SEA
From Melbourne to the 12 Apostles: a glimpse of the Great Ocean Road
Starting in Melbourne and traveling along the ride west to Adelaide, one passes through one of the most beautiful and famous scenic roads in the world, the Great Ocean Road. A full 243 kilometers long, this stretch of asphalt offers breathtaking views and unique opportunities to see sights, parks and animals found nowhere else in the world.
The Great Ocean Road-that is, the B100-is located in the state of Victoria and winds along the ocean between Torquay and Warrnambool. A true surfer's paradise overlooking the Antarctic Ocean, the most famous stretch of this stupendous evening is the one that flanks the Twelve Apostoles, a series of limestone stacks off the coast of Port Campbell National Park, one of the Great Ocean Road's most important stops.
It is an almost obligatory stop for anyone visiting the southeastern coast of the Australian continent. The landscape changes between immense beaches, hills so perfect they look drawn, rainforests and endless plains. From Melbourne to the 12 Apostles it is possible to do it in one day, but there are many tourists who take two, three, even six days to visit all the remotest corners of this huge scenic highway.
The Great Ocean Road
Starting in Melbourne and traveling along the ride west to Adelaide, one passes through one of the most beautiful and famous scenic roads in the world, the Great Ocean Road. It is an almost obligatory stop for anyone visiting the southeastern coast of the Australian continent. The landscape changes between immense beaches, hills so perfect they seem drawn, rainforests and endless plains. From Melbourne to the 12 Apostles it is possible to do it in one day, but there are many tourists who take two, three, even six days to visit all the remotest corners of this huge scenic highway.
The first stages
A full 243 kilometers long, this stretch of asphalt offers breathtaking views and unique opportunities to see sights, parks and animals found nowhere else in the world. The Great Ocean Road-that is, the B100-is located in the state of Victoria and winds along the ocean between Torquay and Warrnambool. A true surfer's paradise overlooking the Antarctic Ocean, Torquay itself is a town custom-built for surfers, where even some of the benches are shaped like surfboards. Themed clubs and restaurants, this place enjoys majestic waves year-round.
The ocean takes the lead
Most of the road runs along the Ocean, which is why it is ideal to start in Melbourne and head west (since you drive on the left in Australia). Each bend, each pass, opens up in front some magnificent and exciting views especially if done in spring or summer.
The landscape is constantly changing
This is precisely one of the most interesting aspects of the Great Ocean Road. If on the left you can admire the Ocean and the cliffs, on the right you can see stupendous pristine rolling hills as far as the eye can see. All this dotted with B&Bs, guesthouses and hotels to stay overnight. Along the way there are also immense forests, as in the stretch from Apollo Bay to the 12 Apostles, where you can even see Koalas in their natural habitat.
A stop at Great Otway National Park
Great Otway National Park is a protected area located about two hours starting from Melbourne's city center. The temperate rainforest and coastal dunes form a unique habitat rich in biodiversity. There are more than 150 species of birds and about 500 species of plants in the area. The park is famous for its waterfalls, caves, beaches and eucalyptus forests, and offers wonderful camping spots to stop overnight and continue the journey the next day.
Taking it easy
We do not recommend, in any case, traveling from Melbourne to the 12 Apostles in a single day. It can be done, but much of the atmosphere of magic and immersion is lost. In fact, very atmospheric is to stop in the individual towns along the way, tour them, visit the beaches, and maybe take a swim. In fact, the beaches are huge and very picturesque, all very windy and perfect for surfing but also for wonderful picnics. Many of these places are also historic, telling the story of the nation and the road specifically.
Whales and dolphins
Some of the viewpoints, especially elevated ones, offer a perfect position to view, at certain times of the year and with much luck, the passage of whales and dolphins. A truly unique sight that would be enough to make, alone, this road as a must-see destination.
The 12 Apostles
The 12 Apostles are a series of limestone stacks off the coast of Port Campbell National Park. Until 2005 there were 9 of these stacks, but suddenly a monolith collapsed into the ocean waters in less than a minute leaving only eight intact, although there are many formations that can be seen out of the water.
The formation of the 12 Apostles
These stacks now date back 10 to 20 million years, and were formed by coastal erosion due to winds and the action of the Southern Ocean. In the beginning, according to experts, caves were formed, which then collapsed, giving rise to these protrusions that reach up to 50 meters in height.
The name 12 Apostles
This is entirely a publicity stunt, for tourism purposes, of the Australian continent. In fact, there were only nine stacks in total (there are now eight. Until 1922 they were called the Sow and Piglets, meaning "the sow and piglets."
To get to the 12 Apostles
Getting to the 12 Apostles takes about 4.5 hours by car, skirting the entire scenic Great Ocean Road, from Melbourne via Geelong. To then return to Melbourne the route is shorter, in fact taking only 3.5 hours, and it is possible to take the road further inland along Princes Highway, entering Australia's stunning plains. From Melbourne there are also many options for day tours, short trips and longer stays.
Australia's most visited
The 12 Apostles, along with the Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains, are the most visited and photographed natural attractions in all of Australia.
Something curious
The Great Ocean Road is a stretch of coastline heavily traveled by tourists, especially those arriving from Europe. Since driving in Australia is on the left, the entire length of the road has these signs, reminding drivers to drive their vehicles from the left side of the roadway in order to avoid potentially fatal accidents. In fact, the road itself is a series of blind hairpin bends, and it is quite easy to get confused if you are not used to driving on this side of the roadway.
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