If you ever come to Victoria, The Great Ocean Road is one trip you need to take. Covering the coastline of South West Victoria, The Great Ocean Road takes you through some great townships all boasting different tourist attractions, not to mention the drive in between them that has breathtaking scenery. 
The road was built between 1919 and 1932 by more than 3000 returned soldiers in honour of their comrades who fell in the First World War.That makes it the world’s biggest war memorial!! This year is the 75th anniversary of the road, and there are plans to unveil a sculpture. Apparently, it will capture the spirit of the men who built the road, with one of the life-sized figures handing his mate a drink bottle. Building the road with pick and shovel would have been hard work and it would have been thirsty work.
The Road takes you where you can view some pretty rough and rugged cliffs and bluffs. It begins at Barwon Heads and ends at Warnambool.
Stop off at the Twelve Apostles( pictured above), Tour through the lovely Otway Ranges, stop at Torquay, Lorne and Apollo Bay, see the historic villages of Queenscliff, Port Campbell, Portland and Port Fairy. Not forgetting the town of Warnambool.
I have worked with many nurses over the years who come over from another country and save their hard earned money and then buy a van and go travel this road. They take a few weeks so they can see everything possible along the way. They are never disapointed!!
So there you have it, another lesson given to all my blogmates, another tribute to our wonderful and brave returned servicemen, otherwise known as "diggers".
37 comments:
WOW that's pretty awesome. I would love to visit there someday.
I went on a day coach trip a few years back to see the 12 apostles. It was one of those trips that include morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a super. My girlfriend and I ate so much during the day so while all the Americans and Japanese tourists were eating dinner we had a lolly pop and coke. Well, on the bus ride back with the all the tourists falling asleep while Mircocosmos was out in bus entertainment my friend and I were on a sugar high. We were Sssshhhhhhed by Americans!!! I even remember what we were talking about. Requesting a portion of our money back because there were only 9 Apostles not 12!
The great great Great Ocen Drive is something I missed out on last time I was at ur neck of the woods Caz. Next time I'll catch it for sure.
so ur flaunting Victoria ha girly? Well SYDNEY is way better guys.
LOL Keshi is being really nasty now!! ;-)
Have a good one Caz HUGGGGGGGGZ!
Keshi.
**Ocean
Jay, yeah, I thought so too mate.
Miss Natalie, That is a pisser of a story :) I must confess, when I was typing the words 12 Apostles I was thinking, OMG, am I short-changing people by saying the "12" when I know there to be less now due to corrosion and so forth?
Keshi, you oughta give it a go Kesh for sure. Ha, nah, I'm not flaunting Victoria as such, just bringing to attention the fine things that are here BECAUSE OF the diggers love :)
Keshi, I love Sydney :)
Just recently did that trip and was very confused when the great "ocean" road suddenly veered into bush for about an hour!!!
Torquay, Lorne and Apollo bay were just gorgeous, but the Twelve Apostles were truly awesome!
This work is very good, thank you
have nice wkend
so many beautiful things to see on that stretch. You might have inspired me to take a drive down that way this weekend. mmm.
Let's see. This year CA, next year Europe (friend visiting)... what are you doing around 2010...
My bro lived in Australia for 9mths.. I've never been and it's on the list.
S.
my husband had unbridled sex with a woman he met in Australia when he was in the Navy (Okay, it was beofre I even knew him) and I'm still waiting for the phone call years from now, "g'day mate... you're my Dad!"
Cazzie, have I ever told you about my grandmother's brother, who immigrated from England to Australia? He lived in Sydney, and served in the 20th Infantry Battallion, 1st Australian Imperial Force during WWI. In my genealogical search, I have traced him this far, but no farther. If I've already told you about him, nevermind. lol I'd love to see the sights you described today.
Cazzie... I did it last year... absolutely loved it. Left Torquay really late ( like lunchtime ) and only just made the eight and a half apostles on dusk. Man, the place was STILL packed!!
I'm waiting to see how the surf looks for the Rip Curl Pro this year... I still might just head over if it cranks. Would love to do that drive again!!!
oh it looks beautiful there caz. it is so grea that you can really appreciate what is right in front of your face, you know? so many people take for granted the beauty that surrounds them. perhaps you missed your calling as a tour guide?
Haven't done it for twenty years or so. I wonder if a coach tour is the best way, rather than drive yourself?
I love the 12 apostles. I have a friend in Melbourne who sent me some photos of the apostles and I actually painted my living room the colors of that photo. Blue,green, and brown.It is definately on my list of things to do and see before I die!
It looks lovely--I'd love to travel there someday!! The Twelve Disciples looks awesome!
