subject: Escape City Life Take A Few Days Off Along The Great Ocean Road [print this page] Thinking about touring the Great Ocean Road located in Victoria, Australia. This road is 243 kilometers or about 151 miles. It is a scenic drive with many lookouts and viewing platforms. You will find coastal towns, parks and beaches that offer an incomparable number of activities. There is surfing, sailing, diving, golfing, swimming and more. During the year there are competitions to watch or be a part of.
There was not always a road to connect the coastal towns of Victoria. They were isolated and were a long, hard journey. In the 1880's the idea started to make a road connecting them to the closest major town. Construction began in 1918. It was conceived as a way of employing soldiers returning home after the First World War. It was a monument to them as well. A memorial was built in Eastern View for those that were unable to return.
One must stop landmark is the Twelve Apostles. It started out as limestone cliffs. Over 2 million years the cliffs were eroded by the sea. Caves were formed first, then over time they were worn to arches and now they are stand alone formations as tall as 45 meters. They are not connected to the shore and come right up out of the ocean.
The road has wine regions on either end. At one end is the Geelong wine region with multiple estates and vineyards, and with top of the line wines. There is wine tasting and cafes and restaurants. On the other end is the Henty region, so named after the first family to settle here in the 1800's. Here you will still find unexplored areas as well as great wine.
As it is called the Great Ocean Road you would expect to find many beaches, and you will. Some notable beaches are Bells Beach where the Rip Curl is held each year. This is a professional surfing competition. Both 13th Beach and Ocean Grove are also known for surfing. Point Roadknight has kite surfing and sailing. For family fun try Eastern Beach that has a playground, swimming pool and park. During holidays there are usually lifeguards on duty. They place red and yellow flags in the safe areas and this is where you want to swim.
You can spot wildlife on one of many stops on this road. You can swim with dolphins at Port Phillips Bay. Watch the penguin parade on Phillip Island Nature Park. See any of 350 species of bird in the Geelong region. You can see glow worms at night in the Melba Gully.
Take a walking trip and see a 300 year old tree that is 88 feet around. Take a tour and see platypus on Lake Elizabeth. View koalas in the gum trees near the Kennett River. Visit a game reserve and see kangaroos, emus and more koalas. There is a whale nursery at Logans Beach. At Fauna Australia you can see nocturnal wildlife and even feed them. There is so much to see.
Many events are held during the year so there is always something to see and do. Surfing competitions, fishing, sailing, air shows, festivals and fairs are just some of what is offered. A vehicle can be rented or you can take a tour bus for touring the Great Ocean Road. Wherever you may wish to stop along the road there is a bus that can take you there without you having to do the driving. Relax and enjoy.
