No way Bells is bigger than Waimea, bro

I visited the beautiful Great Ocean Road (GOR) yesterday, made famous by things like the 12 Apostles, Bells Beach, London Bridge etc.

After heading out to Geelong and turning South, the GOR starts around about a place called Torquay. This town is often celebrated for being the home of Australia's 3 big surf brands: Rip Curl, Billabong & Quicksilver. But in fact the very humble beginnings of these companies was a little surf shack in the village of Anglesea up the coast from Torquay (see photos).

Of course this area attracted surfers due to the massive swell at Bells Beach. Ever since watching the movie Point Break at uni I have wanted to visit Bells Beach and see the massive surf for myself - up to 8 metres high I am told. It was up to about 0.75 metres the day I was there, and to add to that disappointment I learn that the beach used in Point Break was not actually the real Bells, plus the 50-year storm that Bodhi (Patrick Swazye) keeps banging on about is mythical as well. All lies!

The rest of the GOR made up for things though. Despite hitting some violent rain storms, the scenery was beautiful and dramatic. Erosion features like the 12 Apostles and London Bridge were definitely worth seeing.

In 1990 London Bridge fell down, quite literally. You can imagine from the photos below how it used to be attached to the mainland, and tour guides drove buses to the end of it. Luckily no one was crossing at the time of the collapse, although a couple were stranded out on the newly water-surrounded pinnacle. In no time the TV news helicopters were in the air beaming footage of these 2 unfortunates around the country and the world. It really wasn't their lucky day. Turns out they were both married to other people and were having an affair. Plus the guy had pulled a sickie from work that day. I know that he lost his job, but what happened to the 2 families involved I don't know. But I don't really care anymore, it's all water under the bridge.
Boom boom!! I'm here all week.

Great Ocean Road