Great Ocean Road

Mary and I few flew to Melbourne on Easter Saturday 7 April 2012. Arriving about 2pm we collected a hire car which we were to return to Adelaide airport 8 days later.

Saturday evening we met Mary's brother John and his family at the MCG and watched Collingwood defeat Richmond. 

Sunday was brunch at St Kilda, a walk in the parks and gardens and dinner at John's.

On Monday we headed south down Mornington Peninsular. The weather was cold, wet and windy but we eventually reached  Sorrento where we boarded the car ferry which took us across a stormy Port Phillip Bay to Queenscliff.

On the car ferry

 
From Queenscliff we drove west through Torquay and Anglesea and on to the Great Ocean Road stopping at lovely Lorne for the night.

Lorne beach and view from our hotel room



Next morning before leaving Lorne we visited Erskine Falls, the first of many water falls we were to see in the region.

Erskine Falls behind Lorne

Then a short but spectacular drive from Lorne to Apollo Bay.

Our accommodation in Apollo Bay for two nights was 'The Beach Bungalow'. After moving in on Tuesday afternoon we had time for some exploring - first to Maits Rest for a rain forest walk, then to Marriners Lookout, a steep climb for a lovely view of Apollo Bay region.

 Rain forest walk, Maits Rest

Apollo Bay viewed from Marriners Lookout

On Wednesday we completed a day long circular drive through Otway National Park, firstly driving inland from Skenes Creek, then west along Turtons Road to Beech Forest and Otway Fly. Turtons Road is an amazing 35km long sealed road through thick rain forest which has invaded the road in parts reducing it to one lane.
Just down from the famous Otway Fly we visited Triplet Falls, another beautiful forest walk and waterfall.
We rejoined the GOR at Lavers Hill and returned to Apollo Bay via Cape Otway lighthouse.

Forest walk at Triplet Falls

Koala Bears, Cape Otway

Leaving Apollo Bay Thursday morning we drove west along the GOR making the obligatory stop at Twelve Apostles.

Twelve Apostles

Continuing west we stopped briefly at Port Campbell and arrived in Portland mid afternoon.

Arch

Our VW Golf hire car at Port Campbell

Friday was an all day drive from Portland to Adelaide via Mount Gambier, Millicent, Robe, The Coorong and Meningie on Lake Albert.

As we had a free day in Adelaide on Saturday we bought tickets to the Port Adelaide vers Sydney Swans AFL game and bussed out to AAMI Stadium to see the Bloods win comfortably.

On Sunday 15 April we flew back to Perth.