Great Ocean Road

Trip Start Dec 20, 2004
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Trip End Sep 2005


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Saturday, March 19, 2005

David and I and our friends Paula and John decided to club together and hire a car to drive down the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne to Port Campbell via the twelve Apostles. We left early Saturday morning and deiced to take a very easy journey as we didn't intend to reach the Apostles until sun down. First stop was at Split Rock Lighthouse where the views over the sea and a marine sanctuary island were breath taking, enhanced further by the boiling sun and clear blue sky. Next stop was Lorne, partly due to the amusement at the abundant use of Scottish place names over here and partly because it looked gorgeous. We were not disappointed, we had a lovely picnic on the beach fron then while Paula and a reluctant John went for a paddle in the sea, David and I had a wander around the book shops, cafes and shops. Just outside of Lorne we took a little detour to Erskine Falls, a beautiful waterfall hidden away among bush.

We travelled through Appollo Bay and a few tiny little sea side towns but ehn a few hours later found ourselves in Port Campbel, our base for the night Apostles At Sundown
Apostles At Sundown
 . Having established oursleves in our cabin, we headed to the Apostles for sun down. The Apostles are large rock formations formed by the eorsion of the coastline. They jut up out of the sea, the talles one reaching 48 meters. They form an incredibly impressive sight made even more impressive by the fabulous colours of the sun setting behind them. We were all a bit stunned by how amazing this was so once it was dark we just headed back to our cabin for a barbie and some booze!

Next morning we continued the 'road trip' stopping at fabulous sights such a london bridge and the arch. Then for the trips most exciting part - a helicopter ride!! The helicopter took us over the Apostles and along the staggeringly ragged coatline, above the Otway national park and post campbell and back again. Absolutely amazing. The Journey home saw us taking in Loch Ard gorge which felt like a paradise island and the Otway Park Treetops sky walk where you climb 25 meters up to the very top of the forest trees and look down on the forest floor below. Poor Paula was pretty much terrified at the highest points but it was fabulous nonetheless. The last view of the day before returing to Melbourne was seeing huge fat wild Koalas sitting in the eucalypus tress in 'sausage gully'! This was the best weekend ever!
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