The Great Ocean Road
Essay by Jai Long & Photography by Jai Long, Mitch Clark, & Jackson Thomas
Escape. It means something different to everyone. When city life becomes banal and claustrophobic, the facebook feed refresh no longer brings a tingle of excitement and the curtain cloaking the charade that is television has fallen away, we gather our things and head out into the wilderness searching for fresh, crisp creative inspiration.
One weekend, in the company of good friends, we decided to journey down the Great Ocean Road, away from wifi and out of ever-present cellphone reception. For three days we drove the winding stretch of coast, beginning just an hour south of Melbourne and stretching toward the South Australian border.
From the flat dry plains surrounding Melbourne the steep forested hills of the Victorian South coast provide such a contrast. As we drove we looked up toward tree lined peaks towering high above framed by crisp blue sky, down to the surf crashing on the rocky coast far below.
The Great Ocean Road down to Apollo Bay hides a surprising number of beautiful seaside towns tucked away into the folds of the hills. Both Lorne and Apollo Bay itself proved fantastic for exploration as the small towns found along this stretch of coast provide a haven for city based weekend warriors. As a result, the quirky café culture of Melbourne has found its way south. We found not just isolated country towns, but treasure troves of tasty treats and small trinkets paired with a relaxed atmosphere only truly found when you are surrounded by nature.
Armed with multiple cameras and plenty of film, we spent much our time at the beach rugged up against a chill wind. The evenings were spent circling the camp fire under the dark night sky, sharing stories and bad jokes, embracing the companionship so easily forgotten in a media soaked world.
Expand the horizon. Escape
“The evenings were spent circling the camp fire under the dark night sky, sharing stories and bad jokes, embracing the companionship so easily forgotten in a media soaked world.”
