The Great Ocean Road
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Posted On :
Feb-28-2010
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Article Word Count :
551
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Australia is a fantastic place to live or to visit, with a host of different views, attraction, wildlife and climates. From the spectacular beaches to the amazing Blue Mountains and the large cities such as Sydney, there's truly something for everyone and you can never get bored. One place in Australia that's famous and makes a great place to visit is the great ocean road.
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Australia is a fantastic place to live or to visit, with a host of different views, attraction, wildlife and climates. From the spectacular beaches to the amazing Blue Mountains and the large cities such as Sydney, there's truly something for everyone and you can never get bored. One place in Australia that's famous and makes a great place to visit is the great ocean road.
The great ocean road is a winding stretch of road spanning 243 km along the south eastern coast of Australia. Much like route 44 and other famous roads in large countries, the great ocean road is synonymous with the area, the most practical way to reach a whole host of sites, and now a tourist attraction and a site to behold in its own right – rich with history and impressive in its size and appearance. Along the coastline it is also the home of some breathtaking views and is a great scenic coastline drive.
The great ocean road stretches between the Victorian cities of Torquay to Warnambool and was originally built by the returning soldiers at the end of World War One as a testament to their fellow service men. In particular it was dedicated to the dead, making it a place with important heritage and even sentimentality for some. Previously it was designated as a State Route 100.
The idea spans back to before the some 3,000 servicemen (also known as 'Diggers' in regional dialect) returned from battle to construct the road and was suggested as early as 1864. However it was not until 1919 that the construction began, and not until 1932 that it was eventually completed. Construction was trickiest around the steep coastal mountains, and was completed in stages, with the section spanning from Eastern View to Lorne being finished in 1922.
Most of the road stays parallel to the coast, with the amazing views of Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean providing a large part of the coast's charm. One of the most scenic areas for tourists is between Anglesea and Apollo Bay, which also passes through many towns. Near Port Campbell too, the unusual rock formations of the limestone and sandstone provide some amazing forms, the most famous being The Twelve Apostles. One particularly interesting formation beard a striking appearance to London Bridge in England and was so named, however the bridge partly collapsed leading to the new title of 'London Arch'.
As well as beaches however, the road also provides other types of scenery, particularly forest and mountain sections. Near Lorne for example are many forest sections that can be stopped at for enjoyable forest walks which also feature impressive waterfalls. In Kennett River many a tourist has enjoyed koala spotting. Passing through the Great Otway you can also experience some of the last temperate rainforests of Southern Australia, teaming with wildlife and presenting spectacular views of tree-ferns and myrtle beaches. You will also pass through various national and state parks. At Melba Gully State Park is one of the most enjoyable 40 minute walks through the aforementioned ferns and myrtle beeches. This walk also encompasses the Australian Blackwoods and passing through a giant Otway Messmate where by night you can see thousands of glow worms.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The Great Ocean Road_12118.aspx
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Author Resource :
great ocean road tours are a great way to see many of the major attractions along this beautiful stretch of coastline. Many tour operators also combine these with nearbyGrampians tours.
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Keywords :
great ocean road tours, grampian tours,
Category :
Travel and Leisure
:
Travel Tips
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