Great Ocean Road

It’s hard to beat a beautiful ocean view with the sun streaming in through the open windows. Even when my reveries were occasionally interrupted by Francesco’s singing along with the radio, it was a great way to spend a couple of days and explore the country. The entire road is breath-taking, but if I had to pick my favourite part, it would be the stretch from Lorne to Apollo Bay. Fortunately, there are plenty of spots to stop and enjoy the scenery or take photographs. Francesco and I were happy just to see it. There’s also a striking, eerie beauty to the Shipwreck Coast, a treacherous stretch where almost 700 ships met their end in the 1800s and 1900s. Remains of some of these are visible (without putting yourself in any danger!) at Wreck Beach and other spots along the coast. Eventually, Francesco and I decided to park the van and do some walking along the coast. The Great Ocean Walk gave us much closer views of thick forests and rugged sea cliffs. We’ve managed to see Australia’s incredible wildlife at nearly every stop, and the Great Ocean Road was no exception. Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve was a great experience—we got to hang out with koalas, kangaroos, and emus, just to name a few. Cape Bridgewater is home to hundreds of seals, and you’ve probably noticed by now that I have a thing for seals!