Touring the Great Ocean Road is a great idea for a family. It is located in Victoria, Australia. It is a great road linking many towns that were originally hard to travel between. Along the coast you will find fishing, golfing, diving and surfing. There are competitions and lessons for them all. Bring a camera, because it is a very scenic route that you will want to remember. There are beach towns, vineyards, lookouts, bays and parks.
There was not always a road to connect the coastal towns of Victoria. They were isolated and were a long, hard journey. During the 1880’s the idea started to make a road connecting them to the nearest major town. Construction began in 1918. It was conceived as a way of employing soldiers returning home after the First World War. It was a monument to them as well. A memorial was built in Eastern View for those that were unable to return.
The Twelve Apostles is a landmark that is a must see. They are a set of twelve rock formations that rise out of the ocean off the shore. The formations reach as tall as 45 meters. They can be viewed from the Port Campbell National Park. They are believed to have been formed over two million years from cliffs made of limestone.
There are two well known wine regions, each at one end of the road. One named after the first family that settled in Victoria. That is the Henty wine region. Here you can find seafood, lamb, and beef along with great wine. Then there is the Geelong wine region. This region has tea rooms, cafes and restaurants to enjoy along with the wine tasting.
As it is called the Great Ocean Road you would expect to find many beaches, and you will. Some notable beaches are Bells Beach where the Rip Curl is held each year. This is a professional surfing competition. Both 13th Beach and Ocean Grove are also known for surfing. Point Roadknight has kite surfing and sailing. For family fun try Eastern Beach that has a playground, swimming pool and park. During holidays there are usually lifeguards on duty. They place red and yellow flags in the safe areas and this is where you want to swim.
For those interested in wildlife you will find plenty along your drive. Stop at Melba Gully to see the glow worms. In reality they are fly larva but are said to look like many points of light like the sky. You will of course have to go at night and bring a flashlight. At Phillip Island Nature Park you can see penguins. In the Geelong region you can see over 350 species of birds. You can whale watch at Logans Beach.
Fauna Australia is a place to see the wildlife that come out at night. You can feed them as well. On a walking trip you may see a tree that has a girth of 88 feet and is 300 years old. At Kennett River you will see koalas. Logans Beach has a whale nursery and at Lake Elizabeth there is a tour to see platypus.
Many events are held during the year so there is always something to see and do. Surfing competitions, fishing, sailing, air shows, festivals and fairs are just some of what is offered. A vehicle can be rented or you can take a tour bus for touring the Great Ocean Road. Wherever you may wish to stop along the road there is a bus that can take you there without you having to do the driving. Relax and enjoy some of the beautiful Great Ocean Road Port Campbell accommodation on offer while touring the stunning region.
