Great Ocean Road

Great Ocean Road Surfcoast Highway
Formerly State Route 100
General information
Typ
Length	243 km (151 mi)
Opened	1932
Location(s)
via	Torquay, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Lorne, Apollo Bay,Lavers Hill, Port Campbell, Peterborough

The Great Ocean Road is a 273km stretch of road along the South Eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of Geelong and Warrnambool. The road was constructed as a Memorial to those killed in the First World War. It is one of Australia's great scenic coastline drives.

Standort

The Great Ocean Road starts at Torquay and travels westward to the outskirts of Warrnambool. The road forms about 90% of B100 (previously designated as State Route 100), the remaining 10% known as the Surfcoast Highway which joins Geelong to Torquay. Great Ocean Road, or GOR used to be very popular with the Australian motorcycle riders, but since government has lowered the speed limits to 80km/h, due to their main aim to raise revenue via speeding tickets, motorcycel riders number at the GOR have plummetted.

History

The Great Ocean Road was built by 3000 returned servicemen (or "Diggers") as a war memorial for fellow servicemen who had been killed in the First World War.

The idea for the road had been suggested as far back as 1864. Surveying started in 1918 and actual construction took place between 1919 and 1932.

Parts of the Great Ocean Road run around steep coastal mountains. These were the trickiest and the final sections to be built.

In 1922 the section from Eastern View to Lorne was completed.

In 1932 the section from Lorne to Apollo Bay was finished, thus completing the entire road.

Coastal Sections

Much of the road hugs tightly to the coast, offering outstanding views of Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean.

Between Anglesea and Apollo Bay is a particularly scenic stretch of road which passes through many towns where mountains meet the sea. The main beach in Lorne offers great views of Louttit Bay nestled in a natural ampitheatre of hills, and Teddy's Lookout is not far from the main street.

The section near Port Campbell provides access by foot or helicopter to some of the most scenic coastline in the world, because of its striking and dramatic natural limestone and sandstone rock formations. These formations have been created by erosion from waves and rain and include Loch Ard Gorge, the Grotto, London Bridge (renamed to London Arch in recent years after the 'bridge' partially collapsed), and most famously The Twelve Apostles.

Mountain and Forest Sections

Around Lorne are many forest walks which visit impressive waterfalls. Erskine Falls is a 15 minute drive inland from Lorne.

Kennett River is a popular spot for koala spotting.

Between Apollo Bay and Gellibrand Lower, the road passes through the Great Otway National Park, which includes some of the last surviving temperate rain forests in the south of Australia. A walk at Mait's rest, located directly on the Great Ocean Road, offers the opportunity to view spectacular tree fern and Myrtle Beech trees.

After Lavers Hill is Melba Gully which includes a 40 minute walk through tree ferns, Myrtle Beech, Australian Blackwood, a giant Otway Messmate, and beautiful river cascades. If you return at night with a search light you will see millions of glowworms known as Arachnocampa.

Speed limits

The road's speed limit varies from 80km/h (50mph) to 100km/h (62mph) out of urban areas. However, its sharp curves make it impossible to reach those speeds in most places. It is a two lane roadway (one lane in each direction).

Urban area speed limits vary from 50km/h (31mph) to 70km/h (43mph)

There are speed cameras at intervals along the road.

Gallery of sights and tourist landmarks

• 
  Great Ocean Road
• 
  View from Teddy's Lookout, Lorne
• Twelve Apostles
  Twelve Apostles
• 
  Elephant Rock
• 
  The Blowhole
• The Grotto
  The Grotto
• 
  London Arch (formerly known as London Bridge before collapse of land section)
• 
  Rough seas batter rock formations along the Great Ocean Road.
• 
  A secluded bay along the Great Ocean Road.
• 
  Rock arch and rough seas along the Great Ocean Road.

See also

• Howard Hitchcock
• Highways in Victoria
• Loch Ard Gorge
• The Grotto
• London Arch
• The Twelve Apostles, Victoria
• Great Ocean Walk

External links

• Official Great Ocean Road website
• Great Ocean Road Accommodation & Travel Information
• Great Ocean Road Tourism Guide Victoria Australia Tourism information for the Great Ocean Road tourism region including accommodation, attractions, activities, restaurants, cellar doors, events diary and more.
• Great Ocean Road Travel Guide Places to stay and things to do.