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victoria: general info
· regional links
· history
things to do
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Name: Great Ocean Road
Location: Victoria Australia
180 miles long, starting at the town of Torquay and ending at Warrnambool
What's it like?
This long coastal highway, often compared to California's Pacific Coast Highway,
ranks among the world's top scenic drives, cliff hugging its way west of Melbourne
along the rugged southern coast of the Australian continent.
Every bend of the 180-mile journey reveals another awesome scene of jagged cliffs, windswept beaches, old whaling and fishing towns, inventive restaurants, sweet
B&Bs, and protected rainforest and national parkland populated by koalas and kangaroos alike. The timeless battle
between the relentless
waves of the Southern Ocean and the shoreline has resulted in prime surf beaches such as world-famous Bells and such extraordinary
rock formations as Loch Ard Gorge, the Bay of Islands, and most famous of all, the Twelve Apostles. In the 19th century these
limestone pillars were known as the Sow and Piglets. The ocean has claimed four of the brood in the intervening years; of the eight
remaining, some reach as high as 180ft.
It's not hard to see why the Twelve Apostles stretch is also known as the Shipwreck Coast since the waters claimed hundred of ships during colonization
in the 1800s when the journey from England took three to four months. This is the most spectacular segment of the Great Ocean Road, often
broody and romantic during windy and stormy weather.
It's best to drive the road round-trip since the rugged sea views are different depending on your direction. If you're up to it, biking
with a small organized group is the best way of seeing it all. Be sure to take advantage of the lookout points along the way at sunset, and don't
forget to visit nearby Coonawarra's best winemakers while you're in the area.
Sound like a place you'd like to visit? Then make sure to check out our cool Great Ocean Road Tours departing from
Adelaide and
Melbourne...
If you know of a great destination we're missing,
review it for us!!
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