As
we drove along the Great
Ocean Road, I constantly found myself being awestruck by all the indescribable
natural beauty around me.
Sure,
we came to tick the 12 Apostles
off our bucket list, but in the end, we discovered so much more here. Standing
along this rugged coastline, with the howling winds whirling around and the light
sea spray in your face, is an invigorating feeling. I was amazed at every turn
we took!
Don’t
do this trip in one day! You’ll barely scratch the surface if you do. I’d
recommend at least two days, three preferred, to see as much as you can on one
of Australia’s
most famous road trips. In fact, we’re preparing to visit for a second time
once my in-laws arrive for the holidays.
Here
are 8 more dramatic landscapes you’ll find along the GOR:
Bay of Martyrs
Starting at the western end of the GOR trail, just on the outskirts of the
small town of Peterborough, this is a wonderful place to see the beautiful Bay
of Martyrs. This area has several walking paths that run along the
cliff-hugging coast and feature several lookout platforms. The Bay of Martyrs
is not as popular as the 12 Apostles, but I’ve heard this area is just as
beautiful at sunset when the rocks are backlit by the sun.
2
km west of Peterborough
As
you can see from the photos, we were plenty impressed with the Bay of Martyrs.
The Grotto
Our next stop was at The Grotto, basically a sinkhole that was created in the
limestone cliffs. I took dozens of photos here trying to frame the peaceful Grotto
in contrast with the wild ocean behind it.
9 km
west of Port Campbell
The London Bridge
Well,
I guess technically this rock formation is now called the London Arch because
of the relentless waves. Originally called London Bridge, this natural archway
and tunnel collapsed in 1990 and became a bridge without a middle section. Mother
Nature also left two tourists stranded here that had to be rescued by helicopter.
There are several wooden platforms here to look out over the rugged landscapes.
7 km west of Port Campbell
The Arch
This natural arch gets pummeled by the surrounding rough seas as the waves
crash around and continue to erode the rock. I also took dozen of photos here,
trying to capture that perfect moment when the waves crashed into The Arch.
6
km west of Port Campbell
Loch Ard Gorge
Another
popular tourist spot right before you land at the 12 Apostles is the Loch Ard
Gorge. The gorge is named after the ship Loch Ard, which ran aground in
May 1878 on nearby Muttonbird Island at the end of a three-month journey from
England to Melbourne.
Only two passengers survived. Here, you can stand on top of the cliff and be
amazed by the sheer size of the nearby cliffs, or wander down to beach and sit
awhile watching the crashing waves.
In
addition, the shipwreck site is a good dive spot where you can still see
general cargo such as lead ingots, lead shot, tiles, bottles and pottery.
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| Creating shadows along the Great Ocean Road. |
The Razorback
The
next three landscapes are all located at the Loch Ard Gorge site. Simply park
your car and give yourself an hour or two to explore these amazing landscapes.
This
rock stack is called the Razorback because of its sharp edges and bumps along
the top, caused by wind-spray and erosion. Notice how the waves also cause deep
smooth grooves along its base. You can even see vertical cracks along the
Razorback’s side, so it’s only a matter of time before more rocks collapse.
Island Archway
We
followed the signs out to the Island Archway, which collapsed in 2009 and
crumbled into the sea. Mother Nature continues to erode Victoria’s coastline,
so it will be interesting to see how the coast changes over the years.
Thunder Cave
We
could see Thunder Cave, but we couldn’t really hear it (apparently as loud as thunder) during our visit. The
cave is about 25 metres deep and a local dive site that can be accessed only by
charter boat.
Have
you visited the Great Ocean Road? Or would you like to do so?
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This Great Ocean Road trip was my first time driving on the "wrong side" of the road.
Definitely takes some adjustment! |
