Travelling the great ocean road australia
Explore the western Shipwreck coast

What a truly amazing place the Great Ocean Road Australia is to explore. There is so much diversity when it comes to the scenery from rugged stretches of coastline with huge cliffs hugging the the road, to tall and luscious rainforests that you can magically wander through.

There is so much to see and do and share with you that this one page will not do justice to the region. I have chosen what I think are the most important parts to introduce you to the magic that is the Great Ocean Road Australia.

To access these sections on this page easily, just click onto the topic that interests you the most for more information.

Scenery along the Great Ocean Road AustraliaScenery along the Great Ocean Road Australia

How magic is that image and that is just a sample of what you will see as you journey along the road. 

The Great Ocean Road Australia is Heritage listed and stretches 243 kilometres along the south-western coast of Victoria between Torquay and Allensford.

An interesting fact is that the road was constructed by returning soldiers between 1919 and 1932. The road is dedicated to the soldiers killed during World War 1, a statue is erected close to the archway as a tribute to these brave men.

Start your journey here at the Great Ocean Memorial Archway on the Great Ocean Road Australia just outside Torquay, a seaside resort 21 kilometres south of Geelong. The seaside town is famous for surfing, Bells Beach being world famous.

Sign at the start of the Great Ocean Road by Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10767720The Great Ocean Memorial Archway at the start of the Great Ocean Road

Your adventure begins in Torquay and travels the coastline through the seaside villages of:

  • Angelsea
  • Aireys Inlet
  • Lorne
  • Apolo Bay

The the road then takes a course inland through the beautiful Otway Ranges and inland farming regions of south western Victoria. Continuing on the road finally re-enters the Victorian coastline around the Gibson Steps about 2 kilometers from the world famous Twelve Apostles. At the Gibson Steps you are able to access the actual beach. This is the first sightseeing point to the Port Campbell National Park. 

Great Ocean Road Australia Map

The Great Ocean Road map compliments of OpenStreetmap, Gryllida - openstreetmap.org and own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30423854The Great Ocean Road road map from Torquay through to Warnambool

From Port Campbell the road travels inland through the farming districts and down onto Warnambool. All along the way there are signs to excellent outlooks and photo spots, points of interests for tourists, wineries, farmlets and fascinating countryside.

The one thing I found fascinating along this route is the proliferation of dry stone fencing. The most numerous and impressive networks of dry stone walls in Australia are found on the western volcanic plains of Victoria. 

The Great Ocean Road Australia finishes at Allensford just east of Warnambool where it meets the Princes Highway . Sightseeing doesn't finish there though. Warnambool offers some amazing experiences. Whale watching at Logan Beach and the Warnambool Maritime Museum just to mention a few.

Head a little further west and you will come across Tower Hill Game Reserve, one of the most spiritual places I have ever visited where you can walk around sharing the area with Aboriginal spirits of the past and unique Australian wildlife.

Top 10 Suggestions for things to do along the Great Ocean Road Australia

Surf World Museum Torquay in Victoria, Australia

1 - Surf World Museum Torquay

The surfing museum opened in 1993 honors the greats of the surfing world displaying a favorite board ridden by each hero.

Their biographies and boards are displayed in the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame found in the museum

You can also watch a board being shaped and examine the tools of the trade.

Artifacts, history, clothing etc are all displayed here giving you a complete overview of the surfing phenomenon.

Split Point Lighthouse at Aireys Inlet by Mike Lehmann, Mike Switzerland 09:31, 2 April 2007 (UTC) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1879720

2 - Split Point Lighthouse at Aireys Inlet

Constructed originally in 189, it was converted to automatic operation in 1919. Since 2005 the lighthouse offers tours whereby the visitor can climb the stairs to the top and lookout over the southern ocean.

The view from the lighthouse is breathtaking, 360 degrees overlooking the Great Ocean Road Australia route.

Every Day: On the Hour 11am, 12, 1pm & 2pm

Easter Long Weekend: On the Hour from 10am through to 4pm (last tour)- closed lunch 1.30-2pm

The Great Ocean Road Pole House

3 - The Great Ocean Road Pole House

Suspended 40 meters above Fairhaven Beach, the Pole House is one of Australia's most iconic homes.

