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Published: October 30th 2008
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Little helpers
Navroop and Gurman loved Madge and helped tidy the old girl up before drop off Next stop on the journey was Sydney, where for a couple of days we stayed with Ritu and family (a cousin I'd 'met' when I was a 1 year old) just outside the city in the suburbs. Sadly it was the end of the road for Madge, so after giving her a bit of a scrub (aided by Amers and Kelly's little helpers) we dropped her off and headed into the city to catch some of the sights. This time around our jaunt in Sydney was only a whistlestop (coming back for New Year) so we only swung by a few of them, including: Botany Bay, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, while also squeezing in a few swift drinks around 'The Rocks.' It all seeemed very nice but were of the opinion that it would all look so much better in the sunshine on our return, at the height of summer.
A couple of days on with batteries fully recharged, we said our goodbyes to Ritu and the gang (more on them a little later in the year) and boarded a flight to sunny Melbourne where we were due to meet more long lost family, (Maureen Justice et
Opera House
Just a quick visit into town to see some of the sights al - Kelly's nan's Antipodean cousin) while also completing the second leg of our great Oz roadtrip. Maureen and Alan were the perfect hosts and were good enough to let us stay on their farm just outside Melbourne. We all got on like a house on fire and it was lovely to see Kelly learning lots about her ancestry and family roots. They also fed and watered us so well with lots of great homecooked meals (including some scrummy kangaroo steaks and more roasts than you could shake a can of XXXX at) that it was really hard to leave. Though, leave we did, as our next road adventure was just about to begin...
We picked up the newer, somewhat racier vehicle from Jucy rentals and decided to call her Lucy (as in Lucy Robinson of Ramsay St fame). With Lucy in tow, we headed out of Melbourne and started our pilgrimage toward the bitumen wonder that is the Great Ocean Road. We passed through nice little beachside settlements like Lorne, Cape Otway and Anglesea along the way, but for the most part, it was just stunning scenery of rugged cliff faces, warm, lapping ocean and wonderful twisty turney
Is that the River Tyne...?
The weather wasn't so good on this day so you'd be forgiven for making the mistake! roads with sheer drops. It was a joy to drive and the words 'wow, oh my god' and 'strewth!' echoed through the vehicle on many an occasion.
Other highlights included the 12 Apostles (by sunset and by the light of day - 2 very different experiences), the Grotto (an amazing natural cavern/open cave created by the sea), the Martyrs (like the Apostles but less famous) and the Blowhole at Loch Ard Gorge (another amazing natural wonder carved out by the sea - 100metre tunnel with oepn roof sections so you could see down into it).
After completing the GOR we continued inland and up to the Grampians which was mountainous, rugged and very windswept. We did a few great walks (hindered a bit by the relentess weather) and took in the famous lookouts over the area, including the wierd rock formation of the Balconies. Then we headed for gold country (well it used to be anyway) and spent nearly a whole day at Soveriegn Hill in Ballarat, a huge interactive, open air museum. The fully functional, living and breathing set was based on an old goldmining town and had lots of interactive stuff to try like panning for
Porridge, Down Under
Walking the old Melbourne Gaol (jail) gold, travelling down into the mines, horse and cart transport and the old style bowling. And with a full cast of characters in costume it was a surreal but very fun way to spend a chilly afternoon.
Before we knew it, our time with Lucy had come to an end and after a dash across Melbourne at rush hour to avoid paying a penalty for a late return, we dropped her back safe and sound, then headed to Winroc farm for a couple more days to spend with the Justices. Maureen and Alan took us to Phillip Island the next day where we saw hundreds of Blue Penguins come ashore after sunset. Although we weren't able to take any pics we did get up very close and personal with the smallest penguins in the world - quite an experience!
This was followed by a tour of some local wineries the next day which we guzzled down almost as eagerly as some of the fine weather and great veiws that we were afforded. Not stopping to catch our breath we then spent the weekend really 'doing' Melbourne, which we found to be our favourite Aussie city by far. With
Ned's head
He may be dead but Ned's head is still in good stead art galleries, Cathedrals, sculptures and instalations dotted all over the place it's a city that's oozing culture. There was a real mix as well- old, grand buildings and new architecture in amongst lots of greenery and modern parks, all on a managable scale. The docklands were up and coming and very cool and the trams added a touch of European 'I don't know what,' to it all. Any way you looked at it, it was a very livable and funky city and Kelly had to work very hard at eventually prying me away.
Another day or so back on the farm and it was time to say goodbye to the Justices. They'd been so good to us, treating us both like members of their own family and we were really sorry to say our farewells. We also had to bid au revoir to Oz, a country that took us completely by surprise and a place whose praises we'll always sing. After 6000 odd kms on the road (around 4000 miles to you and I), all the sights and experiences, all the people we'd met along the way and of course the long lost family, it had all come to
Melbourne tram
The city loop tram (free to ride) an end.
Still, there's always New Zealand....
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