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GEELONG
Your
journey
in
the
Great
Ocean
Road
region
begins
at
the
historic
and
bustling
City
of
Geelong,
72
kilometres
south
west
of
Melbourne.
The
provincial
centre
is
one
of
the
state's
most
historically
significant,
with
National
Trust
classifications
on
more
than
200
of
its
buildings.
As
Victoria's
second
largest
city,
Geelong
is
renowned
for
its
artistic
heritage,
cultural
diversity,
internationally-renowned
wine
making
and
sporting
leadership.
In
and
around
Geelong
are
a
variety
of
historic
and
country
gardens
that
are
especially
spectacular
in
Spring.
The
Botanic
Gardens
are
popular
with
families,
as
are
the
recreation
areas
of
Rippleside
and
Eastern
Beach,
overlooking
Corio
Bay.
In
town,
the
old
Dennys
Lascelles
Woolstore,
built
in
stages
from
1872,
houses
the
National
Wool
Museum
which
explores
Australia's
wool
heritage.
On
the
sporting
front
there
are
more
than
22
golf
courses,
stadiums
for
basketball,
football
and
gymnastics,
surfing
and
soccer.
The
Australian
International
Airshow
and
Aerospace
Expo
at
Avalon
draws
thousands
of
people
from
around
the
country
and
the
world
every
two
years
to
see
the
latest
in
aerospace
technology.
GEELONG'S
HINTERLAND
Just
north
of
Geelong
lies
the
hinterland
where
you
can
enjoy
national
parks,
explore
bush
tracks,
and
visit
waterfalls,
picnic
areas
and
wildlife
sanctuary.
Serendip
Sanctuary
in
Lara
is
home
to
more
than
150
species
of
native
birds
and
a
host
of
native
animals.
Visitors
have
a
rare
opportunity
to
see
threatened
species,
thanks
to
the
sanctuary's
captive
breeding
program.
A
gentle
climb
to
the
highest
point
of
the
You
Yangs
Regional
Park,
Flinders
Peak,
is
rewarded
with
spectacular
views
in
all
directions.
Barunah
Plains,
west
of
Geelong,
was
once
the
largest
sheep
station
in
Victoria
and
still
operates
today.
Its
mansion,
outbuildings
and
refurbished
shearers'
quarters
are
there
to
be
enjoyed
by
visitors.
Along
the
Barwon
River,
from
Breakwater
to
Buckley's
Falls
are
wonderful
walks.
Legendary
convict
William
Buckley
escaped
from
the
convict
settlement
near
Sorrento
in
1803
and
managed
to
survive
by
living
off
the
land.
He
was
befriended
by
local
Koories
and
lived
with
them
for
32
years.
He
took
white
settlers
to
the
Buckley's
Falls
area
in
the
early
1800s
to
see
the
scenery.
BELLARINE
PENINSULA
To
the
east
of
Geelong
lies
the
Bellarine
Peninsula
which
is
famous
for
safe
swimming,
water
sports,
excellent
fishing
and
golf.
Towns
including
St
Leonards,
Ocean
Grove,
Port
Arlington,
Point
Lonsdale
and
Barwon
Heads
offer
a
wide
array
of
accommodation
and
activities.
The
romantic
holiday
resort
of
Queenscliff
is
steeped
in
history
with
grand
guest
houses,
stately
old
buildings
and
Victorian
homes.
Queenscliff
offers
a
charming
insight
into
life
in
the
1800s
and
showcases
the
art
of
gracious
living.
The
Queenscliff
Maritime
Centre
and
Museum
reveals
the
town's
relationship
with
the
sea
and
its
early
beginnings
as
a
port.
TORQUAY
AND
THE
SURF
COAST
Torquay
is
where
the
Great
Ocean
Road
begins
its
journey
westward.
Torquay
is
the
surfing
capital
of
Australia
and
some
of
the
finest
boardriders
in
the
world
flock
to
Bells
Beach
every
year
for
the
annual
Easter
Classic.
Surfworld
in
Torquay
is
Australia's
only
surfing
museum
and
Hall
of
Fame.
As
well
as
the
wild
surf,
there
are
popular
family
beaches
and
picnic
areas
on
the
Esplanade
and
Fishermens
Beach
on
Zeally
Bay.
From
Torquay
the
road
heads
gently
inland
but
the
ocean
is
never
far
away.
If
you
can't
see
it,
the
strong
smell
of
salt
in
the
air
serves
as
a
constant
reminder.
ANGLESEA
AND
AIREYS
INLET
You
rejoin
the
coast
at
Anglesea,
a
quiet
holiday
village.
Here
you
can
enjoy
great
fishing,
sailing,
swimming
and
walking.
Point
Roadknight,
a
popular
sheltered
beach,
is
a
family
favourite
and
the
walk,
at
low
tide,
to
Point
Adds
is
invigorating.
