Great Ocean Road

The most iconic sight and enduring image for most visitors to the Great Ocean Road, the Twelve Apostles provide a fitting climax to the journey. Jutting out from the ocean in spectacular fashion, these rocky stacks stand as if they've been abandoned to the waves by the retreating headland. Today only seven Apostles can be seen from a network of viewing platforms connected by timber boardwalks around the clifftops.

If you thought the Great Ocean Road was one long coastal drive, then this leg through the Otways may surprise you. Here the road heads inland, through shady rainforest with towering trees and fern gullies; it's home to a plethora of wildlife, most notably koalas. Cape Otway is the second-most-southerly point in mainland Australia (after Wilsons Promontory), and features a lighthouse that overlooks a beautiful, rugged coastline that's notoriously treacherous for shipping.

After Cape Otway the road enters the fertile Horden Vale flats, returning briefly to the coast at tiny Glenaire. Six kilometres north of Glenaire, a 5km detour goes to Johanna Beach, known for its massive surf; swimming here is not advised. From here the road heads inland again and north to the historic logging township of Lavers Hill.

The Otway region is home to the Gadubanud people; you can learn about their culture at the Cape Otway Lightstation.

One of the Great Ocean Road's original resort towns, Lorne may be a tad overdeveloped these days, but it retains all the charms that have lured visitors here since the 19th century. Beyond its main strip it has an incredible natural beauty: tall old gum trees line its hilly streets, and Loutit Bay gleams irresistibly. It backs onto the lovely eucalyptus forest, fern gullies and waterfalls that inspired Rudyard Kipling to pen his poem 'Flowers' in 1891.

It gets busy; in summer you’ll be competing with day trippers for restaurant seats and lattes, but, thronged by tourists or not, it's a lovely place to hang out.

Established as a whaling and sealing station in 1833, Port Fairy has retained its historic 19th-century maritime charm. Here it's all about heritage bluestone and sandstone buildings, whitewashed cottages, colourful fishing boats and wide, tree-lined streets.

There are also several nice beaches, surfing, fishing and plenty of wildlife to see. And then there are the festivals, a packed schedule of events throughout the year, most notably the Port Fairy Folk Festival in March.

In 2012 the town was voted the world's most liveable small community, and it's not hard to see why.

The Gunditjmara are the traditional custodians of this southwestern Victorian region.

In the 1960s and '70s Torquay was just another sleepy seaside town. Back then, surfing in Australia was a decidedly countercultural pursuit, its devotees crusty hippy dropouts living in clapped-out Kombis, smoking pot and making off with your daughters. These days it's become unabashedly mainstream, and the town’s proximity to world-famous Bells Beach and its status as the home of two iconic surf brands – Rip Curl and Quiksilver, both initially wetsuit makers – ensure Torquay’s place as the undisputed capital of the country's surf industry. It's one of Australia's fastest-growing towns, experiencing a population increase of 67% between 2001 and 2013 that these days makes it feel almost like an outer suburb of Geelong.

It has some lovely beaches, plus a growing number of hip cafes and restaurants, and one of Victoria's more innovative breweries.

Home to one of Australia’s finest stretches of white-sand surf beach, Cape Bridgewater makes for an essential 21km detour off the Portland–Nelson Rd. Its powdery white sands and turquoise waters resemble Queensland's shores more than a remote Victorian beach. Though the beach is the main drawcard, there are also a number of walks featuring dramatic scenery and an opportunity to swim with Australian fur seals, which makes this destination one of the coast's best-kept secrets.

Historic Queenscliff is a charming seaside town that mixes a salty maritime character with one of Victoria's most picturesque streetscapes. Many of its heritage-listed 19th-century buildings have been converted into hotels, restaurants and art galleries. It's a great base from which to explore the nearby wineries and beaches, along with the various historical sites and museums in town. The views across the Port Phillip Heads and Bass Strait are glorious.

Once a whaling and sealing station, Warrnambool is booming these days as a regional commercial and whale-watching centre. It's an attractive city, with heritage buildings, beaches, gardens and tree-lined streets, but the major housing and commercial development at the city fringes has rendered these areas much like city suburbs anywhere in Australia.

It's the whales that Warrnambool is most famous for, but it also has some great art galleries and historical sights. The sizeable population of uni students gives the town some spark, and you'll find some cool bars and cafes about.

The Gunditjmara people are the traditional owners of the land.