DAY TRIP: HOW GREAT IS THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD?

Pretty f*ckin great, I have to say! (Pardon the French). Judging from my happy jump below, I had a grand time, despite the long hours on the road. The GOC is a 4-hour drive from Melbourne, one-way. But don't let the long drive deter you from taking this trip (you can of course, spend a night or two along one of the Great Ocean Road's various accommodations).

The views on this road trip are enough to keep you awake and happily snapping for hours on end. So get those roadtrip tunes ready, camera charged and pointed at the window, and keep the happy vibe going (you're going to need it to survive the trip!).

We passed by Bell's Beach, apparently the birth place of surf brand, Rip Curl. Wild waves all around! We were the only ones there and it was very peaceful.

We saw the stunning Split Point Lighthouse and had tea at the cozy Willows tea room.

It was a cold, rainy morning, so the tea stop was a welcome relief. I wanted to stay in this stables & tearoom forever. Look at how quaint it is! It's a Pinterest-lover's wet dream!

Next stop was Mait's Rainforest Walk, an easy walkabout at Maits Rest in Otway, full of lovely ferns and rainforest trees that are 300 years old! I swear, there were fairies inside this old tree! ;-)

Coastal and rainforest views gave way to languid rural scenery ... I saw bales of hay for the first time! Yeah yeah, nothing to get excited about for most people; but seriously, this is the first time I've actually seen them in real life.

I became fascinated with Colac, Victoria - I felt like I was in a theme park or movie set with its 1950s / vintage-looking buildings! We just made a pit stop in this town for water and snacks, but I think it's worth checking the shops and architecture out if you're not on a tight schedule - if only to feel the nostalgia of the olden days. I even filtered the sh*t out of the pic to increase the nostalgia factor! ;-)

We passed by the famous Great Ocean Road archway and stopped for photo ops, of course! This is actually a memorial to pay tribute to the World War 1 servicemen who constructed this panoramic stretch of coastal highways.

Time passed like nothing because there were so many sights to see and stop for! Next thing I knew, we had arrived at our main destination. I could barely contain my excitement!

UTTERLY. BREATHTAKING. SOMEONE *PINCH* ME!​

There were originally 12 limestone stacks, but since these towering rock formations are being constantly buffeted by the harsh elements of nature, only 8 remain today.

The highest of the stacks is at 164 feet (50 meters)!

We followed a trail and went down some stairs, where we oohed and aahed over the beautiful Loch Ard Gorge which is surrounded by a picturesque cove punctuated by wild, wild waves.

Hiking under the heat of the Australian sun was no joke. Our guide told us to gulp down a liter of water just for this leg of the trip.

The intense sun made the colors all the more vivid, like the images were about to pop out of my camera!

*** JAW DROP ***

Goes without saying that my new-found friend, Lisa from Sweden, and I had to take selfies against the gorgeous backdrop!

Of course, a jump shot is involved!

​We also confirmed that London Bridge is definitely falling down.... I know, corny! :) I tried. This limestone stack previously resembled an actual bridge, but erosion caused the spans to fall down.

Road tripping down Australia's GOC offers some of the most spectacular sights I've ever seen. There aren't enough positive superlatives in the dictionary to fully capture the magnificence of this epic country with awe-inspiring sights at every twist and turn.

HAPPY TRAVELS! x

HOW TO TAKE THIS DAY TRIP:

GREAT OCEAN ROAD via Wild Wombat Escapes. Personalized service, comfortable ride with free pickup and drop-off, plus all the sights mentioned above all in one great day! I didn't think it was possible given the limited time I had but this tour was definitely worth the money.

#Australia