A winding journey - The Great Ocean Road
 Victoria
has a lot to offer local, interstate and even international
travellers. Australia is known for its all-encompassing coastline
and the Great Ocean Road offers some of the most majestic
views of these serene environments.
Construction on the road begun in 1918 and was finished during
the Great Depression. It was a public works project to give
returned soldiers and unemployed people work.
The Great Ocean Road officially starts in Geelong and winds
its way for about 250 kilometres to finish up not far from
the South Australian border, 12 kilometres east of Warnambool.
Getting there is fairly simple - it's about an hours drive
west of Melbourne along the Princes Highway. Click here for hotel rates in Geelong.
There are a number of ways to see the Great Ocean Road, with
the motor car the most popular choice. My personal favourite
is on the back of a motorbike, the fresh sea-breeze cool respite
on a sunny day. Coach trips are also a favourite for those
who don't like driving around twisty, winding roads.
Driving from one end of the Great Ocean Road to the other
is a bombardment of the senses. You'll get to see the amazing
surf beaches and the Southern Ocean stretch all the way to
the horizon. There's tranquil bays and inlets, rolling hills,
rocky outcrops, gargantuan cliff faces and even lush rainforest.
The Great Ocean Road also offers the Twelve Apostles and other
scenery, the likes of which is unique to the region.
One of the more popular drives involves taking the Great
Ocean Road from Geelong to Warnambool, then heading back to
Geelong through the Otways, much of which consists of dense
rainforests. If the Great Ocean Road is a little overcrowded,
taking the back way is good idea. Just follow the Princes
Highway instead of the Great Ocean Road.
 There
are numerous towns dotted along the pristine coastline, with
Lorne and Apollo Bay the most popular. Lorne isn't too far
from Geelong, about 45 minutes - quicker if you're up for
a 'spirited' drive.
The serene town is often recognised for its Mediterranean
feel, with plenty of trendy beach-side cafes, restaurants
and the accompanying exotic cars and motorcycles lined up
along the main strips. It's a sight to behold on a sunny weekend,
to be sure.
Lorne is also home to a number of speciality shops and boutiques,
always full of people wanting to take something unique home
to remind them of the scenic environs. Lorne's beach is also
well protected from the massive Bells Beach-like swells that
are so prevalent in the region, ensuring everyone can have
a safe swim.
Further down the Great Ocean Road, you'll come across Apollo
Bay. Hovering above the grassy rolling hills, it's here that
you'll often see hang-gliders and para-gliders making the
most of the afternoon breeze, and down below fishing boats
coming in from their daily trawls, even surfers dropping in
on the occasional wave.
The sense of relaxation in Apollo Bay is striking - you just
have to have a three-hour coffee and newspaper session - it's
the done thing. This can be made all the more inspiring thanks
to the amazing vistas. The cresent-shaped bay to the south,
the green hills and rainforests of the Otways to the north
- it's very idyllic.
Whether you just want to surf, see the sights or do something
more adventurous, the Great Ocean Road is as good a place
as any. The mood is always cheery and the views - sublime.
With its fairly close proximity to Melbourne, the Great Ocean
Road is a great way to spend a day, or better yet, a weekend.
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