Latest News
CIRCUIT BREAKER ASSISTANCE, UPDATED RESTRICTIONS & MORE
Monday, February 22nd 2021 Read Industry Update in Full It is great to start the week with good news; Commencement of vaccine roll-out A zero-day...
COVIDSafe SUMMER
Access the slides and stakeholder pack from the recent COVIDSafe Summer webinar held 17 Dec 2020. The presentation covered the following, which you...
WAKE UP TO THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD
Calling on our Communities to Support our Businesses Locals can all help to rebuild our visitor economy, and Councils and Great Ocean Road Regional...
THE VOLCANIC LAKES AND PLAINS: VICTORIA’S BEST KEPT SECRET IS OUT IN THE OPEN
A project to create awareness of an area that has not been widely promoted to visitors in the past is about to launch. The Volcanic Lakes and Plains...
FREE MARKETING SUPPORT FOR ALL BUSINESSES
Digital Marketing Package for all Tourism Businesses in the Great Ocean Road Region Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism, in collaboration with...
TELEVISION PREMIERE OF “STORY OF THE ROAD”
Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism is thrilled to announce that the documentary produced last year to commemorate 100 years since construction began...
FUNDING PUTS FORREST BIKE TRAIL PROJECT ON TRACK
The Victorian Government has allocated $500,000 towards stage one of Forrest’s Mountain Bike Revitalisation Project.
NATIONAL ACCOLADES FOR REGIONAL ACCOMMODATION
Heytesbury House and Alkina Lodge have won silver and bronze respectively at the 2019 National Tourism Awards.
BUDJ BIM NATIONAL PARK REOPENS
Parks Victoria has re-opened Budj Bim National Park in the state’s south-west following a significant bushfire that started on 30 December 2019.
OTWAY FIRE & RAIN SUMMIT PLANNED
An Otway Fire and Rain Summit will be held in Forrest on April 29-30.
TAKE THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS TOURISM AWARDS
If you’re eager to enter the 2020 Victorian Tourism Awards, you need to attend an information session at the RACV Torquay Resort on March 26 from 10am to 12.30pm.
FUEL REDUCTION BURNS PLANNED FOR REGION
Forest Fire Management Victoria will undertake fuel management work in the Otways, Anglesea, Moggs Creek and Fairhaven area this autumn.
‘THERE’S STILL NOTHING LIKE AUSTRALIA’ LAUNCHED
The first phase of Tourism Australia’s new international recovery campaign, ‘There’s Still Nothing Like Australia’, has been launched.
COASTAL FORUM TO BE HELD IN LORNE
The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) is inviting local residents to attend a FREE coastal forum at Mantra Lorne on Friday 13 March from 12–4 pm.
MEDIA MENTIONS – JANUARY 2020
A round up of key media mentions of the Great Ocean Road region in January 2020.
APPLY FOR A MENTOR + GET INTERNATIONAL READY
Visit Victoria is now inviting nominations for its International Mentoring Program to help businesses get ready to go global.
PREPARE TO HOST THE INDIAN MARKET
Get ready to host Indian visitors coming to Australia for the 2020 Cricket World Cup.
CREATIVE FUNDS TO ACTIVATE NEW TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
The Creative Activation Fund has funding available to support the delivery of creative projects that transform public spaces into new tourism attractions.
TAKE YOUR BUSINESS GLOBAL WITH GSTR
The Great Southern Touring Route Inc (GSTR) wants operators from the Great Ocean Road region who are ready to ‘go international’ to be part of an intensive global marketing assault for 2020/2021.
OTWAYS OPERATOR WINS OAM
Otways operator Lizzie Corke won an Order of Australia on Australia Day for her long service to conservation and environment.
HOLIDAY HERE THIS YEAR – UPDATE JANUARY 31, 2020
Tourism Australia’s #HolidayHereThisYear is already attracting major media coverage and social media following. Here’s a round up of results.
VICTORIAN VISITOR ECONOMY FORUM
The Victorian Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) is hosting the 2020 Visitor Economy Forum on 3 March 2020.
SURVEY OF GREAT OCEAN ROAD REGION ACCOMMODATION PROVIDERS
HELP INFORM FUTURE VISITOR ACCOMMODATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD REGION Survey of Great Ocean Road region accommodation providers...
ACQUIRE YOUR OWN PIECE OF GREAT OCEAN ROAD HISTORY
Centenary Art Installations February 4, 2020 Six architecturally designed bench seats commissioned to mark 100 years since construction started on...
HOLIDAY HERE THIS YEAR – GREAT OCEAN ROAD
We need you to 'Get on Board'! The national and international coverage of bushfires has impacted Australia’s reputation and threatens to have an...
