History & Heritage

Did you know the Great Ocean Road itself was built by soldiers who returned from World War 1? Learn about the history of the diverse region, from our first people to stories of seafaring, shipwrecks and European settlement.

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Cultural experiences at Budj Bim

Your journey through the Great Ocean Road region and the roads we travel on today follow the ‘songlines’ or ancient trading...

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Want to chase lighthouses this weekend? Great call!

Let the historic lighthouses guide you along the Great Ocean Road. Take in the magnificent views atop steep spiral staircases as...

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No 44: Inland Towns (Volcanic Lakes & Plains)

Located just over 2hrs from Melbourne, the Volcanic Lakes and Plains region is a slightly hidden gem, a little off the Great...

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No 41: Casterton (Kelpie Country)

So much more than the birthplace of the Australian Kelpie Casterton is an historic rural town situated on the banks of the...

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No 39: Winchelsea

The historic town on the banks on the Barwon...

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No 24: Lighthouse Trail

Let the historic lighthouses guide you along the Great Ocean Road. Take in the magnificent views atop steep spiral staircases as...

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No 20: Shipwreck Coast

Matthew Flinders notably said he had never seen a ‘more fearful section of coastline’ – and no surprise,...

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No 10: Budj Bim

This UNESCO listed, ancient volcanic landscape is one of Australia’s most significant cultural heritage...

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Guy leaning against a dry stone wall
Volcanic Lakes & Plains

Dry Stone Walls

Western Victoria has up to 3,000km of the most dramatic and accomplished dry stone walls in Australia, historically and...

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Apollo Bay

Great Ocean Road History

The building of the Great Ocean Road is a story of resolve and conquest over adversity, and a triumph of great Aussie spirit...

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Aireys Inlet

Look After The Environment

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View of Simpson Lake with the rotunda in the background and a bench in the foreground
Volcanic Lakes & Plains

Heytesbury Settlement Historical Park

The Heytesbury Settlement Historic Park is located on the banks of Simpson Lake and commemorates the development of the...

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The view of Warrion Hill over Red Rock Winery in Alvie
Otways

Historical towns and the volcanic lakes drive

The Otways and the Colac region is full of a lot of hidden secrets! On today’s tour we’ll take you to some of the...

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Apollo Bay

Shipwrecked Coast

By the 1830’s Bass Strait became an important part of the sea route between Europe and New South Wales, with many ships...

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Mount Noorat
Volcanic Lakes & Plains

Alan Marshall Discovery Trail

Invoke, warm nostalgia and a flood of schoolyard memories on the Alan Marshall Discovery...

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Anchor at Wreck Beach
12 Apostles

Wreck Beach

The highly photographable anchors of the Marie Gabrielle and Fiji provide haunting reminders of the power of the ocean and the...

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two people overlooking a historic cannon
Port Fairy

Battery Hill and Historic Lifeboat Station

Wander to Battery Hill to discover historic cannons and explore the history of 19th-century maritime rescue equipment at the...

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Otways

Redwoods Rest, Beech Forest

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12 Apostles

The Story of Port Campbell Rocket Crew - by Reid Webber

A fantastic insight into Port Campbell shipwreck history by our youngest local...

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Lorne

The History of Lorne

The Great Ocean Road is a permanent memorial to those who lost their lives whilst fighting in World War 1, carved in rock; it...

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Volcanic Lakes & Plains

Spend some time in Macarthur

Uncover a hidden gem. Settled on the banks of the Eumeralla River, Macarthur is the gateway to the spectacular Budj Bim National...

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Close up of the blacksmith plaque on the Cobden Story
12 Apostles

The Cobden Story

The Cobden Story is a series of signs that interpret key buildings, people and places around town. Pick up a map and see them...

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Giant Cobden Butter at the Cobden Pioneer Park
12 Apostles

Cobden Pioneer Park

Cobden Pioneer Park is open to the public on the third Sunday of each month from 11am to 4pm. It is also available for hire for...

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View of the historic Macarthur pub from the outside
Volcanic Lakes & Plains

History of Macarthur

The land surrounding the township of Macarthur is rich and fertile. Evidence of volcanic activity is obvious as Mt Eccles. About...

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Follow the Lighthouse Trail

It’s a little known fact that there are five working lightstations operating across the coastline of the Great Ocean Road region between...

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Historic leafy towns just 2 hours from Melbourne

What if we said you can see a scattering of extinct volcanoes, crater lakes and forests all within 100 kilometres of each other? Would you believe...

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5 Facts you may not know about the Shipwreck Coast

There’s a section of coast between Cape Otway and Port Fairy in Victoria that holds a fascinating chapter in Australian maritime history. Base...

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Walk in the footsteps of an 1800s lightstation keeper

When you visit the Cape Otway Lightstation, you’ll immediately get a sense of the wild, rugged and isolated life led by an 1800s lightstation...

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Port Fairy

Story Towns Audio Tour Podcast

‘The Country to Coast Trail’ Designed for travellers, this podcast tour connects with creative communities, absorbs local knowledge, uncovers...

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Warrnambool

Flagstaff Hill: Pioneers, shipwrecks & a sunken peacock

Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum has everything you need to know about the shipwreck history along Victoria’s south west...

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Port Fairy

Battery Hill Virtual Tour

Come along with our Visitor Information Centre (VIC) Tour Guide and enjoy one of the many picturesque walks around historic Port...

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Port Fairy

The township of Port Fairy Virtual Tour

Come along with our Port Fairy Visitor Information Centre (VIC) Tour Guide and enjoy one of the many picturesque walks around historic Port...

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Volcanic Lakes & Plains

Explore the charm of historic towns on the Princes Highway

We think this beautiful patch of the Great Ocean Road region between Colac and Terang makes for a great autumn road...

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Couple sitting on Mount Noorat
Volcanic Lakes & Plains

Dreaming of Scotland? Trek Victoria's Volcanic Lakes and Plains

With a winter carpet of emerald green, morning mist on sapphire lakes, hill walking and charming historic towns you could be forgiven for thinking...

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Volcanic Lakes & Plains

A Glimpse into one of Victoria's Best Kept Secrets

Everything tastes better when enjoyed in the stunning setting of the Volcanic Lakes and Plains. Immerse yourself in the cultural highlights of the...

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Port Fairy

The Wharf and Port on the Moyne River Virtual Tour

Come along with our Port Fairy Information Centre (VIC) Tour Guide and enjoy one of the many picturesque walks around historic Port...

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12 Apostles

Explore the Charm of Historic Towns on the Princess Highway

What if we said you can see a scattering of extinct volcanoes, crater lakes and forests all within 100 kilometres of each other? Would you believe...

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Discover All Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Dartmoor Rail Trail

Dartmoor

Great Ocean Road Story

Lorne

Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village

Warrnambool

Warrock Homestead

Warrock

Portland Cable Trams

Portland

Art Reach Studio Gallery

Beech Forest

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Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Great Ocean Road region the Wadawurrung, Eastern Maar & Gunditjmara. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their unique cultural heritage and the connection to their traditional lands. We commit to building genuine and lasting partnerships that recognise, embrace and support the spirit of reconciliation, working towards self-determination, equity of outcomes and an equal voice for Australia’s first people.