Hi from Port Fairy, Victoria.

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Hi everyone
After lots of day trips from Mt Gambia, while we waited for our mail, we have now continued on our way south east to Port Fairy. We booked in a couple of extra days here, and will leave here tomorrow. The weather here is cooler, overcast mainly, but a cool wind, we have been doing lots of walks. Today we went through the Tower Hill National Park, yesterday we drove north to Mt Eccles National Park and did two walks, including one around the crater lake. There are quite a few volcanos in this area. Then we drove on up to Hamilton, and saw the Ansett museum.
Here at Port Fairy we walked across a causeway to Griffiths Island which is a shearwater (muttonbird) colony. We walked around the island, and saw some birds, but they come in at dusk mainly. Port Fairy is an old whaling town established in the 1830's, has interesting old buildings, but is now becoming a bit trendy in parts with architectual designed houses overlooking the sea.
We have booked to stay in Melbourne over Xmas and New Year (most places near the sea are booked out early), we should be able to do lots of day trips from there. We are thinking we will go to Tasmania later in January for a month or so, while we are down in this area. After that we will probably come home for a visit, so may make your 60th Rick!
We are hoping the weather improves for the Great Ocean Road, if it doesn't we may head north and do the Grampians for a week or so first. We have plenty of time as we don't have to be in Melbourne until the 21st Dec.
I've got the Australian Open Golf playing on TV while I'm typing this, and they have just said at times there is no wind, and at times it's gusting up to 25 knots. That's what it's like here too!
Cheers Lynne and Chris

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Photos

Hi from Port Fairy
Our campsite , the management put on a pancake breakfast for us all today.

Port Fairy
Moyne River looking back to wharf at Port Fairy.

Port Fairy Bay
Too cold to swim!

Looking the other way
Port Fairy Bay looking to Griffiths Island

old cottage
There are many old interesting cottages here, mostly made of stone, mostly with lovely gardens.

Griffiths Island
Accross the causeway from Port Fairy

Griffiths Is lighthouse
We walked around this island, a shearwater scantuary

Tower Hill National Park
From the lookout - another volcano with lots of animals and birds. We saw about 12 emu here.

Mt Eccles National Park
Further inland, this was another volcano.

Surprise Lake
Mt Eccles N. P. we walked around the lake in the crater, saw 5 koalas, and lots of birds.

Natural Bridge
Another walk at Mt Eccles to the lava caves.

Big Wool Bales
Hamilton

Ansett Museum, Hamilton
This was a replica of their first plane, a Fokka Universal flown in Feb 1936.

Casterton Main Street
Another day trip inland

Warrock Homestead 1843
Near Casterton, this was an amazing original cluster of 33 buildings, still with original contents.

1st building at Warrock
This was the first house built

Some of the buildings
Warrock - the 5th generation are still living here. This is where the original kelpie dog was bred.

Example of inside a shed
Warrock Homested workshop. It had a pit saw, treadle lathe, and wooden junk worse than Duncan Bros yard!

Dartmoor Carving
This town had chopped down trees in the main street and had them carved as a war memorial.

Most southern point South Australia
Port MacDonnell - very rugged coastline here with lots of reefs.

Comments

[Linda and Den]

South Coast
Hi travelers, great to see all your photos and read your log entry. It looks like an interesting area to explore. You look warmly dressed so it must be cool-not like here-at long last we are having some HOT weather! That coastline is where we sailed with Jill and Phil from Melbourne down around Wilson's Prom, around the corner at the bottom. We went through the reefs at night (of Xmas eve actually!) which made it interesting. I can't believe how many craters there are. You are certainly seeing some wildlife too which is great. All sounds great. happy travelin'. XX

[Linda and Den]

Woops!
Stupid me I realise I haven't got my bearings here! On my last comment I thought you were talking about the Southernmost point of Oz but I realise now it is the Southern point of South Australia the State. I need a holiday!!!

[Lckiwis]

We did the first 3rd of the Great Ocean Rd
Hi Linda and Den and all others! We came to Warrnambool today in the rain, parked the van and had a cuppa. The rain cleared, so we packed a picnic lunch, filled the thermos, and took off down the Great Ocean Road in the car. We went down all the side roads, looking at all the great scenery, but the wind increased to about 40 knots - quite spectacular with the rough seas hitting the cliffs. We got as far as the 12 apostles, then drove back to the van. Depends on the weather what we do next. The wind is cool. No place to sail down here! Cheers Lynne and Chris

[June Aitken]

Great Sightseeing
Hi Lynne, Realy enjoying your pictures and notes. It is as though we are on the trip to. We miss you at golf, but know you are having awonderful time. Do take care and Merry Christmas to you both. Lov June

[Lckiwis]

Merry Xmas and have a great holiday!
We will be thinking of you all and your beach holidays - fish and crayfish, it will be different for us to have a city Xmas holiday. We plan to do lots of day trips, and a tram leaves from near the camping ground for city trips.