16 Highlights of the Great Ocean Road Drive in Australia

TheGreat Ocean Road … well-known in Australia and worldwide as one of the very best trip on earth.

We have actually seen numerous pictures of the Great Ocean Road journey over the years it nearly seems like we have actually done it. But we discovered absolutely nothing prepares you for the genuine thing.

Beginning one hour beyond Melbourne in Torquay,The Great Ocean Road extends over 250 kilometres to Warrnambool, and brings in 10s of countless visitors every year.

TheGreat Ocean Road Drive was high up on our list of things to do on our 1 year journey around Australia We were prepared to take numerous pictures and expectations were HIGH.

Whilst the trip buses consistently drive this in one day, wildly, we had time on our side and took 2 weeks to value the area for what it deserves.

It truly is a spectacular seaside drive and we extremely advise you position it on your Australian travel pail list.

1. The Twelve Apostles

Just a number of rocks jutting out of the ocean. Really, what’s all the difficulty? These were our preliminary ideas when preparing to check out the 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road.

But the 12 Apostles are the star of the program. We got fortunate with the weather condition the early morning we got here and after all the buzz and expectations I enjoy to state we were left awe-struck!

These enormous limestone structures tower 45 metres above the ocean and were formed some 20 million years back as the sea slowly deteriorated the soft craggy limestone cliffs.

There are just 8 of the twelve apostles staying (the rest have actually fallen) and forming the background are these spectacular cliffs approximately 70 metres high.

OurTips for the 12 Apostles

• Arrive at the 12 apostles for daybreak– you’ll beat the trip buses and have the location nearly to yourself.
• Enjoy a sundown with a picnic or we got a takeaway pizza from Port Campbell.
• Walk the boardwalks around the cliff tops which supply numerous seeing platforms.
• Don’ t rush. You might just witness this when in your life.
• Bring a tripod, utilize your cam’s self-timer and snap a household selfie.

2. Gibson Steps

Just down the roadway from the Twelve Apostles Visitors Centre are the GibsonSteps Walk down these actions to the beach for a close-up view.

Here you can experience a brand-new point of view on the power of the waves and the height of the rocks. You can even touch the rocks and feel how simple they collapse away.

Take time to view the water crashing around the base of the limestone stacks to comprehend the real power of the ocean and how it’s continuously forming our earth.

Tip for the Gibson Steps: Keep the tide in mind. It was being available in rather quick on us, so do not stroll too far around the corner as you might have a damp walk back.

3. Loch Ard Gorge

LochArd Gorge is remarkable and just a few minutes drive west of The TwelveApostles It was among the most sensational beaches on the Great Ocean Road

LochArd Gorge is called after the ship LochArd, which ran aground on close-by Muttonbird Island at the end of a three-month journey from England to Melbourne.

Take the stairs to the beach and being in marvel. And there are 3 simple strolls you can require to find the location and getting perspectives.

4. London Arch (LondonBridge)

LondonArch was formed by a progressive procedure of disintegration, and initially was a total double-span and was connected to the mainland.

The arch closer to the coastline collapsed all of a sudden in 1990 leaving 2 travelers stranded on the external part till they were saved by a helicopter.Ha What a story to inform. We do not advise putting that in your Great Ocean Road schedule.

Prior to the collapse, the arch was called LondonBridge since of its resemblance to its name.

There are 3 different seeing locations and the primary course branches off to these at various periods.

5. The Grotto

TheGrotto is essentially a sinkhole. Take the actions down the cliff face to the bottom and check out and you’ll get exposure of the ocean beyond a swimming pool at low tide. It’s a quite cool stop on your Great Ocean Road drive.

6. The Arch

This naturally sculptured arch stands 8 metres high and lies 6km west of PortCampbell You’ll value the swells and power of the ocean crashing in versus the arch, it makes the drama of the location even much better.

7. Walks in Port Campbell National Park

PortCampbell National Park is not almost standing at the 12 Apostles and taking your “ I was here pic“. We got here believing we ‘d invest a number of hours taking a look at the rocks, we wound up remaining all the time.

The park has a lot to provide with cliff leading tracks, canyons, beach strolls and stories of shipwrecks to find. It’s really a remarkable and gorgeous park.

Don’ t resemble the Great Ocean Road trip bus masses. Take your time and value all the websites within the Port Campbell National Park: 12 Apostles, Gibson Steps, Loch Ard Gorge, London Arch, The Grotto, The Arch.

8. Bay of Islands

The12 Apostles are not the only wonderful rocks increasing out from the ocean. Head a little more south to Peterborough and you’ll find the magical Bay of Islands and Bay of Martyrs Almost as gorgeous, yet seldom spoke about in a Great Ocean Road schedule.

We didn’t get the good weather condition we had at the 12 Apostles, however it contributes to the drama.

9. Triplet Falls– Otways National Park

Head into the Otways National Park to immerse yourself in an ancient land. Walk amongst high trees and huge tree ferns, and find gorgeous waterfalls. This is the area on the Great Ocean Road trip to move far from the stunning shoreline and into a forest point of view.

