The coastline of the Great Ocean Road does not have the exclusivity of amazing landscapes. Indeed the area hosts a large number of waterfalls easily accessible via trails. Erskine Falls in Lorne are the most impressive. The city is also a good base for bush walks.

Torquay is a coastal town in Victoria, located at the eastern end of the Great Ocean Road. The small seaside town is home to the largest surf companies. It is also in Torquay where you will find the legendary Bells Beach, world famous for hosting the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, the oldest international surfing competition. This beach was written in to the final scene of Point Break. In Torquay we took part in a surfing lesson given by Go Ride A Wave. The company, which has over 25 years experience, has various locations along the coast of Australia including the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. With the approach of winter, a wetsuit is provided to students. Therefore it is very unlikely that you will be cold once in the water. The instructor is passionate and makes ​​sure that you get the most out of your experience. Within two hours, you are able to stand and to have fun on your board. What a great feeling!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Go Ride A Wave.

The Great Ocean Road is a road in Victoria that follows the coast for over 200 kilometres. It is the Grand Pacific Drive's big sister. The road is located west of Melbourne, between Torquay and Warrnambool. Throughout the drive, the landscapes are absolutely beautiful. The cliffs and rock formations sometimes recall the Corniche d'Or in the Esterel Massif (France). Some coastal towns such as Lorne and Apollo Bay are quite charming. Over the next few days, we will post about places that caught our attention.

"The Rip" is a power of nature beyond human control. This is an extremely dangerous pass which links Port Phillip to Bass Strait. It is not wide at all. The tides are so powerful that "The Rip" has caused many human and material losses. Experts are unanimous about it: it is the world's most dangerous shipping path. From or into Melbourne, you can not avoid it as it is the only crossing possible for boats. We experienced it recently on our way to Tasmania. You certainly feel it!

Here is the last picture of our Sydney in Winter series. A snapshot reflecting Sydney's relationship with nature and parks. Walking through Domain Park (photo), next to the Royal Botanical Gardens, provides some comfort and healing in the heart of Sydney. If you have visited New York City and enjoyed Central Park, you will love Moore Park and Centennial Parklands. Sydney is also a city dedicated to the ocean. Ferry, boat tour and cruise, kayak: multiple options for exploring the wilderness of Sydney Harbour bay. At Bondi Beach, you can walk along the coast on an absolutely beautiful trail that leads you to Coogee. And if you were not satisfied enough, remember that the Blue Mountains are not too far away!

The writers were guests of Destination NSW.

Sydney is arguably the fashion capital of Australia. The city also hosts twice a year the famous Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia. If looking for internationally renowned or Australian designers, no matter what your style, you will love to shop in Sydney. The Fashion & Shopping section on Sydney website (really helpful and well made website) will guide you depending on what you are looking for. In Sydney, and in any little town, do not miss the famous Op Shops which are an institution in Australia. These thrift stores are made to raise funds for charities that manage them. Because the items for sale were donated, prices are extremely competitive. And this also applies for brands of the biggest international fashion designers! You are guaranteed to stumble across a bargain or two!

The writers were guests of Destination NSW.

Sydney Opera House is probably one of the most famous buildings in the world and arguably one of the biggest icons of the city and Australia itself. It hosts Opera Australia, the Sydney Theatre Company led by Cate Blanchett and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, to which must be added a multitude of international artistic productions. But do not summarize the cultural and artistic scene of Sydney by its opera only. Because Sydney is a city of entertainment that hosts international sporting events (Olympics, Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, International tennis, etc.), renowned festivals (Vivid Sydney) or art exhibitions just to name a few. To appreciate how vibrant Sydney city is in winter, iPhoneography Oz was able to attend in the space of a few days three main events:

• Dappled Cities new album launch party at Oxford Art Factory, a venue inspired by Andy Warhol's Factory in New York;
• Simple Plan concert given as part of the international tour group at Hordern Pavilion, theater located in a huge park close to the stadium where Sydney FC evolves;
• The performance of DJ Shivers at Spice Cellar, an underground lounge bar located in Sydney CBD.

The writers were guests of Destination NSW.