Point Addis, Surf and there is also an indigenous walk through the bush for a beach lookout. The signs provide information on how the local Aborigines used the land (it takes about half an hour to get there and back).
  • Split Point, Aireys Inlet.
  • Angahook-Lorne State Park, [1]. The park has several trails
  • Teddy's Lookout, Lorne views of the Great Ocean Road that winds along the coast
  • Marriner's Lookout to Apollo Bay overlooking the towns and the 3 bays of Apollo Bay.
  • Otway National Park, [2]. At Mait's Resc there is a 30 minute walk through the forest. Luminous worms can be seen in badlands during night walks. The park also has several waterfalls including Hopetoun Falls, Triplet Falls, and Beauchamp Falls.
  • Cape Otway Lighthouse, [3] in operation since 1848, the oldest making on the Australian continent, and has saved the lives of many navigators in this sea-side arm. You can get on it and take in the stunning ocean views and see ships and whales.
  • Melba Gully State Park.[4] There are restrooms and picnics under the parking lot and a 30 minute walk through the bush. The walkway offers a unique opportunity to walk among the tree ferns. Luminous worms can be seen along the paths at night.
  • Port Campbell National Park[5] close Port Campbell, includes the formation of the 12 Apostles (some parts actually collapsed), London Bridge and Razorback.

What to do

Walks, there are several well-kept trails.

  • Surf Coast Walk, [6]. 30km coastal footpath from Jan Juc Beach near Torquay through Bells Beach, Pt Addis, Anglesea and Aireys Inlet to Moggs Creek in Angahook-Lorne State Park. It takes 11 hours, but can be torn apart as there are various access points.
  • Lake Elizabeth, Forrest, [7]. Enjoy the beauty of the rainforest on this easy walk or take a sunrise or sunset canoe tour to visit the elusive platypus, the famous egg-laying mammal, in its natural habitat.
  • Otway Fly Tree Top Adventures, [8] Stroll among the treetops along the elevated path at a height of 25 meters.

There are also mountain bike trails near Apollo Bay around the Forest and Otway National Park. The Australia By Bike company [9] offers tours with accommodation and meals included from Melbourne.

  • Tour - If you don't want to drive you can always look for one of the many organized tours. There are several companies that organize them.

Safety

Some of the beaches along the way have dangerous currents. Observe the local signs and find out about the best places to swim. For tips on beach safety and to understand the signs check BeachSafe

There are virtually no overtaking lanes on the Great Ocean Road but the road has spots where slower vehicles can pull over, so if a faster vehicle catches up, be careful to let it pass. If, on the other hand, you find a slower vehicle, be patient and sooner or later it will find a point to let you pass.

The speed limit ranges from 80km / h to 100km / h. In cities from 50km / h to 70km / h.

Given the volume of traffic along the Great Ocean Road, especially on weekends and holidays, don't think it's going to be a quick trip. Give yourself plenty of time so that you can enjoy your drive.

Around

Other projects

  • Collaborate on WikipediaWikipedia contains an entry concerning Great Ocean Road
  • Collaborate on CommonsCommons contains images or other files on Great Ocean Road
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