Exploring Australia’s Great Ocean Road

People who like road trips will love the Great Ocean Road in the southeastern Australian province of Victoria. Known as one of the world’s most stunning drives, it features dazzling scenery of white beaches, coastal cliffs, lush forests, and spectacular natural formations.

Construction on the road began in 1919, when servicemen returned home from the First World War. Carved through rock and hugging the coastline for over 240 kilometres, the Great Ocean Road took more than a decade to complete and was dedicated in honour Australia’s fallen soldiers. Today, it’s considered the world’s largest war memorial.

The Great Ocean Road begins in Torquay, a town southwest of Melbourne. From there it stretches west along the shoreline to Allansford, passing through coastal towns with fascinating attractions and incredible views.

Torquay is famous for surf culture and being the birthplace of some of surfing’s most iconic brands. It delivers the quintessential Australian seaside experience, with an atmosphere that mixes bougie and beach culture, blending laid‑back coastal vibes with world‑class beaches. It’s a great place to learn how to surf, with several schools offering group and private lessons from beginner right on up. While the rest of us quietly sip coffee on the nearest patio and enjoy watching surfers carve up the waves.

In Anglesea, a round at the Anglesea Golf Club offers another truly Australian experience – golfing among kangaroos. They just lounge around the greens and alongside the fairways here, completely unfazed by humans, or golf carts, or golf balls. They do provide a unique distraction from bad golfing shots, which still do exist in the southern hemisphere.

Apollo Bay – nicknamed ‘paradise by the sea’ – is essentially the halfway mark of the Great Ocean Road. An idyllic village nestled between mountains and the sea, it’s the perfect midpoint to rest and recharge. Here you can enjoy a fresh seafood dinner, stroll a quiet beach at sunset, and gaze at the star-filled sky at night.

Next, you’ll reach Great Otway National Park, a lush coastal wilderness known for towering rainforests, fern‑filled gullies, and dramatic waterfalls. All of which stand in striking contrast to the rugged cliffs and windswept beaches nearby. The rich biodiversity and moody landscapes make the Otway one of Australia’s most favourite natural places to visit. Be sure to take some time to wander beneath the ancient mountain ash trees and try to spot koalas in the wild.

Having just reached the second-most southern tip of the continent… the road swings back up to the northwest. Along this section is where you’ll find the Twelve Apostles – giant limestone pillars dramatically rising up from the ocean, with odd shapes formed by millions of years of erosion.

Eight of them remain visible today, lined in a row like silent sentinels guarding the rugged coast, perhaps warning seafarers about swirling ocean waters and lurking dangers. In centuries past, it’s believed more than 700 ships met their unexpected demise along the Shipwreck Coast. Commemorations at different points mark some of the sites of these tragic tales, preserving the area’s rich and sometimes dark maritime history.

The Great Ocean Road inspires the imagination, taking travelers on a journey where nature, adventure, and wonder meet. Revealing natural landscapes that silently remind us, what stands today may not be here tomorrow.