The Great Ocean Road region is named after the road of the same name which follows much of the rugged Victorian south-west coast. This 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. The road passes through the popular holiday resort of Lorne, the fishing town of Apollo Bay, and then it heads inland traversing the lush Otway National Park. The final leg covers the "Shipwreck Coast" where many vessels in the 1800s ran aground on their journey from England. The most famous attraction in the region is the rock formation known as the "12 Apostles" near Port Campbell, carved out of the limestone headlands by rough seas over time.

Geelong is the second largest city in Victoria. Set on the banks of the Barwon River and fronting Corio Bay, the city boasts a population of over 200,000 including surrounding suburbs. Modern shopping facilities, galleries, beautiful gardens, foreshore reserves and sporting venues are just a taste of some of the attractions this city has to offer.

At the eastern end of the region is the Bellarine Peninsula. Linked by a car and passenger ferry to the neighbouring Mornington Peninsula, the Bellarine Peninsula is Geelong's playground, consisting of swimming and surf beaches and legacies of maritime history including lighthouses, historic buildings and museums.

The city of Warrnambool, in the south-west of the state, is centrally located on the Shipwreck Coast and is a popular tourist destination. To the west is the port of Portland, the oldest town in Victoria, which retains over 200 historic buildings and is home to one of Australia's biggest aluminium smelters.

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.

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

Great Ocean Road