Great Ocean Road is a lot of hype, SYD-MEL is very boring

If you have driven Hwy 1 from North California to Oregon, you would be very disappointed by Great Ocean Road which for a great part, does not even near Ocean. Even the 12 Apostles are nothing when comparing to the Sea Stacks at Oregon Coast.

The drive between Sydney and Melbourne is rather boring.

On the other hand, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast are well worth your time, especially Sunshine Coast which restricts development, thus preserve the natural beauty. Gold Coast is just like Miami.

Sunshine Coast does not really encourages tourism in traditional sense - the Rainbow Beach at Sunshine Coast is the most beautiful beach I have ever seen. You need a 4WD to get there, and you can drive on this incredible long, prestine beach which does not have any facility, not even garbage cans, to ruin its natural scene. The only manmade items are an old freighter that was blown ashore decades ago, and a wagon that sells snacks and icecreams. They are 2 tiny dots on this long long stretch belt of sands.

Queensland is my favorite "state" of Australia.