TripletFalls is among the highlights on the Great OceanRoad Platforms supply you with amazing views of falls. The walk has to do with a 1 hour return loop, which we did it quickly with our kids.

10 Kennett River– Wild Koalas

Want to see koalas in the wild? The finest koala-viewing area is Kennet River, along the GreyRiver Road, simply in the middle of town. OtwayLighthouse Road is another popular area.

I never ever understood the Great Ocean Road was a location to find wild koalas. Yet another excellent factor to check out the GOR.

It’s not that typical to discover koalas in the wild, not to mention oversleeping trees by the side of the roadway or in the middle of town. But this is the Great OceanRoad Just try to find the crowds of individuals and follow their gazes up for fast koala finding.

11 Lorne

Lorne is a stunning town positioned Great Ocean Road coast and was our preferred town to remain in along the journey.

It has a specific appeal with excellent coffee shops, distinct stores shops, galleries and Otway National Park is on your doorstep. Lorne is just 140 kilometres south of Melbourne and this location swells with individuals over the Christmas vacations.

Enjoy a walk on the beach, a bike flight along the foreshore out to the pier, have a coffee at LorneBeach Pavilion and attempt a hamburger from TheBottle of Milk — scrumptious!

We remained at the MantraApartments which were incredible and best on the beach.

12 Teddys Lookout

A brief increase the hill behind Lorne is TeddysLookout Drive approximately the picnic location at the end of George Street and stroll a brief range to take pleasure in the amazing views of the Great Ocean Road from the lookout.

There’s likewise a 45- minute walk you can do here.

13 The Lorne– > Apollo Bay Drive

Our preferred stretch of roadway on our Great Ocean Road trip was from Lorne to ApolloBay Be ready to pick up pictures a lot.

This stretch of roadway has a few of the most attractive landscapes in the area. The Great Ocean Road hugs the cliff-face as it winds through the Great Otway National Park and rolling farmland.

14 Apollo Bay Eco Hostel

ApolloBay is completely placed about midway along the Great Ocean Road and surrounded by Otway National Park State Forest and rolling acres of green farmland.

Looking for a budget friendly and household friendly location to remain? The ApolloBay YHA Eco Hostel was a beautiful location to base ourselves for a couple of days.

The hostel has an extremely homely ambiance with excellent kitchen area centers, lounge spaces and a roof deck to take pleasure in a dawn. This is not a celebration hostel, no YHA homes are, and we fulfilled a great deal of good households and solo tourists here. It’s a terrific choice for your Great Ocean Road lodging.

Our living room included a queen bed and bunk beds.

15 Mariners Lookout– Apollo Bay

Panoramic views of Apollo Bay’s town centre, the harbour and beaches up and down the coast can be delighted in from the Mariners Lookout, situated at the northern end of town off Mariners Lookout Road.

16 Bells Beach

BellsBeach is among Australia’s most well-known and finest browsing beaches. Bells Beach holds the yearly Rip Curl Pro Surfing Competition and is the effective point break of folklore. Heard of the motion picture Point Break? That’s our Bells!

There’s an outstanding cliff-face and views from the cliff-top parking area are amazing and excellent area to view any regional web surfers.

All devoted web surfers wish to come down to the Great Ocean Road to ride the exact same waves that the pros do at Bells.

Tips for the Great Ocean Road Drive

• DORefrain From Doing the Great Ocean Road drive in one day — Don’ t simply rush to the 12 Apostles for your traveler breeze. Slow down and value all it needs to provide. Visit all the rock developments and towns, stroll on a beach and in the rain forest, see a waterfall and wildlife, sit at a lookout and exist. I would recommend 3 days minimum– we took 2 weeks!

• If you just have time to check out one area on the GOR, invest the most amount of your time in PortCampbell National Park.

• If you just drive in one instructions, drive from Torquay to Warrnambool (East to West). That method you’ll be on the left side of the roadway closest to the ocean and you’ll have the ability to pull over much easier to all the perspectives.

• If you can drive, drive your own automobile or lease a cars and truck from Melbourne rather of taking a Great Ocean Road trip. This roadway requires to be experienced from behind the wheel, and you require versatility in where you stop and for the length of time. At each, turn you’ll find something remarkable.
• You might wish to lease a special caravan, motorhome or camper to drive the Great OceanRoad Outdoorsy resembles the Airbnb of camper leasings, and they consist of insurance coverage! Click to discover offers fromMelbourne

More beneficial pointers for the Great Ocean Road Drive

PlanYour Great Ocean Road Drive

We have actually been taking a trip 20 years and have actually pertained to depend on a couple of relied on sites that conserve us cash and time when reserving lodging, flights, and automobile leasing. Below are our favored partners. If you book through these links, we do get a little commission at no additional expense to you. It assists us continue to supply motivating and practical travel material free of charge on this website.

HaveYou Visited the Great Ocean Road? Tell us in the remarks any pointers you have, or what you most wish to see?