Travel guide Great Ocean Road

If you are considering taking a break where you can achieve the perfect mix of excitement and relaxation, look no further than Victoria’s Ocean Grove. This seaside town situated along the Bellarine Peninsula offers visitors thrills, surfing, and plenty of natural beauty. Things to do: The proximity of Ocean Grove to both Melbourne and Geelong, combined with its seaside location, means that you will find something to keep you busy, whatever you choose to do. Whether you want to leap out of a moving aircraft, scuba, surf or sip wine, you can do it nearby. Here are a few interesting ideas to get you started: Adventure Park: Geelong has an exciting theme park that will thrill children and adults alike (hey – there’s even an adult jumping castle!). Themed water slides, trad... Read more

Seahaven B&B is self-contained, with a private entrance, and located at Fairhaven, with fantastic views of the Split Point Lighthouse, the ocean and the Painkalac estuary. Kangaroos can be seen grazing from your own private deck. We are close to a variety of beaches, backed by tall volcanic cliffs with tidal rocks pools along the foreshore. The patrolled Fairhaven surf beach is only a 5 minute walk. Our B&B has a large king-size bed and the bedroom has views of the lighthouse. The living area has a TV/DVD, air-conditioning, heating and a range of books and board games.The kitchenette has a microwave and hotplate where bacon, eggs, tomatos and fresh baked bread is left for you too cook and enjoy. The bathroom has a small spa for your relaxation. You may choose to cook dinner on ... Read more

Surf Serenade is a well-appointed, self-catering luxury apartment, with a very romantic ambience. It is a private and intimate place to indulge and enjoy and is located on a primary sand dune, with the Ocean Grove water's edge is just 100 metres from the rear of the property. Surf Serenade is near one of the safest surf beaches in Victoria and is patrolled by surf life savers from early December until the Easter weekend each year, for your added safety. Surf Serenade is also a part of the Great Ocean Road Tourist Route on the west coast, just 104 kilometres from the centre of Melbourne. Come, relax, enjoy and experience approximately 10 squares of private  and luxurious indulgence. Experience the heated outdoor five person spa and enjoy our unpolluted starry, starry, skies w... Read more

Approaching Marlin House,  you immediately feel a relaxed welcome as you drive through the immaculate garden to the spacious, curved roof carport.  Entry through the front door uncovers a bright and airy air-conditioned living area with sweeping cathedral ceilings, a cosy log fire and a complimentary bottle of wine, a fully equipped kitchen with full-size oven and fridge, as well as a microwave and dishwasher, and a timber floored dining area. There are two spacious bedrooms, one queen and one 4-bunk, a bathroom with an oversized shower and bath, and the laundry adjoins this area. Walking up the stairs, you can catch a glimpse of the pristine surf beach and surrounding headlands. Finally you arrive at the spacious master loft style queen bedroom overlooking the living area, with... Read more

Surf Serenade is your winter (and summer!) paradise, providing a very warm and private retreat for adults only. Imagine... your own intimate world just for two, serenaded by the calming surf on our sandy shores, and the cooing of doves in the ti tree, Meander over the sand dune for direct beach access to our pristine surf beach. This 15 kms of uninterrupted sandy beach is ideal for soaking up the fresh salty air while enjoying invigorating walks. Or don a wetsuit and make the most of the waves on Ocean Grove, one of Victoria's safest surf beaches. Return and immerse yourself in the warmth of your own steaming spa pool on your secluded balcony, just magic under a starlit sky! Nestle in cosy bath robes, with chocolate melting on your tongue, bathed in soft mood lighting with the ... Read more

  Apollo Bay lies on Victoria’s iconic Great Ocean Road and is less than three hours by car from Melbourne. Featuring stunning coastal scenery and nestled into rolling green hills, Apollo Bay is a treasure trove of things to see and do and features a wide range of accommodation options.  The Great Ocean Road stretches for 300km along the coast and is dotted with villages like Apollo Bay, which welcome the influx of visitors over the summer months and offer a range of experiences to enjoy, as well as glorious views around every bend of the road.   Featuring a variety of swimming and surf beaches, as well as a boat harbour, and with the marina home to a large fishing fleet, there is no shortage of attractions. Many visitors like to relax on the beaches, while... Read more

Expect more than ‘great ocean’ on this iconic touring route. Rightly regarded as one of the most spectacular coastal roads in the world, the Great Ocean Road loops like a rollercoaster along the southern sea-cliffs of Victoria. Carved out of the mountains, the road winds its way around some 300km of rugged, exposed coastline from Geelong to Warrnambool, past cliffs, roaring seas, tranquil coves and some of Australia’s best surf beaches. Along the way it links the deliciously quaint fishing villages and seaside holiday towns of Torquay, Lorne, Anglesea, Airey’s Inlet and Apollo Bay before heading inland through the Otway Ranges. Emerging from the forest, the road then reveals a vastly different landscape as it runs behind sandstone cliffs, which face the onslaught of... Read more

Whenever you drive along The Great Ocean Road, you could be forgiven for having illusions of grandeur. You might picture yourself as James Bond zipping along in a shiny Aston Martin. Or perhaps you'll wonder if you're actually part of a luxury car advertisement. The scenery is so incredible; your mind will transport you into a world of extravagance - even if you are puttering along in a broken-down heap. The stretch of road between Torquay and Allansford in southwest Victoria was predominantly built by World War I returned soldiers. Commencing work with picks and shovels back in 1919, the men laboured hard, and few would have lived to see the whole expanse of road complete. Various sections opened over decades, with the first 75km between Anglesea and Apollo Bay completed in 1932. More t... Read more

This fascinating town bears many reminders of its colonial past, including many white washed cottages, grand buildings, boarding houses and inns.  Yet this is also a thoroughly modern port, home to one of the largest fishing fleets in Victoria and a great stopover for the recreational sailor. Port Fairy is located on the eastern headland of Portland Bay and has a sheltered harbour, which features an excellent wharf walk.  It lies 290 kilometres west of Melbourne on the spectacular Great Ocean Road.  This has been a maritime township since its establishment, with a whaling station set up on the island at the mouth of the Moyne River in 1835. Today it is a port that caters well to tourists, lovers of folk music (with a festival held in March of each year) and of course, sail... Read more

The Twelve Apostles region features some of the world’s most spectacular coastal scenery. The 3 coastal townships of Port Campbell, Princetown and Peterborough are ideal bases for a thorough exploration of the Western Otway Ranges rainforest, Great Ocean Road and Shipwreck coast. On Foot Take advantage of a comprehensive system of boardwalks, paths and viewing platforms to witness the spectacle of the Southern Ocean’s “work in progress”. The combined Port Campbell National Park and Bay of Islands Coastal Park covers 65km of pristine coastline. Take time to explore more than the big 3 (Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge). The depth of diversity in this park is a major reason for its international acclaim. “The Great Ocean walk” expec... Read more