Things to Do on the Great Ocean Road Victoria Australia

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Great Ocean Road

What is it about the Great Ocean Road you wonder? Well, if you are given the opportunity to drive it, you wind in and out, up and down the hairpin bends, along the cliff edge and coast with views of the ocean. It’s 243 km long and starts at Torquay and ends at Allansford.

Ships were wrecked along this rugged coast, most notably at Loch Ard Gorge. You’ll find shipwreck stories, limestone sea stacks, the 12 Apostles, steps and boarded walks, beaches, surf beaches, rainforests, ocean views, villages, towns, glow worms, Californian Redwoods, lighthouses, waterfalls, coves, clifftop lookouts, treetop walks, wildlife, sharks, whales, rips, unstable clifftops, and strong currents.

The Eastern Maar and Wadawurrung Peoples are the Traditional Owners of the lands and waters in the Great Ocean Road area.

Best Things to Do Great Ocean Road

1. The Twelve Apostles
2. Loch Ard Gorge
3. London Bridge
4. Glow Worms in the Otways
5. Childers Cove
6. Californian Redwoods in the Otways
7. The Grotto
8. Bay of Islands
9. Torquay, Bells, and Jan Juc Beaches
10. Towns and Villages on the Great Ocean Road

The Twelve Apostles

Great Ocean Road Trip

On the way back to Melbourne from Warrnambool, you can make a detour along the Great Ocean Road.

You can stop at London Bridge in Peterborough. It's near Port Campbell, Victoria, Australia.

And you can make the trip from Melbourne to Warrnambool.

The last time I was here, the walk along the landmass to London Bridge was still intact. But in 1990, the arch to London Bridge collapsed into the ocean. So, the gap was formed.

Overhead, a helicopter flew around. It was likely laden with tourists, visitors, photographers, and the like. So that, they could glimpse, photograph, and video the view from above. You can book tours with the 12 Apostles Helicopters.

The waves rock in and out along the beach. Water swirled and lapped against the cliff around London Bridge.

Have you experienced London Bridge and the Great Ocean Road?

Great Ocean Road Twelve Apostles

and the Viewing Platform

Tours & Day Trips

1 Great Ocean Road Twelve Apostles

The Twelve Apostles

The Twelve Apostles have become a major attraction in Victoria.

In the 1980s, I remember we pulled up alongside the Great Ocean Road. Then, we walked out on the cliff face to see the Twelve Apostles.

Now, you will find a visitor center, car park, buses, and helicopter pad. You walk on a structured walkway that goes through a tunnel under the Great Ocean Road. And, it leads you to the viewing platform.

How Many Twelve Apostles Are There?

You can see six of the Apostles from there. Well, you might think, where's the rest? There are seven and not Twelve Apostles.

I'm not sure how they got their name. Nor, how many there have been.

In any case, so far In the 21st Century, two have fallen into the ocean. Which left seven remainings. This means, when I was there in the 1980s, there were probably 9.

They are limestone stacks standing in the ocean along the coast. It makes you aware of the strength of nature, the ocean, currents, and winds.

And, the vulnerability of the seven stacks that remain.

What Is the Best Time of Day to See the Twelve Apostles

At the viewing platform, you will find the best time is in the hour before sunset and sunset.

You can see the colors of the sunset light up the sky. And, it glows along the cliffs and the Twelve Apostles.

They are found in the Port Campbell National Park. Learn more about the Twelve Apostles

Can You Do Great Ocean Road In One Day?

Yes, you can do Great Ocean Road in one day. You won't experience everything, but you can do the highlights.

I knew tourists had been flying into Avalon Airport specifically to visit the Great Ocean Road. What I heard they were transported in buses down the highway to the Great Ocean Road for the day and flew out again that night.

Recently, I found out, cruises were docking in Melbourne. And, these tourists were doing the same thing, going by bus for the day. Then, they sailed out the same night for the next port.

Take photos with the seascape in the background at the Viewing Platform

2 Loch Ard Gorge

Loch Ard Gorge is known for its shipwrecks. In 1878, the “Loch Ard’, a clipper ship, ran aground near Mutton Bird Island where 2 survived and 19 lost their lives.

