hdb

On our final (full) day we enjoyed the sunshine and went for a wander around Robe. This town will be hit with an influx of visitors once school ends this week but for us it was still reasonably quiet and laid back. The ice cream shop on the main drag had received good reports so we decided to test the goods. Yep, this was a winner so get amongst it the next time you drive through. After sitting around the cabin at the carvan park for the afternoon we headed back into town and went out for dinner. The gourmet pizza we had was delicious and that was followed by a beverage in the sun at a local hotel. From there we caught a flick at the cinema and James Bond entertained us for the remainder ... read more

Port Fairy made enough of an impression for us to stay another night and we enjoyed a quiet Sunday in town. Just before midday we walked from the caravan park to the Fishermans Wharf area overlooking Moyne River. It seems a great spot for fishing and sailing and there was plenty of activity by the water. From there we walked across the pedestrian causeway to Griffiths Island and strolled alongside the water. Monday we started the slow crawl towards home. As we neared the South Australian border the terrain flattened and the land dried out considerably. It is not until you drive down the eastern seaboard that you realise just how dry SA is compared to the eastern states. Mount Gambier was our stop for lunch and we enjoyed it overlooking the magnificent Blue Lake. The ... read more

A warm start to today as the hot weather from Adelaide made its way east. After hitting the road we stopped at more attractions along the Great Ocean Road including The Arch, The London Bridge and The Grotto. All were equally impressive and the chances to see these wonders of nature just add to the experience of driving along this stretch of coast. Around lunch we landed in Warrnambool and after picking up some supplies headed around to the Foreshore Trust Grounds and enjoyed a picnic style lunch by the lake. The warm conditions had brought the punters out and everyone was enjoying the summer weather. After eating we took a walk along the beach and hit the road. We were going to put some kilometres under our belt but only got as far as Port ... read more

After an early morning walk along Apollo Bay we headed west and made our first stop at Maits Rest Rainforest Walk in the Great Otway National Park. The loop took us through dense rainforest that is the beneficiary of rich fertile volanic soil. Next up was the 12 Apostles and I was stunned at the amount of people at the attraction as it is not exactly in the heart of a thriving metropolis. This natural wonder is special and there are various vantage points to look out over the rock formations. We then moved onto Island Archway and then to Loch Ard Gorge which was my highlight for the day. Talk a walk on the sand if you ever have the chance to visit, an amazing spot. Port Campbell was not far away and that is ... read more

The wake up call from the captain on the Spirit of Tasmania came through at about 5:50 this morning and it was a much faster disembarking process than the trip to Tasmania. A bleak and dreary Melbourne morning greeted us back on the mainland. By the time we stopped at The Dunes for breakfast at Ocean Grove at about 9:00 am the early symptoms of delirium were kicking in. The hip breakfast venue was a cracking location overlooking the coast and after eggs and coffee we felt half human again. After breakfast we strolled along the beach for a while, this would be a terrific place to get fit if you lived in the area. The compact sand and gentle ocean waves would be a motivating factor to get active daily. The Great Ocean Road had ... read more

Tuesday was reasonably quiet as we wound down the Tassie section of the trip. After midday we walked into central Launceston and had some fantastic dumplings for lunch before cruising around the mall. We poked about in the shops before stumbling across a terrific little cafe that was decorated in a 50s style.....very cool. The coffee and cake served up was not half bad either. Today we drove into the city to take care of a few odds and ends before heading towards Devonport to board the Spirit of Tasmania back to the mainland. Driving in the Apple Isle is always a pleasure as the surroundings are so beautiful throughout the state and today was no different. We took the scenic route and stopped in Deloraine for lunch before reaching our final destination. The past month ... read more