Lofty rank for GOR travel experience

A LEADING travel guide has endorsed the Great Ocean Road’s bona fides as one of Australia’s best travel destinations.

Travel publisher Lonely Planet listed the tourist thoroughfare fourth in its ranking of the country’s top 500 must-see destinations.

Editors, designers, writers, staff, celebrities, and Lonely Planet readers cast their votes for their favourite locations and experiences across the country to produce its Ultimate Australia Travel List.

The book spruiked a host of natural attractions and activities available to visitors to the region for Torquay’s famous road.

“This is one of the world’s bucket-list drives, a 243-kilometre blockbuster of breathtaking coastal vistas, koala-speckled gums, nostalgic holiday towns and rolling dairy farms,” an extract said.

The Great Ocean Road ranked behind Uluru, Hobart’s Museum of New Art and the Great Barrier Reef.

Other Surf Coast attractions to feature included Torquay’s Australian Surf Museum at 278, Bells Beach at 415, and Anglesea Golf Club at 448.

Otway locations also featured, including the Great Ocean Walk starting at Apollo Bay at 70, Wildlife Wonders at 464 and Otway Fly Treetop Adventures at 473.

Further along the Great Ocean Road, the Twelve Apostles ranked 17th, and Cape Otway Lightstation came in at 118.

Lonely Planet Publications director Chris Zeiher said the list aimed to encourage travel from local and international visitors to tick off items from the bucket list.

“So many guides are about places, but this is about the unexpected hidden gems – the most memorable, beautiful, and totally compelling experiences.

“We’re thrilled to launch this and can’t wait to get the conversation started about the ranking and everyone’s favourite places.”