Down under travelling

Very early start…. And a long day. The sights were amazing but we would have enjoyed it more if we were not last on the bus and had the back row. Worst, most uncomfortable seats all day. The Wine Hop tour company seems to be transitioning. Older buses finally being changed out for new. Unfortunately, we had the old and were bumped, jarred and jostled around all day.

However, we survived, albeit very tired and very sore for sometime after.

Interesting berms along the motorway. Not just utility but artistic.

The first place we stopped at was Torquay, just for a beach/ bathroom stop. Surfing Mecca beaches. Headquarters for major surfing equipment companies. Managed to get my feet in the sand for the first time here.

Back on the bus and along the ocean road. Made a number of stops for pictures. Finally came to the official Great Ocean Road beginning, with the information as to who built this. Soldiers after the Second World War were put to work on it.

Drove through several small towns including Lorne, until we came to Apollo Bay. We stopped here for lunch. At at George’s cafeteria. Built especially for tourists by the look of it. Clean and bright and food was actually good. The orders turned out in record time for us on tour busses. Ken had fish and chips…. I managed to look around and see they had roasted chickens so ordered 1/4 chicken and salad.

Off we went and this time headed inland to a forest walk. On Vancouver Island we have the large Cedar and Sequoia. Here the giants are mountain ash. What we really enjoyed seeing were ferns that grow like trees. Gradually shedding older fronds so they only have foliage at the top. We could imagine these being used in Sci-fi movies of other planets.

There was a stop to see if there were Koala in the gum trees along the road and apparently there was one very high up. Hard to see more than a big dark blob. Those that had expensive cameras probably managed to get a good shot.

Now, finally the real thing everyone was on the tour for. The 12 Apostles rock formations. Not 12 however, possibly never 12. But as the guide said, it was a better way to draw tourists to call them that than ‘8 big rocks’.

No matter how many pictures and video I’d watched before coming here, the scene is still spectacular. The colours of the rock and sand, the height of the cliffs beside them, all make the scene so special.

Not our last stop. We carried on the Loch Ard Gorge, which is just as spectacular. A history of shipwrecks because of the rough water and high cliffs.

That was the end of the tour, except the drive back. The highway was at least a little less bumpy but still a very uncomfortable ride. Too bad the company feels the need to fill the bus, including these seats. They should not sell tickets for those.

We did stop in Winchelsea for bathrooms and first heard then saw a flock of white parrots. So much chirping!! Cute though as some cuddled up to one another on the branches.

Home to take pain killers and lay down on a comfortable bed! Dinner was just what we had in the fridge.