I went on a day tour with my sisters and cousin and loved the 12 Apostles. I promised myself I would go back there and spend maybe a week really taking in the scenery. A few hours just isn't enough.
The 12 Apostles looks like the coolest thing I have ever seen.
I'd love to visit your part of the world...hope I live long enough... and thanks for the history lesson.
I am from Western Australia,
I have been to Victoria, once and only a brief stay in Melbourne.
Nice Pics
Graffiti
I have lived in victoria most of my life and have never traveled the great ocean road, i was camping 15 minutes from the twelve apostles once, but never got up the energy to look at them....
I had no idea about the war memorial side of the 12 apostles, maybe it would make agood bike ride:)
Hi Cazzie,
It is one of the best drives to take. Unfortunately too many tourists get down there and spend too much time watching the scenery and not the road. Also too many weekend warriors on their motorbikes testing their abilities too far.
It has gotten so bad now, they have ambulance crews waiting down there on weekends, and they get fairly busy.
HooRoo
Rebecca
12 apostles......that's stretching it afew have now gone......
What an interesting blog Cazzie...Do you work for the Chamber Of Tourism?
If not you should.
Oh wait, I see that you are an Angel of Mercy!!
Thanks for visiting me, you are welcome anytime!!
I've only been to Melbourne once but didn't get to the Ocean Rd. It's on my must do list!
Steph, my thoughts exactly when I firswt did the trip..what's all the bush!!!
David, thanks and same to you mate.
M, pics or ya never went :)
Farmwife2, cant wait to see ya, I will be at the airport then, :)'
Alicia, pmsl, that'd make you the step mum , ahaha.
Betty, I never knew that, let me know more about your research, I love that.
GB, yes, I know it, there must be so many pics floating about all with the less-than-12 apostles in them! Hope the surf is truly up for the pro...let us know if ya make it down here.
Meredith, guess I could be a tour guide, that would be great :)
Andrew, not sure, guess a tour would be gr8 on a bus because you could relax and take in the scenery, the non-plus would be not able to stop when you want to just to look at every little thing.
Poody, take a pic and send it of the painting you did..I would love to see it matey.
FC&F, let us know when you make it here :)
Menchie, you are right, same as my tour of the Museum in Canberra, I only had 2 hours to tour it before I had to board the bus to go home :(
Stormin Mormon, it is truly a great wonder to look at.
Ginnie, no worries, I love your armchair toursm too :)
Graffiti, welcome mate, pull up a chair, oh, I so love WA :)
QOD, amke sure you lemme know if you come voer here ok.
Aidan, it would certainly be an awesome bike ride..my friends did this back in the early 90's with the gr8 Vic Bike Ride, they loved it.
Rebecca, to do the tour on a motorbike would be great I reckon.
Whitesnake, yeah, I know mate, I sort of elaborated it in one of my comments, but no one would know what I was joshin about if I said the 8 and a half apostles, lol. General Boy did a better blog post on the GOR than I did, including the demise of the apostle the other year.
Gman, thanks for the visit, I am planning on doing a Friday post about tributes to our falen men and women of war. This was the second in the series, come again :)
Phil, yes, put it on your must do list, bring ya folks along :)
Sigh... one day I'll get to see it.
Looks like an incredible place to visit. Thanks for sharing and thanks for the kind words you left for me. Always much appreciated. :-)
Yeah. Definitely something to go see. I've never been along the G.O.R, but I know its gorgeous. Some very amazing scenery.
hey, one of my reiki appointments from yesterday has an aunt that lives in Australia. Do you know her :P Hope you enjoyed your weekend!
Chickybabe, I hope you do, it is so worth seeing :)
Tree, it sure is a great place, a wonderful memorial, np :)
Meredith, you know, you never ever know, I just might know her :) My dear Aunt lives in South Australia..Mt Gambier to be exact, that gives me an idea for a post :)
You're bringing back memories for me! I haven't been down that way in years. Maybe Aidan and I need to do the trip again someday soon.
Stace, it is a great idea, leat us know when you are on your way back, you can break the trip and have a coffee and some cheese and biscuits with us :)
Caz thats a beautiful pic of u! is that a very recent one, cos u look much slimmer in this one than in the last one I saw. Im not just saying it...I can really see it.
And I love Melbourne too ;-)
Keshi.
well she's Chilean and lives in Sydney, her husband works at the University...ring a bell?
:)
Isn't the Great Ocean Road just beautiful!! It's totally worth the drive.
nice article about the Great Ocean Drive :)
Can I feature this in my blog? I'll link your site, of course.
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