End of the Great Ocean Road
After a great day yesterday we had a good nights sleep and headed for Port Fairy, our last spot off the Ocean road. This was a little town and we only visted the main walk way next to the water because of the pictures in our tour guides. The weathe was a little bad, a spot or two of rain. It was nice and peiaceful in the village. Only a few fishermen were out and about, fixing their boats and stuff.
We started home back to Melbourne, but stopped first at Tower Hill. A active volcano and nature reserve. We spotted some wild Emus and Kangaroos.
So now started to drove home.
Sunday, 8 July 2007
The Great Ocean Road Form Port Campbell to Warrnambool
Back tracked down the road to Gibson Steps on the Ocean Road. We walked down the step to the beach which gave us our first brilliant views of the Twelve Apostles. With the morning lighting them up from behind. Hannah loved the beach and she watched the waves crashing on to the beach. The sea was starting to move inland. So we got our first pictures of the Twelve Apostles and made our way to the back. The Twelve Apostles are line stone stacks standing upright in the sea. They were once part of the mainland but sea, time and the weather have eroded from the land. Both of us are fascinated by them. At our next stop was the Twelve Apostles visitors centre. We got some really good pictures and spent a lot of time looking at the Apostles, at where some had fallen down and just at the land scape.
We got to Loch Ard Gorge. This is where 1 of the many ship wreaks happened along the coast. Its the most famous because there were 52 people on board by only 2 survived, Tom Pearce and Eva Carmichael, both aged 18. The locals at the time wanted them to marry. But Eva left to go home back to Ireland. I really enjoyed Loch Ard Gorge. I really got in to the local history. The story says that the compass was faulty an d the ship hit a small island off the coast and the 2 survivors washed up in the gorge. Tom climbed out to get help for Eva and had to walk about 5 miles bare foot. We walked around the area of the gorge, went to the cemetery. But only 4 other bodies were found from the wreak. They now lay in the cemetery with a remembrance area for all lost on that day. We saw where the boat may have hit the island just off shore.
Then we looked at all the different rock formations and the cliffs. The locals have named a few such as the Blow hole, Razor back and Thunder cave all for the right reasons. Water blows out the blow hole, the weather has made a sharp looking razor on the rocks and the waves wash into Thunder cave on a stormy day and the locals say its like thunder.
In the afternoon we saw rock formations called The Arch, London Bridge and the Grotto. All were spectacular to see. Then drove to the bay of Martyrs and the bay of Islands. At the bay of Islands we got a few pictures that once home we are going to get produced and framed. So you'll have to wait and see those.
We had a really great day today, but to finish off the day we went to a night-time show of the ship wreak Loch Ard. Its called "Shipwrecked". Its all about the experience of being on the ship and they play part of the scenes on a movie screen. But the best bit as that we were taken outside, to a model village called Flagstaff. Then seated in front of a lake. The next bit was to experience the stormy seas and the wreak itself. The water from the lake is sprayed into the air and the movie is played on the water spray in front of us. An EXCELLENT night. We both really loved it.
Back tracked down the road to Gibson Steps on the Ocean Road. We walked down the step to the beach which gave us our first brilliant views of the Twelve Apostles. With the morning lighting them up from behind. Hannah loved the beach and she watched the waves crashing on to the beach. The sea was starting to move inland. So we got our first pictures of the Twelve Apostles and made our way to the back. The Twelve Apostles are line stone stacks standing upright in the sea. They were once part of the mainland but sea, time and the weather have eroded from the land. Both of us are fascinated by them. At our next stop was the Twelve Apostles visitors centre. We got some really good pictures and spent a lot of time looking at the Apostles, at where some had fallen down and just at the land scape.
We got to Loch Ard Gorge. This is where 1 of the many ship wreaks happened along the coast. Its the most famous because there were 52 people on board by only 2 survived, Tom Pearce and Eva Carmichael, both aged 18. The locals at the time wanted them to marry. But Eva left to go home back to Ireland. I really enjoyed Loch Ard Gorge. I really got in to the local history. The story says that the compass was faulty an d the ship hit a small island off the coast and the 2 survivors washed up in the gorge. Tom climbed out to get help for Eva and had to walk about 5 miles bare foot. We walked around the area of the gorge, went to the cemetery. But only 4 other bodies were found from the wreak. They now lay in the cemetery with a remembrance area for all lost on that day. We saw where the boat may have hit the island just off shore.
