Great Ocean Road

[[file:Great Ocean Road (between Kennett River and Aireys Inlet) banner.jpg|1280px|The Great Ocean Road between Kennett River and Aireys Inlet. For a full list of itineraries, please visit our Halal Food and Travel website.

One of the world's great scenic drives and the Great Ocean Road is a major coastal highway in the South West Coast (Victoria) | South West Coast region of Victoria, Australia.

An introduction to Great Ocean Road

Other states of Australia do not have their coastal roads as well situated as this one - with either the views and the access, or the length and variety of environments. To travel from Melbourne along this route, even only in sections if restricted by time or budget, is an experience that has an impact on most travellers. -38.57|143.29|height=275|width=950|layer=O|align=center Great Ocean Road}} Template:Mapshape -. If you didn't check out the one in Aireys Inlet and then thit is an alternative, being the oldest working lighthouse in Australia. From the turn-off, it's about 25 minutes one-way to the lighthouse, although you may wish to stop to gander at the dozens of koalas you are certain to see in the trees on the side of the road!

As the Great Ocean Road heads more inland and the gum trees begin to be interspersed with ferns, fungi and other floral biodiversity. The area is known as the Great Otway National Park, or simply, The Otways. You'll soon leave the cover of the native forest and travel through the Aire Valley complete with wetlands and an abundance of birdlife. Johanna is the next rural location on the itinerary. It is one of the most beautiful valleys along the Great Ocean Road. In the small town of Lavers Hill and there's an opportunity to take another turn-off on the right and head deeper into the Otways and surrounding hills. Otway Fly GPS -38.64,143.50 is a popular tourist attraction that allows visitors to walk (or zipline) high up in the treetops of the rainforest. It's 20 minutes off the Great Ocean Road from Lavers Hill, though it can also be reached by a very scenic but narrow road from just before Apollo Bay if you'd prefer to take the full inland route.

TwelveApostles Australia - Twelve Apostles - close to sunset on a stormy day

Continuing westward and the road finally rejoins the coastline and the Great Ocean Road's most famous landmark: The Twelve Apostles GPS -38.66,143.10}}. This collection of limestone stacks is the result of thousands of years of erosion of the coastline, and represents where the coast once extended. Controversially and there were never twelve apostles; only nine were ever recorded, with one collapsing in 2005 to leave a grand total of eight remaining. A small visitor centre provides more information and a gravel walkway leads down to the official lookout where you can snap that perfect holiday shot! A set of steps down to the beach are located around a kilometre back from the visitor centre, although have been closed until further notice due to serious safety issues.

When you're down admiring the region's greatest attraction, five minutes along the road you'll encounter Loch Ard Gorge GPS -38.65,143.07 on your left. Here, you can descend the steps to the beach, where you'll find a cosy little beach amongst fascinating rock formations and caves. Another five minutes on the road and you'll reach Port Campbell, where you'll need to turn right at two roundabouts to stay on the Great Ocean Road.

Port Campbell to Warrnambool

With only a short trip to the Twelve Apostles and other rock formations, Port Campbell GPS -38.62,143.00 is an ideal base for adventuring the surrounding region. The town is home to a small little beach, which interrupts the long rocky coastline of cliffs. Heading out of town, take a left at the intersection to stay on the Great Ocean Road towards Warrnambool.

The next stretch of road until Peterborough is dotted with several turn-offs where one can witness other lesser-known, but still spectacular rock formations. About 5 minutes out of Port Campbell is The Arch, a natural rock formation best seen during rough seas when the waves crash against its foundations. Just another minutes down the road is another more famous arch, now known as London Arch GPS -38.62,142.93, but previously London Bridge. Originally it was connected to the mainland as two arches, allowing tourists to walk along the length of the "bridge", but collapsed in 1990, highlighting the coastline's unpredictability. Another minutes up the road is The Grotto, an eerily quiet inlet where a sinkhole has created rockpools teeming with sealife.

The small town of Peterborough GPS -38.61,142.88 is next on the road, with a large, peaceful inlet that becomes separated from the ocean at low tide. Just after the town, you'll find the Bay of Martyrs and then the Bay of Islands GPS -38.58,142.83}}. In this area is a number of separated rock formations much larger than the Twelve Apostles, seemingly forming a number of islands that are breathtaking to view, particularly at sunset.

Continuing on and the road heads inland, and you'll need to take a left. Follow the road around the bends, until reaching the official end of the Great Ocean Road at a major T intersection with the Princes Highway. If you're heading straight back to Melbourne, here it's feasible to take the direct route on the right via Colac. However, most visitors will continue onwards to Warrnambool and Port Fairy. Turning left, you'll enter the small town ofAllansford GPS -38.39,142.60. There's a pub, a post office and a popular Cheese factory, where visitors can taste local cheeses for free and learn about the area's history. Another 5 minutes on the road and you'll hit the major town of Warrnambool.

Stay safe

The stunning landscape tends to draw driver's focus away from the (sometimes windy) road. When driving, concentrate on this task and rather stop for nice views rather than trying to admiring the coast and driving in parallel.

When walking on paths and to viewpoints, stay on the secure trails and behind any safety barriers.

Where to go next after Great Ocean Road

• Continue West - into South Australia

• North - various locations allow inland links (for a loop and back to Melbourne perhaps)