We were really impatient to start the Great Ocean Road which we heard so much about for its beauty and special features. The Great Ocean Road goes from Torquay to Port Fairy, it’s approximately 250 km where the landscape are changing regularly. The construction of the road gave to many soldiers of the first world war a job and enabled their reinstatement. The construction started in 1919 and finished in 1932, the road was to be used to avoid having to supply coastal cities by boat.

Torquay the city of the surf

Our first real stop was in Torquay, the surf was invented here and it’s naturally the most famous brands were created here. You can also find here the oldest surf’s competition of the word, the Rip Curl Pro, at Bells beach.
For us, we had lunch in front of the beach with view on the brave swimmer and a walk at Jan Juc. We weren’t lucky with the weather, the australian sky only gave us beautiful shades of grey. To take the road it’s demoralizing knowing that in addition we are still supposed to be on the most beautiful road of Australia.

Lorne

Just before Lorne city you can find the Great Ocean Road memorial. Here you can learn more on the story of the road. The place is nice and if you have the chance, check the houses on the surrounding cliffs, ithey are not only huge but also are sometime special shapes.
Lorne city is a famous summer station, here you can hike in forest, enjoy the waterfalls or chill on the beach.
We started our visit of the city by Teddy’s lookout where we saw our first koala sleeping on a tree. The lookout therefore appeared much less interesting, it enables to admire the mouth of the George river.



We enjoyed going to Erskine falls after, a 30m high waterfall in the middle of the ferns forest. The place is beautiful and could be nicer if we weren’t there during the Labour day, that means long week end and lot of people everywhere.
Before the Twelves Apostles we left the coastline to drive inland and cross a beautiful eucalyptus forest. It’s the koala’s favourite playground, have fun locating them in trees.

The Twelves Apostles

The twelves Apostles it’s apotheoses part of the Great ocean road. They are limestone pillars, some are 45 m high. They were connected to the cliffs but 10 to 20 billions years of corrosion and erosion separated them from the coast. The wind and the waves still damages the columns which are loosing approximately 2 cm every year. That’s the reason why there are only 8 apostles now and no longer 12. Maybe there were never 12 of them! The last landslide was in 2005, one of the column of 50 m felt.





To make the most of this beautiful spot, we woke up at 6h am. We wanted to enjoy the sunrise and its warm colors. The place is particularly well laid out, a bit like anywhere in Australia. We didn’t have a problem to find a platform to take pictures and videos. It’s surprising to discover how colors can change, passing from the dark to the yellow of the cliffs and pink to blue for the sky.





After that we followed the coast to discover always more stranges shapes of rocks formations. On the way, have a break at Loch and Gorge, an arch in the sea and a small beautiful beach. A really nice place, a pity that it is too cold for us at this moment because we would have love to take a swim there.










Good to know :

Apollo bay : Fisherman’s co-op. Here the fish is fresh and the price reasonable, so you do not deprive yourself for a good fish and chips. It’s also here where you can ask for the keys for the hot shower.

Allansford cheese word: In lack of cheese? Stop in cheese factory wich have a small museum about its history and where you can try for free the gouda.