The Great Ocean Road is a popular tourist attraction. Located near Melbourne, holiday makers enjoy one of the world’s most scenic drives here. As you travel along the curving road, you will be amazed at the stunning views that appear at each turn. A number of beautiful holiday towns are located in this region. Tourists come here to enjoy the beautiful coastal scenery and explore the historic towns. Below are some highlights you can find at the Great Ocean Road.

Portland, a deep-water port at the end of Princes Highway, was the site of Victoria’s first European settlement. This place has a mix of the historic and the industrial. The beautiful scenery of craggy cliffs, blowholes and rough waters found near the town at Cape Bridgewater is worth visiting.

At Port Fairy, you can see tiny cottages which were there since the1830s when the town was known as a centre for whaling during that time. This place is one of the earliest settle areas in Victoria. The historic town has a number of old bluestone and sandstone buildings, whitewashed cottages and bright fishing boats. Currently, the town is a popular tourist attraction.

The coastal town, Warrnambool, seems more of a major commercial centre, although you can find some historic buildings there. The town has a number of art galleries, museums and old churches. It is known that southern right whales can be seen in this area, off Longans Beach, during the period between May and October. There are some fine beaches for swimming and surfing here.

Port Campbell National Park is the most popular and scenic region of the Great Ocean Road. The narrow stretch of low heathlands where the limestone cliffs tower over the seas creates a stunning sight. Due to the waves thrashing on soft rock for many years, natural sculptures such as rock stacks, gorges and blowholes were formed. The Twelve Apostles, in Port Campbell National Park, are truly astounding rock formations. Many tourists are lured by the beauty of this scenic spot. Travelling between Port Campbell and Port Fairy, you can enjoy beautiful landscapes of rugged cliffs and swirling seas.

Another stunning view of the Great Ocean Road can be seen along the stretch from Lorne to Apollo Bay. As you travel on the curving road, you can enjoy breathtaking views of steep cliffs and the wide ocean. Apollo Bay is a fishing town and fishing trips can be taken from the wharf. You can find a relaxed atmosphere here. This place is known to have fabulous food restaurants. Lorne is a cosy, peaceful seaside village. There are nice forests for nature lovers to go for strolls. During peak seasons, the place tends to be crowded and thus, car parks and accommodation are difficult to find. You can find superb food served by restaurants and cafes here.

Aireys Inlet is a seaside village located beside beautiful beaches. You can find great ocean views here. There is a red and white lighthouse here, which is considered as a landmark of this small coastal town. A drop-by visit at Point Addis can enable you to have a good view of rolling waves beating the rocks. Bells Beach is an excellent place for surfing and an international surfing competition is held here every Easter. This event usually drew thousands of tourists to this spot.

At Great Ocean Road, you can enjoy one of the most spectacular coastal scenery in Australia. Furthermore, as described above, there are some beautiful towns you can visit along this road. From this region, you can enjoy stunning landscapes of rugged cliffs, rough waters, blowholes, rock sculptures, sandy beaches, forests, national parks, whaling ports and waterfalls. It is indeed a wonderful place to visit.