[//]:# (!pinmapple -38.412946 lat 144.183906 long An Amazing Adventure At The Great Ocean Road d3scr)
The 243-kilometer Great Ocean Road in Victoria can be considered as one of Australia's most iconic attractions and a renowned tourist attraction near Melbourne. This trip from Melbourne takes in the stunning landscape of beaches, coasts and amazing limestone formations as well as stopovers at quaint little towns.
My wife and I took this tour on the last day of our trip to Melbourne. Our flight to Kuala Lumpur was around midnight and so it was a bit of a risk. We checked out at the crack of dawn and left our luggage at the hotel, taking with us only what we need for the day.
Our first stop was at the town of Anglesea, where the bus driver made us tea at the park. The complimentary tea was served with some biscuits.
The Great Ocean Road was developed as a living memorial to those who fought in World War I. (1914-18). It was completed in 1932 and opened up the coastal areas to tourists and development. The Memorial Arch now stands to pay tribute to the contributions and sacrifices of these soldiers.
We had a short stopover at the Eastern View of the Memorial Arch where we walked to a small beautiful beach.
Lunch was at the beachside town of Appollo Bay where Roselind and I feasted on fish and chips.
The highlight of our trip was our helicopter ride over The Twelve Apostles, offering us spectacular views of the limestone formation and the scenic coast.
The Twelve Apostles are a group of limestone stacks off the coast of Port Campbell National Park. These limestone stacks were formed by the continual erosion of mainland limestone cliffs by the Southern Ocean's water and wind. The stacks are still at risk of further erosion due to waves. Presently only 8 of the Apostles are still left standing. The aerial view of the Twelve Apostles from the helicopter is indeed a sight to behold.
The scenery of the Twelve Apostles is equally stunning at the ground level.
Another of my favorite stop on the Great Ocean Road is Loch Ard Gorge, located within the Port Campbell National Park. In fact, it's only three minutes from the world-famous Twelve Apostles formation. The name of this gorge was derived from a big clipper ship, the Lorch Ard which was shipwrecked on the adjacent Muttonbird Island way back in 1878. A smooth, pearlescent bay and a clear, blue inlet can be found in the gorgeous gorge. Two yellow-washed cliff sides and sprigs of vivid flora flank it.
The last stop of our tour was the seaside town of Port Campbell. The town has the feel of a safe sanctuary on the edge of nature, surrounded by cliffs and Norfolk pines.
It has been a wonderful and enjoyable day trip. Even as I bid farewell to the Great Ocean Road, my mind was already planning another trip here but this time with an overnight stay at Port Campbell. As a side note, Roselind and I managed to catch our flight back to Kuala Lumpur that night.
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