Great Ocean Road & The Grampians - Victoria driving holiday itinerary ideas

The Great Ocean Road region hugs the contours of Victoria's rugged south west coast and offers visitors one of Australia's greatest and most spectacular coastal drives.

Start your journey in Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula and discover beautiful beaches, great eateries, a fascinating heritage and an enormous range of recreational opportunities from fishing and golfing to diving and surfing. Take in the colourful and lively ambience of bayside Geelong, Victoria's second largest city, or visit quaint Queenscliff and discover the town's rich maritime history, excellent restaurants and heritage hotels.

Along the coast, seaside resort towns such as Lorne and Apollo Bay are the perfect base for a seaside escape. They offer stunning beaches and water sports as well as some of Australia's best rainforest scenery in the nearby Otway Ranges.

One of the most visited stretches of the road is Port Campbell. Buffeted by wild seas and fierce winds, the coastline around Port Campbell has been sculpted over millions of years to form a series of striking rock stacks that rise out of the Southern Ocean. Known as the Twelve Apostles, they are one of the most spectacular natural attractions in Victoria.

The Great Ocean Road region also has a rich maritime past. Historic towns such as Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Portland allow you to enjoy seafaring village life, with their fishing wharves, beautifully preserved colonial buildings and maritime museums recounting the stories of ships that have foundered off the rugged shipwreck coast.

The Great Ocean Road is one of the world's most scenic coastal drives. The road extends from Torquay in the east to Nelson in the west with the stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay being the most picturesque. Huge cliffs, towering rock stacks, raging surf, tranquil bays, beautiful beaches, lush forests and fun filled resort towns are all part of the experience.

There are plenty of touring "add-ons" to expand the Great Ocean Road experience whether travelling further inland to the Grampians National Park and the Goldfields, across Victoria's western border to south east South Australia or around Port Phillip Bay in the east taking in the Bellarine and Mornington peninsulas. Call into Visitor Information Centres along the way for maps, official Visitor Guides and local advice.

Halls Gap is the main tourist hub in the heart of the Grampians. The picturesque town is set in the Fyans Valley at the foot of the of Wonderland and Mount William ranges and is the perfect place from which to explore the Grampians National Park, one of Victoria's most outstanding natural features.

The town is within easy reach of many natural attractions including unique rock formations, scenic lookouts and waterfalls. The area is popular with lovers of outdoor activities, from bushwalking and abseiling, to fishing and canoeing. Whether you are seeking a relaxing escape or wilderness adventure, Halls Gap provides everything you need for an enjoyable holiday.

From the local village stores, the taste tempting wineries and the colourful galleries, to the majesty of the Grampians National Park, with its wildflowers and waterfalls, Halls Gap is the heart of this region.

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