The coastal park covers a 32km stretch of land along the water with some of the most incredible landscapes in the region. Here we take a look at some of the must visit spots. One of the worlds great scenic drives, the great ocean road is a major coastal highway in the south west coast region of victoria, australia understand. The town centre caters well for tourists, featuring a number of cafes, a pub with a bistro, and tourist information. Whale season on the great ocean road go west tours.
Here are the top 6 holiday regrets and how to avoid them. Not only is the great ocean road much quieter and the crowds at the famous locations much smaller, but the ocean swells are also much more powerful and spectacular. At nearby logans beach you can watch southern right whales calve in a nursery. The first rule of the gorc is dont talk about the gorc. Apart from the trip distance, refer directions from torquay to warrnambool via great ocean rd for road driving directions. At tower hill wildlife reserve, near warrnambool, you can take a 60minute tour with an aboriginal guide who will explain the history of this unique area as you spot emus, kangaroos, koalas and lizards. Great ocean road might not have very many public transportation choices so consider renting a car to explore more. Time your trip to the great ocean road region between june and october for whale watching at logans beach.
The 12 apostles are victorias most famous rock formations, which proudly stand along the southern coastline of australia. Both port fairy and warrnambool are geared for tourism with numerous cafes, restaurants and boutique shops. Guests on our great ocean road day tours also have a real chance of. Top 6 summer regrets and how to avoid them visit warrnambool. Whether its an entertaining and informative boat tour or a relaxing sunset dinner cruise, these are the best great ocean road cruises around. The whale trail at a glance, download your own pdf map to quickly. On saturday i had the pleasure of taking part in the third annual gorc the great ocean road classic. Whale watching in winter with itineraries visit warrnambool. This city of 33,000 people is the main commercial and services centre for the western end of the great ocean road region. Blue whale motor inn and apartments, accommodation, great. Journey to the great ocean roads maritime capital of warrnambool, where the whale trail. Each year from june to october south west victoria welcomes migrating whales.
You can also download our whale trail flyer to take with you. Its an attractive city, with heritage buildings, beaches, gardens and treelined streets, but the major housing and commercial development at the city fringes has rendered these areas much like city suburbs anywhere in australia. Take a tour of this surprising destination on the southwest coast. Warrnambool diving and firearms is locally owned and operated offering a full range of sales and service of diving, firearms and archery. Its skeleton is now on display in the melbourne museum.
Blue whale motor inn and apartments is a familyrun accommodation business committed to offering local, interstate and international travellers and tourists great service in a friendly environment. The great ocean road continues west to portland and nelson, which is on the south australia border. A new cliffedge lookout at split point in aireys inlet provides a spectacular setting to view passing whales. The 10 best things to do in great ocean road 2020 with. The great ocean road is home to an abundance of native wildlife. Blue whale washes up on beach lorne great ocean road 1992. There are lookouts on higher sections of the road from anglesea onwards. With so much to offer, the risk of holiday regret is real. The great ocean road starts at torquay and travels 243 kilometres westward to finish at allansford near warrnambool, the largest city along the road. Southern right whales have made warrnambool their fave local spot to bring up their babies and. Their range of motel accommodation includes two bedroom selfcontained serviced apartments suitable.
The road is two lanes one in each direction, and is covered by a speed limit changing between 50 kilometres per hour and 100 kilometres per hour. The core of the great ocean road, highway b100 from torquay to allansford near warrnambool, runs for 243 kilometres. Great ocean road victoria one of australias most spectacular and well renowned road journeys is the famous great ocean road along the bottom south west of victoria. When visiting melbourne, or victoria in general, no trip would be complete without including the 12 apostles and the great ocean road to your itinerary. I am warrnambool official map by great ocean road regional.
Whale watching, nature and wildlife, great ocean road. The drive along the great ocean road provides many whale spotting vantage points. If you want to journey outside of the area, ride aboard a train from winchelsea station, sherwood park station, or warrnambool station. The 10 best restaurants in great ocean road updated april. Melbourne is the closest city and a good base to use during your stay. Native wildlife such as koalas and colorful birds live in a raw habitat of lush foliage and dramatic cliffs. The great ocean road region hugs the contours of victorias rugged south west coast and offers one of australias greatest and most spectacular coastal drives with a glimpse of the famous 12 apostles. Starting at apollo bay and finishing at gibson steps, the 8 day 100km walk takes in the great otway and port campbell national parks and the iconic twelve apostles. Set sail on your destinations toprated boat tours and cruises. Short doco about the dead blue whale that washed up at cathederal rock on the great ocean road in 1992. The arch, the great ocean road, australia london arch bridge our final tourist stop was at london arch formerly london bridge. The distance between torquay to warrnambool via great ocean rd is 203 km by road. Jun 17, 2010 take a tour of this surprising destination on the southwest coast. Winter whale watching in apollo bay great ocean road.
Each walk day is different and unique with natures drama unfolding at every step. Multiple whale species make their way to the shores of the great ocean road each. Between june october every year, southern right whales set out on. The great ocean walk, great ocean road and region, victoria. It shows off sheer limestone cliffs, dairy farms and heathland, and gets. Once a whaling and sealing station, warrnambool is booming these days as a regional commercial and whalewatching centre. The city has a thriving arts and events scene, excellent restaurants serving. While the weather is certainly much cooler during melbournes winter months, this period is still a fantastic time to visit the great ocean road. The great ocean road offers much of what many tourists want to see in australia. Great ocean road accommodation book direct and save. This is the wild southwest, and the road here will wind you alongside the unspoilt and untamed shoreline of the belfast coast, past the dazzling greens of the rolling hills and nature reserves and in view of the. Female southern right whales return to the nursery for weeks to calve and allow the young to feed, gathering strength for their journey back to the subantarctic waters. Warrnambool sits in the southwest corner of victoria amid green dairy farm country and overlooks the deep blue of the southern ocean. This unique road was constructed by soldiers who had returned from the great war.
