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Published: April 26th 2015
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Hey there readers here’s a long overdue blog concentrating on my travels along the Great Ocean Road, Grampians and the outback. As its been quite a while I’ve cheated by copying the tour itinerary and adding my own comments. So after a week and a half of bumming about in Melbourne it was time for me to tour again before returning home for a few weeks.
Day 1 - Melbourne to Twelve Apostles The first stops out of Melbourne are the famous surf coast icons, Torquay (home of surf wear brands Rip Curl and Quiksilver), Bells Beach and Anglesea- THIS IS WHERE THE LIGHTHOUSE FROM AROUND THE TWIST IS! . Further along the Great Ocean Road are the towns of Apollo Bay and Lorne where you can swim, explore or just relax with a cup of coffee. Parts of the Great Ocean Road were carved by returned WWI servicemen; their legacy has created one of the most spectacular coastal roads you will ever see. At the Otway National Park, it’s time for lunch and a walk through some ancient temperate (cool) rainforest. What better way to finish the day than with a sunset at the Twelve Apostles rock formation.
Tonight you will stay in hostel accommodation on the Great Ocean Road.
NOTE: The night was spent being woken up by the girls in the group terrified of the flying cockroaches and creepy crawlies around the room.
Day 2 – Great Ocean Road to Grampians National Park The highlights today on the Great Ocean Road include Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge and the Bay of Martyrs not to mention the spectacular coastal scenery in the area. After lunch you will leave the coast and head inland to the Grampians National Park. Here you will spend the afternoon hiking to the bottom of MacKenzie Falls and enjoy the views from The Balconies lookout point. Later in the day, you might see kangaroos and other wildlife come out to play. Tonight you will stay in the heart of the Grampians National Park in hostel accommodation. (BLD) We were treated that night to an ozzie BBQ.
Day 3 – Grampians National Park to Adelaide This morning you will visit the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre before doing some more hiking in the beautiful Grampians. On the way to Adelaide you will stop at Mt. Arapiles for lunch. In
the afternoon sit back and enjoy the landscapes and drive to Adelaide where you will arrive at approximately 7.00pm. (BL)
NOTE: The weather was terrible today and all hiking was done in sheer cloud
. Day 4 – Adelaide A free day to relax or explore the city of Adelaide. Activities and meals are at additional cost. Overnight accommodation is included. That night we went to an italian restautant and the next day we went around Adelaide on a free bike.
Day 5 - Adelaide to Quorn We start our adventure travelling through the vineyards of the Clare Valley wine region, but soon enough we’re heading into the rugged Outback through the historic town of Melrose, gateway to the Flinders Ranges. We enjoy an easy stroll through the awesome Alligator Gorge, which is sometimes bursting with wild flowers. Our tour guide Lochie treated us to a feast of stir-fry cooked on a BBQ. If you haven't allready guessed- ozzies are the master of the BBQ.
Day 6 – Quorn to Coober Pedy After an early start we drive to Coober Pedy, where most of the world’s supply of beautiful opals comes from. The landscape
here is like you’ve landed on Mars. Enjoy a tour of an opal mine and there’s time to view the underground attractions of Coober Pedy. After a visit to Josephine’s Kangaroo Orphanage and dinner you will sleep underground like the locals do in bunkhouse accommodation. ( we slept in a cave!) We also went to an underground church and to an underground café.
Day 7 – Coober Pedy to Uluru Today is all about the journey to Uluru (Ayers Rock). At ‘The Rock’ you will set up camp and enjoy your first Uluru sunset. Tonight we slept in Swags- see piccy. Sleeping under the stars in the outback was amazing as there was no light poillution whatsoever. I could see all the stars and the hazyness of the milky way.
Day 8 – Uluru Today you have a full day to spend around Uluru. Walk around the base and learn about the local Aboriginal people at the Cultural Centre. Lunch is prepared back at the campground and you will have the rest of the day to enjoy the timeless wonder of Uluru. ( or in my case catch up much needed sleep)
Day 9 – Uluru & Kata Tjuta to Kings Creek Station
Breakfast today is at Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). Walk the majestic Valley of the Winds which cuts through the uniquely domed rock formations. After a tasty lunch, we get back on the bus for a drive to the swimming pool at Kings Creek Station and our overnight stop.At this campsite I went for a shower and counted 11 poisonous spiders lurking in nooks and crannies around the toilet block - eek!
Day 10 – Kings Canyon to Alice Springs Enjoy the walk around the rim of Watarrka (Kings Canyon) to access the lookout points and enjoy the views of the gorge, sandstone walls and the immense size of the canyon. You will get to see the renowned water hole known as the Garden of Eden. After lunch our destination is Alice Springs where you will arrive at approximately 6:30pm.
TOTAL DISTANCE COVERED: 3178KM. There were many many long hours of driving on this trip especially the day from Quorn to Coober Pedy.
At the end of the trip I spent the night in alice springs and flew to sydney the next day. I stopped with Jackson (
couch-surfing dude from when I first got to oz) and flew back to the UK. Coming soon is a blog about my adventures in Edinburgh and Hong Kong.
NB: See below for more photo's of my trip.
Jonny x
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