A week in Melbourne, Australia- 5/4- 5/10/2024

Day 2-The Loch Ard Gorge-5/5/2024

After a short drive, our driver dropped us off to another breathtaking stop along the coast: Loch Ard Gorge which is one of the best places to visit on the Great Ocean Road, with captivating and stunning views and tales of shipwrecks from long ago. There are three main lookouts, each giving a different perspective of the dramatic coastline and its history.

From the parking lot we followed atrail leading to the Loch Ard Gorge

The first site is the Gorge which is the most iconic part of Loch Ard Gorge.

Standing at Loch Ard Gorge is an unforgettable experience. From the cliff you can hear the sound of the waves which grows louder.

There are stairs that leads to the beach but we did not have enough time to explore the beach.  Standing on the cliff and looking down is already awesome.

The gorge is enclosed, almost like a natural amphitheater, yet the ocean still pushes its way in, tying you to the vastness beyond. Looking up at the sheer cliffs while the surf echoes between them is awe-inspiring, it’s easy to imagine how overwhelming it must have been for the shipwreck survivors who washed ashore here.

The limestone walls rise dramatically on both sides, their layers of rock glowing in warm tones of cream and amber. Through the narrow opening at the far end, the turquoise water of the Southern Ocean rushes in, each wave breaking with a force that reminds you of the coast’s wild power.

Amazing view of the Gorge from the lookout.

We are now leaving the gorge.

Next we are headed to the Shipwreck Walk which is the continuation after exploring the Gorge.  The walk is not very long, but it’s rich in both scenery and history.

As we followed the trail, the ocean stretches endlessly before us, waves crashing against the jagged limestone formations that caused so many shipwrecks along this coast.

The path is marked with panels that tell the story of the Loch Ard shipwreck of 1878, guiding us along the cliffs to viewpoints where you can imagine the scene of the tragedy.

The interpretive signs describe how the clipper Loch Ard struck a reef in heavy fog, just days away from completing its long journey from England. Of the 54 people aboard, only two survived: Tom Pearce, an apprentice sailor, and Eva Carmichael, a young woman traveling with her family. Panels point out where Tom managed to swim ashore into the gorge and how he bravely went back to rescue Eva from the surf.

Along the way, the walk also leads to lookouts with sweeping views over the cliffs, the wild ocean, and other natural features like the Razorback and Mutton Bird Island. It’s both a scenic and reflective experience, linking the dramatic landscape to the human stories that make this coast so haunting and memorable.

 One of the striking sights is the limestone cliff with two natural holes eroded right through it. These openings, carved over thousands of years by the relentless waves and wind, frame the sky and ocean beyond almost like windows in the rock.

Standing at the lookout, you can see how the sea has patiently eaten away at the softer parts of the cliff, creating these arches.

Standing at the lookout, you can see how the sea has patiently eaten away at the softer parts of the cliff, creating these arches. The holes are also a reminder of the coast’s constant transformation. What is now a cliff with two windows will one day collapse and form new stacks or caves, just as the Twelve Apostles and other formations were created. Watching the waves surge below while standing above these fragile features gives you a sense of both the beauty and the power of this coastline.

The golden cliffs and the striking turquoise ocean crashing into the cliff is such a sight.

We continued our walk to the Razorback by following a gentle trail lined with coastal bushes, and pine trees.

 Soon, a sign points the way, and as we followed it the landscape begins to open up.

When are now at the Tom and Eva lookout and the view is spectacular.

The two towering limestone stacks rising from the Southern Ocean are almost like twin rock pillars and are called the Tom and Eva formations, named after the only two survivors of the Loch Ard shipwreck in 1878 (Tom Pearce and Eva Carmichael). What makes them remarkable is not just their size and beauty, but their symbolism. Seen together, they rise almost side by side out of the sea, like steadfast sentinels keeping watch over the gorge. From the lookout, you can admire how they contrast with the restless blue water below, solid and enduring against the ever-moving ocean.

Geologically, these stacks were once part of the mainland cliffs, but over thousands of years, relentless waves and winds carved arches, caves, and eventually separated them from the coast. What remains are these tall, solitary pillars of golden limestone, their surfaces marked by deep grooves and rugged edges where the ocean continues its slow erosion.

 They are often photographed at sunrise or sunset, when the light turns the rock to shades of amber and gold, creating an unforgettable image. For many visitors, standing before Tom and Eva feels like standing at a natural memorial, one that connects the raw power of this coastline with the very human story of survival and resilience.

The view from the lookout is breathtaking, the deep blue sea crashing against the golden cliffs, the stacks standing tall just offshore, and the endless horizon beyond.

As you walked away from the Tom and Eva Lookout, the trail curved gently along the cliffs, and the two stacks remained in view along the pathway.

View from the pathway

From this angle, they looked a little different, slightly separated by distance, but still rising proudly out of the restless sea. The perspective from the pathway gave you a chance to admire them in their setting, framed by the sweeping cliffs and the vast expanse of ocean beyond.

We are now heading to the Island Archway area.

As we continued along the pathway toward the lookout, I could only see the top of one of the stacks poking above the cliffs ahead. From this angle, it looked like a tiny pyramid perched on the ocean, rising dramatically against the waves.

razor

When we reached the viewpoint, the Island Arch came fully into view.

The Island Arch is one of the most dramatic features along the Loch Ard Gorge area. Originally, it was a natural double arch carved out of the limestone cliffs by relentless waves over thousands of years. In 2009, the central portion of the arch collapsed, leaving behind two towering limestone stacks standing separately in the Southern Ocean. From the viewing platform, the stacks rise majestically from the water, their jagged surfaces and weathered edges a testament to the constant power of erosion.

The wooden fence along the pathway prevents visitors from getting too close, but it does not diminish the view. You can see how the waves crash against the base of the stacks, churning the water into frothy white surf, while the golden limestone contrasts beautifully with the deep blues and greens of the ocean. From certain angles, one of the stacks even looks like a tiny pyramid, perched dramatically above the sea, adding to the sculptural quality of the formation

 As we made our way back to the bus, the trail curved past the Razorback lookout, giving us one last chance to take in the dramatic scenery.

From this vantage point, the cliffs stretched majestically along the coastline, with waves crashing at their base and the golden limestone glowing even in the soft light.

Tom and Eva lookout view as we walked along the pathway.

We are now on our way back to Melbourne.  The whole guided tour is about 12/13 hours in total but the time passed so fast.

 After visiting the Twelve Apostles, we continued along the Great Ocean Road to Loch Ard Gorge. Standing on the cliff and looking at the gorge, we were surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and a sheltered sandy beach, with the turquoise waves of the Southern Ocean rushing in, and a view that was both intimate and immense. We followed the Shipwreck Walk, learning about the 1878 Loch Ard shipwreck and its two survivors, Tom Pearce and Eva Carmichael. Along the trail, we admired cliffs with natural holes, the Razorback ridge, the Tom and Eva limestone stacks, and the Island Arch, where one stack appeared like a tiny pyramid above the ocean.

Walking back to the bus, we had one last view of the cliffs and waves, a reminder of the rugged beauty of this coastline. On the drive back to Melbourne, the sunset cast orange light across the horizon, perfectly ending a spectacular day along the Great Ocean Road.

NEXT... Breakfast and guided city walking tour