The need to connect the fishing communities that lived along the southwest coast of Victoria and the necessity of generating employment for the ex-servicemen who had returned home after the First World War led to the commissioning of the road. It was literally hewn out of the earth by sheer man power, hard work and determination. Work on the road began in 1918 and was finally completed during the Great Depression in 1932. The long winding road extends some 300km starting at Torquay, 100 km from Melbourne before it terminates at Warrnambool.

Torquay, a small distance from Melbourne, is the capital of Australia's surfing industry. You can go to surf city, surf world, hire surfing equipment, take lessons and roam the coast for an 11- hour splendid walk.

About 7km away, is the Bells Beach Recreational Centre, which every Easter, is the site of the world-championship surfing contest.

Anglesea, a small family resort of 2000 people comes next. It's famous for it’s golf course, which is home to a large population of kangaroos that graze on the fairways and may just hop across and block your put. A hand gliding school offers tandem flights and certificate courses.

Lorne, another small little town is the most popular and fashionable town on the west coast. You can bushwalk further up inland or swim at the beaches.

If you take half-day canoeing trips to the lovely Lake Elizabeth, then you have a good chance of seeing platypuses. Dawn is a good time to go. New Year's Eve is a good time to be in Lorne and attend a good concert or take part in a mass swim.

Apollo Bay may be a lot less trendy than a lot of towns but it’s fishing town image makes it a most charming places to visit. There's a shell museum, great views from the Mariner's Lookout and a lovely picnic spot aptly named Paradise Valley. Horse rides along the beach and flights over Port Campbell National Park are great fun. Hand gliding, fishing trips and cruises are all part of what this little town of 1000 people has to offer.

Some of the more impressive natural formations that wind and water have created are Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge and the famous Twelve Apostles, stone pillars protuding from the sea of which only seven remain.

Once the Great Ocean Road leaves Apollo Bay and moves inland, the landscape changes the gold and blue of the coast to the irridiscent green of fern and rain forests. The Cape Otway National Park and the Cape Otway Lighthouse are areas replete with tracts of rainforests, tall eucalyptus and gum tree stands and innumerable scenic walkways.

From Apollo Bay, the road temporarily leaves the coast and goes inland to climb over Cape Otway, through Otway National Park, a rainforest area with fern gullies and forests of mountain ash.

A couple of unsealed roads lead off the highway and onto the coast. These lead to amazing picnic areas, gullies, walks and camping grounds. There's even a camping ground there.

Port Campbell National Park is one of the most dramatic sights on the road. Limestone cliffs rise high above the ocean and rock stacks, gorges and arches form the area along the Park. Gibson Beach is the stormy and treacherous beach of murder movies. Be careful of high tides here. Gibsons Steps, 500m east of the Twelve Apostles leads down the side of the cliff to the beach at the bottom of the Apostles.

The Twelve Apostles or rock stacks in the ocean offer a fascinatingly eerie sight and a spectacular one when the sun’s rays turn the rocks and cliffs to molten gold.

Continuously pounded by the waters, only seven can be seen. You can take cruises and diving trips to the rocks. The Arch and the London Bridge (a link between stack and the mainland which has now collapsed) are nice places to roam and see the penguins in the moonlight.         

Getting There:  The Great Ocean Road officially starts at Torquay at the arch built specially to commemorate its beginning. Torquay is around 100 km from Melbourne and connected to the state capital of Victoria by the Princes Highway, Route 1 which links up with the Geelong Road. The Geelong Road in its turn conects to Route 100 to Torquay.

Plenty of tours are available from Melbourne - ideal for first time visitors who want to concentrate on the sights and not on their driving.  If you have a car, then the length of the Great Ocean Road can be measured in one day - drive along the road as it dips and rises, curves and curls along the many escarpments and cliffs, the coves and the cays and the hamlets along the way. Public transport along the Great Ocean Road is almost non-existent except for the local buses that connect the towns of Geelong, Anglesea, Lorne and Apollo Bay. The other option is to take a conducted bus tour from Melbourne. Tourist Information Centre (052) 376529.

Accommodation is available in abundance - holiday cottages, camp sites, motels and hotels line the coast but can get full during peak season, so book in advance. To get a grand view of Australia, don't miss this drive. Rent a car and drive the distance. The roads are relatively safe, and for the most part sealed, though speed limits are high on the highways. Just keep the blood alcohol level under 0.05% and you shouldn't have a problem. All kinds of fuel is available but distances between service stations can sometimes be long and fuel could be expensive, so carry extra.  Another good option is to take the one day bus tour from Melbourne to Adelaide. 

Tourist Offices: Geelong & Great Ocean Road Visitor Information Centre,
Stead Park,
Princes Hwy,
Geelong, Vic. 3214

For detailed state and visitor information, see Victoria.
For country information, see Australia.