Then we looked at all the different rock formations and the cliffs. The locals have named a few such as the Blow hole, Razor back and Thunder cave all for the right reasons. Water blows out the blow hole, the weather has made a sharp looking razor on the rocks and the waves wash into Thunder cave on a stormy day and the locals say its like thunder.
In the afternoon we saw rock formations called The Arch, London Bridge and the Grotto. All were spectacular to see. Then drove to the bay of Martyrs and the bay of Islands. At the bay of Islands we got a few pictures that once home we are going to get produced and framed. So you'll have to wait and see those.
We had a really great day today, but to finish off the day we went to a night-time show of the ship wreak Loch Ard. Its called "Shipwrecked". Its all about the experience of being on the ship and they play part of the scenes on a movie screen. But the best bit as that we were taken outside, to a model village called Flagstaff. Then seated in front of a lake. The next bit was to experience the stormy seas and the wreak itself. The water from the lake is sprayed into the air and the movie is played on the water spray in front of us. An EXCELLENT night. We both really loved it.
Saturday, 7 July 2007
The Great Ocean Road going through Otway National Park
This morning was stormy, windy and cold. We headed into the great Otway national park. We walked up to Marriners Lookout which had great views looking down over Apolloy Bay. We spotted a fox at the top of the hill looking at us, wondering what those two stupid people are up to on top of a hill in bad weather. Later we missed the turning for Marriners Falls (sorry Sue we missed it, but is was raining anyway).
Our next stop was Cape Otway Lightstation built in 1848. Just as we got to the top of the light house up the 78 steps the sun came out and showed us the breath taking views. Hannah said she could have stayed all day, just looking out to sea. We chatted to the man at the top of the light house, asked him loads of questions and found out he was the light house keeper. His great grandfather just clean the light house without any ropes or anything to stop him falling off.
Then we stopped at Johanna Beach, where the Rip Curl Pro comp. is held when Bells Beach is too small. It was raining so no surfers today. We decided to have lunch here before going into the forest, inland.
In the forest we saw Hopetown falls got a picture of it but didn't walk down to it. We saw the great Redwoods were the trees are like giants. Our next stop was a walk through the rain forest to Triplet Falls. It was sheltered from the rain with an eirey feel. The trees parted to show us a three tier waterfall. Got some fantastic photos of Hannah and I in front of the falls. Decided to miss out the Otway Fly Tree Top walk as it was late in the afternoon and it was raining again.
We tried to find "Wreak beach" in search of an anchor in the sands, but gave in as the road started to disappear.
It was starting to go dark and we decided to stop at "the Twele Apostles" centre. We walked out to the look out and watched the little penguins coming out of the sea for the night. The poor things.....the sea was so rough it kept taking them back out to sea as they were trying to get out. Some were just playing in the sea or waiting for there mates.
It was getting really cold so we drove it to town and ended up in a hostel dorm room for 6 people, but there was only the 2 of us in the room. It was cold so we got the duvets from the other beds to keep us warm. The town was so quiet, when we went out for a pizza and the pub closed at 8pm.
This morning was stormy, windy and cold. We headed into the great Otway national park. We walked up to Marriners Lookout which had great views looking down over Apolloy Bay. We spotted a fox at the top of the hill looking at us, wondering what those two stupid people are up to on top of a hill in bad weather. Later we missed the turning for Marriners Falls (sorry Sue we missed it, but is was raining anyway).
Our next stop was Cape Otway Lightstation built in 1848. Just as we got to the top of the light house up the 78 steps the sun came out and showed us the breath taking views. Hannah said she could have stayed all day, just looking out to sea. We chatted to the man at the top of the light house, asked him loads of questions and found out he was the light house keeper. His great grandfather just clean the light house without any ropes or anything to stop him falling off.
Then we stopped at Johanna Beach, where the Rip Curl Pro comp. is held when Bells Beach is too small. It was raining so no surfers today. We decided to have lunch here before going into the forest, inland.
In the forest we saw Hopetown falls got a picture of it but didn't walk down to it. We saw the great Redwoods were the trees are like giants. Our next stop was a walk through the rain forest to Triplet Falls. It was sheltered from the rain with an eirey feel. The trees parted to show us a three tier waterfall. Got some fantastic photos of Hannah and I in front of the falls. Decided to miss out the Otway Fly Tree Top walk as it was late in the afternoon and it was raining again.
We tried to find "Wreak beach" in search of an anchor in the sands, but gave in as the road started to disappear.
