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

Day 2-The Great Ocean Drive-5/5/2024

We joined a full-day tour of the Great Ocean Drive and the Twelve Apostles, setting off from Melbourne early in the morning. The Great Ocean Road (often called the Great Ocean Drive by visitors) is one of Australia’s most famous and scenic coastal routes. Stretching for about 150 miles between Torquay and Allansford in the state of Victoria, it winds along dramatic cliffs, golden beaches, rainforests, and charming seaside towns. The road was built between 1919 and 1932 by returned World War I soldiers, making it the world’s largest war memorial.

Along the way, the tour will take us to landmarks like the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch, a few beaches, wild Koalas, and of course the spectacular limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles rising from the Southern Ocean. It’s not just a drive, it’s a journey through wild coastlines, natural wonders, and Australian history, making it one of the most unforgettable road trips in the world.

From our hotel we walked to the meeting point in Melbourne.  It was around 6:30 Am and downtown Melbourne is totally deserted.

We looked for a coffee shop but it was too early and the shops does not open until 7:00Am.

A comfortable coach picked us up at 7:00 a.m., and with a small group of people and we are set out to explore one of Australia’s most famous coastal drive. The journey promised a mix of dramatic scenery, charming seaside towns, and a glimpse of native wildlife, all while following the winding road carved between rugged cliffs and the Southern Ocean. 

We paused for a quick coffee in Anglesa, a picturesque coastal town, but the real highlight was the coastline itself, golden sand and rolling waves with barely anyone in sight, giving it a peaceful, untouched feeling.

From there, the bus took us to the Urquhart Bluff Lookout, where sweeping views stretched across the ocean and rugged cliffs.

View of the beach from the Lookout. This spot is popular with surfers, thanks to its consistent waves, but when we arrived it felt wonderfully calm and quiet.

Panoramic view of the area.

Our bus driving along the Great Ocean Road.

We pulled into a parking lot near the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch and from the cliffs above the beach, we noticed a scattering of striking houses perched along the ridge, their modern designs and glass-fronted windows looking out over the ocean. The mix of history at the arch and the dramatic coastal homes above made the stop especially memorable.

Housed facing Fairhaven Beach.

 Next came the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch, an iconic landmark honoring the road’s history,

The Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch is one of the most iconic landmarks along the drive. It was first erected in 1939 to honor the thousands of returned World War I soldiers who built the road by hand between 1919 and 1932. Carved into steep cliffs with picks, shovels, and explosives, the Great Ocean Road is not only a scenic drive but also the world’s largest war memorial. The timber arch has been rebuilt several times due to bushfires and storms, but it continues to stand as a gateway and tribute to their sacrifice and determination.

At the base of the arch are bronze sculptures of two soldiers at work, one passing a shovel to the other. The figures capture both the hardship and camaraderie of the men who carved this road from rugged coastline. Standing there, you can sense the weight of history while looking out at the vast Southern Ocean beyond, an extraordinary blend of natural beauty and human endurance.

A panel with history of the Memorial Arch.

From the arch, we were given about 30 minutes to walk down to Fairhaven Beach. To reach the beach, we followed a long, narrow pathway that gradually opened up to reveal the wide, stunning shoreline.

The beach was fairly empty, giving a sense of peaceful isolation. In the distance the coastline stretched as far as the eye could see.

The vast stretch of golden sand, wide and seemingly endless, with gentle waves lapping at the shore.

It feels wonderful to walk along the beach with golden sand and barely anybody around.

A man and his dog enjoying their walk on the beach.

Breathtaking panorama that stretched as far as the eye could see

A bunch of seaweed on the sandy beach.

People on the same bus with us enjoying the last few minutes on the beach.

It is time to go back on he bus.  Here you see the houses on the hill and you realized they definitely have a great view of the beach.

From there we continued our journey.

Our tour guide is actually really good.  He has a lot of stories to tell and they were pretty interesting.

We are now back on the Great Ocean Road.

The coastal view is absolutely wonderful.

 After leaving Fairhaven, the bus continued winding along the Great Ocean Road until we reached Kennett River, a small coastal village known for its wildlife and were treated to the sight of koalas nestled high in the eucalyptus trees, a true highlight of the journey.

Our tour guide told us to walk around, and to look up in the tree as there is a large population of wild koalas living in the area which are relatively easy to spot. And sure enough, we spotted a Koala high above (look on the left hand side).

Here is a really good close up of the Koala.  This is the first time in my life that I get to see a real koala in the wild.

The Koala is so cute, and he is looking right at me in this picture.

We followed a wooden pathway that led us through the trees, we could also hear the sound of birdsong mingling with the distant crash of waves.

The path eventually opened up to a grassy clearing, with the river stretching out ahead, shimmering as it flowed toward the sea.

The sea in front is the Southern Ocean, but some locals and maps also refer to it as part of the Bass Strait (the body of water between mainland Australia and Tasmania), but when you’re looking out from places like Anglesea, Fairhaven, or the Twelve Apostles, you’re gazing at the vast Southern Ocean, which stretches all the way toward Antarctica.

We did not have much time to wander around so we had to come back to our bus.

We are now headed to the 12 Apostles and as you can see it is raining.

NEXT... The Twelve Apostles