Great Ocean Road
The entire serene and spectacular southwestern coast of Victoria, from Torquay east to Portland, is encompassed by the Great Ocean Road (GOR) region, though the road itself is just the 200km stretch that links Torquay to Warrnambool before being absorbed by the Princes Highway. The Victoria government, in tribute to Australians who died in World War I, commissioned the coastal highway with the intention of creating one of the world’s greatest drives. By all accounts, they succeeded, carving a route that winds between misty temperate rainforests and the unearthly pillars, stone arches, and gorges sculpted by the Southern Ocean.
The 73km stretch from Anglesea to Apollo Bay is particularly striking, as the moist ocean winds confront the brooding forest barrier of the Otway Ranges.
Related Travel Information
The Kimberley
Pressed between the Indian Ocean and the Great Sandy Desert, the Kimberley's 320,000 square kilometers of rough, raw tropical bush are broken only by unpredict¬able rivers, magnificent boulder-stacked cliffs, and tiny pockets of settlement. Only rugged souls venture past the beach mecca of Broome, but those who do are rewarded by a wilderness experience they won't soon forget. Occupying the entire northern end of Western Australia, the Kimberley is accessible from the rest of the state by flights to Broome or via a long, lonely desert highway from Port Hedland, and from the Northern Territory via Routes 1 and
Tweed Heads
Tweed Heads is a wonderland of tourist attractions catering for the needs of everyone.
Within a one hour drive of Tweed Heads are a number of National Parks including Mt Warning, Nightcap and Border Ranges, National Parks, all lying to the west. Each of these parks feature some of the great aspects of Australia's geological past in its volcanic plugs.
Closer in, a visit to the Minjungbal Aboriginal Museum. The museum gives a great insight into the aboriginal culture of the area from thousands of years prior to the arrival of Europeans.
In addition, the museum displays modern
Great Eastern Highway
The drive from Perth to Kalgoorie along the Great Eastern Highway is long (nearly 600km) and uneventful. The first hour heading east from Perth winds through the city's suburbs and the Swan River Valley, then up a steep slope into the Darling Range; you may encounter nasty traffic near the city. Road trains rule this highway; beware of wide loads bearing machinery, farm equipment, and even buildings on the truck bed. The last hard stretch between the tiny town of Southern Cross (really no more than a wide spot in the highway) and Coolgardie is 200km of very
Victoria
Victoria may be mainland Australia's smallest state, but it's blessed with far more than its share of fantastic attractions of the cultural, natural, and historical varieties. Its environment runs the gamut from the dry and empty western plains of the Mallee to the inviting wineries along the fertile banks of the Murray River, from the ski resorts of the Victorian Alps to the forested parks of the Gippsland coast. The capital of the state and the cultural center of the nation, sleek and sophisticated Melbourne overflows with stained glass and elaborate iron latticework. Its multifarious districts offer verdant gardens, eclectic
YORKE PENINSULA
On this peninsula west of Adelaide, rolling farmland is punctuated by sandy coves, and sheer cliffs plunge into sheltered bays of the Southern Ocean. The northern half of the Yorke primarily features copper mining history. The towns of Kadina, Moonta, and Wallaroo comprise the Copper Triangle, about a 90-minute drive from Ade¬laide's center. These towns offer the most to see and do, with beach access for when you get tired of mining lore. Many travelers head further south, however, for the spectacular ocean views, pleasant surfing beaches, and gorgeous camping of Innes National Park. The Yorke's southern tip is
