Great Ocean Road - Keeps Getting Better And Better

April 24 to 27

Driving to Apollo Bay from Lorne the coastline did not fail to provide stunning scenery. Although the cloudy skies continued, the rain seemed to subside when we wanted to get out and explore. Apollo Bay is only 45 km from Lorne

Erksine Falls found just off the highway on the way to Apollo Bay.

I love the lush ferns!

We parted ways with Karen and Ashlee in Apollo Bay as they had to head back to Naracoorte to work on Wednesday.

Two nights stay in Apollo Bay in another caravan park. This one had a play structure that kept the boys busy along with a games room. Too cold to pitch the tent as it gets down to 5C at night.

Day trip to Maits Rest - a cool rain forest with ancient beech trees, many ferns and a mossy floor. The trees may have been burned out for shelter eons ago. Make a great hiding place!

Otway Lighthouse - thought to be Australia's most important lighthouse, was built in 1848 to help avoid the many ship wrecks that plagued the coast along the Bass Straight. A very secluded, remote and extremely windy part of the country. It would have been isolated and trying to live here at that time.

This rugged coast has seen many ship wrecks over the centuries.

A traditional Aboriginal House was on the property.

The boys caught on to the didgeridoo quickly.

Leaving the lighthouse road signs indicated there were koalas in the area. I didn't think we had much chance of spotting them in the wild way up in a eucalyptus tree from within the car. I was wrong! A car was parked on the side of the road and sure enough there were two koalas high up in the trees.

I choose the scenic route back to Apollo Bay. We crossed some beautiful countryside; and because the cows are Australian, that makes them picturesque!

This was the beginning of the scenic loop. I was thrilled; thought it was so beautiful. My mood changed within 10 minutes. We entered a very dense, dark, extremely narrow logging trail that had constant switchbacks leading up a mountain. This road made it impossible to go more than 20 km especially when the rain started to pour down and the signs saying make way for logging trucks were on every corner. It was a dark rainforest trail that at best supported one vehicle. This road lasted an agonizing 45 minutes with each hairpin turn not changing or giving any relief. The map was very misleading is all I can say!!!!!

Finally we came to the T junction and made our way on a normal width highway back down the mountain to Apollo Bay. The harbour is beautiful in the evening.

The footy getting good use.

These galahs liked to gather at the end of our street.