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Australia Travel Guide
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The Great Ocean Road, the mythical road of the region of Victoria should be part of your trip to Australia.
A sequence of picture postcard landscapes reveals itself to you as you travel along the Great Ocean Road, one of the most mythical roads of Australia. The site of the 12 apostles is absolutely spellbinding, Aireys Inlet and its lighthouse offer a breathtaking view of the ocean, and Erskine Falls in Lorne with its natural pool nearby are among the many other places that you will discover during your tour.
Spectacular views and much more. The Great Ocean Road is also known for its tropical forests and waterfalls, a lush nature that you would not expect to find so near the coast. I recommended hikers to try the Great Ocean Walk, a 104-kilometre hiking trail along the Great Ocean Road.
Finally, as it can sometimes be difficult to come close to kangaroos in Australia because they are shy, or because they live in the bush and your tour does not take you there, or simply because they are never around when you are, head to Anglesea where a mob of kangaroos have invaded a golf course. They roam freely and are far from shy - you can even feed them. The must? Go there at sunset for an unforgettable moment.
A journey along the Great Ocean Road will also be the occasion to spot the koalas that spend most of their time clinging to the branches of the eucalyptus trees that they are so fond of. The period between June and October is when whales come to the Australian coasts, more particularly around Warrnambool. During this period, many tour operators offer excursions to observe them.
The first or the last town (depending on the direction of your tour in Australia) that you will have the opportunity to discover on the Great Ocean Road is Torquay. Torquay is one of the most natural and well-preserved places on the coast. Its steep cliffs are absolutely magnificent. The city is also renowned for hosting numerous surfing competitions, the most important of which is the Rip Curl Pro, held every year around the month of April. Bells Beach, Anglesea or Johanna Beach are also havens for surfers. Be careful all the same - the waves are huge and bathing can be dangerous if unguarded.
Many independent tourists with cars or campers travel along The Great Ocean Road. For this reason, almost all the cities provide toilet facilities, public showers and even barbecues - a comfortable touch that is nice to find after a long, hard day of hiking.
Hiring a car seems to me to be the best way to get the most out of the Great Ocean Road as it will allow you to stop whenever you please. Three to five days are sufficient to travel along this route.
