Victoria - The Great Ocean Road

Portland   (3296 kms)   There is no real need to go into Portland, but by travelling an extra 8kms you will be able to see this attractive and scenic holiday centre situated on Portland Bay. It is the only deep sea port between Adelaide and Port Phillip, and is a major exporting centre. There are many historic buildings in town and it is possible to obtain pamphlets outlining walking tours to see many of them.

Port Fairy   (3368 kms)   Another very attractive town full of history and even worth a stay overnight to see it all. Port Fairy is situated at the mouth of the Moyne River and prospers from a combination of tourism and fishing.

Warrnambool   (3396 kms)   With a population of 28,000 Warrnambool is a major manufacturing centre. However it retains a relaxed, seaside atmosphere and is a popular family destination in Summer. Warrnambool is noted for its safe, sheltered beaches and its moderate climate. Between June and October each year it is possible to see southern right whales at Logans Beach.

Peterborough   (3447 kms)   A small fishing and holiday resort on the Curdies River Estuary. Between Warrnambool and Peterborough the road has been inland from the coast, but it returns to the coast here to begin a very scenic section of the Great Ocean Road.

Port Campbell   (3462 kms)   An attractive, small fishing village set on a natural gorge at the mouth of Campbell's Creek. There are a small number of motels and restaurants with a pleasant beach and jetty. Port Campbell is centrally situated between the attractions known as London Bridge (what's left after most of it fell down in 1990!) and The Twelve Apostles.

Apollo Bay   (3563 kms)   Soon after leaving the Twelve Apostles the Great Ocean Road meanders away from the coast, through hills and forest areas, until just before Apollo Bay, where it once more follows the coast. Apollo Bay is a typical seaside resort, with lots of holiday accommodation, and is one of the main towns on a partcularly beautiful stretch of coastline.

Lorne   (3607 kms)   A large, very fashionable seaside resort, which spreads over many kilometres of coastline of Loutit Bay and the estuary of the Erskine River. Lorne can be very busy, with booked out accommodation and traffic jams, during the "silly season" of summer.

Anglesea   (3637 kms)   Another very popular seaside resort, Anglesea is at the north-eastern end of the Great Ocean Road. It is a popular holiday destination because of its very good beach. Fishing is excellent, as are surfing, sailing and windsurfing.

Torquay   (3654 kms)   A rapidly growing seaside holiday resort, with a permanent population of approximately 6000, Torquay is known as the Surfing Capital of Australia. Surf carnivals are held throughout the summer with the Easter surfing championships being held at world famous Bell's Beach.

Geelong   (3680 kms)    This is our usual destination after our long drive from Perth. Geelong is the place where I grew up. It is Victoria's second city with a population of approximately 200,000 people and is 80km south-west of Melbourne. The city is situated on the shores of Corio Bay and in my opinion is very beautiful, and a great place to live. Being an industrialised centre it received an large influx of post-war European immigrants, including my family. There are many tourist attractions in Geelong, including Eastern Beach which is the largest enclosed swimming area in the world. The people of Geelong are very sport-minded, the city being the home of the AFL team, The Geelong Cats. Check my sports page for further details.

Melbourne  (3756 kms) This will probably be the destination for most people travelling to Victoria. Melbourne is the capital city of Victoria with a population of approximately 3.2 million people (a bit bigger than Geelong!) There is much to see and do here, and whether you are a fan of shopping, sightseeing, or nightlife, Melbourne has it all.
Another good link to find out all about Melbourne is The Sydney Morning Herald's Walkabout Travel Guide.