The Great Ocean Road

by

Travelling the Great Ocean Road is an absolute must if you’re in Victoria.

The Great Ocean Road is 243 kilometres (151 mi) stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia. It begins in Torquay and finishes at Allansford near Warrnambool. Built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932, it winds through varying terrain along the coast providing breathtaking views.

One of its most prominent landmarks is the Twelve Apostles, a collection of limestone stacks formed by erosion. The site was once known as the Sow and Pigs, but eventually became known as the Twelve Apostles despite only ever having nine stacks. Today, due to the same erosion that created them, there are eight stacks. Further erosion from the waves will create new limestone stacks from existing headlands in the future.

This is one of my favourite places in Victoria, perhaps the world. It’s beautiful and wild and dangerous. Part of this coastline is called the Shipwreck Coast. Explorer Matthew Flinders said, “I have seldom seen a more fearful section of coastline.” There are approximately 638 known shipwrecks along Victoria’s coast and you can find some commemorations along the way.

Theo and I intended to go for the day, but we spent the night in Port Campbell and continued exploring the following day. You can see a lot in one day, but if you can extend your visit, it’s worth it.Lighthouse.

The Great Ocean Road.

War memorial.

A kangaroo on the Great Ocean Road.

Street sign.

Twelve Apostles.

Twelve Apostles.

Twelve Apostles.

Coastline.

Coastline.

Limestone rock.

Beach.

Beach.

Seagulls flying on the beach.

Limestone arch on the coast.

Rugged coastline.

Victorian coastline.

Victorian coastline.

Limestone arch on the coast.

Limestone arch on the coast.

Coastline.

Limestone stacks on the ocean.

Limestone stacks on the ocean.

Beach.

Beach.

Limestone arch on the beach.

Limestone arch on the beach.

Limestone coastline.

Steps leading down to the beach.

Steps leading down to the beach.

Seagulls on the beach.

The Shipwreck Coast.

The Shipwreck Coast.

The beach in the evening.

The beach in the evening.

A beach.

A seagull walking along the shore.

The beach.

Rock formations along the shore.

The coastline.

The coastline in the evening.

A rugged coastline.

The Twelve Apostles.

The Twelve Apostles.

The Twelve Apostles.

The rocky coastline.

The Twelve Apostles.

The coastline.

A limestone arch on the water.

Limestone headlands.

Limestone headlands and the horizon.

Coastline.

The rugged coastline.

The rugged coastline.

A rugged coastline.

The Shipwreck Coast.

The Shipwreck Coast.

The Twelve Apostles.

The Twelve Apostles.

The Twelve Apostles.

The Twelve Apostles.

The Twelve Apostles.

 

226 thoughts on “The Great Ocean Road”

  1. your photos are absolutly breathtaking. Makes me want to rent a car and make the trip down the coast. We will be in Gold Coast. is it worth it to rent a car for the experience?

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    • Thanks! I don’t know anything about car rentals here. We went in my boyfriend’s car. But it is a beautiful drive and makes for a terrific weekend getaway. I highly recommend it.

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    • Thank you for reblogging my entry. The Twelve Apostles really is amazing. I hope more people get to see it.

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    • Thank you. Most of the time, you can hear the waves crashing, but it is quiet and serene in the Grotto.

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    • Aw,you’re welcome. I know the feeling. There are so many beautiful places in the world I want to see. Thanks for your comments!

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  9. The Gold Coast isn’t anywhere near Great Ocean Road…You’d have to fly from Brisbane to Melbourne and drive from there….stunning photos! One of my favorite drives ever!

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  10. Traveling the Great Ocean Road is an absolute must if you’re in Victoria. This 151-mile road runs along Australia’s south-eastern coast and provides breathtaking views and access to beautiful landmarks such as the Twelve Apostles.Really its wonderful.

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  11. Beautiful photos of extremely breathtaking scenery!!! Just last week, I watched a travel documentary about Australia which featured the Great Ocean Road. I hope one day to see and photograph it for myself!!!

