The Great Ocean Road

If you’ve ever wanted to hire a Porsche Boxster convertible and drive like a movie star along ocean clifftops, this is the place to do it. The Great Ocean Road is truly one of the world's most scenic journeys, with a stunning coastline that winds its way through south-west Victoria.

Highlights include the 12 Apostles – giant pillars of limestone that forces of nature have gradually eroded to form caves, arches and rock islands as high as 45 metres along the shoreline. They call this stretch of Victoria the Shipwreck Coast because of its volatile weather and rocky coastline – which has claimed some 700 ships in the region. The tragic tale of the Loch Ard sinking, where more than 50 lives were lost in 1878, also has two heroes - Tom and Eva, the only survivors of the iron clipper ship that sank to its watery grave on the reef.

Today, you can see where the disaster unfolded, walk the beach where Tom and Eva struggled ashore and view the burial grounds in the cliff-top cemetery.

Another don't miss attraction in the area is the Otway Fly Tree Top Walk - a chance to walk high in the rainforest canopy as you take in the ancient Otway Rainforest, with its glades of massive tree ferns and pounding waterfalls.

Charming fishing villages like Port Fairy and Portland are also worth a pit stop. Discover some of Victoria's maritime history as you stroll their wide open streets and walk their pretty piers at dawn or dusk.

Contact details

• Website: http://www.greatoceanrd.org.au
• Information centre: Situated on the corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets, directly across from Flinders Street train station and its tram interchanges. Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm, seven days a week Ph: + 61 3 9658 9658

Getting there

• Geelong via Princess Highway