Foreshore fun
Torquay and Allansford, but often includes Port Fairy and Warrnambool. Spreading the journey over a week allows time to experience the seaside towns which dot the coastline. We base ourselves in Apollo Bay, a two-hour drive from home in Geelong, for a few days before travelling on to Adelaide.
We visit Bells Beach, home to the famous Rip Curl Pro surfing competition, on the southern outskirts of Torquay (a 75-minute drive southwest of Melbourne). With her brother napping with me in the car, Miss two-and-a-half has her grandparents and dad all to herself and is happily perched on top of the railings looking out at the rolling waves dotted with surfers.
There’s plenty to do in Torquay, from learning to surf with Go Ride a Wave, to visiting the Australian National Surfing Museum, the beach cafes or the nearby Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery. Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park is the only caravan park on the beachfront and is equipped with powered sites and a range of cabins. There’s also a jumping cushion, playground and games room for little ones to enjoy.
Moving on, we pause for a moment of reflection under the memorial arch signifying the start of the Great Ocean Road. Built by returned World War I servicemen, the arch was opened in 1932 in remembrance of those who died in The Great War.
On Christmas Day 2015, a fire swept through the region destroying 116 homes in the seaside towns of Wye River and Separation Creek. Patches of rejuvenating landscape are still clearly evident when we travel through. The drive to Apollo Bay hugs the rugged coastline, providing one spectacular view after another as we snake our way around each corner. These are winding roads so beware if you are prone to car sickness. The foreshore playground in Apollo Bay is a hit with our young