Get up close to nature on and off the Great Ocean Road, which winds alongside the spectacular Southern Ocean from Geelong, near Melbourne, to Portland. Surf at Torquay, stay in the holiday haven of Lorne and see the magnificent Twelve Apostles. Walk through waterfalls and lush forest in Great Otway National Park and watch whales from the historic town of Warrnambool. Stretch out your journey with a stay in any of the many scenic seaside towns, from Apollo Bay to Port Fairy.
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1. Waves, bays and beaches |
Ride the waves of Victoria’s Surf Coast at Torquay, Jan Juc, Pt Addis or iconic Bells Beach. Enjoy family friendly swimming at Anglesea. Laze on Lorne’s golden sands or soak up the seaside vibe at a café on the pier. In Apollo Bay, you can swim, surf, dive, sea kayak or fish. Just around the costal corner are the ancient limestone pillars of the Twelve Apostles. See them from a helicopter or from viewing platforms on the cliffs. Soak up the history and windswept scenery of Shipwreck Coast in Warrnambool, Portland and Port Fairy. |
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2. Rainforests, mountains and national parks |
Mountain bike through the Otway Ranges or take the Otway Fly Walk through the tops of ancient mossy trees. Climb to the top of Cape Otway lighthouse - mainland Australia’s oldest lighthouse - in Great Otway National Park. Hike or horse ride through dense forest to thundering waterfalls. Bike ride from West Barwon Reservoir to Lake Elizabeth. Wander deserted beaches and learn about shipwreck history in Port Campbell National Park. In Tower Hill State Reserve the self-guided walks introduce you to wetlands, geology and Aboriginal foods. |
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3. Wildlife big and small |
Swim with dolphins in Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula and play golf alongside grazing kangaroos in Anglesea. In Great Otway National Park you can canoe next to a colony of platypus on Lake Elizabeth and see glow worms light Melba Gully after dark. Get up close to emus, magpie geese, echidnas and waterbirds in Tower Hill State Game Reserve. Watch southern right whales calving off Logan Beach in Warrnambool between June and September. Spot them further along at Portland, then cruise or kayak next to the huge seal colony at Cape Bridgewater. |
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4. Great ocean-hugging journeys |
Drive the Great Southern Touring Route, which hugs the rugged coastline from Torquay to Warrnambool. Take in spectacular views of the Southern Ocean from Anglesea and between Lorne and Apollo Bay, where the highway carves through sheer sea-cliffs. For a closer coastal encounter, do all or part of the Great Ocean Walk. It winds 91km from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles. Discover the wet forests, cliff-tops and remote beaches on day walks or do the entire eight day hike, camping overnight at picturesque locations. |
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