Great Ocean Road and the Grampians

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I wake at 5 and can't get back to sleep. Eventually I decide to get up and get on with the last few bits of packing. The bus picks me up at 6:45 and we set off for Torquay. While heading there I manage a very awkward sleep due to the size of the bus. I grab breakfast in Torquay and here about how the town is the home of labels such as Ripcurl and Quicksilver as both companies were started here. Next we head to Bells Beach which is home to the Ripcurl surfing Tournament every year. The beach is known as a national surf park that is protect by law. Apparently this is the worst beach on the great ocean road. To me it looks stunning. We move on and the next note worthy sight is the light house where the tv series round the twist was filmed. I manage to get a snap albeit from a distance. Soon after we reach the start of the Great ocean road and hear about how it was dug by soldiers after first world war using shovels, pick axes and dynamite. The first part of the coast is breath taking and is called surf coast. We stop at Kennett River and see wild birds (glorious parrots and crimson mozellas I'm told) and koalas. We have lunch here before moving on to Cape Patton and stopping at Apollo bay. Here I take a walk along the beach with my feet in the shallows. The views are gorgeous and the water cool around my toes. We then move on to Melba gully which is in great Otway national park before heading to Loch Ard Gorge (named after a ship wreck.) Then it is on to the hostel and to the local pub where shit pizza is provided. The pizza is very similar to the one on the Philip Island tour and appears to have thick strips of grated ham on it. After the pizza is dispatched we move on to the 12 appostles which includes a beautiful sunset. I now have a top 9 for Australia.

Day 2
We set of early and head to the Gibson Steps which take us to The spare appostles. Next is the London Bridge stop where there used to be a walk way on to the top of a giant rock. Due to corrosion it is no longer there and we are told a well known story of a couple being stranded when it collapsed. Apparently they were supposed to be at work and were married but not to each other, hmmm!! Up next is the Bay of Martyrs, named due to the amount of sailors who have lost their lives to the spot. This is followed by the bay of islands which is the last stop on the Great Ocean Road. Next is the Grampians. My first glimpse of the Grampians is a silhouette on the horizon which takes on colour as we approach. This turns out to be Mt Abrupt and Mt Surgeon. We stop for lunch before heading to the Balconies and Reeds lookout. Both are stunning and the weather is with us. After we head to Brambuk national park and the cultural centre. This turns out to be closed but we walk the surrounding area and see wild Emus. We Stay the night at halls gap and have a bbq. Me and a Scottish girl share a box of goon. Perfect end to another great day.

Day 3.
First stop is McKenzie falls which is also the last stop in this area of the Grampians. Next we head to Mount zero which we subsequently trek to the top of. The walk is somewhat treacherous but is definitely worth it. The views from the top are amazing. The trek down is easier in some respects although we take a slight detour where it is only possible to walk by turning side on. This is the last stop in the Grampians and move on to a quaint town called Horesham and have lunch underneath palm trees in park. Then it's on to Adelaide. On the way I Cross into another state. This time it is the state of South Australia and it comes with a half an hour time difference.

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