Loch Ard Gorge: The Best Beach Ever

In 1878 the Loch Ard was shipwrecked outside the most beautiful enclosed bay

Depending on the angle you look, Loch Ard Gorge beach is a small bay almost entirely enclosed in huge sandstone cliffs. Depending on the tide, the water is either like a sheet of turquoise glass, or it is a white and turquoise mix of rolling surf and crashing waves.

The beach is accessible only via stairs. Lots of them. But the beautiful views can be seen from the platforms above the beach too.

Photograph by Peter Neal

The Top Five Reasons Loch Ard Gorge is the Best Beach

The water is crystal clear turquoise.
The surrounding sandstone cliffs are magnificent.
It's on the Great Ocean Road.
It's the historical site of a famous shipwreck.
You get different views with every step you take.

The Loch Ard Shipwreck

The Loch Ard was a cargo ship, carrying 17 passengers and 37 crew members, that left England for Australia on 2 March 1878.

On 1 June 1878, Captain Gibbs stared out through the fog trying to sight either the Cape Otway Lighthouse or Port Philip Bay, the harbour of Melbourne - some clue to let him know where they were in the fog.

Suddenly, the ship's captain and crew realised they were heading too close to land. They tried to turn out to sea, and, failing that, they dropped anchor to try to prevent the ship being dragged ashore. But they struck a reef and the damage to the ship sent most of the passengers and crew overboard.

A man named Tom Pearce managed to free one of the lifeboats, but it capsized on top of him as it crashed into the side of the Loch Ard. Tom clung to the underside of the lifeboat and drifted with it until it washed up on the beach that became known as Loch Ard Gorge.

Meanwhile a passenger named Eva Carmichael, who was swept off the ship by a wave, clung to a piece of debris and eventually washed into the same gorge as Tom. Tom dived back into the water to help Eva.

With Eva safely in a cave that Tom had found, he scaled the surrounding cliff face. Luckily he found hoof prints and managed to catch up with some men who were working at Glenample Station. The men rode off to get help and Tom returned to stay with Eva.

Following the ordeal, Eva returned to Ireland by steam ship. Tom went on to Melbourne where he was honoured as a hero.

Pictured are the cliffs Tom Pearce had to scale to get help. Photograph by Peter Neal.