subject: Australia Travel: Thrills Abound On The Great Ocean Road [print this page] If youre after a destination with plenty of thrills and adventure, look no further than the Great Ocean Road Australia, with its golden, sand beaches and rugged cliff-tops which are just perfect for a spot of mountain-biking. If theres nothing that you like better than the feel of the wind whipping through your hair as you take in the great outdoors then an Australia travel adventure on the Great Ocean Road is perfect for you:
Surfing
Australia might be the surf capital of the world, but the surf capital of Australia itself is located on the Great Ocean Road which makes it the surfing epicentre. In fact, the region is so synonymous with Australias surf scene that Rip Curl Pro, part of the ASP World Championship Tour, is held a Bells Beach every Easter. The beach has two main breaks, the Bowl and Rincon, both right-handers which are best during autumn and winter. Meanwhile, Torquay further along the route is where visitors can explore The Surfworld Museum, which has plenty of hands-on displays. The town is perhaps the best place in Australia to learn how to surf and most beginners will find that they are able to stand on a board at the end of a two-hour session.
Mountain biking
If you fancy the idea of a cycling holiday around the Great Ocean Road, you can find some fantastic Melbourne travel deals on coastal tours around the Great Ocean Road at the Tourist Information Office at Federation Square. It would certainly appear that bicycles are a great way to explore the hinterland scenery, although the spectacular ride is best enjoyed mid-week when traffic is at its lowest. If you want to get off the road and enjoy a much more thrilling ride, the Great Otway National Park is a Mecca for mountain bikers. The area features over 40km of purpose-built mountain bike terrain that winds through bush terrain at the aptly-named Forrest. These trails dart through eucalypt forests and fern gullies giving bikers the ride of their life.
While the Great Otway National Park might be an old favourite amongst cyclists, You Yangs Regional Park is one of most exciting new destinations. It features purpose-built XC tracks and downhill trails in two areas. Inside the You Yangs Regional Park, the Western Plantation, with its 30 kilometre single-track loop and obstacles including log-rides and boardwalks, looks set to overtake the Great Otway National Park in terms of popularity.
Horse riding
An Australia travel experience that never fails to delight old and young alike is horse-riding around the region. Holidaymakers can choose from a wide variety of different hacks, from novice rides taking in the stunning landscapes over a couple of hours to more challenging treks that are spread out over several days. Many visitors opt to take scenic sunset rides along the regions untouched beaches, although hacks around the bush-land on the coastal cliff tops are also increasingly popular. A local company, Blazing Saddles Trail Rides, offers beach and bush rides to suit all types of rider from beginner to experienced and the trails are open every day of the year.
