For the most part, the road between Lorne and Apollo Bay rides a natural escarpment which is between 10m and 100m above sea level. The road literally runs along a cliff-face allowing breathtaking views of breakers crashing onto the shore-line below, while to the other side, sheer cliffs and majestic green mountains loom above giving one the impression of riding along the edge of the world. The scenery absolutely has to be experienced to be believed and no words can do it justice.
The road itself is generally well maintained and of fairly good quality. The main concern to riders being the sometimes heavy and erratic traffic. Because of the views, cars are often pulling off and on to the road. These lookout areas are often well marked and well placed but nothing prevents the inventiveness of drivers stopping in highly dangerous locations. Further, frustrated drivers out for a fang who get stuck behind slower vehicles can at times take extreme risks, sometimes overtaking on blind corners. Then throw in odd tourist bus careening around an average width two-lane road and you start to understand the danger the traffic presents.
Because of the above mentioned traffic, the Great Ocean Road is also the most deadly road in Victoria for motorcyclists, boasting a fatality rate nearly 10 times the next most dangerous section of road in Victoria. Some corners also have deceptive decreasing radii, so unless you know the road really well, it's best to take it easy at first.
The traffic hazards decrease after Apollo Bay but these sections of the GOR are covered in other descriptions on this website.
The Great Ocean Road is sheer beauty and no trip to Victoria would be complete without experiencing it once.