Too many days have gone by with so much having been done, and I am having to drudge through my memories.
The Great Ocean Road is, well, Great. It was a full day trip, from 7 am to about 9 pm. Our guide/driver, Peter, was a fount of information and blather. We heard everything from Australian and World politics, economics, history, paleogeology, folk stories, and a bit about Cadel Evans, last year's winner of le Tour de France, who happens to live near Melbourne. We also heard about the prestigous Geelong Grammar School, where Prince Charles attended in his youth. Certainly not a dull moment, with some pretty good music in between. We rolled back into Melbourne listening to Cat Stevens.
Here is our itinerary, as advertised:
HIGHLIGHTS
Bells Beach — See one of Australia’s famous surfing beaches, world renowned for the Rip Curl Surfing Pro
Lighthouse—Enjoy the breathtaking view from iconic Cape Otway Lighthouse and learn about the fascinating history of the traditional owners the Gadabanud peoples’
Enjoy the stunning coastal views
See Eastern grey kangaroos
Pass through coastal towns of Lorne, Apollo Bay and Port Campbell
Wildlife stop look for koalas and native birds in the wild!
Aussie BBQ lunch included!
Rainforest experience – take in the luscious surrounds of the Otway rainforest and some of the tallest eucalyptus trees in Australia
Must see – step down to the beach at Gibsons Steps, gateway to the 12 Apostles, where you will be dwarfed by the high cliff line and these enormous offshore stacks
Loch Ard Gorge Discover the history of the Shipwreck Coast with a stroll along this historic beach
********
Early Saturday morning, Trevor and I dragged ourselves out of bed to make our way to the entrance to the Melbourne Ibis where we waited to be picked up for our day's adventure. The shuttle dodged little traffic, being after 7 am on a Saturday, to pick up others who would go with us. We went to the tour's office, checked in, then switched coaches. We had a full complement of 20 people, and Peter had us play the name game, going around the coach, giving names and where we were from. There were quite a sampling of cultures: 4 Americans, 3 Indians (from India), 2 Kenyans, 4 Malaysians, 2 from Northern Ireland, 2 from England, 2 from Sweden.
Our first stop was Bell's Beach which is supposed to be a famous surfing beach. Here we not only had time to make pit stops and see the beach, but had much needed coffee (or tea) and biscuits. The view was spectacular (pretty much all of our views were spectacular). We had every kind of weather throughout the day, and the on-and-off rain blessed us with at least a dozen rainbows during our journey.
Our next mini-stop was a view of a cove with a lighthouse on the hill. Stops seemed to be perfectly timed, and I have no complaints at all about our tour company, Bunyip.
We next stopped at an historical "marker," an archway (the third incarnation mainly due to fires) announcing "The Great Ocean Road." Our history lesson here was that the building of The Great Ocean Road occurred due to the returning of soldiers from WWI who had a hard time finding work. So this was like the WPA created by FDR during the Depression. Back in the coach, after a little beach walking, we had a little more lengthy drive to another scenic beach overlook.
Random scenes from the drive, including more rainbows:
Our next destination was a tropical forest, Mait's Rest, where everyone took about a half an hour hike. So wondrous to see massive trees that have lived thousands of years.
After a good stretch of the legs, we continued on to our lunch destination, Cape Otway Lighthouse. There we feasted on BBQ sausages (falafel for the vegetarians), potato salad, and green salad. Afterwards, we visited the lighthouse. Trevor went up, and I stayed on the ground. By the time we made it back to the cafe, it was pouring down rain.
Now, when we drove into the Cape Otway access, a lot of cars had stopped to view koalas in the trees. Peter and others in the coach pointed them out as we drove along, but I was never able to see them! So, Peter PROMISED we would stop on the way out to have a look for ourselves. Once the coach stopped, Peter said the only rule was to not get hit by a car. While there are over 100 types of eucalyptus, koalas only like one type, so a lot of times, you can tell where they have been because the trees are literally stripped of any growth. This was not quite true in the area where we stopped. At first, the koalas, or fur balls as Peter calls them, were curled up in balls, sleeping. After a few minutes, though, some of them woke up and started to eat. One was hanging upside down in a tree.
Some of us were reluctant to leave when Peter called time, but off we were to one of the grandest sights on The Great Ocean Road, the 12 Apostles. An interesting sign posted as you walk to the viewing area for the 12 Apostles said that no dogs or cats could go past a certain point. Dogs, okay, but cats???
Another spectacular sight awaited us. This was someplace that Trevor had been wanting to see, so part of his wish list was fulfilled.
Our last stop along The Great Ocean Road was Loch Ard Gorge. This area of the sea is known for ship wrecks and Loch Ard was a ship that foundered with only 2 survivors, a young sailor and a young woman whose family had been immigrating to Australia from Ireland. The story was very dramatic, as Peter told it, with the young sailor rescuing the girl . . . and that's as far as the story went. I said to my new friend from Kenya that I was waiting for the Happy Ever After. So we get back in the coach, and Peter asks, "Any incurable romantics out there?" Of course I said yes. Peter says, "Doesn't anyone want to know the end of the story." And we all shouted yes! Alas, the young sailor went back to sea and the girl went back to family in Ireland.
From Loch Ard, we had a three-hour drive back to Melbourne. We stopped in a town called Colac, where we all grabbed a bite of dinner, and, thanks to McDonalds, had some free wifi service! I have to say, lesson learned about relying on wifi when traveling. I will never go anywhere again without 3G access available. Very frustrating.
I mentioned that we drove into Melbourne to the music of Cat Stephens, and, as it turns out, Cat Stevens is in Melbourne right now, getting ready for a musical to be performed. As Peter began dropping us all off at our Melbourne accommodations, each person said goodbye to the rest in the coach.