GET READY FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR 2020
Chinese New Year begins Saturday 25th January 2020 and it is a busy time in our region! We hope you will join us in encouraging visitors to slow...
BECOME ‘INTERNATIONAL READY’ WITH THREE-DAY WEBINAR
If you’re ready to learn more about the inbound tourism sector, the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) is holding a series of online live webinars between January 28-30, 2020.
REGION SHINES BRIGHT AT RACV VICTORIAN TOURISM AWARDS
Picture: The team from Live Wire Park, Lorne. The Great Ocean Road region shone brightly at the annual RACV Victorian Tourism Awards on November 28,...
A FRESH TAKE ON DESTINATION ACTION PLANS
Great Ocean Road Tourism Inc (GORT) is working with communities across the region to update and create Destination Action Plans (DAPs). Plans have...
HAVE YOUR SAY ABOUT NEW GOR AUTHORITY
The public is invited to find out more about the establishment of a Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority by the Victorian Government, at a...
BAY OF WHALES GALLERY & COFFEE SHOP WINS AWARD
Narrawong’s Bay of Whales Gallery and Coffee Shop has won the 2019 Glenelg Shire Council Business of the Year Award. The gallery and cafe sit...
I AM WHERE STORIES UNFOLD GROWS
Apollo Bay and the Otways are now being featured as part of the 'I Am Where Stories Unfold' winter marketing campaign being rolled out by Great...
MEDIA COVERAGE – JULY 2019
Sunday Herald Sun - July 21 The following article appeared in the Traveller section as part of our Great Ocean Road Centenary PR campaign. [gallery...
ALPACA MAPS: A NEW TOOL FOR TOURISM
Alpaca online maps are a new way for visitors to quickly find a business or natural attraction on the Great Ocean Road. They can use the tailored...
Please don’t feed the wildlife
Bird-feeding and promoting feeding birds is a big problem in some townships in our region. Native birds shouldn't be fed by humans as it can cause...
Media clippings: June 2019
Escape Magazine Out and About - winter edition (print) http://specialpubs.fairfaxregional.com.au/e-mags/2019/OAW/0524_01/ Family Magazine...
Queen visits Chelsea exhibit promoting local wildlife
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II has visited an exhibit at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in the UK promoting Australian wildlife that...
Tourism entrants get inside information
Business operators who attended the Victorian Tourism Awards information sessions recently were given some valuable tips for preparing their award...
Media round-up: German bloggers & fishing fanatics
A blogger and cameraman from German digital travel business Urlaubsguru visited the Great Ocean Road in March this year to gather content for...
Life Saving Victoria events to attract thousands
Life Saving Victoria has chosen Warrnambool and Lorne as the locations for major events in 2020 and 2021, which will attract thousands to the Great...
MEDIA RELEASE
May 24, 2019 World-class Eden Project could transform visitation to the Great Ocean Road GREAT Ocean Road Regional Tourism (GORRT) has welcomed a...
March famils: from Indonesian celebrities to Italian Instagrammers
The GORRT team has been busy showcasing our region to domestic and international media, industry and other intrigued influencers. Above: Autumn...
Understanding our Chinese visitors
FIFTEEN businesses took part in the China Host Program to better understand what Asian visitors expect from their experience on the South Coast. The...
Leverage from event marketing at no cost
Want more people at your event? Promote it for free on ATDW. In the 30 days leading up to this article (23/03/19 to 22/04/19) the "What's On"...
I AM YOUR AMBASSADOR – Program Update
Our Great Ocean Road I AM YOUR AMBASSADOR famil program was launched in October 2018 as a pilot rewards program for our front-line industry...
“Packaging For Profit” with Despina Karatzias
On March 25th we hosted Despina Karatzias of the Institute of Excellence at South West Tafe in Warrnambool to present to operator, her tools and...
China Host Graduation
On March 20th we celebrated the graduation of the inaugural China Host business graduates! A huge congratulations to each and every participant for...
Creating Customer Service Excellence- for Chinese Travellers
China has become Australia’s most important tourism market. Research shows record numbers of Chinese visitors in 2018, with the highest number of...
Chinese New Year
Key messages for visitors This is peak visitor season, allow extra time to visit the region Obey Traffic management signs and take extra care on the...
AICD – Great South Coast Leaders’ Lunches Warrnambool
Tuesday 19th March 12pm – 2pm Lady Bay Resort, Warrnambool We are pleased to invite you to attend our Leaders’ Lunch with Elizabeth Proust AO FAICD,...