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  15. I love your photos! We did it by bicycle a few years ago – stunning stretch of road! Views that just keep on coming!
    Nate and Cait – I am sure you could rent a car for the drive, however you would most likely want to fly from the Gold Coast as the distance between the two places is considerable. Well worth it if you have the time.

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  16. Wow, amazing photos and such spectacular views. I lived in Sydney for 2 years almost 15 years ago, but we never had the chance to do this drive, most unfortunately. Guess it’ll be for the next time I stop over down under! Thanks for sharing your photos – they’re incredible and it’s good to travel through the pictures! Congrats on being freshly pressed 🙂

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    • Thank you very much! It’s exciting. I understand never having gone while you lived in Australia. There’s so much to see and do in this beautiful country. I hope you get the chance in the future.

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    • Oh yes; there are definitely some lovely drives in the U.S. One of my favorites is in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Great blog!

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  26. Noice!!! I’d love to visit Australia and ride that road on my motorcycle one day. Bucket list just got bigger it looks like!

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    • My partner also expressed wanting to go back and do it on motorcycle. Pretty thrilling, I think. I hope you get to do it. Thanks for your comments.

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  31. Beautiful!! I’ve never really had Australia as one of my “must see” countries, but looking at your photos are definitely changing that and making me want to jump on the next plane there!

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    • Visit if you have the opportunity. It’s a beautiful country and Melbourne is a wonderful city. Thanks for your comments!

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    • I took a few sunset photos, but my humble camera didn’t handle them well. After a long day of driving and stopping along all the sites, we decided to check into a hotel for the night rather than drive back home the same day. We intended to get up really early and catch the sunrise over the rocks, but we were exhausted and slept right in.

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  34. Wow, gorgeous photos!! A dream of mine has been to visit Australia. Haven’t been yet, but when I do (and I WILL), I am SO doing the Great Ocean Road! Thank you for taking us along for the ride! Cheers 🙂

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  35. i was just in melbourne to visit my daughter and made it only as far as bell’s beach. your pictures are so absolutely beathtaking and really capture what i saw. next trip the whole great ocean road for us. thank you for these.

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    • Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy your time in Melbourne and I look forward to seeing your photos of the Great Ocean Road.

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  37. Congrats on being Freshly Pressed – awesome pictures! When my son was 8 years old, he saw a picture of the Twelve Apostles and vowed he would see them in person one day. When he was 23 years old, he did just that and said it was everything he dreamed it would be!

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    • Tell your son I concur! I was really looking forward to seeing the rocks and it’s definitely been a highlight of my adventure down under. Thanks for your comments!

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  38. Surreal, amazing landscape. The Apostles are incredible. I lived in Northern California for a while, and your pictures remind me of that rugged northern coast. These pictures are breathtaking, I can only imagine what it’s like to actually stand there and take them. I LOVED this…thanks for sharing.

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  41. I really miss Australia and the people. I lived in Sydney (April 1967 – June 1968). I was there on business and came back on business in 1986. I am trying to put together a motorcycle trip to ride the parameter of Australia. You picture have inspired me even more to make it happen. Great pictures. Thanks very much for the post. I will have to give your blog a longer look. Thanks again, Ivan the Texas Rambler.

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  49. Reblogged this on sarahslifeadventures and commented:
    adding this drive to my bucket list. one day, i’m going to travel to australia.

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    • Funny you should mention that! I don’t recall ever seeing the rocks in any movie. Now you’ve got me thinking.

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  51. OK, how close is this to New South Wales? These formations are the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. I had to do a double take. I have friends in NSW so I’m hoping that would get me close enough for a day trip!

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  52. That is just beautiful. If I ever make it down to Australia, I’m definately making it to the Great Ocean Road and the 12 Apostles. Great pictures.

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  57. What a great reminder of this fabulous place I had the chance in experiencing (yes experiencing!) as the harsh weather (at the time) & the grounding sound of the waves smashing against the rocks made the whole area covered with foam with an impression of snow fall , a true breathtaking scenery.
    Great places to eat are also to be found along the Great Ocean road area as Victoria has a great sense of good and well cooked items ….
    Loved it , loved it and oh … did I say that I loved it?
    Thanks for sharing

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    • It’s been a highlight of my trip. And you’re so right about the food! Thanks for your comments, Daniel.

