I am smitten with Australia. We are back for our third visit. This time we are spending the entire visit in the state of Victoria in and around Melbourne. Last year when we came to Melbourne (read about that visit here) we thought it was amazing, and did not have enough time to do and see everything we wanted. So we are back for a full-month. Next week I will share a blog post in depth about our favorite things around Melbourne. But today I am going to tell you what I loved most about The Great Ocean Road Victoria Australia.
Where Are We?
Victoria is the second smallest state in Australia. We have been lucky enough to visit all but one of Australia’s seven states. South Australia remains on the bucket list, and we will visit there next time. Victoria, although one of the smallest states, is home to Australia’s largest city of Melbourne. It is also home to the historic and famous Great Ocean Road.
The Great Ocean Road Victoria Australia
History
The Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage-listed 240-kilometre (150 mi) stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia, between the Victorian towns of Torquay and Allansford. Built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932, and dedicated to soldiers killed during World War I, the road is the world’s largest war memorial. Winding through varying terrain along the coast, and providing access to several prominent landmarks, including the Twelve Apostles limestone stack formations, the road is an important tourist attraction. (Wikipedia)
Tourism
The Great Ocean Road Victoria Australia is one of Australia’s top tourist destinations. Visitors each year total 2.8 million, most of those domestic and about 250,000 international. These numbers have taken a toll on the road and its sites. Currently roadwork and additional parking and facilities are underway near the famous and most visited, 12 Apostles site.
We visited mid-week in summer and did not find it too crowded. In fact we had several sites all to ourselves. The park service has provided parking, walk ways, view points, signage and in a few cases, public restrooms for visitors
Our Route
We took two days to travel from Melbourne to just beyond Peterborough and back. There is more to The Great Ocean Road Victoria Australia, but this is the section we visited. I would love to see more of this beautiful place on our next visit to Australia. Here are my recommendations;
Geelong
Technically not on the Great Ocean Road, Geelong is a beautiful port city about an hour’s drive from Melbourne. It’s easy to add Geelong to a Great Ocean Road tour, or make it a day-trip from Melboune.
We did a lovely stroll along the Waterfront esplanade enjoying the views. At the Eastern Beach we sat and had coffee on a stunning bluebird day. Scattered along The Waterfront are the Baywalk Bollards, colourful sculptures chronicling city history. We really loved this place and think it would be great for a night or two.
Kennett River
A very easy river walk, the Kennett River Walk provides opportunity to spot many birds and, if you are lucky, koala. We had seen koala in reserves and conservation area during our past visits, but we had never seen one in “the wild”. So it was a treat to spot a large koala high up in the trees doing what koalas do…sleeping.
We also saw a Kookaburra and many other beautiful birds. The park has parking, a small store and picnic tables.
Let’s Take a Walk
Great Ocean Walk
The Great Ocean Walk is a one-way 110km walk that takes hikers through a wide range of historically significant and natural regions of this part of Victoria. But on this day we walked about 5k of it. The first half of the way, which we began from the parking lot of the Otway Light, was lots of scrub bushes. I was disappointed because I had been expecting expansive views. Well, wait a minute. We turned a corner and crested a small ridge to find ourselves high above the stunning ocean. What a treat. Should we come back and walk all 110km? This trail is part of the Great Otway National Park.
Mait’s Rest Rainforest Walk
This little place, Mait’s Rest Rainforest Walk was a big surprise. A short boardwalk hike through some of Australia’s oldest surviving trees as well as a wide array of other beautiful flora. Additionally we saw lots of birds including one new to us little beauty – Australian Rufous Fantail – a real stunner. Mait’s Rest Rainforest is part of the Great Otway National Park.
Clifton Beach Lodge
About 15 min before reaching Port Campbell and perfectly located to the Great Ocean Road National Park sights, is the darling Clifton Beach Lodge. Not on the beach, but rather in a peaceful farm setting, we loved our tiny one bedroom cabin and wished we could have stayed longer. Full kitchen and comfy bed in our unit but larger units are also available. We booked this on Booking.com . Our two person cabin was $120 USD.
Port Campbell
The day was waning and the sun was getting low in the sky, so we made haste to Port Campbell where we had a delicious Aussie style Fish and Chip dinner with a view at 12 Rocks. We took a quick spin around this darling town, population 500, which offers multiple lodging options. The town seems to be having a bit of a renaissance. It’s cute and road upgrades are underway. There is a wonderful public beach.
