Great Ocean Road, it did not disappoint.
From WA, through the Clare Valley into Victoria, along the iconic Great Ocean Road, and back via the Barossa, a journey that delivered at every turn.
We began in Queenscliff: fish and chips by the harbour, a climb up the tower for views of the city, and a town so rich in history you could happily wander for days. Fishermans Beach followed, where the energy was insane, a live singer had the whole bar singing!
Our overnight stop in Inverleigh proved another gem, with excellent coffee!
Next stop Torquay. The Australian National Surfing Museum is an absolute must, it brings the scale, history, and culture of Australian surfing into sharp focus. Unsurprisingly, we fell hard for Torquay 💛🌊: we loved exploring the town and its surf shops (they started there, after all!) We will definitely be back to explore more.
From there, Bells Beach delivered epic look outs we then did the Great Ocean Road Chocolate Factory, non-negotiable! The ice cream there was epic!
The memorial Great Ocean Road sign photo happened, the coastal homes were something else, many instantly recognisable from Grand Designs and Instagram.
We settled into Lorne for two nights. Busy, yes, but beautiful, with delicious restaurants lining the town, we sampled plenty. Erskine Falls was a standout: genuinely magical waterfall. FernGully vibes were strong, and I am convinced there were fairies at the base.
Apollo Bay followed, another town you could happily linger in. Exceptional food, with George’s an absolute must. The transition between rainforest and ocean along this stretch is breathtaking. One night, we had three koalas sleeping in a tree over our caravan, beautiful and very nosiy! 😝
The Otway Fly Treetop Walk was a personal victory. For someone who dislikes heights, conquering a 45-metre-high walkway was no small feat, and it became a highlight for the kids.
We did the Twelve Apostles (some braved the helicopter; I stayed firmly on the boardwalk), plus Razorback, London Bridge, and The Grotto, our favourite. Port Campbell was a gorgeous town with the best ice cream Timboon!
We spent the best day at Warrnambool Hot Springs, cold plunge, hot springs, repeat, followed by buffet breakfast and rainwater showers. Two hours of total reset.
The end of the Ocean Road arrived at Port Fairy, a town I could stay in for days, before finishing with the lighthouse at Portland.
Then it was time to turn inland, beginning the long trek back through the Barossa, and to think, that entire run-down was just the Great Ocean Road.