Known as the most photographed house on the Great Ocean Road the original house was demolished to make way for a more modern home with similar design features. 

Click this link for a full story on the history of The Pole House.

Beauchamp Falls in the Otways
By Philli b 123 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48961252

4 - Otway National Park

The national park is 103,185-hectares and is situated approximately 162 kilometres southwest of Melbourne. The Park stretches from Torquay through to Princetown and up through the Otways hinterland towards Colac.

It features rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, rock platforms and windswept heathland, tall forests, ferny gullies, magnificent waterfalls and tranquil lakes.

The dingo (Canis dingo) is a wild canine found in Australia

5 - Great Ocean Road Wildlife Park

Get up close and personal with some of Australia's wildlife, friendly Kangaroos, Wallabies, Emu, Dingos and Deer. Enjoy hand feeding some of the animals. 

Enjoy the natural animal sanctuary, lake and beautiful Australian gum trees and plants. 

There are Fallow and Red deer, Alpacas, Wiltipoll sheep, horses, ponies and donkeys that graze on the property and enjoy the free range chickens but be careful, you may step an an egg or two.

12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia

6 - Port Campbell National Park 

Port Campbell National Park is world famous for its extraordinary collection of wave-sculpted rock formations and the Twelve Apostles  

The 1,750-hectare national park is situated approximately 190 kilometres south-west of Melbourne

The cliff-tops are particularly exposed to the harsh weather conditions from the Southern Ocean making this area a fascinating place that is forever being sculptured and changed by weathering.

Loch Ard Gorge Victoria by Manuel Pavon Garcia (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

7 - Loch Ard Gorge

The Loch Ard Gorge is part of Port Campbell National Park, Victoria, Australia, about three minutes' drive west of The Twelve Apostles.

The gorge is named after the clipper ship Loch Ard, which ran aground on nearby Muttonbird Island on 1 June 1878 approaching the end of a three-month journey from England to Melbourne.


London Arch along the Great Ocean Road By Ginge1420 at en.wikipedia - Own workTransferred from en.wikipedia, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11291239

8 - London Arch

The stack was formed by a gradual process of erosion and until 1990 formed a complete double-span natural bridge. The section closer to the shoreline collapsed unexpectedly on 15 January 1990.

This is an example of how unstable this coastline is.

Now known as the London Arch it has become an excellent spot for photographers to catch the setting sun.

Flagstaff maritime Museum at Warnambool compliments of By Michaelbeckham at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3022015

9 - Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum 

A maritime museum and outdoor village showcasing Australia's richest shipwreck collection.

The 1870's village is located overlooking Lady Bay. The village provide a glimpse into the maritime lifestyles and trades of the that era.

Explore the indoor galleries and the outdoor maritime heritage precinct to catch a glimpse of a bygone era. 

Don't miss the Sound and Laser Show on nightly

Emus in the Tower HillState Game Reserve by Vlado Plaga - CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=754802

10 - Tower Hill State Game Reserve

The Game Reserve contains the crater of the extinct Tower Hill volcano and wetlands and is over 6 square kilometers in area.

The Tower Hill Natural History Centre (Worn Gundidj Visitor Centre) was opened in 1970 and is situated at the centre of the volcanic cones.

Guided tours are run by locals guiding the visitor through this quite spiritual area. Australian native animals can be seen in their natural habitat.


The map below shows these 10 points of interest along the Great Ocean Road Australia. Use the map to plan your exploration with distances and directions and other places to visit along the way.

Just click onto each of the icons for more information on the subject matter.



There is so much to see and do along the Great Ocean Road Australia and to really explore the region and all it has to offer I feel, takes more than just a day trip. I would suggest that a good 2 or 3 days is really needed and if that is what you would like to do there are so many places that you could choose.

So if you are planning to stay somewhere in this region let my travel partner Booking.com lend you a helping hand.

Just hit the 'Click Here Now' button for excellent deals and a great variety of accommodation choices.