The Great Ocean Road is, well, Great. It was a full day trip, from 7 am to about 9 pm. Our guide/driver, Peter, was a fount of information and blather. We heard everything from Australian and World politics, economics, history, paleogeology, folk stories, and a bit about Cadel Evans, last year's winner of le Tour de France, who happens to live near Melbourne. We also heard about the prestigous Geelong Grammar School, where Prince Charles attended in his youth. Certainly not a dull moment, with some pretty good music in between. We rolled back into Melbourne listening to Cat Stevens.
Here is our itinerary, as advertised:
HIGHLIGHTS
Bells Beach — See one of Australia’s famous surfing beaches, world renowned for the Rip Curl Surfing Pro
Lighthouse—Enjoy the breathtaking view from iconic Cape Otway Lighthouse and learn about the fascinating history of the traditional owners the Gadabanud peoples’
Enjoy the stunning coastal views
See Eastern grey kangaroos
Pass through coastal towns of Lorne, Apollo Bay and Port Campbell
Wildlife stop look for koalas and native birds in the wild!
Aussie BBQ lunch included!
Rainforest experience – take in the luscious surrounds of the Otway rainforest and some of the tallest eucalyptus trees in Australia
Must see – step down to the beach at Gibsons Steps, gateway to the 12 Apostles, where you will be dwarfed by the high cliff line and these enormous offshore stacks
Loch Ard Gorge Discover the history of the Shipwreck Coast with a stroll along this historic beach
********
Early Saturday morning, Trevor and I dragged ourselves out of bed to make our way to the entrance to the Melbourne Ibis where we waited to be picked up for our day's adventure. The shuttle dodged little traffic, being after 7 am on a Saturday, to pick up others who would go with us. We went to the tour's office, checked in, then switched coaches. We had a full complement of 20 people, and Peter had us play the name game, going around the coach, giving names and where we were from. There were quite a sampling of cultures: 4 Americans, 3 Indians (from India), 2 Kenyans, 4 Malaysians, 2 from Northern Ireland, 2 from England, 2 from Sweden.
Our first stop was Bell's Beach which is supposed to be a famous surfing beach. Here we not only had time to make pit stops and see the beach, but had much needed coffee (or tea) and biscuits. The view was spectacular (pretty much all of our views were spectacular). We had every kind of weather throughout the day, and the on-and-off rain blessed us with at least a dozen rainbows during our journey.
Two fun guys from England
Our next mini-stop was a view of a cove with a lighthouse on the hill. Stops seemed to be perfectly timed, and I have no complaints at all about our tour company, Bunyip.
We next stopped at an historical "marker," an archway (the third incarnation mainly due to fires) announcing "The Great Ocean Road." Our history lesson here was that the building of The Great Ocean Road occurred due to the returning of soldiers from WWI who had a hard time finding work. So this was like the WPA created by FDR during the Depression. Back in the coach, after a little beach walking, we had a little more lengthy drive to another scenic beach overlook.
Random scenes from the drive, including more rainbows:
Our next destination was a tropical forest, Mait's Rest, where everyone took about a half an hour hike. So wondrous to see massive trees that have lived thousands of years.
After a good stretch of the legs, we continued on to our lunch destination, Cape Otway Lighthouse. There we feasted on BBQ sausages (falafel for the vegetarians), potato salad, and green salad. Afterwards, we visited the lighthouse. Trevor went up, and I stayed on the ground. By the time we made it back to the cafe, it was pouring down rain.
Now, when we drove into the Cape Otway access, a lot of cars had stopped to view koalas in the trees. Peter and others in the coach pointed them out as we drove along, but I was never able to see them! So, Peter PROMISED we would stop on the way out to have a look for ourselves. Once the coach stopped, Peter said the only rule was to not get hit by a car. While there are over 100 types of eucalyptus, koalas only like one type, so a lot of times, you can tell where they have been because the trees are literally stripped of any growth. This was not quite true in the area where we stopped. At first, the koalas, or fur balls as Peter calls them, were curled up in balls, sleeping. After a few minutes, though, some of them woke up and started to eat. One was hanging upside down in a tree.
Some of us were reluctant to leave when Peter called time, but off we were to one of the grandest sights on The Great Ocean Road, the 12 Apostles. An interesting sign posted as you walk to the viewing area for the 12 Apostles said that no dogs or cats could go past a certain point. Dogs, okay, but cats???
Another spectacular sight awaited us. This was someplace that Trevor had been wanting to see, so part of his wish list was fulfilled.
Our last stop along The Great Ocean Road was Loch Ard Gorge. This area of the sea is known for ship wrecks and Loch Ard was a ship that foundered with only 2 survivors, a young sailor and a young woman whose family had been immigrating to Australia from Ireland. The story was very dramatic, as Peter told it, with the young sailor rescuing the girl . . . and that's as far as the story went. I said to my new friend from Kenya that I was waiting for the Happy Ever After. So we get back in the coach, and Peter asks, "Any incurable romantics out there?" Of course I said yes. Peter says, "Doesn't anyone want to know the end of the story." And we all shouted yes! Alas, the young sailor went back to sea and the girl went back to family in Ireland.
From Loch Ard, we had a three-hour drive back to Melbourne. We stopped in a town called Colac, where we all grabbed a bite of dinner, and, thanks to McDonalds, had some free wifi service! I have to say, lesson learned about relying on wifi when traveling. I will never go anywhere again without 3G access available. Very frustrating.
I mentioned that we drove into Melbourne to the music of Cat Stephens, and, as it turns out, Cat Stevens is in Melbourne right now, getting ready for a musical to be performed. As Peter began dropping us all off at our Melbourne accommodations, each person said goodbye to the rest in the coach.
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