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Step by Step Plan for a Great Ocean Road Australia Trip

By Kathleen Crislip, About.com

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Great Ocean Road Map

Great Ocean Road Map - Image of Australia's Shipwreck Coast West of Melbourne

Great Ocean Road Map

Where to stop on Australia's Great Ocean Road? Check out the Great Ocean Road map above: a Great Ocean Road tour is generally considered to run from Geelong or Torquay (east) to Warrnambool (west), where the road rejoins Princes Highway, or Port Fairy. If you're taking a tour bus down the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne (east on the Great Ocean Road map above), you're likely to stop along the way at these should-sees (noted on the Great Ocean Road map above):

  • Bells Beach -- your driver will likely tell you that the Keanu Reeves-Patrick Swayze surfer crime flick, Point Break, wasn't really filmed here, though the movie depicts Swayze facing the ultimate monster wave (supposedly) on this beauty beach. What is true: surfers really have swarmed this spot for decades, and great white sharks have been know to drop by for lunch.

  • Look for Australian animals like kangaroos at Anglesea, koalas, parrots and anteaters at Kennet Township, and penguins at Port Campbell National Park and Phillip Island.

  • Apollo Bay -- Stop in this cute and totally touristy town for lunch (your tour bus probably will).

  • Otway Lighthouse -- Read more about this historic lighthouse (stay overnight!); while you're at Cape Otway, do wander down the steps to admire the killer ocean view.

  • Otway National Park -- Wind into the mountains and rainforest (very cool) before heading back to ocean views.

  • Port Campbell National Park -- wow.

  • The Twelve Apostles -- See for yourself.

There's much more to see on the Great Ocean Road -- you'd need a lotta time to see it all. Start by finding a great Melbourne hostel as a base for seeing Victoria sights, or go to Great Ocean Road tour buses.

This map is a representative drawing only which should not be used as any kind of substitute for driving directions or accurate mapping, both of which can be found at Google maps.

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