Fill in the location as Great Ocean Road and select what is suitable for you

Image link to booking accommodation along the Great Ocean Road

Touring The Great Ocean Road Australia 'The Easy Way'

I have chosen 3 specific Great Ocean Road Australia tours with the help of my touring partner - Experience Oz

These tours are all professional guided tours in and around the region and offer a fantastic insight into what the region can provide. Economical and packed full of information any one of these tours will not be disappointing.

Great Ocean Road Australia Day Tour from Melbourne

Visit the Great Ocean Road on this full day tour from Melbourne to witness one of the world's great drives in true, epic detail; a dramatic, powerful, dangerous and majestic Victorian coastline which is also known as the Ship Wreck Coast - one of Australia's most famous "must do" experiences. This full day tour on the Great Ocean Road extends from Geelong to Apollo Bay through Torquay and Lorne, featuring all the key natural and historical highlights that make this stretch of coast unique and all conducted aboard a comfortable coach with informative commentary given along the way.

Enjoy the Otway National Park, to the rugged beauty of the Twelve Apostle National Park and the Twelve Apostles themselves - are there really twelve? To Loch Ard Gorge and Port Campbell shaped by the wild Southern Ocean this coastline will not fail to impress; so be sure to bring your camera! Add in extras such as complimentary hotel pickups, free on-board Wi-Fi to browse as you travel, and refreshments along the way, and you'll have everything you need for experiencing the best of the Great Ocean Road in comfort and style.

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Great Ocean Road Australia Sunset Tour

See the best of the amazing Great Ocean Road for the best possible price with this sunset express tour! This Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne will take you on an incredible journey along what is widely acclaimed as one of the world's best drives past wonderful, rugged beaches, through charming little seaside towns, to view cuddly native Aussie wildlife and - of course - to see the amazing, huge limestone rock formations of the 12 Apostles themselves.

Heading out from Melbourne, you'll be taken on a small bus by a friendly drive guide who provides informative, entertaining insight on this incredible part of Victoria's coast as you make stops at all essential highlights along the way including the Memorial Arch, the seaside towns of Lorne and Angelsea, do a bit of koala spotting at Kennett River and cap it all off with incredible views of the 12 Apostles and the Loch Ard Gorge before returning to Melbourne around midnight - with some incredible memories and photos obtained along the way. For Melbourne's best value Great Ocean Road tour, be sure to book online here today!

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Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island Penguins 2 Day Tour

Get a double-dose of Australian sightseeing with this combined tour that includes 1 day exploring the Great Ocean Road, and another on Phillip Island to view its wildlife up close! Two Aussie travel essentials, both of these destinations are must-visits, and you'll get to witness both firsthand on a comprehensive itinerary spread out over 2 days. On the first day, depart from Melbourne early in the morning and head out to explore the many incredible views, scenic lookout points and natural highlights of the Great Ocean Road - including the iconic 12 Apostles rock formations - as your knowledgeable and friendly driver-guides provide insight on all the geographical and historic essentials along the way. You'll see why this rugged stretch of coast is widely regarded as one of the world's most beautiful scenic drives before ending the day in the coastal town of Torquay where you'll spend the night.

Day two sees you starting with a tasty breakfast and then heading to the nature-rich hotspot of Phillip Island, where you'll be able to take in views of its many picturesque beaches and coves, and come face to face with a host of native wildlife both at the Australian Wildlife Park and then at sunset when the incredibly cute "Penguin Parade" of hundreds of Little Penguins takes place. One of Australia's most memorable natural phenomena, this is an attraction you simply can't find in zoos! At the conclusion of your tour you'll be returned to Melbourne at the end of day 2. Ensure you witness two of Victoria's must-see destinations all for a single reasonable price, and book a Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island tour online today.

great ocean road phillip island tour
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I believe that by the time you have reached the end of this introduction to the Great Ocean Road Australia you will be wanting to get on down there and see the region for yourself.

Please note that I have only briefly touched on what this area has to offer the visitor. There is so much more that I haven't even seen myself. Set aside a few days to visit yourself, make sure you book a great place to stay and please, let me know what you thought of the Great Ocean Road Australia by leaving a comment here.

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