Loch Ard Gorge was carved into a towering sandstone cliff about 17 million years ago. From the viewing platform, looking downwards you can view The Razorback.

Across to the east, you can see Muttonbird Island. Then you look outwards to the Bass Strait.

Currently, access to the beach is closed, check Parks Vic for updates. And a blowhole platform is planned so look for more details.

3 London Bridge

London Bridge lies north of Port Campbell. I stayed in a holiday camp at Port Campbell a long time ago. And, visited London Bridge and this area of the Great Ocean Road.

The Rock limestone formations are unstable. And as you can see part collapsed into the ocean. Which has made a big gap between the land and the part not attached to the mainland.

I think it’s interesting how the arch underneath gives the impression the two limestone stacks have created the shape of a bridge.

Cliff Collapses

Like London Bridge became unstable and a span fell into the ocean, cliffs can become unstable. In 2019, at Demons Bluff in Anglesea, there was a cliff collapse.

Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority have provided instructions in English and other languages for safety planning and to spread the message.

• Stay away from cliffs and caves
• Stick to established tracks
• See the signs and follow the guidance
• Share the word and warn others

Take Care, Observe Warning Signs of Danger, Monitor Weather Reports

Due to:

• Deep Ocean Waters
• Wild Surf
• Powerful Currents
• Unstable Cliffs
• Unpatrolled Areas
• No Swimming in Unpatrolled areas
• No Swimming Signs
• Changes in the Environment

So, you must keep on the walkways. And, do not enter areas that have warning signs, are unsafe, and are closed.

You'll find the Twelve Apostles, London Bridge, and Loch Ard Gorge in the Port Campbell National Park

4 Glow Worms in the Otways

Oh, I do remember walking in the Otways after dark with the Glow Worms a long time ago.

If you are looking for something magical to do. Head inland to the mountains of the Otways to witness the tiny glow worms illuminating the dark caves and rainforests. It requires some effort and exploration to discover them.

5 Childers Cove

I found Childers Cove is not far from Warrnambool and Allansford and before Peterborough. But then it was a fair drive to the coast from the Great Ocean Road.

And then, it’s not far from where my granny was born in Panmure. As, Panmure is near Allansford. So, I can imagine my granny’s family went to the coves along here in the past. Because it was her grandfather that arrived in Victoria and settled in Panmure.

You’ll find stairs down to the beach and sea stacks are in the ocean.

Read the warning signs because there are no lifesaving services, submerged rocks, unstable cliffs, strong currents, and swimming is not advised.

I stopped for lunch here, some photography, and I was off because I knew I had a long drive on my Great Ocean Road trip. It was the first stop I was making on the way down from Allansford and Warrnambool along the Great Ocean Road.

Childers Cove

6 Californian Redwoods in the Otways

Walking among the Californian Redwoods in the Otways is on my to do list. To walk and stand among these majestic 63 meters tall giant redwoods is an experience I want to do.

Is it something you want to do?

You’ll find them in the Otways National Park near the Great Ocean Road.

7 The Grotto

The Grotto is limestone of 10 to 20 million years old which was eroded from inland and the coast causing a depression that then became hollowed out.

Yes, I've definitely been to the Grotto. I remember thinking it was more like a blowhole. Maybe because we had visited the Grotto in winter when the conditions were wintery and the tide was high. Which means you cannot walk far to view because of the ocean conditions.

And, the walk is 700 metres there and back to the lookout platform of the Grotto. Going any further by stairs is dependent on the tide, ocean, and weather conditions. And also depends on your health and mobility.

Be aware of the warning signs which show slippery conditions on the boardwalk, no wheelchair access, and no drones, and you must stay on track.

8 Bay of Islands

Dotted in the Southern Ocean is a bunch of rock stacks, the Bay of Islands. I found the Bay of Islands near Peterborough. And, I walked along the designated walkway from the carpark and took photos from the lookouts.

9 Torquay, Bells, and Jan Juc Beaches

I spent many weekends driving down the freeway to Torquay, Bells, and Jan Juc Beaches in the summer. All beaches are surf beaches.

Bells Beach is well known for its surfing and competitions. It's known as the Rip Curl Pro now and is an international event.

