The Loch Ard Gorge, A Great Ocean Geotourism Destination

The Loch Ard Gorge

The Loch Ard Gorge is one of the best-loved stop-off points along the Great Ocean Road. It’s situated in the Port Campbell National Park and is just three minutes from the world-famous formation of the Twelve Apostles. The picturesque gorge is home to a smooth, pearlescent bay and an inlet of clear, blue water. It’s flanked by two yellow-washed cliff faces and a landscape of vibrant greenery. It looks like something out of a storybook and has a colorful history that spans back hundreds of years. See The Loch Ard Gorge in Map.

Loch Ard Gorge on the Great Ocean Road is a world-famous coastline along with the 12 Apostles. Loch Ard Gorge has situated 1km west of the 12 Apostles some 250km southwest of Melbourne. Loch Ard Gorge is a treasure trove of natural beauty, coastal wilderness, and maritime history. Geotourists can wander the trails, and explore the blowholes, offshore limestone stacks, and towering cliffs. Visit at dusk to watch the short-tailed shearwaters (muttonbirds) fly home.

Geology of The Loch Ard Gorge, Australia

The spectacular cliffs and coastal formations of the Port Campbell National Park and Loch Ard Gorge are made of soft limestone that is under constant attack by marine erosion, both wind, and water. During the Miocene period, the sea level was much higher than it is today. The coastline at that time was as far inland as Hamilton and Ballarat (over 100km inland from the current shoreline). Formation of the limestone rock began under the sea with the Deposition of marine animals’ skeletons – mainly shellfish and calcium-rich algae – collecting on the seafloor.

Loch Ard Gorge Shipwreck

in the year 1878, a large clipper ship engraved with the name Loch Ard beached on nearby Muttonbird Island after a tumultuous journey from England. the name Loch Ard gorge is derived from the ship’s name. It was said that the ship enters the waters of Port Campbell on the dark night 1st of June. Before they even realized it, the ship was in shallow waters, colliding with a rock reef and running aground near Mutton Bird Island. Unfortunately, only two of the fifty-four passengers survived one of them a nineteen-year-old sailor named Tom Pearce, and the other an Irish citizens Eva Carmichael, who was traveling with her family.

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Loch Ard not only has an interesting backstory, but it has also been featured in many fictional stories, including The Pirate Movie, which was filmed in 1982, and the 1999 TV series Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge is a clear example of the process of erosion in Port Campbell National Park. Due to the erosion, Loch Ard Gorge collapsed back in June 2009. The two unconnected pillars have been named Eva and Tom after the two teenage survivors of the Loch Ard shipwreck.

Activities at Loch Ard Gorge

The Loch Ard Gorge is surrounded by a jagged cliff of limestone, with a beautiful sea breeze, and acres of bushland. Trekking along the coastlands with countless walking paths is a perfect way to expend some time in Loch Ard Gorge’s natural setting. A 900 meters trail loops around the crushed rock and bitumen surface, with ocean views and attractions such as the Razorback and Island Arch, is the quickest and easier walking track in the area.

London Bridge

Geotourist can take a short drive to the great ocean road from the twelve apostles just beyond port Campbell, and discover these unique and spectacular rock formations. visitors can also see the little Penguins come to Ashore at dusk from London bridge.  Lookout of coastal vistas framed by the charming Grotto and the Arch balanced on a rock platform smashed by waves are amazing experiences.

The Grotto

The Grotto is a cave and Sinkhole located about halfway up the limestone cliff, from sea level. The paved pathway leads to a decked staircase that descends into a viewing area. Enjoy the view of the rock pools carved out in the jagged limestone and coastal erosion feature.

Twelve Apostles

The World’s famous Twelve Apostles Are the Unusual highlights of the Equally famous Great Ocean Road. View these Limestone Sea Stacks at Sunset for a Quieter and more spectacular experience. And be sure to walk the short trail to Gibson steps for a great view from the beach.

Port Campbell National Park

Port Campbell National park or Loch Ard Gorge national park Includes many features such as the Great Ocean Road fascinating view, the world-famous Twelve Apostles, one mighty rock stack, and a stunning sandy beach enclosed by sheer yellow-colored limestone cliffs. The nearby Mutton Bird Island hosts daily wildlife spectaculars place. The Loch Ard Gorge beach is one of the few places in the Port Campbell National Park where you can actually enjoy fun activities. From down on the shoreline, encircled by the crumbling gorge walls tourists can get a real feel for the power of this coastline.

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The sea waves break heavily along the beach and sheer cliffs that look awe-inspiring and imposing. Along the back wall, visitors can also see the cave where Tom and Eva sheltered after making it to shore. To access the beach, take the stairs to the right of the main lookout point and Avoid standing too close to the cliffs they are very unstable and rocks may collapse.

The Razorback rock formation is an impossibly thin, half-crescent-shaped sliver of limestone rock jutting out of the ocean. The constant battering of the rock by the winds and the ocean has shaped jagged lines and smooth curves along the sandstone, giving it a totally unique beauty.

How to get there

Loch Ard Gorge is a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road. There is a more direct route along the Princes Highway via Colac.  Loch Ard Gorge is a five-minute drive along the Great Ocean Road from the Twelve Apostles and a 10-minute drive from Port Campbell.