So
too
is
a
round
at
the
Anglesea
Golf
Course
-
that's
if
you
don't
mind
sharing
the
greens
with
grazing
kangaroos.
Split
Point
Lighthouse
provides
the
visitor
with
fantastic
views
and
a
breathtaking
cliff
walk
to
the
beach.
Undersea
volcanoes
created
the
cliffs
and
off-shore
stacks
of
Painkalac
Creek
which
runs
through
the
outskirts
of
Aireys
Inlet
and
is
surrounded
by
Angahook-Lorne
State
Park.
From
Aireys
Inlet,
Moggs
Creek
is
a
four
hour
walk
which
will
reward
people
with
two
360
degree
lookouts
and
picnic
areas.
Here
you'll
also
find
the
commemorative
arch
at
Eastern
View
which
marks
the
official
start
of
construction
of
the
Great
Ocean
Road.
LORNE
AND
APOLLO
BAY
As
you
come
around
a
bend
in
the
road
you
catch
a
glimpse
of
your
next
major
town,
Lorne.
There
it
sits
on
the
edge
of
Loutit
Bay,
proudly
backed
by
the
stunning,
heavily-forested
Otway
Ranges.
It's
little
wonder
that
Lorne
was
the
first
area
of
Natural
Beauty
and
Special
Significance'
declared
by
the
Victorian
Government.
Locals
claim
there
are
more
sunny
days
here
than
anywhere
on
the
west
coast,
and,
however
idle
the
boast,
someone
certainly
looks
down
on
Lorne
with
favour.
You'll
never
be
bored.
There's
so
much
to
do,
even
in
winter.
Swimming
in
the
warmer
months,
boutique
shopping,
visiting
local
galleries
and
dining
at
the
fine
restaurants
are
a
few
of
the
pleasures
of
this
seaside
town.
You
can
also
explore
the
magnificent
tree-fern
gullies
and
waterfalls
along
the
walking
tracks
of
the
Angahook-Lorne
State
Park
from
the
convenient
base
of
any
of
the
guesthouses,
cabins
and
bed
and
breakfasts
found
nestled
in
the
hills.
Beyond
the
charming
villages
of
Wye
River
and
Kennett
River
lies
Cape
Patton
look
out
which
is
one
of
the
greatest
viewing
points
on
Australia's
coast,
and
the
picturesque
Carisbrook
Falls.
Cast
a
line
from
the
beach,
breakwater
or
jetty
at
Apollo
Bay.
It's
a
fisherman's
paradise.
Whiting,
couta
and
trevally
are
just
waiting
to
be
caught.
Or,
if
you
prefer,
you
can
purchase
the
'catch
of
the
day'
at
the
fisherman's
co-operative
near
the
jetty.
COLAC
AND
CAMPERDOWN
Lake
Colac
is
Victoria's
largest
freshwater
lake,
and
its
tranquil
setting
features
large
parklands,
botanic
gardens,
and
delightful
antique,
arts
and
crafts
shops.
The
National
Trust
homestead,
Barwon
Park,
at
Winchelsea,
is
the
site
where
rabbits
were
first
introduced
to
Australia.
Camperdown's
main
street
is
shaded
by
magnificent
English
Elms.
The
town
is
famous
for
its
unique
lakes
and
craters
which
resulted
from
volcanic
action.
Just
off
the
Great
Ocean
Road,
the
hinterlands
are
filled
with
bush
tracks,
waterfalls,
picnic
areas
and
stone
walls
built
by
early
settlers
from
volcanic
rocks.
Cobden
is
home
to
one
of
Australia's
biggest
dairy
factories
and
Timboon
is
home
to
the
famous
Timboon
Farmhouse
Cheese
Factory.
It
is
also
the
location
of
a
100
year
old
railway
trestle
bridge
classified
by
the
National
Trust.
PRINCETOWN,
PORT
CAMPBELL,
PETERBOROUGH
At
Moonlight
Head
you
can
stand
on
the
top
of
what
is
reputedly
the
highest
seacliff
in
the
world.
On
the
beach
below,
old
rusted
anchors
symbolise
the
tragedy
which
befell
hundreds
of
ships
along
this
rugged
stretch
of
coastline.
The
Great
Ocean
Road
leaves
the
Otways
at
Princetown,
at
the
mouth
of
the
Gellibrand
River.
It
is
a
haunt
of
amateur
geologists,
naturalists
and
historians
with
its
stunning
scenery
and
wildlife
reserve.
Blowholes,
caves
and
other
bizarre
sea-carved
features
can
be
seen,
one
after
the
other.
The
famous
Twelve
Apostles,
a
group
of
rock
stack
formations,
are
a
traditional
landmark
symbol
from
Victoria.
See
fairy
penguins
at
dusk
from
the
Twelve
Apostles
and
mutton
birds
on
Muttonbird
Island.
Port
Campbell
and
Peterborough
are
small
seaside
settlements
along
the
way.
Port
Campbell
began
life
as
a
base
for
sealers
and
whalers
and
is
a
charming
fishing
village.
