Self-catering properties
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Allenvale
- Style
- Rustic timber retreat
- Setting
- Laid-back Lorne
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Anchors
- Style
- Eco-chic cabins
- Setting
- Pristine Port Campbell
Great Ocean Road Overview
Australia
- Coastline
- Ruggedly resplendent
- Coast Life
- Wavy roads and rolling waves
Victoria's Great Ocean Road, aka the B100, south-west of Melbourne, is one of the most famous drives in Australia, and for very good reason.
The landscape from Torquay to Port Fairy, about 310 kilometres away, is absolutely stunning: wild surf beaches backed by lush, rolling green hills, and rock formations that explode from the sea. Many of the towns along the coast have grown from sleepy fishing villages to major tourist ports of call, such as Apollo Bay, but they all still have their fair share of low-key charm. Forget rushing; it’s all about taking your time and enjoying the view.
Genuinely Great Ocean Road
Towards the end of the Great Ocean Road is Warrnambool, famous because it is home to a nursery for Southern Right whales. These gentle giants come close to shore between June and September to have their calves. The mothers and babies then stay in the area, entertaining human visitors with their tail and fin slapping and general play. East of the town is the Logans Beach Whale Viewing Platform, which has just had new binoculars installed (although you’d do well to bring your own if you have them). Local companies also run whale-watching cruises (see www.greatoceanroad.org for details of this and more roadside attractions).
Local knowledge
- Taxis
- You can hire a taxi in most of the major towns along the road, such as Lorne (+61 (0)409 892 304) and Apollo Bay (+61 (0)417 109 686), but it’ll cost you a fortune if you use them to travel between towns.
- Tipping culture
- It’s not expected, but add 10 per cent if you were particularly happy with the service in a restaurant.
- Siesta and fiesta
- It’s all about siesta-ing in this part of the world. You’ll find cafes open all day, shops in the towns open most days, and restaurants and bars in the evening but often only until about 11pm.
- Packing tips
- SPF 30+, a Ksubi hoodie and a Mini Mal (this is Surf Central, after all).
- Recommended reads
- Read the tales of the boats that never made it and what is left of them today in Australia’s Shipwreck Coast & Other Stories by Jack Loney. Wannabe waxheads can find inspiration in Murray Walding’s Surf-o-rama: Treasures of Australian Surfing.
- Cuisine
- Don’t expect haute cuisine in these parts. It’s more about casual dining and menus that utilise fresh seasonal produce. Many eateries in the area feature al fresco tables, which, on a sunny day, are the perfect place to wile away a few hours over a long lunch.
- Regional specialities
- Not surprisingly, locally caught seafood is in high demand, particularly the excellent crays. Slightly inland, you’ll find some appetising local cheesemakers and wineries.
- Currency
- Australian dollar (AU$).
- Time zone
- GMT +10.
- Dialling codes
- Country code for Australia: 61; Great Ocean Road: (0)3.
- Do go/don't go
- Spring and autumn are great times to venture here. Winters are very chilly and you’ll need to rug up against the wind when you visit spots like coastal rock stacks the Twelve Apostles. The summer holidays, particularly around Christmas, turn these sleepy towns into heaving hot spots.
Don't go home without...
Hanging ten at one of the surfing beaches in the area. Go Ride A Wave (www.gorideawave.com.au), located at Torquay, Anglesea and Lorne, has a variety of lessons available for adults and kids.
