The Great Ocean Road region is named after the road which follows a significant part of the rugged Victorian south-west coast.

The Great Ocean Road was constructed by ex-servicemen and the unemployed between 1918 and 1932 and is dedicated to those that lost their lives in World War One. It commences south of Geelong at Torquay, but doesn't reach the coast until Anglesea from where it generally hugs the scenic coastline passing through the popular holiday resort towns of Lorne and Apollo Bay. It then heads inland, traversing the lush Otway National Park and reaching its highest point at the small town of Lavers Hill. Its final leg covers the "Shipwreck Coast" where many vessels during the 19th century ran aground due to rough seas and the rugged coastline. These vessels were carrying goods and immigrants to the country, at the rate of up to 50 ships per day during the height of the gold rush. This section of coast is home to a collection of notable rock formations including London Bridge, Loch Ard Gorge and the most famous of them all, the 12 Apostles near Port Campbell, carved out of the limestone headlands by rough seas over time.

The Great Ocean Road region extends well beyond the coastal tourist road of the same name. It goes further eastwards, encompassing Geelong which is the second largest city in Victoria and fronts Corio Bay. It also includes the Bellarine Peninsula with its collection of towns fronting the sandy beaches of the bay, the historic defence port of Queenscliff which is linked to Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula via a passenger and car ferry service, and the ocean-front towns of Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove. The western end of the Great Ocean Road region includes the coastal city of Warrnambool, the site of Victoria's first permanent settlement at Portland, and the remote untouched coastline which extends westwards to the fishing village of Nelson and the state border with South Australia.

Also included in the Great Ocean Road region is the huge inland volcanic plain surrounding Colac, Camperdown and Terang with its craters, cones, large lakes and fertile soils, making it a highly productive agricultural and pastoral area.

Visitor Information Centres in this region.

Photos of the Great Ocean Road coast, covering the scenery of this world-famous drive along Victoria's rugged south-west coast between Torquay and Warrnambool.

Photos of beyond the Great Ocean Road, covering the beautiful coastline and towns westwards between Warrnambool and Nelson.

Photos of the Great Otway National Park including waterfalls and rainforests around Cape Otway and the Otway Ranges inland from Lorne and Apollo Bay.

Photos of Geelong, the largest city in this region, fronting Corio Bay.

Visit Great Ocean Road Tourism guide for the eastern half of the Great Ocean Road covering Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast and Otway Ranges

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