So today was the big day, the day where I would see the main attractions of the Great Ocean Road.
So, after an amazing nights sleep in my little pad it was up and out to marvel at the wonders of this fantastic bit of coastline. Now I could waffle on fro hours about each place and how amazing it was but i am just going to let my pictures do (most of) the talking! I will tell you the places I went in order I went there and hopefully it will be easy to marry them up with the pictures. Just like a quiz!
I decided not to stop at the town of Warrnambool as I knew there was a lot to see and the last time I did this drive, many years ago, the majority of it was in the dark so I wanted to soak up every single sight!
So here goes......
No. 1 - Bay of Islands - awesome and you could hear the roar of the ocean before you saw it!
No. 2 - Crofts Bay - see above!
No. 3 - No name to this one but quite lovely!!
No. 4 - Bay of Martyers (I think Ive got that right) bloody fantastic!
No. 5 - Worm Bay
No. 6 - Halladale Point - the site of a shipwrek of that name and you can see why it got into trouble!
No. 7 - Wild Dog Cave
No. 8 - The Grotto - WOW!
No. 9 - London Bridge - just as amazing as I remember it and the waves crashing around made it better!
No.10 - The Arch - not to be confused with the bridge!
Then I stopped off at a little place called Port Campbell for a spot of lunch. This bay is right down in the valley and the road is so windy to get down to it, I had areal sense of da ja vu as I drove down into it. Probably because I have been here before! This journey is taking me back and taking my breath away at every turn. The coastline is rugged and the ocean is fierce, the road are windy and steep and it is a pleasure to drive it!
Now on to the next few stops.....
No.11 - Loch Ard Gorge - just stunning
No.12 - Mutton Bird Island - same birds here as in Port Fairy and they all fly in at night
No.13 - Thunder Cave - and boy does the roar sound like thunder, quite scary!
No.14 - Broken Head - I saw this a bit earlier and named it the cake, now I know its real name!
Then it was the big one.....the one that we raced to get to last time before sunset, when there were more than there are now.......!
No.15 - The 12 (but only about 7 or 8 now) Apositles - stunning is all I can say, just as fantastic 2nd time
No.16 - Gibson Steps - a very steep climb down to the beach so that you can get up close and personal with a couple of the Apolitles , which I did, but had to be quick as that roaring ocean was coming in!
Then the road went inland and just as I thought I was going to get a rest from spectaculart scenery the landscape changed to that of forest and roads that were ridiculously steep and winding, making your ears pop twice on the way up and on the way down, with sheer drops down into the valley. Unreal. The landscape changed again to the rolling hills of the Ayre Valley, which was so much like the Lake District or the Dales but on a much grander scale!! There were sheep and cattle and wheat, and dispite Australia having a problem with the heat, this part really is a great and pleasant land!
As Apollo bay approached (and my fuel got low, again!) I saw the turn off for Cape Otway Lighthouse which winds throufh the Otway National Park and Rainforest and thought 'why not'. Well after another fab drive through gum trees and rainforest vegitation I got to the lighthouse and it had just closed! So, holding my breath that my 1/4 tank would get me back to the main road and to Apollo bay, I headed off. Now I had seen some cars parked up looking at things and just drove past but then on the way back they had gone and I spotted what they had been looking at.....KOALAS!!!!!!! Lots of them!!!!! In the trees!! Sleeping and eating!! OMG Shut Up!!! There were 9 in all that I could see and I was soon joined by a few others (including a lovely English couple from Sussex called Sue and Digger who know someone who works at Maidstone Ambulance Station!!) and we clicked away! Soooooooooooooo cute and there will be a whole section of photos...........
So then it was into the pretty little town of Apollo Bay and to my Youth Hostel, I was not holding my breath.......
Well I couldn't have been more wrong! Proper swanky eco lodge with leather sofas and driftwood sculptures and fabulous facilities including a rooftop terrrace! So I was very happy and the managers were really helpful too, recommending a nice little bistro just down the road as I had decided to splurge on dinner tonight.
And Buffs Bistro was amazing. Whitebait to start (see pics!!) and then the most amazing seafood chowder with scallops, mussels, prawns and 3 types of local catch fish! All washed down with 2 large beers and finished off with a massive piece of pecan pie and a coffe!! Had the company of Digger and Sue too which was good. After I had finished my meal and had a good chat with the owner, I decided that I felt a bit squiffy (lots of sun) so I toddled off back to my 5 star hostel!!! Bit of internet, PJ's on and into my room with the view and sound of the ocean. Off to Queenscliff tomorrow and the last part of the very aptly named Great Ocean Road........
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