The
National
Parks
Information
Centre
in
Port
Campbell
has
a
comprehensive
range
of
maps
detailing
coastal
and
bush
walks.
Peterborough
is
home
to
London
Bridge,
the
Grotto,
the
Bay
of
Islands,
The
Bay
of
Martyrs,
and
Massacre
Bay.
Ample
boat
launching
and
camping
facilities
are
available.
WARRNAMBOOL
Your
next
main
town
is
Warrnambool,
situated
343
kilometres
south-west
of
Melbourne
via
the
Great
Ocean
Road.
At
this
point
the
character
of
the
coastline
changes.
It
used
to
be
a
sealing
and
whaling
port
and
the
evidence
still
exists
today.
At
the
Flagstaff
Hill
Maritime
Museum
you
can
relive
Warrnambool's
seafaring
past
and
that
of
the
entire
Shipwreck
Coast.
Set
up
as
a
re-created
pioneer
Australian
seaport,
this
museum
is
a
vital
key
to
understanding
this
coastline.
It
was
never
a
safe
harbour
and
the
stretch
between
Warrnambool
and
Port
Fairy
was
the
most
treacherous.
It
claimed
dozens
of
ships
and
lives.
One
of
those
lost
was
the
mysterious
Mahogany
Ship
which
supposedly
lies
under
the
dunes
at
Armstrong
Bay
between
Warmambool
and
Port
Fairy.
A
reward
of
$250,000
has
ended
but
the
search
for
the
ship
continues.
Warmambool
is
also
known
as
the
'Nursery
for
the
Southern
Right
Whale'.
Almost
200
years
after
its
waters
were
depleted
of
whales,
these
gentle
giants
are
returning
to
calve
in
the
shallow
waters
near
Warrnambool.
You
can
watch
them
from
a
special
viewing
platform
at
Logan's
Beach
during
the
winter
months.
PORT
FAIRY
On
the
way
to
Port
Fairy
you
pass
through
the
town
of
Koroit,
where
rich
black
volcanic
soils
support
potato
growing.
As
the
name
suggests,
the
town
was
settled
by
the
Irish
who
fled
their
country
during
the
Irish
potato
famine
in
the
1840s.
Today
Koroit
has
a
National
Trust
classification
for
its
authentic
streetscapes.
The
local
hotel
is
a
main
contributor,
although
it's
possibly
better
known
for
its
St
Patrick's
Day
tradition.
If
you
happen
to
be
in
the
vicinity
at
the
time,
you
can
sip
green
ale
with
the
locals.
Port
Fairy
hasn't
changed
much
since
its
whaling
and
sealing
days.
Charming
white-washed
cottages
line
the
wide
streets,
the
same
way
they
have
for
over
a
century.
Down
at
the
wharves
the
'catch
of
the
day'
may
be
purchased
fresh
from
the
boats
which
line
the
dock.
East
and
south
beaches
are
popular
swimming
spots,
and
historic
inns,
hostels
and
former
whalers'
cottages
are
now
fine
food
restaurants
and
places
to
stay.
The
National
Trust
has
classified
50
of
the
buildings
and
30
can
be
covered
during
a
leisurely
historical
walk.
Like
other
coastal
settlements,
Port
Fairy
was
fortified
against
the
Russians
in
the
1860s
and
three
cannons
memorialise
this
at
Battery
Point.
PORTLAND
AND
HEYWOOD
You
will
also
find
the
history
of
Portland
fascinating.
The
Henty
family
is
remembered
for
establishing
Victoria's
first
permanent
white
settlement
here
in
1834.
You
can
understand
more
from
the
gracious
homes,
museums,
old
inns
and
scenic
drives,
the
essence
of
Portland.
The
road
takes
you
around
Portland
Bay,
site
of
Victoria's
first
permanent
settlement,
to
the
stately
city
of
Portland,
the
only
deep
water
port
between
Melbourne
and
Adelaide.
Ships
from
over
50
different
nations
berth
here
and
massive
eight-tiered
sheep
vessels
depart
for
the
Middle
East,
carrying
livestock
from
the
hinterlands.
Portland
Aluminium
exports
about
320,000
tomes
of
aluminium
ingot
annually.
Sporting
pursuits
are
well
catered
for
with
surfing,
bowls,
tennis,
squash,
croquet,
golf,
diving
and
fishing
to
name
a
few.
Australia's
first
Saint
spent
her
childhood
in
Portland
and
Hamilton.
Stretching
from
Dunkeld
in
the
east
to
Nelson
in
the
west,
the
Mary
McKillop
drive
will
allow
pilgrims
from
around
the
world
to
retrace
her
journeys.
Around
Portland
and
the
Shire
of
Heywood
there
are
exceptional
walks
including
Cape
Nelson
State
Park,
Bridgewater
Bay,
the
Blowholes,
the
Petrified
Forest
and
Bridgewater
Lakes.
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