Great Ocean Road

One of the greatest coastal touring experiences in the world is along the southern edge of the Australian mainland from Melbourne to the around the Victoria/South Australia border. It takes in the Geelong Otway, Shipwreck Coast and Discovery regions – each distinctive in its own way. But together they feature everything that makes coastal touring so satisfying – beautiful surf beaches, serene bays, secret inlets, rugged cliffs, rocky outcrops, friendly fishing villages, historic ports and seaside resorts – as well as penguins, whales and seals.

South of Melbourne, where sea and ship lovers will have visited the Polly Woodside, Enterprize, Wattle and HMAS Castlemaine, is the Geelong Otway region with the historic seaport of Geelong as its “capital” and home to the Geelong Naval and Maritime Museum – and not far away is the Queenscliff Maritime Museum. The beaches of this region are wide and sandy and there are national and state parks brimming with unique Australian wildlife.

The gigantic rock pillars of the Twelve Apostles (pictured) , deep gorges, spectacular arches and massive cliffs are the awe-inspiring natural features of the Shipwreck Coast named for the many ships that have foundered on its rugged shores. The main centre is Warrnambool boasting the fascinating Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum.

The aptly named Discovery Coast has isolated pristine beaches, massive white sand dunes, towering cliffs, tranquil rivers, parks with fascinating wildlife and a colourful history. At Portland, a whaling, sealing and trading post of the 1800s and the site of Victoria’s first permanent white settlement, is the “must visit” Portland Maritime Discovery Centre. Also well worth a visit is the nearby Cape Nelson Lightstation.

For more information...
Great Ocean Road Website