July 16 warrnambool, vic, australia check out the winter whale trail itinerary for all the best locations to view the whales as well as some extra activities along the way. Whale season on the great ocean road while the weather is certainly much cooler during melbournes winter months, this period is still a fantastic time to visit the great ocean road. The great ocean road b100 is one of australias most famous touring routes. The great ocean road skirts the victorian coastline from geelong, west to nelson on the south australian border and is without question one of the great scenic drives anywhere in australia. The great ocean road route between geelong and warrnambool is 270km long, with a recommended travelling time no stops of 5. Winter whale trail in warrnambool visit warrnambool. Great ocean road touring map 2018 by great ocean road. In victoria it often said that warrnambool is the best place to whale watch, although whales can be often spotted right along the great ocean road. Once a whaling and sealing station, warrnambool is booming these days as a regional commercial and whale watching centre. The drive from warrnambool may only be 28 kilometres along the great ocean road, but dont let that short distance fool you. The 10 best hotels in great ocean road 2020 with prices. Other states of australia do not have their coastal roads as well situated as this one with either the views, the access, or the length and variety of environments.
The great ocean road is an australian national heritage listed 243kilometre 151 mi stretch of road along the southeastern coast of australia between the victorian cities of torquay and allansford. The 10 best great ocean road hotels where to stay in great. The great ocean road starts at geelong by an excellent multi lane freeway from melbourne, then winds through the surf coast towns of torquay, anglesea, whys river and apollo bay going past the world famous surfing beach of bells beach, where the. Female southern right whales return to the nursery for weeks to calve and allow the young to feed, gathering strength for.
Time your trip to the great ocean road region between june and october for whale watching at logans beach, victorias southern right whale nursery. Soak up the great ocean roads warrnambool winter whale trail and. It takes travellers past worldclass surfing breaks, through pockets of rainforest and calm seaside towns, and under koalafilled tree canopies. Join our great ocean road whales facebook page to keep up to date on the move. They offer free tastings and sales of the awardwinning warrnambool heritage cheddar. Book your tickets online for the great ocean road, torquay. Start your journey in geelong and the bellarine peninsula and discover beautiful beaches, great eateries, a fascinating heritage and an enormous range of. The 10 best hotels in great ocean road for 2020 from. Whale watching at wye river the great ocean road tripadvisor. Between warrnambool and peterborough on the great ocean road lie staggering views of the bay of islands. From torquay to lorne to apollo bay and beyond to warrnambool and port fairy there are just so many delightful spots that you will be hard pressed to decide where to go, where to stay and what to do first. Discover the whale watching cruises that let you spot the magic of whales as.
In my opinion, the london arch is the second most famous rock formation on the great ocean road after the 12 apostles. Winter along the great ocean road isnt all grey skies and rainy days. Warrnambool events great ocean road region victoria 365. We share photos of logans beach and whale sightings as they are posted on social media. The 5 best places to spot a whale in victoria mums grapevine. Cheese world is the cellar door for the warrnambool cheese and butter wcb factory.
In reality, it lived up to the many pictures i had seen of it over the years. Lavers hill is situated on the great ocean road between port campbell and apollo bay, on the inland section of the road, northwest of cape otway, and at the junction of the roads to cobden and colac. Warrnambool travel victoria, australia lonely planet. Warrnambool, destinations, great ocean road, victoria. Often travelling in pods, they may often be seen loafing or travelling, but more excitingly, tail slapping or blowing. Check out our list of mustdo water activities in great ocean road. It shows off sheer limestone cliffs, dairy farms and heathland, and gets you up close and personal with the crashing. One of the most scenic parts of the road is the stretch between port campbell and peterborough. Great ocean road whales is feeling thankful at warrnambool visitor information centre. The great ocean road was built as a work project for veterans returning from world war i and was completed in 1932. Shuttle services are available for pick up and drop off between your parked car or accommodation, and some key points of interest along the great ocean road. Between june and october, stand sentinel on windswept dunes at warrnambools logan beach to spy southern right whales and their calves. Great ocean road travel victoria, australia lonely planet. From lovingly restored buildings, white beaches and tasty food to luxury accommodation and the famous racetrack, historic.
Whale watching along the great ocean road melbourne. Allansford cheese world, situated on the great ocean road just 15 minutes from warrnambool, is operated by the warrnambool cheese and butter factory, the oldest dairy processor in australia. Other states of australia do not have their coastal roads as well situated as this one with either the views, the access, or. The great ocean road is very well known as australias most majestic, coastal drive. Marvel at warrnambool s captivating position, nestled into the rising contour of victorias southwest coast amid green dairying country and overlooking the deep blue of the southern ocean. Keep track of sightings here and get some whale watching tips. You can also find the distance from torquay to warrnambool via great ocean rd using other travel options like bus, subway, tram, train and rail. It is also a tribute to the determination of soldiers who returned from world war i and used picks and shovels to build the road to commemorate their comrades who died in the war. Built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932 and dedicated to soldiers killed during world war i, the road is the worlds largest war memorial.
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