Exploring The Great Ocean Road, Australia – G’day Mate!
1. History
2. Memorial Arch
3. Otway Ranges
4. Twelve Apostles
5. Loch Ard Gorge
We are on a day tour to the Great Ocean Road, southwest of Melbourne in Australia. Our group is small—just 15 people — plus Simon, our tour guide, a stout Australian with beautifully tattooed arms, and a former truck driver! He mentions this right from the start so that we will have confidence in his driving on the winding coastal road later today. He has driven tens of thousands of kilometres across Australia and knows his vehicle inside out!
Simon soon shows his excellent skills – not only as a driver – but also as a competent tour guide! As we leave Melbourne, he begins to reveal his family background and profound knowledge of Australian history. He is an entertaining storyteller and captures our attention with ease, totally spellbinding the group.
Our driver shares fascinating facts about the Great Ocean Road | Photo: Travel In Culture
As we head towards the southern coast of Australia, Simon shares the fascinating history of the Great Ocean Road, weaving in some personal family stories along the way.
1. What is the History of the Great Ocean Road, Australia
The construction of the Great Ocean Road, Australia, began in 1917 as a project to employ returned WWI servicemen, funded through public donations to the Great Ocean Road Trust. Stretching over 250 kilometres (155 miles), it became the longest memorial in the world, dedicated to the Australian soldiers who gave their lives for their country. Building the road along the steep cliffs was a perilous task, and tragically, some workers lost their lives during the construction.
Our tour guide explains that, from 1922 to 1936, travellers had to pay a toll to use the road! The toll helped maintain the Great Ocean Road as it was still under construction. It wasn’t until 1936, when the road was fully completed, that the toll was abolished.
Loch Ard. The Great Ocean Road offers magnificent views of the seascape | Photo: Travel In Culture
Eventually, all the isolated coastal villages and settlements in this part of Southern Australia were connected by a new, magnificent road named the Great Ocean Road! The completed road brought a much more vibrant life to the villages and towns along the coastline.
We are driving through the port city of Geelong and the charming coastal town of Anglesea.
Already on the bus, Simon explains what to do if we spot a kangaroo to ensure everyone has a chance to see it. A loud shout of “Kangaroo” will do! This is heard several times during our ride towards the Great Ocean Road, as agile kangaroos hop between the trees and bushes.
Before reaching the ocean, we make a brief morning stop at a peaceful spot overlooking a green field, which unexpectedly surprises us with a mob of kangaroos hopping into view.
Photo: Travel In Culture
2. What is the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch
The next stop is the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch at Eastern View, just outside the seaside town of Lorne. Each year, 1.2 million vehicles pass under this archway to admire the scenic ocean drive!
This is the third arch on the site, commemorating the Victorians who served in the First World War (1914–18). The original 1939 arch was replaced in 1973 during road widening, and a third arch was erected in 1983 after the Ash Wednesday Bushfires destroyed the second. Despite these changes, the original sign remains atop the current arch.
Photo: Travel In Culture
Once again, Simon weaves his family’s story into the history of the Great Ocean Road. Coming from a family of soldiers with ties to the road’s construction, he holds great respect for the men who helped build this iconic coastal route. Proud of his heritage, Simon shares a photo of his son in army uniform, continuing the family tradition.
As our bus winds around one of the cliffs, we can’t help but agree — the scenery is truly spectacular. With infectious enthusiasm, Simon even guides us to spot a small herd of fur seals lounging on the slippery rocks along the shore.
Dedicated to sharing Australian culture, Simon plays local music as we travel, and every now and then, he enthusiastically calls out the rhetorical question, ‘Where are we?’ — teaching us to pronounce Australia as ‘Straya’.
Photo: Travel In Culture
It is the perfect trip to encounter wildlife. After lunch in the charming town of Apollo Bay, Simon takes us to a hidden gem, teeming with colourful birds and koalas perched in the treetops. The koalas sit calmly on the branches, chewing eucalyptus leaves and paying no mind to their onlookers. Simon explains that this is an ideal koala habitat, with the abundance of eucalyptus trees — their preferred food source. As we move through this incredible habitat, we also get close to vibrant parrots and cockatoos. Simon even teaches us how to tell male and female parrots apart by their subtle colour differences!
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3. Otway Ranges
Driving along the edge of the Otway Ranges, we explore the coastline and stop in the temperate rainforest at Anne’s Cascades in Melba Gully State Park, one of the last remaining rainforests in Victoria. Here, we take a short hike along Madsen’s Track, where an old tramway line from the timber-cutting days is hidden among the ferns. Trickling streams and ancient moss-covered trees stand side by side in the lush forest—this is truly stunning, primeval rainforest scenery!
