The Shipwreck Coast has Victoria's most spectacular coastline; from the rugged cliffs and rock formations of the Great Ocean Road, to broad sandy surf beaches and wide, sweeping bays fringed by rocky ledges formed from the lava of ancient volcanoes.
Calm, peaceful and hauntingly blue on lazy summer days, or seething with incredible power and violence during winter storms, the Southern Ocean is an ever-changing vista.
Partnered by wind, rain, and eons of time, the sea sculpts the cliff-faces and offshore rock stacks, forming fantastic stone sentinels that include the Twelve Apostles and Island Arch, eventually destroying its own handiwork as the undercut limestone and sandstone tumbles into rubble or disappears forever under the waves. The latest casualty is one of the famous 12 Apostles, which collapsed and reduced the actual count of these huge offshore rock stacks to only eight.
The crisp freshness of the Ocean meets warm yellow sand along the beaches of the Coast. Popular beachside centres such as Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Port Campbell attract thousands of holidaymakers annually for swimming, skindiving, surfing and sailboarding.
There's a beach to suit everyone, from family-friendly shallow bays, to big wave surfing spots that will challenge the most committed surfer.
The rocks and caves of the coast are home to seals, penguins, bats and a host of bird life. Some colonies and nesting areas are protected, but visitors can see penguins up close on Warrnambool's Middle Island, spot seals diving from the rocks of Lady Julia Percy Island, and watch shearwaters (or 'mutton-birds') returning to their nests on Port Fairy's Griffiths Island.
The Shipwreck Coast is a destination that will leave you with lasting memories.
