Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia

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For those unaware, after I got back from New York in October, I decided to go back to Australia for 6-7 months to work as I have a work Visa until Aug 08. Arrived in Sydney few weeks after my decision, and have been working out here and living near Darling Harbour for the last few months....

For the Easter Break, I with a couple of friends travelled the Great Ocean Road in Victoria (near Melbourne).

Claire (English friend met at work) and I flew from Sydney to Melbourne on the Wed night before Easter weekend, staying overnight before meeting up with another Pomme, Phil to spend a couple of days driving along the coast in the hire car we picked up at the airport.

Great Ocean Road starts in Torquay (where Billabong and Rip Curl companies started), where we then went to the world famous Bells beach, this was the beach that Patrick Swayze is on in the closing scene of Point Break. Unfortunately due to an International Easter surf contest we couldn't get onto the beach 😞

Nevermind, we headed on across the Great Ocean Road. Was pretty cool, and pretty soon we came across wild Koalas in the tress. On the same trip will also came across wild Emu's, Kangeroos and Joey's.

We headed to a number of sites on the first day on the Great Ocean Road. Stopped off at the Cape Otway Light Station (2nd oldest lighthouse in Australia - probably means its a 1990's design!!). Also went to The Otway Fly Treetop, which is a 600m long and 25m high canopy walk in the trees, and a 45 meter high look out to get really close the treetops (guess that's where its name came from!). Then we set off to the nearby Triplet Falls which was a stunning walk through ancient rainforests and tall timbers. before coming across the the three cascades waterfall.

Next morning we carried along The Great Ocean Road, coming to the most famous of the site, the 12 Apostles (which are limestone blocks 20/30 metres off the coast. Due to coastal (which part of it has fallen down, so London bridge if falling down....).

Late afternoon we drove to the Grampians which is a National park a bit further inland to the north of Victoria where we stayed overnight. Next morning we went to an old Volcano crater and over viewing points over the national park before heading back to Melbourne.

From Melbourne Claire and I headed to Phillip Island where tiny little Penguins waddle up the beach from the sea to their nests at desk which was an amazing site 😊 On the way though we had to stop off at Ramsay Street which is the actually a real close where people actually live in the houses!!

In Sydney we were staying at St Kilda which is the beach area of Melbourne, and the place to go out for an evening meal, but I was not that impressed with it, and certainly didn't match any of Sydney's main beaches. Headed into the Melbourne, where Claire and I went to Neighbours night, where we got to meet three of the neighbours stars! Probably the most famous was Steff, and after she had been getting on with Toadfish there was no way that I was letting her get anything more than a picture with me 😊

Anyway back in Sydney now, going on a beginners surf weekend this weekend at 7 mile beach just south of Sydney😊

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Photos

12 Apostles (Claire, Phil, Mark)
Port Campbell National Park

Neighbours Night, Melbourne
One in the middle is an actor, I'm told!!

Neighbours Night, Melbourne
Another neighbours star, Steff I think, her lucky night.....

Ramsay Street, Neighbours
That's why good neighbours become good friends

London Bridge, Great Ocean Road
Look London Bridge has fallen down....