The Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road – a drive that anyone should partake in if given the chance! This drive is full of beautiful views that are unforgettable, although taking a few pictures doesn’t hurt either. Built in the early 1900s, the road has a rich history of almost 100 years. It is also the world’s longest war memorial as the entire length of the road – 243 kilometers/151 miles – is dedicated to World War I soldiers.

For our drive, we began in Melbourne and headed through country roads full of cattle for about two hours. Then, we started to see the stunning beauty of the coasts of Australia. We first made a stop at Bells Beach which completely took our breaths away. This spot had a great view of the ocean, full of pretty much every shade of blue. After stopping to get a quick snack at McGains Nursery, our bus headed to Point Roadknight. This stop was extra special because we got to take a moment to reflect and live in the moment. Our tour guide, Katie, told us to close our eyes and pay attention to each of our senses. She encouraged us to recount what brought us to this point of the trip. These moments of reflection allowed us to slow down and take it all in.

Other stops on this first day of the trip included Big Hill, Lorne Spot, Kennet River, and Apollo Bay. Each of these views did not disappoint. Another highlight of the day was getting to look for koalas in the gum trees above. We got to see a few which was exciting! Other animals we saw during the day included a kangaroo, a lot of birds, and a fox. Whenever outside of the big cities in Australia, be sure to be on the lookout for wildlife. The other activities of the day were walking through a rainforest and seeing the 12 Apostles at night.

The next day, we started early in order to see as many views as possible before heading back to Melbourne. Loch Ard Gorge was the first stop of the day, and I highly recommend it – one of my favorite stops of the trip!

We went to the 12 Apostles, this time in daylight, the London Bridge, the Grotto, the Bay of Islands, and the Bay of Martyrs. I appreciate how each of the stops have signs that explain the stories behind them.

The drive along The Great Ocean Road was breathtaking, and I highly recommend the trip to anyone visiting Australia. My words of wisdom are to take the time to reflect on what you are seeing, feeling, and experiencing. Think about what got you there and the people who may have helped you get there. Be present and take in all that is around you. Take the time to reflect on those who have gone before you and the stories that each of these stops hold. I have no doubt that you will have an incredible journey along The Great Ocean Road!

Megan Caldwell