There are many spectacular and challenging rides along the Great Ocean Road. I often base myself at Lorne where you can ride to Anglesea and back, Apollo Bay and back as well as several rides over the Otway ranges that hug the coastline for many kilometres.
Anglesea To Lorne (approx 60 km return trip)
Riding along the coast road (Great Ocean Road) is unmatched for spectacular coastal scenery. It commences at Torquay and follows the coast nearly all the way to Warrnambool.
Riding from Anglesea gives you a taste of what is to come, with a short sharp climb out of the town with some great views at the top. A gentle descent takes you to undulating road which hugs the coastline. Just past Aireys Inlet, there is the magnificent beach of Fairhaven where you can sometimes see Southern Right wales in June to October. The beach extends for a couple of kilometres and passing Eastern View where the memorial arch is constructed, commemorating the efforts of the workmen who constructed this amazing road without the heavy machinery available today. (Click on the picture at left for more pictures).
At the end of Eastern View a winding 1.5 km climb takes you up to the spectacular view at Cinema Point.
Lorne to Apollo Bay (approximately 96km return trip)
The ride from Lorne (a popular tourist destination) to Apollo Bay (about 48km) has all kinds of terrain, from undulating road winding along the coast to short sharp hills, always made harder by the prevailing winds. Along the way you are treated to stunning coastal view from several lookouts. This is my favourite ride.
Lorne to Bambra (via Deans Marsh approximately 65km return)
Heading up the Deans Marsh Road leads to 11 km of continual climbing (up to 427 metres). This is a good test as it is constant climbing. I try to beat my previous time to the top which makes it very hard. From the top there is undulating road before a steep descent to Deans Marsh (have to climb this on the way back).
The road to Bambra is undulating until a steep climb of about 1 km up to Bambra. For a longer ride you can continue on to Winchelsea which adds about 40 km to the return trip.
Lorne to Lorne via Deans Marsh and Forrest (approximately 125 km)
This is a very hard ride with lots of climbing. Lorne to Deans Marsh is described above. From Deans Marsh the road is undulating through farming land with a few short sharp climbs until you reach Forrest. From there the road goes skywards, with nearly all climbing (about 18 km) until about 10 km from Skenes Creek where you experience the most spectacular descent into Skenes Creek. The views from up here are to be seen to be believed. You have to be careful not to run off the road!
From Skenes Creek the return to Lorne will see you make several 1 to 2 km climbs, often with the wind in your face and many, many more short rises. By the time you reach Lorne you will know you have been on a ride.
Apollo Bay onwards
Leaving Apollo Bay, you head straight up on a long, long climb through the Otway National Park before descending to the coast following a river along the flat plain. At Johanna Beach is the commencement of a tough climb up to Lavers Hill. From here a long steep and winding descent takes you back to the coast.
Along this section of coast, called the Shipwreck Coast after the number of old sailing ships that foundered there, you will find undulating roads and usually a strong wind blowing. It is from here to Port Campbell that some of Victoria's most famous tourist landmarks can be found; the Twelve Apostles, the Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge (which recently really did fall down!).
