We have a long drive today to Victor Harbor. The satnav suggests a long inland motorway route, crossing the Murray River by bridge, but we decide to stay on the coastal B road which involves a ferry crossing. We buy an awesome bacon and egg doorstop at Hateley’s bakery which we eat on a bench overlooking the ocean before departing Robe. Navigating isn’t hard today, the first instruction is ‘turn left in 141 miles’. We stop briefly in Kingston; primarily for petrol but also because they have a 50 foot giant lobster. And who can’t resist a giant lobster? Next follows 80 miles of Coorong National Park. On the map it looks cool; a chain of lagoons running alongside the ocean. But in reality the view is obscured by bushes so it’s just miles of flat ... read more

The weather report predicts a high of 28 degrees, so we don shorts and factor in some beach time. But it’s actually quite windy and as soon as we’re suitably far enough away from the car, it starts raining. I was already grumpy as I’ve discovered we left my favourite trainers in Warrnambool and the rain doesn’t help my mood. But I cheer up when I remember my trainers were made in Vietnam so I can buy new ones in Hanoi next week. In Cape Bridgewater we follow the walkway along the cliff tops to the petrified forest. It’s not really a forest but tubular limestone formations. They’re quite unusual – it feels like we have been been teleported to another planet. There’s also a blowhole lookout but the tide isn’t sufficiently high so it’s more ... read more

Our second day of driving the Great Ocean Road. It’s raining so my enthusiasm for sightseeing is waning. We drive through Great Otway National Park. My guide book has promised koalas but we don’t spot any. Maybe they hate rain too. We reach Cape Otway lightstation and the old man goes to explore. I stay in the car. I have washed my waterproof jacket so it’s no longer waterproof – more a sort of rain magnet. It stops raining so I go for a walk. Behind a big sign saying ‘wrong way – turn round’ is a public footpath which provides a pleasant walk to a lookout over the lighthouse. The company that runs the lighthouse and charges $20 entry fee has disguised the footpath to discourage people from looking at the lighthouse for free. We ... read more

Today’s destination is Ballarat. I’ve never been there before but I’ve watched 36 episodes of the Dr Blake Mysteries (more than once) so it feels very familiar. We start at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka, venue of the Eureka Stockade; a miners’ uprising violently put down by government forces. The museum covers the uprising and democracy in general. (Oh, and features in Dr Blake series 3 episode 4). It’s the old man’s birthday so he gets his first senior discount, which makes him happy. Then on to Ballarat town centre to Lydiard Street and its grand Victorian buildings built during the height of the gold rush (that coincidentally feature heavily in Dr Blake). We tour the art gallery which has a great collection of Australian art (series 2 episode 8). Then we buy picnic ... read more

Today I am indulging two of my passions. I have been watching Neighbours for 30 years so a visit to Melbourne would not be complete without a Ramsey Street tour. Reviews are mixed so I have high hopes and low expectations. The package includes a meet and greet with a star of the show. I am intrigued to see who they have coaxed out of bed on a bank holiday morning. After a shaky start (the bus driver reversing into a street sign) it’s actually a really good tour. The clientele are exclusively British (the Aussies don’t watch Neighbours) and super excited. The driver/guide spends the 18 mile drive to the suburbs engaging in Neighbours themed banter. We start at the studio. Because there’s no filming taking place, we are allowed onto the set, which is ... read more