The Great Ocean Road National Park
Australia has a remarkable system of National Parks that are FREE. Well maintained and many with restrooms. It is such a treat to find these free parks for visitors and residents alike. We couldn’t wait to go check it out after dinner.
Razorback
This towering limestone stack known as Razorback is one of several amazing limestone formations at this site. We stopped here after dinner and the entire region was in a golden glow. Razorback is one of the largest stacks. Parking is good and short paved path takes you to a great view point.
The 12 Apostles
Definitely the regions most popular site due to the fact you can see about 30 limestone stacks from this vantage point. The Twelve Apostles are a collection of limestone stacks off the shore of Port Campbell National Park, by the Great Ocean Road in Victoria Australia. Their proximity to one another has made the site a popular tourist attraction. Despite their name, it is possible that there were never 12 rock stacks. Several stacks have collapsed in the last couple of decades and seven remain standing, all while other stacks will eventually be formed from rain, erosion and waves.
It is possible to walk on the beach at the 12 Apostles but only at low-tide. Access to the beach is from Gibson’s Steps.
Please note some websites say this park is open 9am-5pm. However that is the hours of the visitor center. The walkways, viewing areas and parking are open 24 hours, as are the other sites I mention in the post.
Day Two
We were greeted by a lovely sunrise and then a crystal blue sky on day two of our adventure on The Great Ocean Road Victoria Australia. We were sufficiently caffeinated and headed back to The 12 Apostles to see it in a different light. I am so glad we took the time to view this incredible natural area both dressed in sunset rose and daybreak blue. Significantly fewer people at 8am than at sunset, but both times offered plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the beauty.
London Bridge
Just beyond Port Campbell to the West you will come to the viewpoint for London Bridge. Originally a natural archway and tunnel, London Bridge collapsed on 15 January 1990 and became an isolated arch no longer connected to the mainland. It was one of my favorite spots on our tour.
The Grotto
Our next stop, just down the road, is a weathered hollow limestone formation known as the Grotto. I have seen photos of this place with 40 people…but we had it all to ourselves. It is one of the most evocative and intimate of the coastal formations of the Great Ocean Road. Part-blowhole, part-archway, part-cave, its serene rock pools and smooth boulders frame the sea views. Parking is good, but stairs are involved to access the Grotto.
Bay of Martyrs and Bay of Islands
Our next two stops provided more expansive views of limestone stacks and their ever changing beauty. Like sculptures in the sea, I’m sure each time you visit you see something new and beautiful.
Peterborough
We made a brief stop in the tiny town of Peterborough home to one of the most beautiful stretches of gold sand beach I have ever seen. Except for a couple of surfers, the beach was unpopulated and serene.
The town was believed to have been founded when the schooner SS Schomberg was wrecked in the middle of the 19th century, but Aboriginal people were here long before.
Peterborough is a 3 hour drive from Melbourne (with no stops) and we made this our turn around point for the day.
Major Change in Scenery
As we turned north and eventually east, rural farms spotted with sheep, cows and horses replaced the crashing ocean waves. Though a different view, this scenery was bucolic with its rolling hills, brown from summer heat. It reminded me a lot of the Palouse in my home state of Washington.
Lake Cullen Merri and Lake Gnotuk
Thanks to one of my followers on Threads, we learned of this alternate route to take us high up on a hill near the town of Camperdown for this beautiful view and interesting history.
Lake Bullen Merri and its smaller northern neighbor Lake Gnotuk are a pair of crater lakes. Lake Bullen Merri has a maximum depth of 66 m (217 ft), with a clover leaf outline indicating that it was probably formed by two overlapping maar volcanoes. Historical records show that the lake water level has dropped significantly over the past 100 years. Today it is a popular recreation area. (Wikipedia)
Heading Home
After our full two days we headed back to our Airbnb just outside of the city of Melbourne, sated with the delicious wonder that is The Great Ocean Road Victoria Australia. It would be easy to take an additional day or two and drive farther west along the coast, taking even more time to enjoy some of natures bounty.
The Great Ocean Road Victoria Australia
Thank you for reading my post The Great Ocean Road Victoria Australia. Please come back next week for more about this beautiful Victoria region and Melbourne. See you then!
