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Published: December 12th 2008
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Hi there
After arriving from Sydney into Melbourne on the over night bus we headed straight to Hertz to pick up our car, straight forward stuff got the keys and we were off on our 3 day road trip, how exciting!!!!!
But first a bit of history for you all, The Great Ocean Road is about 400km long starting just south of Melbourne and finishes in Warrnambool, It's Oz's most spectacular road and perhaps (depending on who you ask) one of the best if not the best drive in the world. It's winds it's way past beaches, cliffs, oceans, hills, forests, Through national parks you get the idea......Pretty cool stuff!
Nic - Being the budgeteers that we are we decided that as we'd got wheels we'd utilise them to the max, and so this became our abode for the next three days, no tents or hostels for us, we'd got reclining seats!!! It was fantastic to get behind the wheel again, something I'd been really been looking forward to, and once I'd got control I hardly gave Dan a chance to drive - Which wasn't such a bad thing for him as he got the best look at
all the scenery, both out to sea and straight down the sheer cliff edges at the tight corners!
We had a good first day and explored off the main road a few times to visit waterfalls and walk through some of the national parks and small beaches. One of the walks we did was quite exciting.....We were walking along a narrow track on the cliff edge, Dan in front while I followed closely behind, trying not to trip on rocks that would throw us to the ocean below. A lovely little jaunt, stunning scenery and not another person in sight, when all of a sudden Dan leapt at least 3ft in the air and screamed - what can only be described as - like a girl!.......a quick look around and my gaze was drawn to a large brown tail, slithering off into the bush! The big "Brownie" snake (one of Australia's most deadly creatures) had been merrily making it's way to somewhere more comfortable and happened to cross the track just as Dans foot (clad only in flip-flops) was on the floor and so of course it slithered OVER THE TOP!
We made it to Apollo bay in
the early evening and booked into the only campsite, making good use of the BBQ and fireplace to try and keep us warm - 10deg, rainy and windy!
After an uncomfortable and chilly night we set off again winding our way through through some beautiful countryside, very much reminiscent of home and then back again out onto the rugged cliff edge. We had a lovely walk along Wreck Beach, where the remains of several boats stuck fast as a reminder of how treacherous this coastline really is and by the time we were making our way back along the beach, the cloud had began to clear and the temperature eventually began to rise....hhooorrraaahh!
Dan - Perhaps some of the main highlights on the road are the famous rock formations of the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard gorge, London Bridge, remnants of the cliff edge that has been shaped and formed over millions of years by the powerful southern ocean and winds. Lucky for us the sky had completely cleared up and we were left with the most beautiful blue sky and sea so blue and clear it almost looked unreal!!!
We decided to return to the 12 Apostles
at sunset as this (so we heard) was the best opportunity for a postcard perfect picture, and we were not disappointed see the pic for yourself!! As the sun lowers it gives the rocks a surreal glow that is hard to capture on camera as it changes colour minute by minute. Earlier in the day we had been lucky enough to come across a load of Koala bears in some trees along the road.......They're so funny they only eat Eucalyptus leaves and they get stoned on them, so they kind of wobble around the branches with this dazed look on their faces.
After a long day we retreated back to our campsite for some well deserved bbq and Goon, but yet another night in the cold car brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!
Nic - We couldn't wait until morning, the clear skies had made the night freezing cold and it was almost painful to undress for the shower!
For the whole 4 weeks in Oz we'd been desperate to see a kangaroo, and the closest we'd got was the the bright yellow roadsigns - we'd begun to think that they only posted them for people like us to take photos of!
Cheesy grin
Nic at Bells Beach Our return journey left us with one last hope and we'd had a tip off about a golf course where they like to hang out, there was only one thing for it, another detour!........We weren't disappointed and just as we caught sight of a few and parked the car, a giant kangaroo came bounding out of the bushes, narrowly missing the bonnet! They really are quite scary with massive muscles!
We set back on our return journey, all the way to Melbourne in one day, and what a horrid day it was, rainy all day, thank goodness we'd got our pictures already!
A few days now in Melbourne, so more soon.
xxxxxxx
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Dad Walton
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Tie me Kangaroo down Sport!
G'day from Old Blighty, People. Whipsnade Zoo seems to have more Roos then Oz, by the sound of it! I'll take you there when you get back from Down Under. Be a real treat for ya! Budger, buy yourself some decent hiking boots for Gawd's sake, don't wear bloody flip flops in the Bush, course the snakes are going to slither about a bit under foot, that's what they bloody do, and they bite people! Don't you know. You bloody Pom tourist! You should be in N.Z. now, have a great time. Be bold, be bold, but not too bloody bold! Love from the Old Man.