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Along the Great Ocean Road
It has been called one of the most beautiful stretches of road in the world, curving around rugged coastline and forests dense, picturesque coastal towns and by green, fertile farmland. The Great Ocean Road offers some of the most varied landscapes in Australia along its 300 km of.
A little history
Originally built by the soldiers returning from the First World War as a memorial to their fallen comrades, the road took 14 years to finish by blasting through the cliffs. It was officially opened September 19, 1932 by the former Lieutenant-Governor Sir William Irvine. The road quickly became a commercial purpose, which links the cantons of Warrnambool, Lorne and Barwon Heads. Soon new colonies arose with some settlers from to hunt whales and seals off the coast and others to log large trees in the Otway forests. Today, logging can still be seen carrying their goods to the factories of wood being processed. But the main industry of tourism is today, with nearly one million and a half of international visitors coming to ride on the road each year. Add to that the number of locals that trek on the highway to get away from everything, and Great Ocean Road is now big business.
Natural Wonders
The southwest coast of Victoria offers some of the most beautiful natural attractions that you would expect to see. The most famous of these is undoubtedly the 12 apostles. piles of rock rising from the sea and standing defiantly against the breaking waves, the Apostles are located in the Port Campbell National Park, and you can see specially built viewing platforms, or at Sea walking down the stairs to the beach. The Apostles were trained over the years by waves of slow erosion of the soft limestone cliffs forming large caves, which eventually become bridges, and when the bridges fell away, stood like islands as they do today. The thousand and one faces of the Apostles can be considered at different times of the day, at different times of the year. Golden and warm in a sunset, or dark and unforgiving winter dusk, they are always spectacular.
The surrounding coastline contains other unique sculptures, as the Loch Ard Gorge, the Grotto, the Bay of Islands and London Bridge (recently renamed the London Arch after the collapse of the bridge section of real rock). They are also spectacular sculptures of nature, created thousands of years by an angry, unforgiving Southern Ocean.
Head the interior and the landscape changes dramatically from sand and rocks lush green forest and dense. These are the Otway Ranges. Spectacular National Park with huge trees and many species of plants that can only exist in this part of the world. Nature Otway contain numerous hiking, waterfalls and picnic. Some rides can be quite difficult, but worth the trouble you run into raging water flowing sheer rock at Hopetoun, Beauchamp or Triplet Falls.
The man made attractions
In addition to all the natural wonders that surround the Great Ocean Road, it is dotted with numerous coastal towns that evoke memories of childhood holidays, spent playing in the sand and swimming in the sea by day and cooking sausages on the barbie by night. The relaxed atmosphere of townships such as Port Campbell and Apollo Bay can be a welcome relief for urban dwellers seeking place to forget the stress and chaos of life in the city.
Some 700 vessels are regarded as having been shipwrecked off the coast of south-west Victoria victim of the wave or human error. The remains of a large number of them can still be seen today, prompting the nickname "Shipwreck on the coast.
Meet people
As the abundant flora, there is also a wide range of wildlife on show along the coast and inland. Koalas, wallabies and possums can often be seen in the forests of the Otway, often not too far from town centers, and along the many walking trails in national parks.
Offshore, the southern right whale can be spotted between May and September to make their pilgrimage Annual from the south to give birth, raise their young and begin the reproductive cycle again. The whales have increased in number since hunting whaling has been banned in Australia in 1935, but are still a rare sight and watch these magnificent creatures frolic in the sea is one of the experiments memorable life.
The Great Ocean Road is varied, enchanting and sometimes difficult. It is rugged and handsome. Located just one hour drive from Melbourne, it feels like a world away from anywhere.
About the Author
Mark Eden is a freelance
travel photographer
and writer, and the founder and director of Expanse Photography, a photographic services company offering fine art,
limited edition prints
as well as stock and assignment photography and publishing services. Mark can be contacted through the Expanse Photography website http://www.expansephotography.com.
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