Australia is a vast country with so much to see and do across thousands of miles of land. With many internal flights to Melbourne, you’ll be missing out if you don’t explore the Great Ocean Road: a huge road trip which stretches along 250km of road. You’ll travel through National Parks, visit some of the best surfing towns Australia has to offer, and see some amazing rock formations on your way.
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Explore Melbourne
If you’re starting in Melbourne, make sure you fully discover this fantastic city before leaving. Melbourne is the best place in Australia for budget eating, and there are fantastic bars and live music venues all around the city. There’s great culture: art, music and museums mean you’ll never be stuck for something to do.
Once you’re ready to escape the big city, the Great Ocean Road has been voted one of the world’s most beautiful drives, and for good reason.
Take a break to admire the view
There are loads of great towns to visit along the way. If you’re a surfing fan, Bell’s Beach in Torquay is a great place to visit, and there’s a Ripcurl Pro competition during Easter Weekend.
Anglesea is great for hiking, with wonderful paths along the cliffs and amazing coastal views. It’s also a really chilled town, great for a break from the journey! For food fans, Lorne is best for seafood: the fish are caught locally and served practically straight onto your plate from the sea!
Visit the Twelve Apostles
One of the most popular parts of the Great Ocean Road is the Twelve Apostles: breathtaking limestone rock formations which you can see from the road, or you can even take a helicopter trip to see them in all their glory from on high!
Drive safely
The Great Ocean Road is often narrow in places, often with only one lane for cars. Make sure you have Australian travel insurance, and drive with care as there might be pedestrians on the road, and it does twist and turn. There is also a freeway just a little way from the Great Ocean Road if you’re not confident or you need a break.
Take your time
Although you can finish the drive in one day, there is a lot to see and do as you travel from Torquay to Warrnambool. You might want to break up the journey and allow yourself time to stop and appreciate the breathtaking sights: it’s really worth allowing yourself a little more time if you can. Consider staying overnight in Apollo Bay or Port Campbell so you can really make the most of this memorable journey.
This amazing road trip is really an opportunity for the experience of a lifetime, so don’t miss out if you get the opportunity to traverse the fantastic Great Ocean Road.
Images by Michelle Robinson, Blake Lennon, ccdoh1 (1 and 2) and Dan Taylor used under creative commons license.
