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The Great Ocean Road is acclaimed as one of the worlds most scenic drives. Hugging the water line where the Otway
Ranges plummet into the Southern Ocean along Victoria's rugged South West Coast. Officially it starts at Anglesea
and finishes near Warrnambool. Commonly the section from Anglesea to Apollo Bay is called
the Ocean Road and the section west of Apollo Bay to Warrnambool is referred to as the shipwreck coast.
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Anglesea is a popular coastal resort with many permanent residents due to its close proximity to Geelong, Victorias
largest regional city. The tarmac runs along the sandy beaches and the waters edge all the way to Apollo Bay. The
long flat straights are interrupted by undulating windy sections through Aireys Inlet and Fairhaven. Continuing toward
Lorne the bends increase rapidly as the road rises and falls with the lay of the land.
Lorne has some of the steepest streets in Victoria with the Otway ranges rising to Angahook
National Park.
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Continuing west the road soon becomes a shelf hugging the cliff face hundreds
of feet above the water twisting along the jagged coast. Small camping grounds dotted along the Great Ocean Road
are generally near river mouths where the road descends sweeping inland to a bridge crossing the river before
winding back 180 degrees and rising to the cliff face. Wye River has the first services past
Lorne with a pub, store and the caravan park is on the beach. The road continues winding along the oceans edge for
another 3 miles before reaching the 100 mile marker from Melbourne just before Kennett River. With a large caravan
park and general store it is a popular holiday retreat away from it all. Leaving Kennett River
the road rises again but the bends become less severe and the straights become longer approaching
Skenes Creek.
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This is where the Colac-Apollo Bay Road intersects with the Great Ocean Road.
Skenes Creek consists of a Caravan
Park on the beach, several accommodation facilities and holiday homes. The beaches are long and sandy for the
last few kilometres into the fishing village of
Apollo Bay. Travelling through
Marengo the road leaves the coast rising into the Otway Ranges toward Lavers Hill. Winding
over the mountains to traverse Cape Otway descending through Glenaire and Hourdon Vale before rising again. Still
climbing the road winds to a Tee intersection at Lavers Hill. Looking back over Cape Otway and Johanna is awe inspiring
from the top of the ridge.
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