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    • It’s autumn here in Australia and it was pretty cold along the coast here when the sun went down, but the days were just gorgeous. Thanks for your comments!

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  64. These pictures are amazing! I’ve always been wanting to go see the 12 aphostles, congrats on a very well deserved fresh pressed page 🙂

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  65. These pictures are quite simply stunning, the twelve apostles almost look like computer generated optical illusions in some of the pictures. You have captured the images in an efffortless perfection.

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    • Thank you. My favorites are the photos of London Bridge. I don’t know at what time those were taken and I love the light on them.

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  68. Cosette,
    Thank you for sharing these incredible vistas! Also I am impressed that you have taken the care to respond to all your commenters!

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    • I feel that if people take the time to comment, I should acknowledge that. Comments are a fun part of blogging!

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  74. Reblogged this on Barbara Edwards Soprano and commented:
    It was the vibrancy of the colours in this blog that caught my eye. The fact that I’d also like to visit takes 2nd place. I have never been to Australia, but with our current economic climate, I know plenty who are now living and working there. I really hope they also get to enjoy some of the sights. For the moment though, some pics will have to do.

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    • Thanks for the reblog, Barbara. Australia is a beautiful country and I think there are a lot of opportunities here. There are a lot of Americans living and working here despite the high cost of living in cities such as Melbourne and Sydney.

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  75. The photos of the Twelve Apostles are my favourites! I love how the sky and the ocean melts into each other and how the rocks acts like stable and calm spots amidst the rolling waves. The place looks amazing.

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  76. Wow! The landscape is amazing! The Twelve Apostles, the Grotto, the Bay of Martyrs–your pictures are my first glimpse of these spots. I’ve added them to the list of places that I have to see.

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    • Thanks! Nature at work indeed. These rocks and the landscape are always changing as the result of the ocean always crashing into them.

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  79. Lovely! I did The Great Ocean Road a few years ago. I <3 Australia, wish I lived there! Beautiful place (if you don't count all the poisonous creatures, but hey who doesn't need a little more excitement in their lives) and friendly people!

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    • Haha! I live in fear for my life. Kidding! (Sort of.) I’ve (half) jokingly written about Australia’s deadly creatures at , , and . Thanks for your comments!

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  80. Gorgeous pictures – one of my most favourite places of everywhere I have ever been. We went back to Great Ocean Road a second time, we loved it so much. We spent a year in Australia and I’d give just about anything to live there again.

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    • I think the Shipwreck Coast is an excellent addition to anybody’s bucket list. Thanks for your comments!

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    • The steps down to the Grotto and back aren’t nearly as bad as they look. Now, the steps back up from Erskine Falls, those are challenging. And thanks! 🙂

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  89. Reblogged this on MyDestiny2011 and commented:
    Wish I was there ~amazing & breathtaking paradise!!~Thank you

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    • The Twelve Apostles gets tourists, but there are other less popular rock formations that don’t attract as many people. In many instances, it was just my partner and I and it was lovely to stroll along the beach together. Thanks for your comments!

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  92. Reblogged this on Hodgepodge 4 the Soul and commented:
    An ocean lover’s PARADISE…true eye candy 🙂

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  95. Absolutely wonderful pictures! I just love the combination of the sky, the sea and the beautiful beach!! I think I should plan another holiday now~ days counting down!!

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  96. I had a road trip involving Great Ocean Road during the Chistmas-New Year’s Eve holiday. But my photos are not as great as yours! You took wonderful pictures, my friend! Awesome! 🙂

    Subhan Zein

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  97. Great Ocean Road was one of the first things I did when I moved to Australia. It was amazing. We spent too long pausing at each site, though, so we only made it as far as Loch Ard Gorge before we had to head back to Melbourne. One of these days I’ll go the whole way. I like your pictures much better than mine, especially of the Twelve Apostles. I was there at sunset, which was nice, but not so good for getting good pictures.

    Reply

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