Starting at the famous Bells Beach and finishing way down south on the Victorian border, the Great Ocean Road is one of the truly epic road trips in the world. Leaving Melbourne you will travel south through the sprawling industrial town of Geelong before arriving in 'Surf Town' Torquay, home to the Australian surfwear giants and the gateway to the spectacular coastline that lies ahead. From Bells Beach the road finds its way along ancient limestone cliffs, through the unspoiled rainforests of the Otways, past the imposing Twelve Apostles, and into the many seaside towns and villages bound together by their collective resistance to the passing of time. All the while heading westward towards South Australia and the gateway to the outback, where other adventures lie patiently waiting to be discovered.

Most also take the opportunity to visit the Grampians, a collection of lakes, mountains and bushland that form an impressive wilderness area. It's all about getting back to nature in the Grampians with just about anything to do with the great outdoors on offer here. If you are into hiking, climbing, horse riding, fishing or canoeing then you should definitely add the Grampians to your itinerary. For those of you who aren't into the whole 'Marlboro Man' trip there are also some wineries, art galleries and fine restaurants to satisfy the sophisticate in you.

This route is the recommended way to travel between Melbourne and Adelaide. To do it any other way would be to deny yourself one of the great journeys in this wide brown land. A number of tour companies have designed some really cool trips that combine both the Great Ocean Road and the Grampians. They all have subtle differences aimed at catering for every type of traveler.