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Pete Seaward

Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road (B100) is one of Australia’s most famous touring routes. It takes travellers past world-class surfing breaks, through pockets of rainforest and calm seaside towns, and under koala-filled tree canopies. It shows off sheer limestone cliffs, dairy farms and heathland, and gets you up close and personal with the crashing waves of the Southern Ocean.

Hunt out the isolated beaches and lighthouses in between the towns and the thick eucalyptus forest of the Otway hinterlands to really escape the crowds. Rather than heading straight to the Great Ocean Road, a fork in the road at Geelong can take you the long, leisurely way there, through the Bellarine Peninsula, with visits to charming Queenscliff and wineries en route.

Day-tripping tourists from Melbourne rush in and out of the area in less than 12 hours, but in a perfect world you’d spend at least a week here.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Great Ocean Road.

  • See

    Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village

    The world-class Flagstaff Hill precinct is of equal interest for its shipwreck museum, heritage-listed lighthouses and garrison as for its reproduction of an 1870s port town. It also has the nightly Tales of the Shipwreck Coast (adult/child/family $31/17/79), an engaging 70-minute sound-and-light show telling the story of the Loch Ard ’s plunge. The village has ye olde shoppes such as blacksmiths, candle makers and shipbuilders. If you're lucky the Maremma dogs will be around for you to meet.

  • See

    Warrnambool Art Gallery

    One of Australia's oldest art galleries (established 1886), WAG has a stellar collection of works by prominent Australian painters. Its most famous piece is Eugene von Guérard's landscape Tower Hill, which is so detailed that it was used by botanists as a historical record when regenerating the Tower Hill area. There are contemporary pieces too, and several exhibitions run concurrently. The popular Warrnibald show, held late July to mid-September, showcases portraits of local identities and their stories. The gallery's gift shop is worth a browse for its excellent books, contemporary knick-knacks and prints of works from its collection.

  • See

    F Project Gallery

    Set up in a former funeral home by local art collective the F Project, this contemporary gallery always has something interesting showing at its monthly exhibitions. Pop round the back to say g'day to the artists in residence. Its shop is another reason to visit, with some wonderful jewellery, accessories, artworks, books and music, all produced by Warrnambool locals. There's inexpensive accommodation too, and some cool street-art murals outside.

  • See

    Princess Margaret Rose Cave

    Opened to the public in 1940, this limestone cave with surreal, gleaming calcite formations remains one of Australia's finest show caves. It can only be visited as part of a guided tour, which takes 45 minutes along the cave's illuminated walkways. The interpretative centre has good info on the cave's history. It's within Lower Glenelg National Park, 17km north of Nelson, and crosses the border before looping back over. It's best to get here via Nelson River Cruises. There's a campground here too, along with numerous walking trails.

  • See

    Whiskery

    Set up by a local family who know their stuff, this gin distillery produces everything on-site and has a tasting room to sample the goods, accompanied by pizzas and local-produce platters. The single-malt whiskies are maturing in the barrel for a little longer, but it's definitely a product to keep your eye on. The distillery occupies a historic site that was a watering hole for Cobb & Co horses.

  • See

    Botanic Gardens

    Geelong's botanic gardens (established in 1851) are the fourth oldest in Australia and make for a peaceful stroll or picnic. Aim to get here for a volunteer-run tour (weather permitting), held Wednesday at 11am or Sunday at 2pm. At other times pick up a self-guided map from the cafe, which does Devonshire tea ($9), as well as sandwiches and the like. Garden highlights include its selection of indigenous plant species, Western Australian bottle trees, Chilean wine palms, cork trees, Californian palms and sequoia, among other beautifully landscaped sections. The tiny Old Customs House is Victoria’s oldest timber building, built in Sydney in 1838 and transported to the gardens in sections. Eastern Park surrounds the gardens and is Geelong’s largest foreshore reserve, with many trees planted as early as 1859. It houses the great and ultra-kid-friendly Geelong Play Space.

  • See

    Geelong Waterfront

    Geelong's sparkling revamped waterfront precinct is a great place to stroll, with plenty of restaurants set on scenic piers, plus historical landmarks, a 19th-century carousel, sculptures, grand homes, swimming areas, playgrounds and grassy sections ideal for picnics. In summer you can cool off at popular Eastern Beach, with a 1930s art deco bathing pavilion complete with diving boards, sunbathing area and toddler pool. Jan Mitchell's 100-plus painted Baywalk Bollards are scattered the length of the waterfront. Pick up a Baywalk Bollards brochure from the i nformation kiosk so you can more formally acquaint yourself with the famous painted bollards that give the waterfront its unique character. The newest one is a tribute to Mitchell, who died in 2008.

  • See

    Queenscliffe Maritime Museum

    Home to the last lifeboat to serve the Rip (the treacherous stretch of water linking Port Phillip Bay to Bass Strait) , this recommended museum has displays on the intriguing current-day pilot-boat process, shipwrecks, lighthouses and steamships. Head out the back to see the heritage-listed 1895 boat shed, with paintings that served as a record of passing ships in the bay.

  • See

    Boom Gallery

    Down an industrial street off Pakington St, Boom's warehouse space in an old woollen mill shows contemporary works by Melbourne and local artists. It sells great design objects and jewellery, and the attached cafe does fantastic coffee and a menu of seasonal food.

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