It was starting to go dark and we decided to stop at "the Twele Apostles" centre. We walked out to the look out and watched the little penguins coming out of the sea for the night. The poor things.....the sea was so rough it kept taking them back out to sea as they were trying to get out. Some were just playing in the sea or waiting for there mates.
It was getting really cold so we drove it to town and ended up in a hostel dorm room for 6 people, but there was only the 2 of us in the room. It was cold so we got the duvets from the other beds to keep us warm. The town was so quiet, when we went out for a pizza and the pub closed at 8pm.
The Great Ocean Road from Lorne to Apollo Bay
Hannah didn't sleep very well last night because 1. she kept thinking about the spider 2. the bed sheets smelt of TCP 3. Neil was snoring and 4. she needed a wee in the middle of the night and was too scared to go until she woke me up to tell me she was going to the toilet (which is located outside and round the corner).
We were both woken to squawking but this time really loud at 7am (it was raining). Later we went to the shops for supplies and saw about 15-20 cockatoo's on someone's balcony. We think they must have been feeding them.
Made our pack up for the day and went in seach of waterfalls in Lorne. Found Erskine falls, it was a rainy day so we wrapped up and walked down to the waterfall which was beautiful. Got some photos and the hard part was walking back up all the steps. We started to make our way on to Teddy's Lookout, as we both needed the loo we stopped at Blanket Leaf picnic area. Found the toliets and Hannah said remmber to lookout for spiders. Then inside I heard Hannah say she could'nt see the bottom of the toilet (we were only in a cublical style wooden hut toliet in the forest) and it really smelt. Next time Hannah needs the loo in the rain forest she's said shes going behind a bush. We found out later that the toliets in the forest are called drop toliets. They are pits in the ground with a toliet over the top.....a drop toliet.
At Teddy's lookout the views were great looking out to the forest with steam rising out of them and to the otherside the Ocean.
We had some lunch in Lorne and watched the surfers ride the waves. Then went to Kennett River in search of Koalas. We were dissapointed on the way up the road as we only saw 2. So we turned around and started to see more and more. In fact we saw over 40 Koalas, sleeping, eating and just chilling in the trees. Koalas sleep for over 20 hours a day and eat the other 4 hours. We could have sat there all day watching them. The last Koala we saw was about 2 meters away from us and Hannah said she was soooooo cute. We named it "Cutey" and it posed for lots of photos.
We carried along the Great Ocean Road, the views were amazing and the waves crashed against the beach. We arrived in to Apollo Bay were we visted the tourist infomation to find some where cheap to stay. As we drove around one of the places looked like a garden shed so we didn't stay there. We ended up at "the Surfside" backpackers right on the beach. It was cheap and clean and as far as we're aware there's no cockatoo's to wake us up.
Hannah didn't sleep very well last night because 1. she kept thinking about the spider 2. the bed sheets smelt of TCP 3. Neil was snoring and 4. she needed a wee in the middle of the night and was too scared to go until she woke me up to tell me she was going to the toilet (which is located outside and round the corner).
We were both woken to squawking but this time really loud at 7am (it was raining). Later we went to the shops for supplies and saw about 15-20 cockatoo's on someone's balcony. We think they must have been feeding them.
Made our pack up for the day and went in seach of waterfalls in Lorne. Found Erskine falls, it was a rainy day so we wrapped up and walked down to the waterfall which was beautiful. Got some photos and the hard part was walking back up all the steps. We started to make our way on to Teddy's Lookout, as we both needed the loo we stopped at Blanket Leaf picnic area. Found the toliets and Hannah said remmber to lookout for spiders. Then inside I heard Hannah say she could'nt see the bottom of the toilet (we were only in a cublical style wooden hut toliet in the forest) and it really smelt. Next time Hannah needs the loo in the rain forest she's said shes going behind a bush. We found out later that the toliets in the forest are called drop toliets. They are pits in the ground with a toliet over the top.....a drop toliet.
At Teddy's lookout the views were great looking out to the forest with steam rising out of them and to the otherside the Ocean.
We had some lunch in Lorne and watched the surfers ride the waves. Then went to Kennett River in search of Koalas. We were dissapointed on the way up the road as we only saw 2. So we turned around and started to see more and more. In fact we saw over 40 Koalas, sleeping, eating and just chilling in the trees. Koalas sleep for over 20 hours a day and eat the other 4 hours. We could have sat there all day watching them. The last Koala we saw was about 2 meters away from us and Hannah said she was soooooo cute. We named it "Cutey" and it posed for lots of photos.
