TravelMartIndia Blog

The Great Ocean Road trip ….in fact was very memorable …and from my perspective it’s a journey, not a destination.  The breath taking panoramic stretch…with the road running along the sea, mostly on cliff or mountain edges thru the way gives one a clear view of the magnificent coastline.   We stopped overnight at Apollo Bay, to stay at Chris’s Beacon Point Restaurant and Villas. The property is perched high on a hillside with a wonderful view of the coast.   We had dinner at Chris’s restaurant which looks down on the Southern Ocean below, with Apollo Bay’s harbour in the distance. 

 Chris was there personally to welcome us and they served us fabulous food and went out of the way to even whet my vegetarian appetite.   This place in fact is ideal place  for honeymooners and a must stop for those wanting to stay overnight during their Great Ocean Road Tour.  In the morning, after a lovely breakfast, we drove off, and on the way we had an opportunity to view the Twelve Apostles.  One of the highlights was the helicopter ride, this scenic helicopter flight for up to 3 people, and the ride took us  over the magnificent Twelve Apostles which stands alongside Victoria’s Great Ocean Road.  

 These iconic landmarks look even more incredible from the air!   The helicopter’s crew  were very friendly and even gave us headsets and mike, which enabled us to communicate with the Pilot and they also had this innovative  feature to capture our whole flight experience on DVD , which we could  take back as a mementoe.    My personal take on the Great Ocean Road trip, is that we as Tour Operators should market it  as an extension to our clients  visiting Melbourne and we should  try to sell it as a Self Drive option , as this will give our clients the flexibility to enjoy the fabulous sights and this will also give them the option of soaking in the complete .  

 Also in my view it should be sold as a min. 1 Night / 2 days option.

What comes to your mind when you think of Australia? The Opera House, the Sydney harbour or the sight of Kangaroos hopping around. Yet these world famous icons don’t do justice to the true scope of Australia’s natural treasures and its cultural diversity. It’s is a land of astonishing contrasts - from glittering nightlife of cosmopolitan cities to the serene ambience of the rugged outback. 

New South Wales’ capital, Sydney, sits on one of the most beautiful harbours in the world. Victoria offers everything -from rainforest and snow-capped mountains to sun baked outback and a stunning coastline. Queensland, home of the Great Barrier Reef, offers a vast variety of experiences, from tropical islands to rainforest to outback. South Australia is a state burgeoning with history, wine and wildlife. You can swim with dolphins in Western Australia, or tour historic towns and national parks bursting with wildflowers. And Tasmania’s dramatic mountains, sweeping coastal plains, dense forests and pristine beaches are never far from reach.

For an avid traveller, Australia offers intriguing possibilities, from the drama of the outback and the exquisite marine life of the Great Barrier Reef to the lush greenery of the ancient rainforests.  It is this sheer vastness and the friction between the ancient lands steeped in Aboriginal lore and the New World cultures being heaped upon it, which gives Australia much of its character.

For a slice of perpetually blue skies, unspoilt beaches, rugged outback and abundant wildlife you have to visit this land down under-Australia.