Verglas Blog: The Great Ocean Drive

The only time when you truely get to know yourself, recognise your abilities, appreciate your independence and how much your other half has positively influenced you is when you really soar alone.

Concurring The Great Ocean drive with just another girlfriend. All the road safety trainings, smooth lane changing and bends navigating that he has put me through. And how many times I whined for him to take over a parallel parking back in Singapore and he did. I couldnt whine to Cherrie, could I? ;p

Driving is easy. Driving smoothly is not.

I was bad at navigating the super sharp bends that appear 3 metres from each other though. It made the wheels return sharp. I will work on that ;) meanwhile, the 5 hour long drive, has made me very very satisfied. Being on holiday without your other half gives you nobody to fall back on. You tend to take things in your own hands and become an independent soul on your own.

So on to our little unplanned adventure. There's nothing much to plan except for checking out the weather - everyday (weather forecasts change), scrolling though the web for the sights that you want to see - for us, that was mainly The Twelve Apostles. And unless you wanted to book an accom in the mountains, then you book early. Get water, mints and snacks for the drive. Pack sandwiches too if you must, to do picnic!

Maps will be available at the airport or along visitor's stops along the Great Ocean Road. The only navigation you need is from the airport (car pickup) to Geelong. Simple as that. From Geelong, there will be signs that guide you to The Great Ocean Road. For sea views, take the route that brings you to Torquay, Anglesea, Lorne, Apollo Bay. Thereafter you can choose to stop at any of the many scenic stops along the way.

A map I just got from Google images

Car rentals are available across the airport terminal. There are 4-5 rental companies. It gets cheaper down the row. So check out different rates and their car models available. If you like to plan and book in advance, you could too. We are just impromptu and not many people can take to that ;) BUT BUT BUT sometimes it is good to plan wayyy in advance because there are special promotions for big rides like Audi, beemer convertible at really special rates! We missed our chance. But luckily though, cos the wind blows so strongly, we wouldnt have opened the roof at all ^_^

GPS is optional. We paid AUD 13 each day for that. It is redundant though. Iphone google maps are more reliable, and free. Optus prepaid cards at AUD 29.95 gives you free 500mb surfing plus sms and calls! Just remember to bring along a car charger for the Iphone, fill it up with songs and you are good to rock the mountains!

Our Lancer ride, with full tank

Check for scratches before you ride it off! Additional scratches are chargeable! And nope! we didnt have any! ;p;p

Fill up your own tank - There is a mackers right outside the airport. So we took a brekkie. This limited edition wrap is yumtums! Has got bacon, eggs and hashbrown inside!

From there, navigate to Geelong.

There was a Surf City selling all surf brands. We had a stopover. You could do your last minute shopping of wetsuits and surfboards here if you intend to surf at the beaches along the GOR!

We arrived at Bell Beach. Surfers were having a ball of a time! But it was freaking cold at 21 degree celsius and strong winds blowing at 25km/hr?!?! We stayed all wrapped in the comfort of our warm fabrics.

Lookout point

And here's a view of the long road ahead

Next stop - hunger brings you to stop. I think this was at Anglesea, a minitown along the GOR. There are many mini towns along the way that you can stopover to visit the toilets, stock up on foods and drinks. Lunch was done by the car! Loves rustic experiences like these! Im sucha sucker for cheap thrills! Super yummy chicken strips!

And the toilet here is made for women's excuses!

Hey! We were dressed in theme!

Along the drive, expect to hit your brakes for horses crossing the road...

Pulled another stopover to read the history of this post-war time structure..

And lem over the mountain houses...I wonder who lives here...

The road is not as freaky as it seems..there are barricades to ease those psychological tensions built from driving along the cliff!

But the bends were sharp.like.this!

You will need to have a trusty driving buddy! (who concentrates on the road when you are camwhoring around in the car!) There is another set of pictures of us in swopped positions in the dark. Cher has it. And I was focusing on the road too!