Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Information
Visitor Centre
(16/87 Great Ocean Rd; 9am-5pm)
On the river, this small information centre is the
first point of contact for many visitors along the Great Ocean Road, with useful info and
maps.
Getting There & Away
The new Geelong bypass has reduced the time it takes to drive from Melbourne to Angle-
sea to around 75 minutes.
GREAT OCEAN ROAD HISTORIC MARKERS
Work on the Great Ocean Road began in September 1919, and the road between Anglesea and Apollo Bay was
completed in 1932. It was an effort that involved more than 3000 workers, mostly returned WWI soldiers, with
initial construction done by hand, using picks, shovels and crowbars.
On the road from Torquay to Lavers Hill, keep an eye out for 13 bronze plaques that tell the story of its con-
struction, most with spectacular views that are great photo ops. At Eastern View (just after Fairhaven en route to
Lorne) you'll find the
Diggers
sculpture, which sits beneath the historic Memorial Arch and depicts an ex-WWI
soldier labourer.
For further info on its construction visit the Great Ocean Road National Heritage Centre (
Click here
) in Lorne.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Aireys Inlet & Around
POP 1200
Aireys Inlet is midway between Anglesea and Lorne, and is home to glorious stretches of
beach, including
Fairhaven
and
Moggs Creek
. It's hard to beat a stroll along Fairhaven beach,
whether in winter or summer. In Aireys itself, the beaches are backed by tall, volcanic
cliffs, with tidal rock pools along the foreshore just below the lighthouse. A Surf Life Sav-
ing Club patrols the beach at Fairhaven during summer.
Sights & Activities
The lovely 3.5km
Aireys Inlet Cliff Walk
begins at Painkalac Creek, rounds Split Point and
makes its way to Sunnymead Beach. The
Surf Coast Walk
continues along the coast here -
pick up a copy of
Walks of Lorne & Aireys Inlet
from visitor centres.
