Nature & Wildlife

The Great Ocean Road region offers so many different wildlife experiences – on land and in water in their natural habitat or ready made opportunities to get up close to the native fauna.

Beaches

From Torquay to Portland and beyond there are literally hundreds of bay and ocean beaches to choose from, and they are magnificent all year round. In summer they act as a cool retreat, while in...

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National Parks

Incredible coastal and inland national parks including the famous Great Otway National Park and Port Campbell National Park amongst...

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Rivers & Lakes

Beautiful lakes and rivers are scattered throughout the Great Ocean Road region, each with their own unique...

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Trails & Lookouts

Trails that lead to waterfalls, lookouts, iconic ocean vistas and volcanic plains. The diverse landscape of the Great Ocean Road region is just waiting to be...

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Waterfalls

With its diverse terrain and coastal margin, the entire Great Ocean Road region is a natural for waterfalls. Typically they offer shady respite from summer days and walkable access through forest...

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Whale Watching

Each year, the coastline plays host to 25 different species of migrating whales, including Southern Right Whales, Humpback Whales, Blue Whales and Orcas. Try the Winter Whale Trail from the 12...

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Wildlife

The Great Ocean Road region locals inlude kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, platypus, koalas, glow worms, birds, seals, penguins and even the occasional migrating whale...just to name a...

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Explore All Nature & Wildlife in 12 Apostles

12 Apostles

Australian Fur Seals of the 12 Apostles Coast

Remember to keep a safe distance so you don’t disturb them while they are...

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Coastal flora
12 Apostles

A more sustainable solution

Can small change lead to big picture difference?  I believe it can. Are you up for...

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Landscape image of the Arch
12 Apostles

The Arch

The Arch Day Visitor area and lookouts are temporarily closed due to public safety risk. This site is often spectacular in the...

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12 Apostles

Eco Vision

The Great Ocean Road Wildlife Park and Dingo Awareness Centre is a park with an...

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12 Apostles

Close Encounters at Great Ocean Road Wildlife Park

Let’s be honest: just because adults like to look at the spectacular coastal scenery it doesn’t mean that kids will have just...

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12 Apostles

Southern Brown Bandicoot of the 12 Apostles Coast

Are you feeling lucky? We are! Despite their threatened status in Victoria Southern Brown Bandicoot are often sighted in Port...

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Boat approaching Port Campbell Jetty as viewed from the Port Campbell Discovery Walk
12 Apostles

Port Campbell Bay

Port Campbell Bay presents a gently sloping family friendly profile sheltered from the bulk of Southern Ocean swell. Waters...

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12 Apostles

Short-Beaked Echidnas around the 12 Apostles Coast

Echidnas are commonly sighted on the edge of trails and roadside verges in search of a tasty insect treat. Their meandering...

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Male kayaking from Boat Bay with the cliff to his left
12 Apostles

Boat Bay

Anybody who has ever backed a trailer needs to have a look at this ramp. Lots of offshore stacks are visible in this sheltered...

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12 Apostles

Coastal Flora in the 12 Apostles Coast Region

The sculpted cliff top carpet provides an almost comical homage to the power of wind that shapes it into form. Take a closer look...

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12 Apostles

A deeper connection

It’s a beautiful wild place, so exposed to the elements. Surrounded by National Park and spectacular cliffs. What’s not to...

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12 Apostles

Wake up to the Iconic 12 Apostles Coast and Hinterland

The 12 Apostles Coast and Hinterland makes for a perfect destination to spend a few days to create some real memories and fall in...

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12 Apostles

Black (or Swamp) Wallabies of the 12 Apostles Coast

Black Wallabies are common in both Port Campbell National Park Bay of Islands Coastal Park and are likely to be sighted at dusk...

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12 Apostles

Princetown Beach

The meandering course of the Gellibrand River finds the sea beneath the bold headland of Pt Ronald. Wild and untamed;...

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Panoramic view of Muttonbird Island
12 Apostles

Muttonbirds of the 12 Apostles Coast

Observe the return to roost of the muttonbird, from September until April, from a viewing platform in the Loch Ard Gorge...

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12 Apostles

Other Marsupials, Monotremes & Macropods of the 12 Apostles Coast

Discover our marsupials, monotremes & macropods of the Port Campbell National Park and the 12 Apostles Coast and...

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12 Apostles

Koalas around the 12 Apostles Coast

The largest populations of Koalas are to be found in the Cape Otway National Park and Kennett River however, there are pockets...

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Be Inspired

Visit Great Ocean Road

Top 7 things to do these Easter Holidays around the Great Ocean Road

A visit to the Great Ocean Road region during the Easter holidays will keep you so busy you will work off those Easter Eggs in no time! Whether you...

