Don’t Miss Loch Ard Gorge

The 12 Apostles are one of Victoria’s popular tourist attractions, finding a regular place on travel advertisements and tourist trips. However, only a stone’s throw further down the Great Ocean Road is a natural attraction that I think is even more magnificent and worthy of a visit… Loch Ard Gorge! The golden sand contrasts the stone cliffs and blue water, whilst a natural canyon frames the beach, creating a beautiful setting.

Considerations:

Get the camera ready! Loch Ard Gorge is super photogenic so make the most of it!
Bring a picnic: Loch Ard Gorge is a beautiful amphitheatre for nature, and a great spot to throw a picnic rug and relax.
Travel time: Loch Ard Gorge is a 2.5-3.5 hour trip from Melbourne, so make sure to factor this into your trip time. Staying along the Great Ocean Road, possibly at Lorne, Apollo Bay or Port Campbell are excellent options to reduce the travel time.
Swimming: you can swim at Loch Ard Gorge, however, word of warning, the beach is unsupervised (no lifeguards) and is a surf beach (even though it is protected by the gorge). Tess and I had a little dip when we ventured down, however I wouldn’t advise it for kids, or those that aren’t strong swimmers e.g. swim at your own risk.