Leg 2: Apollo Bay to Port Fairy

Continue your journey west from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles, ancient limestone stacks that rise from the ocean. Erosion has created spectacular shapes in the nearby cliffs, including Loch Ard Gorge, the Arch, the Blowhole and London Bridge. Boardwalks lead to lookouts and great views of the coastline.

The coastline is dotted with plaques and signs that mark the places where more than 160 ships foundered along the aptly named Shipwreck Coast. Wreck Beach, just beyond the Twelve Apostles, marks the start of a trail where the anchors of two ships, the Marie Gabrielle (1869) and the Fiji (1891), are embedded in the beach.

Discover more about maritime history at Port Fairy, a busy fishing port and one of the state’s earliest settled coastal villages. Take the time to explore the town’s streets and over 50 nineteenth-century buildings classified by the National Trust.

This leg of the journey ends at Warrnambool, the only city on the Shipwreck Coast. Set on the edge of Lady Bay, Warrnambool boasts a colourful history, which can be explored at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum. Whales migrate along the part of the coastline and can be spotted from lookouts and on boat trips between May and October.