{"id":1511,"date":"2019-10-27T07:19:08","date_gmt":"2019-10-27T07:19:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viralvacationideas.com\/?p=1511"},"modified":"2023-11-24T13:03:04","modified_gmt":"2023-11-24T13:03:04","slug":"the-great-ocean-road-the-ultimate-aussie-road-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/viralvacationideas.com\/the-great-ocean-road-the-ultimate-aussie-road-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"The Great Ocean Road \u2013 The Ultimate Aussie Road Trip"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the things I was most looking forward to about traveling Australia was The Great Ocean Road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n, via Wikimedia Commons” href=”https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:GreatOceanRoad.jpg”>\"The<\/a>\n\n\n\n

The Great Ocean Road is such an iconic backpacker trip<\/a>. Seeing the Twelve Apostles and other fascinating off shore rock formations, exploring beaches<\/a> and waterfalls, spotting koalas up in the trees. This famous road trip provides a quintessential Aussie road trip experience that can be done over a weekend. Yet for some reason it took me a whole year to actually do it, despite living in Melbourne for the majority of my time in Australia<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bald
Bald Hill Lookout Stanwell Park – Australia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When Chris and I found out we couldn\u2019t stay in Australia any longer because of our visas, we knew we had to spend our last weekend on the Great Ocean Road. It was just before Christmas and we picked the perfect<\/a> weekend to do it without realising. It was hot and sunny, yet being by the coast provided an escape from boiling Melbourne, where our friends were suffering in 42 degree heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people do the Great Ocean Road in just a day trip. I wouldn\u2019t recommend this. There is so much to explore and driving to the main tourist attraction<\/a> on the road, the Twelve Apostles, is quite a far drive. However, for us, two nights was the perfect amount of time. Any longer and I think I would have got quite restless..<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Torquay to Lorne<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bells
The iconic Bells Beach on a summer morning at sunrise near Torquay, Victoria, Australia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We left on a Friday around Midday, and roared down the dusty, uninteresting highway to the coast and the gateway to the Great Ocean Road, Torquay, where we stopped for lunch. Torquay is a cute little town and well worth stopping in. There is a nice beach to relax on and we enjoyed fish and chips by the beach front. Torquay also makes a great day trip for anyone living in Melbourne, who wants to enjoy the beach and escape the city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most people start the Great Ocean Road either in Torquay, or in Anglesea, which was our next stop. That afternoon we went canoeing in Anglesea. As you drive past the town you will see a man renting out Canoes by the river on your right. This is something our friends recommended to us and we probably would not have done otherwise. I\u2019m really glad we did it though. It broke up the journey and was a real laugh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Split
Split Point Lighthouse – Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After that we headed to Aireys Inlet, where the main attraction is Split Point lighthouse (fun fact: this is the same lighthouse from Round the Twist!). We wandered up and took some typically tourist shots before heading to Lorne, where we camped the night. Lorne is a really nice town which I could have easily spent more time in. Theres loads of cafes and restaurants, a beach, a park and a skatepark. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Lorne to Apollo Bay<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lorne
The famous landmark of Lorne Pier at sunset in Lorne, Victoria, Australia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This was my favourite part of the road trip. The day before gave us a taste of the Great Ocean Road. We got to see some sights and take our time. However the drive from Lorne to Apollo Bay was for me, what the Great Ocean Road is all about. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most tourists seem to tear down the Great Ocean Road purely for the Twelve Apostles, but the Twelve Apostles is just a destination. The drive from Lorne to Apollo Bay was the journey which the Great Ocean Road represents. A winding road the hugs along the cliff edge on our right, as gorgeous blue ocean stretches out for forever to our left. Along the way we stopped off and took photos and took it all in. Dotted all along is also plenty of beaches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Koala
a koala lazing on a tree branch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Not far out of Lorne we stopped at Grey River Road, a pretty popular stop with the tourists where Koalas inhabit the gum trees. We went for a wander with a coffee but only spotted one Koala high up in the trees.<\/p>

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