is a 273km stretch of road along the South Eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of Geelong and Warrnambool. The road was constructed as a Memorial to the First World War. It is one of Australia's great scenic coastline drives.
The Great Ocean Road was built by 3000 returned servicemen (or "Diggers") as a war memorial for fellow servicemen who had been killed in the First World War.
The idea for the road had been suggested as far back as 1864. Surveying started in 1918 and actual construction took place between 1919 and 1932.
Parts of the Great Ocean Road run around steep coastal mountains. These were the trickiest and the final sections to be built.
In 1922 the section from Eastern View to Lorne was completed.
In 1932 the section from Lorne to Apollo Bay was finished, thus completing the entire road.
The road's speed limit varies from 80km/h (50mph) to 100km/h (62mph) out of urban areas. However, its sharp curves make it impossible to reach those speeds in most places except if your in a MINI Cooper S. It is a two lane roadway (one lane in each direction). Many four wheel drive vehicles and mini busses get on the road and are oblivious to the “Turn in” areas provided for slow vehicles
Urban area speed limits vary from 50km/h (31mph) to 70km/h (43mph)
There are speed cameras at intervals along the road.