We carried along the Great Ocean Road, the views were amazing and the waves crashed against the beach. We arrived in to Apollo Bay were we visted the tourist infomation to find some where cheap to stay. As we drove around one of the places looked like a garden shed so we didn't stay there. We ended up at "the Surfside" backpackers right on the beach. It was cheap and clean and as far as we're aware there's no cockatoo's to wake us up.
Thursday, 28 June 2007
The Great Ocean Road
We packed our bags as well as the car and off we went to the Great Ocean Road. Our first stop was surf mad Torquay. Here we visited "SurfWorld" the surf museum with all the history of the boards over the years. Also we saw the best surfers over the ages and watched the Billabong movie on riding the biggest wave ever. Really cool.
We headed to danger point for a spot of lunch and then headed to the famous Bells Beach, where all the cool surfers go to catch the best waves. Its also where the Rip Curl Pro surfing competition is held every year.
We drove through Anglesea and made our next stop at Aireys Inlet where we walked around split point Light house. This is the light house from the children's TV show Around the Twist. (Aussie show). We drove to Lorne to spend the night, as it was starting to dark.
Got a room in our first backpackers hostel. It looked really nice set with the forest all around us. We got our room key and tried to find our room. Hannah was scared to death by a huge what we thought was a parrot but found our later its a cockatoo. It came flying out of the trees, landing outside our room and started squawking at us, that is until I said "where's Polly" and it flew away. The room was nice and clean, until we came back from having dinner. We found a huge spider in our room. So as a team Hannah and I caught it and through it out the door.
We headed to danger point for a spot of lunch and then headed to the famous Bells Beach, where all the cool surfers go to catch the best waves. Its also where the Rip Curl Pro surfing competition is held every year.
We drove through Anglesea and made our next stop at Aireys Inlet where we walked around split point Light house. This is the light house from the children's TV show Around the Twist. (Aussie show). We drove to Lorne to spend the night, as it was starting to dark.
Got a room in our first backpackers hostel. It looked really nice set with the forest all around us. We got our room key and tried to find our room. Hannah was scared to death by a huge what we thought was a parrot but found our later its a cockatoo. It came flying out of the trees, landing outside our room and started squawking at us, that is until I said "where's Polly" and it flew away. The room was nice and clean, until we came back from having dinner. We found a huge spider in our room. So as a team Hannah and I caught it and through it out the door.
Boring jobs/admin day
Today we headed into the city with a long list of boring things that needed to be done. So we went to our second home the Melbourne tourist info office to find out where the places were. We started off by sorting out our medical card. Then went to immigration to get our passports stamped for our visas (my god the queue was long, had to wait for about an hour watching the flying doctors on the TV provided).
We bought our sim cards to set us up. (If you have not got the numbers yet email us and we'll email the back. Can't put them on this blog). Set up our Aussie bank account, our bank adviser was from Chesterfield. Moved 7 years ago, small world.
We then went for a hot choc and decided to share a bit of cake. Glad we were sharing, as the lady cut a huge piece(half the cake) and had handed to me.
At home dried our washing and after the long day, put our feet up in preparation for tomorrow.
We bought our sim cards to set us up. (If you have not got the numbers yet email us and we'll email the back. Can't put them on this blog). Set up our Aussie bank account, our bank adviser was from Chesterfield. Moved 7 years ago, small world.
We then went for a hot choc and decided to share a bit of cake. Glad we were sharing, as the lady cut a huge piece(half the cake) and had handed to me.
At home dried our washing and after the long day, put our feet up in preparation for tomorrow.
Healesville Sanctuary
Headed out of Melbourne to the Healesville Sanctuary north of Melbourne. It took 1 1/2 hour to get there. We followed the road through lots of Vineyards along the way. When we got there we saw lots of Koalas, Kangaroo's, Dingo's, Emus, Wallabies, Wombats and snakes.
We went to the sanctuary's hospital a saw a wombat having a check up for his broken leg. Poor little mite. He was hit by a car, but hes well on his way to recovery.
The high of the day was, by far, watching cute Koala's sitting in the trees only meters away and getting to stroke one at feeding time. Got loads of photos and a bit of video. Had a great time.
We went to the sanctuary's hospital a saw a wombat having a check up for his broken leg. Poor little mite. He was hit by a car, but hes well on his way to recovery.
The high of the day was, by far, watching cute Koala's sitting in the trees only meters away and getting to stroke one at feeding time. Got loads of photos and a bit of video. Had a great time.
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