The Great Ocean Road

One of the things that was not included on our tour was a day trip (500 km) on the Great Ocean Road.  So I was able to arrange for a tour online before we arrived.  It was from 8 am til 10 pm and I'm so glad we did it.  Such beautiful coastline, national parks, and adventures along the way.  There were three sections to the trip so I will break it up into 3 blogs.  

Locky was our tour guide with GoWest Tours.  There were 24 of us on the tour in a mini bus.  People were from Singapore, Dubai, Japan, Europe and the US...

Leaving downtown we headed south on the M1.  Lots of farm pastures with sheep, horses abd cattle.  I saw a couple of palm tree farms.  There were also places that mined bluestone.  The M1 is a 4 lane divided highway.  The speed limit was 100 (60 mph). When we got on back roads there were often signs that read 'Drive on the Left Side in Australia!'

We drove by pasture land for sheep, cattle and horses.  I even saw a couple of palm tree farms.  Also de places where they were mining Victoria bluestone.   The terrain was fairly flat.  I noticed that the license plates indicated 'Victoria - The Place to Be'.

It took about 1 hour on the M1 to get to the Great Ocean Road - which was built by soldiers home from the 1st Great War and unemployed.  Interesting history.

 

The first section Locky named the 'surf coast'.  Many world famous beaches and many surf competitions held along this stretch. 

 

This was part of the memorial to the men who build the road.  It took years to build the road.  Cannot remember all the details he gave us!

   

We made a stop at one of the beaches for a break with some coffee, tea and sweet breads.  It wasn't far from Spring Creek which had a very nice boardwalk and hiking path.  The beach was Torquay Surf Beach near the Surfing Capital of the World, Torquay!  There was an entire outlet mall in town with only surfing products!  Brand after brand has its own store in the mall.  I all started in 1969.  There is a surfing museum in town as well.

Along the way we learned that Australians have their school summer break for 6-8 weeks over Christmas.

This is where many young people come for surfing camps to learn the sport.  It's where Locky learned to surf as a boy of 12.

We went by Bells Beach, one of the most famous - from the old movie Point Break.  About two weeks after we leave Australia there will be a major world championship at Bells Beach.  Also saw some black and white colored magpies.

Many of the warning signs along the road included Kangaroos but we didn't see any hopping across the road!  I'm reminded that a baby kangaroo is called a joey.

 

It was rainy and windy but the coastline was dramatic and beautiful!  We watched it for miles and miles!