The spectacular coastline southwest of Victoria boasts an incredible variety of landscapes. Watch the famous waves at Bells Beach or relax on the sand at Anglesea. Visit the charming fishing village of Port Fairy and mingle with the vibrant arts community in Lorne. Of course, you simply must see the 12 Apostles. These limestone sea stacks, rising majestically from the Southern Ocean, are not to be missed. Book a scenic flight to see the Bay of Islands, London Bridge, or the entire Shipwreck Coast all the way to Australia’s oldest lighthouse at Cape Otway.
Rainforests and rivers, ancient volcanoes and rugged coastline — the Great Ocean Road showcases nature in all its diversity. In Great Otway National Park, you’ll find thundering waterfalls and glistening gorges, and can walk through the canopy of ancient moss-covered trees. The is a 600-metre (0.4-mile) treetop walk that climbs gradually through a majestic temperate rainforest. Thrill-seekers can zipline between “cloud stops” 30 metres (98 feet) above the forest floor. Need to stretch your legs? Pass by sandy beaches, dense forests, and some of Australia’s tallest cliffs along the 91 kilometres of the Great Ocean Road.
The Great Ocean Road is home to abundant native wildlife. At Logans Beach in Warrnambool, watch southern right whales calve in a nursery close to shore between May and September. Join an excursion to see hundreds of fur seals at Cape Bridgewater or Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula. Spot koalas in their natural habitat at Kennett River and in Great Otway National Park, and play a round of golf alongside grazing kangaroos at Anglesea. For something completely different, canoe among platypus on Lake Elizabeth at dawn.
Aboriginal stories connect the landscapes of the Great Ocean Road, from the Wathaurong region in Geelong to the Gunditjmara region in the west. Taste “bush tucker”, discover ancient remedies, and listen to the didgeridoo in Geelong. Visit the centre at Halls Gap to see the fascinating exhibition of art and ancient artefacts, and join an excursion to visit rock art sites dating back 22,000 years in Grampians National Park. Walk with an Aboriginal guide at Tower Hill near Warrnambool, a nature reserve nestled within an extinct volcano where Aboriginal people lived until its eruption more than 30,000 years ago.