European settlers began the timber industry in the Otway forest in the 1880s. By the turn of the century, narrow gauge railways were built for transporting logs, and sawmills began operating in the region.
Otway Ranges temperate rainforest | Photo: Travel In Culture
Going back over a million years in time, the Otway rainforest once lay within the Antarctic Circle, when it was home to now-extinct dinosaurs. Over the millennia, the region evolved, and millions of years later, the indigenous Gadubanud people became the first humans to set foot on the Otway coastline. Their descendants continue to be represented in the area today, maintaining a deep connection to the land and its fascinating history.
Our Australian tour guide makes a real effort to teach us some local vocabulary — not just the typical ‘G’day mate,’ but also the fun animal nicknames. Before long, we have mastered the colloquial terms for a koala, kangaroo, and emu. A koala is a tree fluff, a kangaroo is a hopping chicken, and an emu is a speedy chicken!
In addition to the iconic Australian animals we get to see, the region is home to many other fascinating creatures, such as wallabies, echidnas, platypuses, southern brown bandicoots, flying foxes, glow worms, and much more…
Today, only seven of the iconic Twelve Apostles remain | Photo: Travel In Culture
4. Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road in Australia
Finally, we arrive at the stunning Twelve Apostles, limestone stacks shaped by erosion and carved out by the relentless ocean over millions of years. Rising up to 45 m (150 ft) from the coast, they are an awe-inspiring sight. Early 19th-century explorers referred to them as ‘Sow and Piglets,’ a name that remained unofficial until the early 1900s. Another term once used to describe the stacks was ‘The Pinnacles.’ The official name, inspired by the monumental formations, draws from the biblical Twelve Apostles.
We follow the boardwalks to various lookout points, catching glimpses of the stacks from different angles, with the changing light offering new perspectives. July is the perfect month to visit, as the windswept views provide striking shots of these iconic formations.
Each of the Twelve Apostles is an amazing limestone stack | Photo: Travel In Culture
Though the Twelve Apostles are often referred to as a collection of twelve limestone stacks, there were never actually twelve. Only nine were originally formed, composed of layers of shells and other sea life. However, the 8th and 9th stacks collapsed in 2005 and 2009, leaving just seven limestone wonders standing today. Still, other limestone stacks can be found along the coast towards Port Campbell, where they too face the forces of erosion and slowly crumble into the ocean.
In addition to the iconic Australian animals we have seen, the region is home to many other fascinating creatures, including wallabies, echidnas, platypuses, southern brown bandicoots, flying foxes, glow worms, and much more…
5. Loch Ard Gorge
We continue along the Shipwreck Coast, named for the countless ships that were tragically dashed against the steep cliffs of the southern coastline.
In the 1800s, many ships navigated past Cape Otway on the sea route between Europe and New South Wales. This was a perilous stretch of coast, and countless vessels were wrecked along the shores of what is now the Port Campbell National Park — giving the region its name, the Shipwreck Coast. It is estimated that at least 700 ships were lost here, with many still lying undiscovered beneath the waves.
Limestone cliffs at Loch Ard Gorge | Photo: Travel In Culture
One of the famous lost ships was the clipper Loch Ard, which met a tragic end in 1878 while en route from England to Melbourne, caught in fierce weather conditions. Amidst thick fog, strong winds, and powerful currents, the bow struck a reef and was violently shattered by the crashing waves against the limestone cliffs. In memory of the ship, the site was named Loch Ard Gorge. Of the 54 passengers and crew members aboard, only two survived the storm-tossed sea, which swept everyone overboard. A young Irish woman, Eva Carmichael, and the cabin boy, Tom Pearce, were lucky enough to be carried ashore by the current and tide after hours of drifting.
As we walk along the cliffs at Loch Ard Gorge, the tragic event suddenly feels incredibly real, as if it had just happened. The views over the cliffs and the roaring ocean are simply breathtaking.
Loch Ard Gorge on the Shipwreck Coast | Photo: Travel In Culture
Throughout the day, Simon has seamlessly linked historical facts and geographical sites to his own family story, passionately sharing it with our group. Because of this, we almost feel personally connected to the many locations we pass along the road. The Great Ocean Road stands as a remarkable achievement, crafted by brave Australian men on untouched cliffs, and it is easy to feel the weight of their dedication as we travel this incredible route.
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‘Exploring The Great Ocean Road Australia’
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Exploring The Great Ocean Road Australia – G’day Mate:
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