The Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is one of the world's most spectacular and well-loved touring routes. Starting out in Torquay the road meanders along the extraordinarily scenic coastline of Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean, hugging the coast most of the way to Allansford, in the west. Highlights of the Great Ocean Road include the Otway Ranges, towering sea cliffs, Cape Otway Lightstation and the Twelve Apostles. The Great Ocean Road was built as a monument to the Servicemen and women who lost their lives in World War 1 ... More on Great Ocean Road
Great Otway National Park
The park, which covers 103,000 hectares, represents all the special places, flora, fauna, landscapes, seascapes and the rich human history of the Otways. There's the tall wet forests, ancient rainforests, the drier forests of the inland slopes and the very diverse heathlands and woodlands, fringed by a spectacularly rugged coastline and studded with some of Victoria's most striking waterfalls and other attractions ... More on Parks Victoria
The Twelve Apostles
ICONS of the Great Ocean Road, the amazing Twelve Apostles, stand in the powerful waters of the Southern Ocean with the dramatic backdrop of sea cliffs sculpted by weather and relentless waves. These towering rock pillars emerge from the crashing seas and stand as high as 45 metres. The Apostles date back 20 million years, and have been shaped by the forces of nature. The relentless, stormy Southern Ocean and forceful winds gradually eroded the limestone, forming caves then arches and finally stacks ... More on Parks Victoria
Great Ocean Walk
The Great Ocean Walk, on Victoria's spectacular west coast, stretches 91 km from the idyllic resort town of Apollo Bay to Glenample Homestead (adjacent to the Twelve Apostles). It passes through the beautiful Great Otway National Park, skirts around the Cape Otway Lightstation, and overlooks the Marine National Park. The walk has been designed so that walkers can 'step on and step off' the trail, completing short, day or overnight hikes. Enjoy local accommodation and restaurants or camp overnight at picturesque camping sites. (Photo: Parks Victoria) ... More on Great Ocean Walk
Twelve Apostles Marine National Park
WORLD famous for the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and historic shipwrecks, the Twelve Apostles Marine National Park encompasses significant vegetation and fauna native to south-western Victoria. The diverse range of coastal environments includes woodlands, dunes, wetlands, coastal cliffs, limestone stacks and arches. Although relatively small and narrow, the park plays a vital role in fauna conservation in the region. It supports small populations of the Hooded Plover, a nationally significant species, as well as important populations of Rufous Bristlebird, Swamp Antechinus and Glossy Grass Skink. Well-established tea-tree heathlands are important to the Rufous Bristlebird, while wetland areas provide food and nesting sites for the Australasian Bittern, Lewins Rail and Swamp Skink. Eastern Grey Kangaroos shelter in the denser vegetation of the park but frequently move into nearby farmland to feed. ... More on Parks Victoria
Waterfalls
PLUNGING waterfalls amid peaceful cool, temperate rainforests are an Otways specialty. There are dozens of waterfalls to see along the Great Ocean Road touring route, which are accessed by walks of varying lengths through beautiful forests of tree ferns and towering ancient eucalypts. There are hundreds of varieties of fungi and dozens of varieties of ferns to be found. Keep a look out for the carnivorous Otway snail which has a shiny black shell ... More on Great Ocean Road
Wildlife
INDIGENOUS fauna is abundant in the Otways and along Great Ocean Road. You're guaranteed to see koalas on Lighthouse Road en route to the Lightstation. From the lighthouse you can spot sea eagles, dolphins, seals and whales - both southern rights and humpbacks. Kangaroos and wallabies are often seen in the lighthouse grounds and on the approaches to the lighthouse. Cockatoos, parrots, kookaburras, currawongs, kestrels, wedge tail eagles and many other species of birds are commonly seen ... More on Great Ocean Road
Shipwrecks
THE western coast of Victoria has claimed more shipwrecks than any other stretch of Australian coastline. The treacherous seas, reefs and hostile weather conditions saw hundreds of lives lost. The seafloor is littered with what remains of the wrecks whose cargoes included migrants, hopeful gold miners and convicts. The ships foundered due to human error, bad weather, lack of local knowledge and as shipping lines vied for the lucrative migrant market - lives were undoubtedly lost due to companies taking cost-cutting measures ... More on Great Ocean Road
Beaches
NAME your favourite style of beach and we've got it. The Great Ocean Road region is blessed with pristine squeaky sand, clean beaches perfect for swimming, diving, surfing, fishing, sunbathing, walking the dog, rock-pooling, exploring, picnics, whale-spotting or just relaxing. You can even find shipwrecks. There are patrolled beaches for safe swimming, deserted beaches for when you want to leave the world behind and sheltered estuary beaches suitable for small children. Beachcombers will delight in their finds, bird-watchers will be treated to sightings of rare birds, and there are rock pools alive with marine life. (Photo: Parks Victoria) ... More on Great Ocean Road
Links
Great Ocean Road Accommodation
- continuing your journey along the Great Ocean Road? Here's a list of accommodation and attractions.
The Otway Fly
- a tree-top walk not far from the Lightstation.
Great Southern Touring Route
- the Great Southern Touring Route links the delightful features between Melbourne and Adelaide.