The Great Ocean Road is a 240-kilometre (150 mi) Australian National Heritage-listed coastal drive…read morebetween Torquay and Allansford in Victoria. Built by returning WWI soldiers (1919-1932) as a war memorial, it is the world's largest war memorial. Infamously also known as the Shipwreck Coast, there is a 130 km stretch of Victoria coastline, traversed by the Great Ocean Road, that has been the final resting place of around 700 ships! Famous explorer Matthew Flinders described the coastline eloquently "I have seldom seen a more fearful section of coastline". Our group went out for the day for a most pleasant and scenic drive along the Great Ocean Road. We say the 12 Apostles (separate review), lush rainforest, surfing spots, a few towns along the way, kangaroos on the golf course, Koalas in the trees, and stunning views at almost every turn. We had a great tour guide and with a fun taste in Australian music that we enjoyed along the way.

Breathtaking views!! If you ever get a chance to travel to Australia this must be on your bucket…read morelist. From the 12 Apostles, the Gorge, Gibson Steps, the London Bridge, the Grotto, the Arch and Gourd, the Wreck, the Bay of Martyrs and more (in the order of my most favorites). 12 Apostles: Utterly breathtaking! One of Australia's great natural wonders (at least in my eyes) awaits your presence. From afar you can see a few apostles basking in the ocean waters with powerful waves crashing against its bottom. Walk your way to the lookout to see 2 more friendly apostles to your left. Whether in the overcast or the sunshine the 12 apostles stand firm along the limestone coastal haven. Did you know that the limestone coastline is eroded by 2cm each year?!?! (My top favorite). The Gorge: Like the 12 Apostles, these massive structured rocks stand proudly as the ocean waves dance around them. A site that will keep your eyes attached for a while. The Razorback used to stand out further but with every wave every 14 seconds it will eventually erode as well. :( (2nd favorite) Gibson Steps: With this view you'll be able to walk along the sandy coast and enjoy the coupled ocean rocks glaring in the sunshine. You'll see an opening at the top of one rock while the other is the smaller of the two sitting near it. This is a lively place to make sandcastles, have a picnic and intake the rays. (3rd favorite) The London Bridge: Just like the fable song, in 1990 the bridge piece fell down when 2 fellow scenic viewers walked along this bridge. They later had to be rescued by the helly (aka helicopter) to get back to safe grounds. Cannot walk on this bridge but can see it from afar and yet it's still stunningly beautiful. (4th favorite) The Grotto: Viewing through the Grotto you'll see the pure blue ocean waters and waves like a grand painting hung in a gallery. It's an introductory to what the ocean and mother nature offers to each owns eyes. (5th favorite) I'd say the Great Ocean Road was by far one of the best experiences to have done. You can compare it to the Pacific Coast Highway but 10 times better because of the varied sights to see. Make this part of your trip. It's about 2-2.5 hours drive each way so start early or book a night within the area. Driving there: you can take the short route (not along the coast) to get to sites more quickly. And then you can take coastal drive later. Or you can do vice versa. However if you choose the first option you'll have to make each scenic stop to a minimum of 10-15 minutes to intake everything in order to get the coastal driving view. It's all up to how much time you want to spend especially for taking pictures. Have fun!

Alright so this place is incredibly underrated!…read more For the quick readers: It's free! Free audio tour soundtracks available online. Free parking. (1:30 hour drive from Melbourne) Handicap friendly. Bicycle friendly. Lights are on from 8am to 8pm It's starts off as a trek through bush lands... Skill level is super easy, there is a Tarmac rd for those in wheelchairs or bicycles to get you straight to the fort as well as a bus that runs in the late morning and early afternoon. You have views of the bay on one side and views of the ocean on the other, look out points allong the the track and eventually you hit a Tarmac rd... Don't be discouraged! It only get more and more exciting from there... The track teases you with small hideouts and advantage points used by the military... This blurb says it better than I do... "Located at the very end of the peninsula, Fort Nepean enables you to step into the boots of the soldiers once posted there. Fort Nepean was a critical part of Victoria's defences from the 1880s until 1945. It was the largest and most heavily armed installation in the network of fortifications around the entrance to Port Phillip, and today remains an outstanding example of the evolution of gun technology and Australia's early defence strategies. The first shot of the British Empire in WWI and the first Australian shots of World War ll were fired from Fort Nepean, earning its entry in military history. These battlements were modified and used right up until the end of World War II." Fort Nepean's national park website. When you get into the fort you will be surprised by the work that was put into it... For those who forgot to load up on the audio tour beforehand you will be greeted by sounds triggered by hidden motion sensors and speakers... Teaching and especially creeping you out haha as you walk around a corner or hear a whistling down the endless corridors. Very little is blocked off mainly for your own safety. Also, heads up... Tons of echidnas! They are adorably just wodding their way around digging their noses into the soil along the track. They are protected! Please don't disturb the wildlife.

Out of all the lighthouses I visited in 2019, Split Point Lighthouse was in the top 10. It's super…read moreaccessible, presuming you got there by car or bus or are a local. If neither condition applies, I suppose it wouldn't be accessible at all. And getting up the lighthouse would, of course, be anything but ADA accessible. But, what I mean is that it's easy to get to the lighthouse from the parking lot and there are plenty of lovely paths and shops nearby. The lighthouse and point are a great place to stop when passing through the area.

Stunning views and picturesque lighthouse like the ones you see in postcards. A few trails from…read morethe lighthouse take you down to viewpoints for breathtaking views. Not sure if you can go up the lighthouse but it wasn't open on the day we visited.