The Great Ocean Road has long been a must-drive option for those heading out on the highway, and now the 241km road that snakes through Victoria has got its very own website. Driving the famous road is one of the finest motoring experiences to be had on the planet, so hire a vehicle from East Coast Car Rentals and savour every sight, sound and smell along its immense length.
Though the many attractions of the Great Ocean Road have been well documented, the new website, www.greatoceanroad.travel, brings them all together. Aside from offering numerous tours departing from Melbourne and Adelaide, the website lists a great range of accommodation along the road to suit any budget, from basic hostels to plush beachside villas.
The Great Ocean Road, simplified
The website is designed to encourage ease-of-access to information for travellers thinking about taking a journey along the Great North Road and the website is equipped with features to help the process along. For example, there is an instant chat feature that links directly to travel experts on the site, so you can ask a question and have it answered immediately. You can enquire about anything – from the finest restaurants en route, to the best vantage points to view The Twelve Apostles.
The manager of greatoceanroad.travel, Samantha Clarke, told travel website TravPR.com, "With an easy to use interface making it easier for customers to locate the most popular outback tours and accommodation available in Australia, as well as many international customers booking their summer holidays, we feel that the site traffic will significantly increase during our official launch period." Indeed, respected travel website TripAdvisor rank the Great Ocean Road as the second-best attraction in Victoria – out of 712 attractions.
Take it slowly
Because the Great Ocean Road is so long, going the distance in its entirety non-stop is possible, but not advised, as many of its finest sights would be missed. One of the most popular and exciting ways of taking on the road is to take a few days off work, hire a car and traverse its length in segments, stopping at strategic points along the route. This way, you'll never feel obliged to rush perhaps the most breathtaking drive in the world and can stop at any point you see fit to take a snapshot or just drink in the view.
Sights to see
The Great Ocean road boasts a vast array of natural and historic sights along its route. Perhaps the most famous of these are The Twelve Apostles at Port Campbell, a series of limestone stacks carved by millions of years of exposure to the wind and sea. London Bridge, which is now known as London Arch, is found just down from The Twelve Apostles, was a naturally formed twin-span rock bridge until its collapse in 1990 – now just one span remains, but it's still a fascinating sight. Cape Otway Lightstation is another favourite and, as Australia's oldest surviving lighthouse still in working order, is steeped in historical value.