Great Ocean Road
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in the west. This road offers one of the very best road journeys on the planet. Although not
that long, there is a lot to see and do along the way. The road basically follows the coastline of southwestern Victoria
and sweeps past great surfing beaches, lush eucalypt rainforests, and impressive coastal cliffs. It runs through a wide
variety of landscapes.The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s major tourist destinations and attractions. It is a two-lane road with speed limits between 50 miles/h and 62 miles/h, which means that it can be driven in only a few hours. However, it is strongly recommended to allow several days to explore this breathtaking corner of Australia. It is also suggested to drive from east to west, as you will be driving on the left side of the road, this way you will always be on the oceanside of the road. The Great Ocean Road can roughly be divided into two sections. The section from Torquay to Cape Otway in Great Otway National Park is known as the ‘Surf Coast’, because of its fantastic surf and wonderful beaches, while the next section, between Cape Otway and Warrnambool, is called the ‘Shipwreck Coast’. The Shipwreck Coast’s name is obvious when seeing the number of rock stack and pillars rising up out of the Southern Ocean.
History
Construction started in 1919. The Great Ocean Road was built by about 3,000 ex-soldiers as a memorial to their comrades who lost their lives in the war. The road was almost entirely built by hand, aided by explosives and some small equipment. Mostly though, the soldiers used wheel barrows, shovels, and pick axes. The worker’s lives were tough as the work was hard and dangerous. One event definitely brightened up their days though. In 1924, the steamboat, Casino, got stuck on a reef and had to get rid of its cargo. That cargo consisted of no less than 500 beer barrels and 120 cases of liquor. Of course, the soldiers got their hands on the cargo and a two-week drinking fest was the result.
The road was completed in 1932 and after its official opening, it also became known as the largest war memorial in the world, which it still is today. As early as 1962, the Great Ocean Road was regarded as one of the most scenic roads on the planet.
It was included in the Australian National Heritage List in 2011.
Things to See and Do
A sign crossing the road in the town of Torquay marks the official start of the Great Ocean Road. Incidentally, Torquay is known as one of the major surfing town in Australia. Bells Beach is world-famous among surfers and hosts an annual surfing competition. People who would like to swim, surf, and sunbathe can do so there and on other sandy beaches in the area.
Great Otway National Park is another highlight along the road. It consists of lush green rainforests, waterfalls, and rivers. This is a great place to spot some of Australia’s most iconic animals. The national park and the town of Kennett River, for example, are renowned for their Koala populations.
Similar Landmarks
Australia is full of amazing roads. Other great road trips are the loop around Tasmania, along the coast from Sydney to Melbourne, through the Outback and the Red Center, across the vast Nullarbor Plain.Do you see any omissions, errors or want to add information to this page? Sign up.
Author: bramreusen. Last updated: May 01, 2015
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