I've had surfing lessons at Torquay Beach and surfed there. And, that's the beach I've been to the most.

Oh, I had a flashback, we used to go to one of the beaches all the time for surfing. I'll need to look at the maps of the car parks to work it out.

10 Towns and Villages on the Great Ocean Road

Apollo Bay

Apollo Bay is a fishing village with a harbour and marina.

I've had a family holiday there. We rented a house together with families when the kids were young. We could walk down the driveway across the Great Ocean Road to the ocean.

I wore my wetsuit and we went surfing. Well, that didn't last long. One of the boys needed help. And, the others were further out. So, I performed my own surf and rescue. Oh my gosh, the water was so deep. So, I got him back to shore. And, that was it, I was done for the day.

It doesn't take much to end up in deep water in the ocean. It's so important to learn to swim in a country that is surrounded by water and has so many beaches.

Lorne

I'd say gone are the days when you could pull your car up on the side of the coast. Pitch a tent and camp the night under the stars in Lorne. I suppose I can say I have camped in Lorne a few times.

It has had a complete revamp with a new vibe and moved up in class. But then, at the Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park, there's an Eco Safari Tent option. So sounds like things are changing again.

Aireys Inlet

Aireys Inlet made it into the voting for the top 17 towns in Victoria's list. The town's lifestyle is known as the 'ocean meets bush'.

You can spot Aireys Inlet for its lighthouse, Split Point Lighthouse.

But what I can recall is the devastating Ash Wednesday Bushfires of 1983, Which was forty years ago. The name of the town and those fires remind me. Even though, on that day, there were more fires, it felt like my state was on fire.

For me, I remember, the black soot flying in the train windows. And, not knowing if you would get home because the train tracks were melting because it was so hot. When I did get home, the eerily skies from the grass fires. And, the alarm sounds going off.

That's why it's important to check the weather before heading out to the country.

Anglesea

Back in the day, it seemed like everyone had caravans and put them permanently in a caravan park. Then, they would go there regularly. Especially along all the foreshores around the bay and the coast. Now, I'll need to check what's happening cause it seems people move around more.

Check out the caravan parks and holiday parks now. They have cottages and cabins. At Torquay, there are also Glamping Tents and Glamping Pods.

Great Ocean Road Places to Visit and Things to Do

Tours & Day Trips

• Great Ocean Road 1 Day Trip
• Great Ocean Road Tour

Victoria Travel Essentials

• Victoria can have bushfires, droughts, floods, strong winds, hot north winds, storms, dust storms, beaches with rips and strong currents and swells, and sharks
• Find out the VIC Weather and Warnings at BOM
• Check Parks Victoria and Forests and Reserves for alerts, closures, and safety planning before you go
• Check the Fire Danger Ratings and Total Fire Bans and Rules in VIC
• Flood and Storm affected Parks closed and partial closures
• Check for planned burns at Forest Fire Management
• Look up the beach information and conditions, at Beachsafe, and the app, for instance:
  • If the beach is patrolled or unpatrolled, and if patrolled days and hours
  • Warnings
  • Current Temperature
  • Rips
  • Currents
  • Swell
  • Tide
  • Parking
• Find out details from Parks Victoria about safety planning, visitor guides, walks, places to see, things to do, issues, safety, wildlife, nature, facilities, opening hours,
  • Great Otway National Park
  • You Yangs Regional Park
  • Port Campbell National Park
• Look up information at Explore Outdoors about rules, bushfires, extreme weather, facilities, phone coverage, things to do in regions, activities like walks and picnics, and details and facilities regarding activities
  • Great Ocean Road
• Find out information about the Goldfields Track
• Take water
• Find toilets

Where Are the Twelve Apostles?

You'll find the Twelve Apostles off the Great Ocean Road in Princetown near Port Campbell on the coast of Victoria Australia.

They are in the west direction from Melbourne and further than Geelong.

The car park is on the opposite side of the road.

And you'll walk under the road through a tunnel to a viewing platform to see them.

They are in the Port Campbell National Park.

Things To Do In Victoria

Are you looking for more things to do in Victoria read my posts about things to do in Melbourne and Ballarat things to do.

Have you seen the 12 Apostles? Where would you like to visit on the Great Ocean Road?