It has been a dream of mine to explore The Great Ocean Road in Victoria for a long time and it did not disappoint. It's absolutely magnificent - not just the spectacular iconic landmarks like The 12 Apostles but also the many beautiful secluded coves and bays off the beaten track.
There is also the gorgeous Great Otway National Park with it's many cascading waterfalls and shady ferns, not to mention old lighthouses and quaint, historical villages and the sight of wild koalas along the way.
The Great Ocean Road hugs the Victorian coastline for much of its 300 kilometres. The road was built by returned servicemen between 1919 and 1932 as a World War 1 memorial. It is in effect, the largest memorial in the world.
I spent 10 wonderful days exploring all the area had to offer, making some great friends along the way. This is definitely a part of the world I want to come back to over and over again.
The 12 Apostles
One of the most impressive and anticipated views of the Great Ocean Road is that of the towering rock formations of The 12 Apostles set against 70 metre cliffs. From sunrise to dusk the changing light enhances the beauty of this awe inspiring vista. I visited the sight several times to try to capture the different moods. A huge highlight for me was seeing the stacks from the air in a tiny helicopter.
One of the most impressive and anticipated views of the Great Ocean Road is that of the towering rock formations of The 12 Apostles set against 70 metre cliffs. From sunrise to dusk the changing light enhances the beauty of this awe inspiring vista. I visited the sight several times to try to capture the different moods. A huge highlight for me was seeing the stacks from the air in a tiny helicopter.
Helicopter flight over The Great Ocean Road
Here is the little helicopter that flew me over The Great Ocean Road. It was a truly amazing experience.
And here are some sublime views I saw from the air ...
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| The Twelve Apostles |
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| The Sentinal |
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| London Bridge |
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| Muttonbird Island |
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| Muttonbird Island |
Bay of Islands
The Sentinal
This is the highest rock stack along the coast, viewed from the helicopter...
The Gorge
Muttonbird Island
The Razorback
Gibson's Steps
Chinders Cove and surrounds
Bay of Martyrs
The Grotto
The Arch
Lighthouses along The Great Ocean Road
The shore along The Great Ocean Road was called the Shipwreck Coast because many ships came unstuck here in the past. It is not surprising therefore that there are several lighthouses at strategic places along the rocky shoreline, most built in the 1800's.
Today, modern technology like satellites, computers and radio has made lighthouses redundant and the "era of light" is over. However, lighthouses still evoke (for me at any rate) a special feeling, a reminder of a time when travel was often perilous and lives were saved by these beacons.
For thousands of immigrants travelling to the Australian goldfields in the 1850's, lighthouses were often the first sign of civilisation after a long voyage.
Cape Otway Lighthouse
Port Fairy Lighthouse
Cape Nelson Lighthouse (Portland)
Airey's Inlet Lighthouse
Port Fairy
Port Fairy is a quaint village full of old cottages dating back from the 1800's when the town was one of the busiest ports in Victoria. More than 50 buildings in the town are classified by The National Trust. I watched the rugby world cup semi finals in Victoria's oldest pub - The All Blacks thrashed the Aussies. Serves them right for beating the Springboks!
A beautifully renovated old cottage
This cottage had seen better days
Boats moored on the Moyne River
Another National Trust building
Portland and surrounds
An old farm cottage on the way to Portland
I love derelict, old buildings. They are often photogenic and it's evocative to think of their pasts and the "memories" they must have. Don't think this one would have had much of a mortgage though, even in its heyday.
Beach at Cape Bridgewater
Blowhole
Petrified forest
It is thought this was created after a forest of Moonah trees was smothered by sand. Water seeping through the sand created a crust on the tree trunks. When they decayed, the petrified forest remained.
Walk up highest sea cliffs in Victoria
I did this walk to see a seal colony. However, the view from 130 metres up was a bit distant and there weren't many seals; they were all out fishing. Still, a nice walk and the colour of the ocean was beautiful.
Cape Nelson's historic lighthouse
Great Otway National Park
Lush rainforest and cascading waterfalls abound in the Great Otway National Park. It is a very tranquil and beautiful place and I did lots of walking here. Much of the time, it rained, but the overcast skies were perfect for waterfall shots. A highlight for me was walking in the Melba Gully late at night and seeing thousands of glow worms.
Erskine Falls
Great Otway National Park
Hopetoun Falls
Maits Rest
Koalas along The Great Ocean Road
If you look carefully in the photo below, you can see a baby koala.
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