Australia’s Great Ocean Road stretches approximately 263 kilometers or 163 miles from Allansford, Victoria to Belmont, Geelong. It is the world’s largest war memorial because servicemen returning home from World War I were hired to build the road as a way to honor their fallen comrades. The construction of the road also provided employment for these men and created a tourist route that will be enjoyed by countless numbers of people. Construction began on the Great Ocean Road in 1918 and was completed in 1932. The workers toiled for 16 years using picks, shovels, and dynamite to carve and blast the path that became the Great Ocean Road.

Along the Great Ocean Road there are many wondrous sights to see and activities to enjoy including visiting scenic beaches and historic towns, learning about the legends of the road, and touring towering lighthouses. The road is not only a cultural and historical icon; it is also a path way to many natural wonders. Visitors could spend days visiting parks, viewing beautiful waterfalls, gazing at The Twelve Apostles, exploring the Otways, and snapping pictures of wildlife. For those who are interested in the natural beauty that surrounds this road listed below are a few examples of what to look for.

Exploring the Otway Ranges: The Otway mountain range contains dense, tall-timbered rainforests. The waterfalls, lakes, glades of tree ferns, and wildlife that live within this 546-mile natural paradise are breathtaking. There are a few ways to explore the Otways such as:

Driving – Take a drive into the heart of timber country where the sun’s rays filter down through the canopy and creates a glittery, shimmering effect on the moist fern fronds.

Walking – The walking tracks enable visitors to get a better view to the Otways than sightseeing from a car. For instance, take a walk to Triplet Falls then take the Heritage Trail and learn about the forest’s early history and the timber mill that once stood on the land.

Camping – There is nothing like communing with nature by camping right there among the plants and animals under the stars. Dando’s and Lake Elizabeth are the main camping sites in Otways State Forest.

Witness the wonder of the Twelve Apostles: The powerful Twelve Apostles are world-renown fixtures of The Great Ocean Road. The Apostles were born twenty million years ago when the soft limestone of Port Campbell began to erode. The limestone was created from the accumulation of skeletons from the marine life that lived in the Southern Ocean. As the ocean retreated, the limestone was exposed. Relentless winds and waves gradually eroded the softer limestone creating caves and cliffs. These caves became arches that collapsed leaving behind solitary rock formations that stand up to 148 feet high and are isolated from the shore.

Stand in awe of the amazing wildlife: Birds, dolphins, koalas, kangaroos, and whales are just a few of the creatures that one might see while traveling along the Great Ocean Road and exploring its parks and rain forests.

Touring the Great Ocean Road is truly an unforgettable experience. The awe-inspiring natural wonders, historic towns, grand lighthouses, scenic beaches, and splendid coasts make this tribute to fallen soldiers a truly wonderful experience.