Day 1
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| Trying to get a picture as we drive |
So after a few great days in Melbourne we were off again but this time on a very famous road trip....we were off on the Great Ocean Road. We drove from Melbourne to Torquay where we started the actual road. The road is only around 250km but sees some of the best coastal scenery in Australia. However between this time I kept trying to get photos of the actual sign but due to Neil's speedy driving this was not happening. Got to admit the weather was not great, it was raining and quite grey, not the best driving conditions for a curvy coastal drive in a battered old campervan.
Suddenly after passing through Torquay (a sleepy fishing town) we got to the big sign and gateway to the Great Ocean Road...I was happy and Neil pulled over while we had a few pictures just to celebrate and mark the moment. We also realised that the Great Ocean Road is actually a memorial to all those Australians who died in WWI. The survivors who returned back from war created the road so that they had a job when they got back and therefore become a homage to those lives lost.
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| Can you see the excitement in our faces? |
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| The road we had just been on.... |
We were then back on the open road, even though wet and grey the views of the ocean, cliffs, rocks and landscape were amazing. I kept going “look Neil” forgetting he was too busy driving and possibly pretending that he was Bond being chased by spies or driving a flash car for Top Gear. The road hugged the coast, it had loads of hills (our campervan did well) and great curves.
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| Views as we drove |
We stopped for lunch in a small place called Lorne (again another seaside town) we had the traditional fish and chips....very nice and headed back on the road after having a quick look around the town. We spent most of the afternoon listening to various types of music...Maria and Vic a video is winging it's way too you.....a homage to Too Much Punch for Judy! We stopped at the side of the road to take in the views, take pics and enjoy being outdoor even though it was still raining....
It was getting into late afternoon and we had stopped by an information place to get info on where to stay, we decided that we had stayed in many places by the beach and instead were going into the forest to be one with nature and see Koala's. We found a campsite in Otway National Park where we had no signal and were greeted by what Neil refered to as an “inbred” who told us”I wouldn't advise you to drink the water, but I drink it...” - we could tell....
We drove in and it was realy like being in the bush or rainforest. We decided to explore and actually found the facilties to be good especially the camp kitchen. We then explored the surronding area and went Koala spotting, it didn't take us long to find them and at first me and Neil were like “ahhhh” but when Neil decided to greet and chat to one, we heard the most horrid noise...a cross between a pig and donkey. It was so loud and odd that it gave me and Neil a fright. After taking lots of photos and video (will try and put that up) we went to find more and began to follow the noise. As it was getting dark we thought we would head back and cook dinner.
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| What we found when we went Koala spotting |
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| Us in camp..... |
After dinner we chilled in the campervan (as much as we could as there were many noises and we were not sure what it, or they were). I have to admit I had to get Neil to come to the toilet with me as it was pitch black outside and all we had was a small headlight. On arrving back to camp we saw something near our van. It had beady black eyes and looked a bit like a Raccoon, but we managed to work out it was a Possom, Neil went near it and as he did, something was behind him, as I flashed the light it was another Possom, I had a girlie scream and then manouvered my way back into the campervan without encountering the Possoms again. That night due to the wild noises outside me and Neil both screamed like a girl but it was a great place to stay and really get close to wildlife as we had Koala's sleeping in the tree above our van!!!!
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| The more permanent trailers.... |
Day 2
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| Childish we know |
It was our last day on the Great Ocean Road, though you could easily take a few day to enjoy all the towns along the way we had to be back in Sydney in the next few days to meet up with my Folks. So after a good night's sleep we packed and headed out of the park to Cape Otway to see the famous lighthouse. The place was ok, lots of information about people who lived there, people who disappeared at sea there and communication between the mainland and Tasmania. We were amused by the use of flags to send messages and they types of messages you could send...childish we know.
The best story was one about a guy called Fredrick Valentich who was flying his plane and the last thing he was recorded to have said was “that strange aircraft is hovering on top of me again, and it is not a aircraft......” after this he was never seen again nor his aircraft. It is supposed to be the best evidence of a UFO sighting in Australia.
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| Neil would rather this then the campervan |
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| Apparently Australia's most significant lighthouse |
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| The flies.... |
After climbing to the top of the lighthouse and back down we decided to head back on the road again. Now we were we not sure if what was happening to us was because we hadn't had a shower that morning (no water for that in the bush) but Neil and I were covered in flies (see pic) but once we looked around we noticed everyone was covered in them...relief.
Back on the road and we were driving through the forest to get back onto the Great Ocean Road. After more stopping for Koala pics, the weather was getting better, it was warmer and sunnier....excellent as the most photograped part of the journey was coming up. For the rest of the day we spent in Port Cambell National Park and spent most of the morning at the famous 12 apostles (only aorund 7 are still there now) It was the most beautiful part of the trip yet. The colours, pristine beaches, colourful cliffs and amazing rocks really made the place magical. I spent a lot of time time taking photos (it will take pride of place in our House once we get back to London and get one!) and just enjoying the landscape. If you haven't been you must go before they are all eroded away....
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| The 12 (now 6) Apostles....stunning |
After this we headed to Loch Ard Gorge and the Shipwrecked Coast which is one of the most notorious stretches of the coast where many ships and people have died. After this we had some lunch and then headed for the Arch and London Bridge (though now some of it has fallen down) All these places were amazing and just picture postcard heaven. Lots of snaps and time to enjoy them before we headed off to Thunder Cave (me and Neil both thought maybe this is where we may see the Thundercats) low and behold no thundercats but just more beautiful scenery to enjoy.
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| Lord Arch Gorge |
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| Thunder Cave |
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| The Arch |
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| London Bridge |
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| Echidna |
On the way back we noticed a couple looking at something in the tall grass, as we got closer Neil realised it was Australian Spiny Anteater (Echidna Neil thinks is the real name) and again Mr Doolittle decided to get close and suprisingly it didn't run away at all (not only is it an egg-laying mammal, like the platypus but it is really unusual in that it does not have r.e.m. sleep...)
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| Dr Dolittle |
After more pics (sorry we took a lot!) we headed back on the road and enjoyed the last part of the road before arriving at Warrnambool which is the offical end of the Great Ocean Road. We fond a caravan park to stay in, set up camp, had some beers and wine, saw sunset on the beach, had some dinner and chilled out after a great 2 days on the best strech of road in Australia.
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| Perfect End to a great 2 days..... |
Great Ocean Road Day 1
Great Ocean Road Day 2
