Along with Ayre’s Rock and The Great Barrier Reef, The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s unmissable sights. DriveNow report on the best stop offs along the 250km route…

The Great Ocean Road is an Australian national heritage area which is roughly a 250-km stretch of road built along the south coast of Victoria between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Allansford. It was built by soldiers returning from the warfront between 1919 and 1932. The road is dedicated to the memory of the soldiers killed during World War I, making this road the world’s largest war memorial. Winding through the terrain along the coast, the 250-km drive would take you through different surf places, National parks, and provide access to several prominent landmarks such as the Twelve Apostles limestone stack formations.

Start by booking a Melbourne campervan rental from DriveNow as the Great Ocean Road drive usually begins at Torquay. Torquay is a seaside town that is bordered on the west by Spring Creek whose coastal features include Point Danger and Zeally Bay. Because it’s a seaside area, Torquay lives and breathes surfing and is known as the cradle of surfing in Victoria. You’ll be sure to enjoy the monster waves at the iconic spot at Bells Beach. If you’re more of a scuba diver or snorkeling fan, then head over to Split Point Lighthouse, where a variety of marine life can be seen at the 17-hectare Eagle Rock Marine Sanctuary.

Move over to Lorne where you can visit the waterfalls of the Great Otway National park, or have a look see at the Cape Otway lighthouse and enjoy some time in sun at one of the beaches. This is where you may see the famous Twelve Apostles, the Shipwreck Coast and Warrnambool, a place where one can do whale watching from May to October.

Drive over to Apollo Bay where one will need to go through hills of wondrous rainforest, surrounded by turquoise beaches. Big4 Apollo Bay Pisces Holiday Park and Skenes Creek Beachfront Park are brilliant camping grounds where you may park your RV as you enjoy the scenery around you.

Fully recharged, you may now head over to Coonwarra, known as being the red wine centre, located in the Limestone Coast of south Australia. Get a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon wines which is produced on its “terra rossa” soil. After which, go drive over to Robe which a popular fishing spot and get some lobster for dinner.

Now that you’ve had your fill of wine and lobsters, driving to the next stop should be a slow and easy. Victor Harbor is known as a popular destination with South Australian high school graduates for their end of year celebrations, known colloquially as schoolies. Here you may see Granite Island, home to a large colony of little penguins; Cockle Train heritage railway, runs steam locomotive and other antique train services between Victor Harbor and Goolwa stations.

Your last stop of the Great Ocean Road is Allansford. But don’t forget to visit McLaren Vale wine region to taste and buy wines, olives, cheeses and berries or hike the Heysen Coastline Trail before driving home to savor this wonderful road adventure.