Great Ocean Road

Great Ocean Road
*Surfcoast Highway*
Great Ocean Road ; Surfcoast Highway
	The Great Ocean Road from Teddys Lookout in Lorne; Formerly
General information
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Length	243 km (151 mi)
Opened	1932
Location(s)
via	Torquay, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Lorne, Apollo Bay,Lavers Hill, Port Campbell, Peterborough

The Great Ocean Road is a 273 km stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Warrnambool.^[1] The road was constructed as a Memorial to those killed in the First World War.^[2] It is one of Australia's great scenic coastline drives.

Location

The Great Ocean Road starts at Torquay and travels westward to the outskirts of Warrnambool. The road forms about 90% of B100 (previously designated as State Route 100), the remaining 10% known as the Surfcoast Highway which joins Geelong to Torquay.

History

The Great Ocean Road was built by 3000 returned servicemen (or "Diggers") as a war memorial for fellow servicemen who had been killed in the First World War.

The idea for the road was suggested as far back as 1864. Surveying began in 1918 and construction took place between 1919 and 1932.

Parts of the Great Ocean Road run around steep coastal mountains. These were the trickiest and the final sections to be built.

In 1922 the section from Eastern View to Lorne was completed.

In 1932 the section from Lorne to Apollo Bay was finished, thus completing the entire road.

Coastal sections

Much of the road hugs the coast tightly, offering outstanding views of Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean.

Between Anglesea and Apollo Bay is a particularly scenic stretch of road which passes through many towns where mountains meet the sea. The main beach in Lorne offers great views of Louttit Bay nestled in a natural amphitheatre of hills, and Teddy's Lookout is not far from the main street.

The section near Port Campbell provides access by foot or helicopter to some of the most scenic coastline in the world, because of its striking and dramatic natural limestone and sandstone rock formations. These formations have been created by erosion from waves and rain and include Loch Ard Gorge, the Grotto, London Bridge (renamed to London Arch after the 'bridge' partly collapsed), and most famously the Twelve Apostles.

Mountain and forest sections

Around Lorne there are many forest walks which visit impressive waterfalls. Erskine Falls is a 15 minute drive inland from Lorne. Kennett River is a popular spot for koala spotting.

Between Apollo Bay and Gellibrand Lower, the road passes through the Great Otway National Park, which includes some of the last surviving temperate rainforests in the south of Australia. A walk at Mait's Rest offers spectacular views of tree-ferns and Myrtle Beeches.

After Lavers Hill is Melba Gully State Park which includes a 40-minute walk through tree ferns, Myrtle Beeches, Australian Blackwoods, passing a giant Otway Messmate and beautiful river cascades. If you return at night with a spotlight you will see thousands of Arachnocampa glowworms.

Speed limits

The road's speed limit varies from 80 kmh (50 mph) to 100 kmh (62 mph) out of urban areas. However, its sharp curves make it difficult to maintain those speeds. It is a two lane roadway (one lane in each direction). Urban area speed limits vary from 50 kmh (31 mph) to 70 kmh (43 mph). There are speed cameras at intervals along the road.

Gallery of sights and tourist landmarks

Great Ocean Road
Twelve Apostles

Twelve Apostles
Elephant Rock
The Blowhole
The Grotto

The Grotto
London Arch (formerly known as London Bridge before collapse of land section)
Rough seas batter rock formations along the Great Ocean Road
A secluded bay along the Great Ocean Road
Rock arch and rough seas along the Great Ocean Road
Blowhole
Thunder cave

References

External links

Official Great Ocean Road website
Great Ocean Road Accommodation & Travel Information
Great Ocean Road Travel Guide Information on all the towns located on the Great Ocean Road.

[1] The Official Great Ocean Road website

[2] The LonelyPlanet online guide to the road, accessed 19 May 2008

[1]

[2]

v t e Road infrastructure in Victoria
Freeways	Calder Freeway Goulburn Valley Freeway Hume Freeway Princes Freeway (Geelong Ring Road) Western Freeway
Highways	Bass Highway Bellarine Highway Borung Highway Burwood Highway Calder Highway Calder Alternative Highway Glenelg Highway Goulburn Valley Highway Hamilton Highway Henty Highway Hopkins Highway Hyland Highway Kiewa Valley Highway Loddon Valley Highway Mallee Highway Maroondah Highway McIvor Highway Melba Highway Midland Highway Monaro Highway Murray Valley Highway Nepean Highway Northern Highway Omeo Highway Princes Highway Pyrenees Highway South Gippsland Highway Strzelecki Highway Sturt Highway Sunraysia Highway Surf Coast Highway Warburton Highway Western Highway Western Port Highway Wimmera Highway
Bypass routes	Old Hume Highway Old Princes Highway
Tourist routes	Great Alpine Road Great Ocean Road Murray Valley Highway Phillip Island Road

v t e Visitor attractions on the Great Ocean Road
Attractions	Bay of Islands Coastal Park Bells Beach Cape Bridgewater Gibson Steps Great Otway National Park The Grotto Loch Ard Gorge London Bridge Point Addis Marine National Park Port Campbell National Park The Twelve Apostles Twelve Apostles Marine National Park
Towns	Aireys Inlet Anglesea Apollo Bay Barwon Heads Bellbrae Camperdown Colac Eastern View Fairhaven Geelong Jan Juc Lavers Hill Lorne Moggs Creek Peterborough Port Campbell Port Fairy Princetown Separation Creek Torquay Warrnambool Wye River