"The Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage listed 243 kilometres stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Allansford." (Wikipedia).
Two days are not enough to scratch the surface of an adventure along this aptly-named road. But we did what we could stopping first to admire the spectacular views and lighthouse at Aireys Inlet and to enjoy a coffee before stop-go-stop-go-tripping our way along the gorgeous coastal route to Apollo Bay. Apart from many road-side pauses we also took a rest break at Lorne and to admire that wonderful Pier.
One shouldn't under-estimate the hours needed to do justice to this trip. We had to skip through Apollo Bay before heading inland. We paused for breath-taking views at Castle-Cove Lookout where Sue (my Cousin) and I competed for best pano-shot of the road sweeping down to the lovely green valley we'd just ascended from. I think Sue won.
Then from the lookout at Castle Cove to Lavers Hill and then seemed to be even more road-work restrictions than before between LH and our first key photo priority, The Gibson Steps and those two marvellous old offshore limestone stacks.
(We were side-tracked for 30 minutes by my obsession with birds to shoot a flock of gorgeous Royal Spoonbills chilling out on a lovely calm lake at Princetown. Princetown has a neat cafe and that proved an ideal time for our second coffee) and an experiment with iPhone time-lapsing that had passing motorists bemused as I'd stuck the iPhone on a tripod in the (very quiet) road beside the cafe.
Then to the Gibson Steps. They are brilliantly built into the cliff face. Amazing. Must do. After walking the beach and cheating incoming waves beneath the Gibson Steps we skipped the "12" Apostles, checked in our bags at "The Great Western" in Port Campbell, before returning later to the "12" for the sunset that wasn't. Even though the Apostles are worth a visit in any weather we (and a few dozen other Sunday evening observers) probably felt slightly cheated by the stubborn clouds that wouldn't let through the sun.
I returned at Dawn to find what looked, at first, the same overcast conditions. The sun first rose into the clouds. But then, suddenly, a gap was found, and so streamed through the glorious rays I'd hoped to capture. So many pics were then taken by me and a handful of other early wakers that our camera batteries and memory cards surely suffered. Extremely bright sunlight in one part of an image where much of the rest lies in shadows is challenging. Add to that the constant movement of the waves and... well you inevitably keep shooting hoping to get one with just the right wave-timing and, wow, the sun-rays kept falling in slightly different areas, lighting up clouds of sea-spray above the distant cliffs. What a morning. I'm still working through images, but I've shared at least one here.
After breakfast we checked out making our way to Loch Ard Gorge. Wave conditions there were so ferocious one would well appreciate why only two young adults (Tom and Eva) survived that tragic ship wreck. Leave yourself at least 4 to 5 hours to see all of Loch Ard Gorge; we rushed through in about 1.5 and then returned to Port Campbell for a much needed mid-morning coffee before proceeding to the lookout above PC; then to "The Arch"; then to "London Bridge" and lastly, "The Grotto". All of these are unmissable. As would be The Bay of Islands and Bay of Martyrs (just beyond the scenic sleepy Peterborough). But we had to miss BOI and BOM due to time constraints. We cheated and returned to Melbourne in 3.5hours (instead of 5.5 hours) by taking the inland route home. Ok i've written far too much (as much as a diary for myself), so time for some pics in no particular order. More may be added in due course. Some may end up in the "Gallery" also.
Dawn at the Twelve Apostles (looking East toward the Gibson Steps)
Aireys Inlet Lighthouse and a misty moody Sky
Early Monday Morning, Twelve Apostles ( those that still stand )
On the beach, at Loch Ard Gorge
An argument at the dinner table!
A swim at Lorne Pier (not one of us !)
Misty Ocean looking East from Castle Cove lookout
Royal Spoonbills (4) Ibis (3) and many others at Princetown
A walk in the mist, Gibson Steps
Misty almost raining at Gog and Magog? Love this place in any weather!
Sunday evening, almost dark (7 minutes before the sunset that wasn't) .. still love the atmosphere!
Ocean chewing at The Arch
The Pounding! (at The Arch)
An Eastern Blue Tongue Lizard (parking area at The Arch) (thanks Sue!)
Images from London Bridge and The Grotto may be added later. It's getting late for now.
Thanks so much to Susan, Haydn, Debbie for choosing to trip down this awesome section of Australian coast with me. I hope we can do it again one day. I'll be back!