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Visit Great Ocean Road

A Sustainable Great Ocean Road Getaway

The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most epic road trips, and a visit to Victoria would not be complete without spending some time in...

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Visit Great Ocean Road

Dusk Discovery Tours at Wildlife Wonders

The perfect addition to your weekend plans. Running every Saturday...

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Visit Great Ocean Road

How and where to find Glow Worms

Do you know there are glow worms in the Great Otway National Park, just 10 minutes from Lavers Hill on the Great Ocean...

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Visit Great Ocean Road

Want to know the most scenic spots? Here's your checklist.

The Great Ocean Road region, from Torquay to Nelson and inland to places like Casterton and Colac, has some of the beautiful and diverse scenery in...

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Visit Great Ocean Road

My favourite places to recentre and commune with nature

When I feel like it’s time to clear the cobwebs, I like to explore new places, commune with nature and re-centre myself. This time, I chose the...

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Visit Great Ocean Road

The rock formations of the Great Ocean Road

These massive rock formations, carved from the crashing waves and weather elements are big, beautiful and display the most magnificent colors that...

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Visit Great Ocean Road

6 Ways nature can soothe the soul

Spending time in nature on the Great Ocean Road at any time of the year is good for the soul. Here are six top spots revealed by a Parks Victoria...

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Visit Great Ocean Road

Close encounters at Great Ocean Road Wildlife Park

The Great Ocean Road region is abundant with wildlife. You can see animals in the wild or, in our case, we visited them at the Great Ocean Road...

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Visit Great Ocean Road

Q & A with Area Chief Ranger for Shipwreck Coast and Hinterland

Michael D Smith, is the Area Chief Ranger for Shipwreck Coast and Hinterland, Parks Victoria. Find out about his top tips for exploring the...

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Visit Great Ocean Road

Farm Stays - a fun holiday for everyone

Staying on a farm is a unique way to holiday! Not only do you have lots of fresh air, open space and cute farm animals to yourself, you might just...

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Visit Great Ocean Road

Tower Hill: A geological, wildlife and cultural wonder

Travel writer Silke was thrilled to find a dormant volcano near Warrnambool and to discover more about its geology and resident...

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Portland

Casterton - an inland trip worth exploring

If you’ve set up base in Portland for your summer holiday, you should know that there are some great inland day trips you can take to mix up your...

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Portland

Moonscapes & Mystical Caves

This stretch of the Great Ocean Road is much less visited than the icons to the east but rewards the intrepid traveller with some incredible sights...

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Otways

Only have 48hrs in the Otways? Here's your guide.

The Otways is enchanting, captivating, picturesque and just two hours west of Melbourne. If you’ve only got 48-hours to spend in the area,...

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Warrnambool

10 Outings with the kids in Warrnambool

Warrnambool is a fantastic family-friendly destination. with bucket loads of things to do, from exciting locations to explore to wildlife and...

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Warrnambool

First time visiting Warrnambool? Here's your ultimate guide.

There’s lots to see, do and experience in Warrnambool, so we’ve hand-picked a few essential need-to-knows to settle you into your beach...

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Torquay

A Nurtured Environment

The entirety of the Surf Coast region is renowned for its pristine environment and there’s a strong local culture that has created...

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Aireys Inlet

Must do's in Aireys Inlet

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Aireys Inlet

Get a feel for Aireys Inlet

Aireys Inlet, a gorgeous coastal hamlet, gateway to the peaceful curves of the Great Ocean Road and the dramatic nature of the Great Otway National...

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Apollo Bay

Let the locals guide you in Apollo Bay

The team at Great Ocean Road Escapes are all locals, so it’s only natural that they suggest their favourite places to eat, shop and explore to...

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Aireys Inlet

Aireys Inlet - it's closer than you think!

Aireys Inlet is one of my favorite destinations on the Great Ocean Road. It’s under 2 hours from Melbourne (even less from Ballarat) and I can...

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Female touching the dry stone walls with Mount Elephant in the background
Volcanic Lakes & Plains

Nature in the North

As residents of the area, how lucky we are to be used to the sight of rolling green hills, quaint towns and dramatic...

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Port Fairy

Tower Hill: A geological, wildlife and cultural wonder

It is hard to drive past Tower Hill Reserve on the highway from Warrnambool to Port Fairy and not be...

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Join a tour

Kangaroo Tours at the Anglesea Golf Club

Anglesea

Honu Honi Surf Camp

Torquay

Nature Wellness Co. Forest Therapy

Tower Hill

Australian Walking Company

Johanna

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism

Breakaway Creek

Worn Gundidj at Tower Hill

Koroit

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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.