Great Ocean Road

Just a few hours' drive from Melbourne, find yourself transported into the majestic and rugged world along Victoria's Great Ocean Road. Your journey weaves through 243km of winding road from the small surf town of Torquay, into numerous inlets and villages, past the imposing 12 Apostles, and on to Allansford near Warrnambool.

Built by returned servicemen following the end of World War I, the Great Ocean Road was to become the link for the small coastal villages that dot the coastline, into the outside world. It would also employ many of the soldiers who were in need of work upon returning from battle. In their eyes, the Great Ocean Road was to be a permanent memorial to the servicemen who died while fighting for the country. The road officially opened in 1932 and has been a beloved attraction of the Victorian community ever since.

Experience the beachside townships of Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Lorne, Apollo Bay and Cape Otway before arriving at the magnificent 12 Apostles. While twelve columns of rock once jutted up and out of the ocean, now just four formations remain. Carved through thousands of years of erosion, the jagged limestone structures rise gloriously in size and beauty.

Visitors to the 12 Apostles will find a purpose-built visitor information centre on site for the convenience of the millions of tourists arriving throughout the year. The construction is built to blend in with the native surroundings and provides a subway to the Apostles under the Great Ocean road, to ensure a safe, easy passage to the viewing platforms.

More attractions along the Great Ocean Road include Aire River, the Great Otway National Park, Loch Ard Gorge and the Cape Otway and Aires Inlet lighthouses. Between June and September keep one eye out to sea for the migrating whales.

When visiting Victoria and the Great Ocean Road, be sure to pack for a variety of temperatures as Victorian weather is generally quite unpredictable. Although the area is considered to favour a traditionally cooler climate, you should be prepared for the possibility of multiple temperatures, often changing dramatically over the day.