Great Ocean Road (region)

From eTripTips Wiki

The Great Ocean Road [1] is more than a road – it represents the coastal region of south-west Victoria, Australia, running from the Bellarine Peninsula to Warrnambool.

One of the most scenic parts of the road is the stretch between Port Campbell and Petersborough. This is the section contained by the Port Campbell National Park and has the major rock formations.

Great Ocean Road

[edit] Regions

[edit] Cities

Twelve Apostel

• Aireys Inlet
• Apollo Bay
• Anglesea
• Camperdown
• Colac
• Lorne
• Mortlake
• Port Campbell
• Port Fairy
• Portland
• Petersborough
• Torquay
• Warrnambool

[edit] Other destinations

[edit] Understand

There were more then twelve formations when they acquired the name of the twelve apostles, therefore only the 12 to the West of the visitors center were called the apostles. Since then a few have fallen on both sides, leaving just eight of the originals standing.

[edit] Talk

[edit] Get in

V/Line [2] buses run from Geelong along the Great Ocean Road as far as Apollo Bay three times a day M-F and twice a day Sa-Su. On Friday a bus continues from Apollo Bay to Warrnambool.

[edit] Get around

Helicopter rides are available at the visitors center, for a price.

[edit] See

• Surf Coast Walk, [3]. Coastal walkway of 30 km from Jan Juc Beach near Torquay through Bells Beach, Pt Addis, Anglesea and Aireys Inlet to Moggs Creek in the Angahook-Lorne State Park. The total distance takes about 11 hours but there are many access points so it can be done in sections.

• Split Point, Aireys Inlet.

• Angahook-Lorne State Park, [4]. The park has many walking trails particularly in the Aireys Inlet and Lorne areas.

• Teddy’s Lookout, Lorne.

• Marriner’s Lookout in Apollo Bay.

• Otway National Park, [5]. At Mait's Rest there is a 30 minute loop walk through lovely rainforest.

• Gardenside Manor Tearooms, Lavers Hill. Bird feeding gardens are right beside the tearooms. This is a great place to see beautiful king parrots and crimson rosellas coming in from the wild. There are some short paths through the gardens.

• Melba Gully State Park. There are picnic facilities and toilets below the carpark and a 30 minute walk through the bush.

• Port Campbell National Park near Port Campbell, including the 12 apostles rock formation.

[edit] Itineraries

• Great Ocean Road itinerary

[edit] Sleep

[edit] Do

[edit] Eat

Port Campbell has many cafes and restaurants and it is the only place to get food near the Port Campbell National Park.

[edit] Drink

[edit] Stay safe

The Great Ocean Road is fantastic drive, not only for the scenery, but also for the winding cliff top roads. A lot of motoring enthusiasts travel the road for the sheer excitement of feeling the corners and having fun.

There are little to no overtaking lanes on the Great Ocean Road, rather turnouts for slower vehicles. If a faster vehicle catches up to you, be considerate and pull over at the next turn out. Frustration causes accidents, let faster vehicles past.

If you catch up to a slower vehicle, stay back at a safe distance and wait for the other vehicle to pull over in the next slow vehicle turn out. Don't tailgate. Up to 50% of accidents in Australia are caused by a vehicle running up the back of another.

The speed limit along the Great Ocean Road is 80km/h to 100km/h. In towns, the speed limit is 50km/h to 70km/h. Always obey these speed limits as they are strictly enforced by the Victorian Police.

Given the volume of traffic that can traverse the Great Ocean Road, don't assume that it will be a quick trip. Allow yourself plenty of time to see everything so that you may enjoy your drive.

[edit] Get out