Great Ocean Road

Recognised as one of the world's most scenic drives, the Great Ocean Road follows the stunning coastline of Victoria's south-west. Stretching 300 kilometres from Torquay, just south of Geelong, to Peterborough, just east of Warrnambool, the road winds along cliff tops, up to breathtaking headlands, down onto the edge of beaches, across river estuaries and through lush rainforests offering panoramic views at every turn.

Visitors from Melbourne can travel south-west to the beautiful waterfront city of Geelong to stop at the Geelong and Great Ocean Road Visitor Information Centre for advice on the journey.

Join the serpentine road which traverses a breathtaking array of natural treasures. There are rainforests, rugged cliffs, picture-perfect sandy beaches, mountains and ancient forests, all with the magnificence of the ocean as a backdrop. What makes this experience even more special is the small seaside villages along the way.

Wedged among pristine nature, they are the ideal stopping-off points in this most perfect of journeys.

Each town has its own special atmosphere, from Torquay - where some of the world's best surfers lift their boards from the tops of their cars and slip into their wetsuits - to family-friendly Anglesea. Lorne is one of Melbourne's favourite beachside destinations and it's easy to see why: ultra-chic beachside cafés, spectacular forest walks amid tree ferns and waterfalls.

Along the route is the perfect, crescent-shaped beach of Aireys Inlet, and the former whaling town of Port Fairy (which has a fabulous folk festival every March). In between is Warrnambool, where the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum has a re-created port, complete with ships and a lighthouse, plus precious shipwreck relics.

But it is the natural world that makes this part of Victoria so special. The Port Campbell National Park covers a stretch of coast that includes the world-famous Twelve Apostles, London Bridge and Loch Ard Gorge. This is the ocean as sculptor, as centuries of waves have carved stunning shapes out of the soft limestone.

Go to Visit Victoria (Great Ocean Road) for further information.